Friendly Records unveil doorway artwork of the late, great Mark Stewart

Friendly Records unveil doorway artwork of the late, great Mark Stewart

Posted on: 02 May 2024

Described by many as ‘the godfather of Bristol music’, The Pop Group’s Mark Stewart is undoubtedly one of the most innovative and fascinating figures in the sonic history of the city.

 

Posting on their Instagram earlier this week, Friendly said: “To commemorate a year since the passing of the godfather of Bristol music Mark Stewart our friend @stewystencils visited the shop and left this ace artwork! Mark is now on the door of Friendly Records so pay your respects next time you’re passing!”

 

Friendly Records is located at 59 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1ES or visit their website.

 

 

The artwork is provided by Stewy, a staple of Bristol’s creative scene, working on psychogeographic life-size stencils of animals and outsider rebels, misfits and obscure icons representing the best of culture. Stewy has previously immortalised such iconic Bristol figures as Blackbeard, IDLES, Big Jeff, DJ Derek, Tricky and more.

 

A pioneer of post-punk and industrial, Mark Stewart formed The Pop Group in 1977, a deeply experimental and political band whose music occupied the hinterland between funk, noise, dub, free jazz and beat poetry. Stewart was a fierce frontman and the group’s debut album Y (1979) remains one of post-punk’s most vital pieces.

 

The Pop Group broke up in 1981, but Stewart continued to forge a radical path in music, playing in various projects and under several pseudonyms before The Pop Group reformed in the 2010s, playing extensive shows and releasing new music – most notably 2015’s Citizen Zombie, their first album in 35 years.

 

Over the years, Stewart collaborated with such luminaries as Massive Attack, Tricky, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Primal Scream, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Thurston Moore and more and influenced the likes of Nick Cave (who claimed he “changed everything”) as well as Bristol’s thriving experimental scene – which he was always quick to champion.

 

Mark Stewart’s sad passing in April 2023 was met with an outpouring of emotion throughout the Bristol music community and beyond with tributes pouring in from the likes of Massive Attack, BBC Radio 6 Music’s Mark Riley and reggae legend Dennis Bovell AKA The DuBMASTER – he will forever be remembered as a true innovator.

 

 

Friendly Records is located at 59 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1ES. Visit the shop’s website for more information.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.