Type: All-girl band
Genre: Garage Rock, Outsider Music
Origin: Fremont, New Hampshire
Status: Disbanded
Years active: 1968-1975
Reason for Break-Up: Their father died.
Members: Dorothy Wiggin, Helen Wiggin, Betty Wiggin, Rachel Wiggin
Most known songs: My Pal Foot-Foot, It’s Halloween, Philosophy of the World
Trademark: Being amazingly inept yet strangely charming
Discography Type: Very small and easy to follow
The Shaggs are an all girl rock band known for making perhaps some of the worst music on the planet. However, there's something strangely appealing about their music, despite the fact that in normal circumstances it would be the exact opposite of appealing.
Anyway, The Shaggs were founded around the mid-60's when their father, Austin Wiggin, decided to fulfill a prophecy made by his mother (the prophecy was that his daughters would become a famous rock band). Austin Wiggin forced his girls out of school, gave them instruments, and set them up for music lessons. Eventually, they were able to get Saturday Night gigs at the Fremont, New Hampshire Town Hall. Eventually, they set off to a studio in Revere, Massachusetts to record their first album, Philosophy of the World.
The album is like nothing you have ever heard before. The drummer is completely off rhythm, the guitars sound amazingly cheesy and out of tune, and the vocals strain like crazy. It is both an endurance test and a load of fun.
Anyway, after the album was finished, 900 out of the 1000 copies originally pressed disappeared (along with the sleazy producer). Several years later, in 1975, The Shaggs went into the studio for one last recording session that ended with the death of Austin Wiggin, who died of a heart attack. That was the end of the band.
However, Philosophy of the World soon gained a cult following, with Kurt Cobain putting the album in the number 5 spot of his favorite 50 albums list and Frank Zappa saying it was his third favorite album ever. In fact, Terry Adams and Tom Ardolino of NRBQ loved the album so much they got Rounder Records to reissue the album and had the band open up for them in their 30th anniversary concert. But that’s not all. In fact, there’s even a stage musical about the band and their story called Philosophy of the World, and a movie just might be made of their story. There was also a tribute album, Better than the Beatles, that was released.
And that’s the Shaggs in a nutshell. If you want to listen to them, go to Amazon.com or the iTunes music store and listen to the samples. See if they’re your thing. Before you listen to them, though, I must warn you: they’re not for everyone, and you’re either going to be left amazed or traumatized from the sound samples. Listen to at your own risk.
Genre: Garage Rock, Outsider Music
Origin: Fremont, New Hampshire
Status: Disbanded
Years active: 1968-1975
Reason for Break-Up: Their father died.
Members: Dorothy Wiggin, Helen Wiggin, Betty Wiggin, Rachel Wiggin
Most known songs: My Pal Foot-Foot, It’s Halloween, Philosophy of the World
Trademark: Being amazingly inept yet strangely charming
Discography Type: Very small and easy to follow
The Shaggs are an all girl rock band known for making perhaps some of the worst music on the planet. However, there's something strangely appealing about their music, despite the fact that in normal circumstances it would be the exact opposite of appealing.
Anyway, The Shaggs were founded around the mid-60's when their father, Austin Wiggin, decided to fulfill a prophecy made by his mother (the prophecy was that his daughters would become a famous rock band). Austin Wiggin forced his girls out of school, gave them instruments, and set them up for music lessons. Eventually, they were able to get Saturday Night gigs at the Fremont, New Hampshire Town Hall. Eventually, they set off to a studio in Revere, Massachusetts to record their first album, Philosophy of the World.
The album is like nothing you have ever heard before. The drummer is completely off rhythm, the guitars sound amazingly cheesy and out of tune, and the vocals strain like crazy. It is both an endurance test and a load of fun.
Anyway, after the album was finished, 900 out of the 1000 copies originally pressed disappeared (along with the sleazy producer). Several years later, in 1975, The Shaggs went into the studio for one last recording session that ended with the death of Austin Wiggin, who died of a heart attack. That was the end of the band.
However, Philosophy of the World soon gained a cult following, with Kurt Cobain putting the album in the number 5 spot of his favorite 50 albums list and Frank Zappa saying it was his third favorite album ever. In fact, Terry Adams and Tom Ardolino of NRBQ loved the album so much they got Rounder Records to reissue the album and had the band open up for them in their 30th anniversary concert. But that’s not all. In fact, there’s even a stage musical about the band and their story called Philosophy of the World, and a movie just might be made of their story. There was also a tribute album, Better than the Beatles, that was released.
And that’s the Shaggs in a nutshell. If you want to listen to them, go to Amazon.com or the iTunes music store and listen to the samples. See if they’re your thing. Before you listen to them, though, I must warn you: they’re not for everyone, and you’re either going to be left amazed or traumatized from the sound samples. Listen to at your own risk.
by Andrew Floyd Williams September 1, 2007
Get the The Shaggs mug.Someone or group of people who like your style, steez, and swagger so much they begin to copy, mimic, and duplicate your artistic style, literary work and intellectual property.
by Jaleez Believe August 10, 2017
Get the Swaggstabbas mug.The best half hick, half middle-class town with the worst name; also known as "The Scaggs." Located in Howard County, Maryland. It is in between the wealthy and glamorous Fulton and the terrifying ghetto streets of Laurel. Scaggsville provides one solid place to smoke drugs or lose your virginity at the reservoir, or "Scott's Cove," which also doubles as a play ground for small children during the day. Scaggsville is also home to the notorious Pepperjack's and not much else. Home of some of the best and worst people you will ever meet.
by cheesewagon2 February 24, 2011
Get the Scaggsville mug.no shaggs im about to fuck you up>
by oreoz February 8, 2008
Get the no shaggs mug.Noun - Swedish for "The Beard." Very strong exclamation of excitement, disappointment, or just random enhancement of expression.
"Han körde fort som skägget!" - He drove fast like the beard!
"Skägget, vilken tur du har!" - The beard, you are so lucky!
"Skägget, vilken tur du har!" - The beard, you are so lucky!
by Petan January 13, 2009
Get the Skägget mug.by NEW WORLD ODOR October 2, 2007
Get the SKAGGLIN mug.Friend 1: Did you see that guy in the car next to us at that stop light? He was totally staring.
Friend 2: He was definitely skaggin it.
Friend 1: I'm uncomfortable.
Friend 2: He was definitely skaggin it.
Friend 1: I'm uncomfortable.
by TKizzle September 21, 2012
Get the Skaggin mug.