ESG (band)

ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold) is an American post-punk band that emerged from the South Bronx, New York City, in the early 1980s. Trouser Press called it "one of the most dynamic bands that New York could offer at the top of the '80s." ESG has been influential across a wide range of musical genres, including hip hop, post-punk, disco, and dance-punk. The band's track "UFO" is one of the most sampled songs in history.

History

The band originally consisted of the Scroggins sisters, Renee (vocals), Valerie (drums), Deborah (bass) and Marie (congas, vocals) and friend Tito Libran (congas, vocals). A later incarnation of the band consisted of Renee (guitar, vocals), Marie (percussion, vocals), Valerie Scroggins (drums), David Miles (guitar) and Leroy Glover (bass), Chistelle Polite (vocals), Nicholas Nicholas (vocals/percussion) and Nicole Nicholas (bass/vocals). ESG's music is centered on complex polyrhythms, a funky bass and pop-flavored guitar.

During their first incarnation, the group signed with 99 Records and the self-titled 1981 EP of three live (recorded at Hurrah) and three studio songs, the latter produced by English post-punk producer Martin Hannett. A 7" of "You're No Good" was released by Factory Records in the UK. 1982's ESG Says Dance to the Beat of the Moody EP continued in a similar vein, as did their first album, 1983's Come Away with ESG. Renee Scroggins retains the rights to ESG's new music and publishing.