Entertainment · Music · 3 hrs ago
How Tenpole Tudor created ‘Swords of a Thousand Men’
Tenpole Tudor’s Edward Tudor Pole came up with the basic idea for “Swords of a Thousand Men” while the band was touring.
He wrote lyrics after the tour, drawing on a line inspired by a pub near their rehearsal space on London’s Holloway Road.
The song’s medieval imagery made it feel like a short history of England, and Tudor Pole imagined it as a folk song that could have been written at any time.
The band shaped it into a chant-filled rock song, and bassist Dick Crippen came up with its recognisable opening bass line.
Released in 1981, it became a playground craze among young listeners and was among the first pop videos shown on MTV.
The band also performed in medieval-style costumes, while members of the Sealed Knot historical reenactment society appeared in the video.
Tudor Pole still performs the song on tour, and audiences now sing its chorus with him.
Tenpole Tudor developed “Swords of a Thousand Men” from an idea Edward Tudor Pole worked on while touring.
Pole wrote the opening line near the Castle pub on Holloway Road in London.
The band shaped the song around a chantable chorus and a distinctive bass introduction.
The song became a playground craze among children who bought the record in 1981.
The band’s theatrical performances drew on medieval imagery, and the video featured members of the Sealed Knot historical reenactment society.
- Who
- Tenpole Tudor, including writer and vocalist Edward Tudor Pole and bassist Dick Crippen.
- What
- The band created and recorded “Swords of a Thousand Men.
- When
- The record was bought by children in 1981. The sources do not state when it was written or recorded.
- Where
- The opening line came to Pole near the Castle on Holloway Road, London. The song was recorded at Island Studios.
- Why
- Pole wanted a song with the feel of a popular folk song, and the band developed its chantable chorus and rhythmic feel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Edward Tudor Pole worked up the song’s basic idea while travelling.
Pole wrote lyrics, including the opening line, while rehearsing near the Castle on Holloway Road.
Tenpole Tudor recorded the song at Island Studios with producer Alan Winstanley.
Children buying the record helped turn the song into a playground craze.
- Song
- Swords of a Thousand Men
- Writer and vocalist
- Edward Tudor Pole
- Recording studio
- Island Studios
- Producer
- Alan Winstanley
- Record-buying year mentioned
- 1981
- Music video
- Featured members of the Sealed Knot historical reenactment society
What people are saying
Swords is like a three-minute history of England.
Deep in the castle and back from the war.
Eddie loved the idea of chants you could sing on football terraces, hence the “Hoo-rah, hoo-rah, hoo-rah, yeah!
The “dinga-dinga” bass start to Swords was it – as soon as the song comes on in a club, everyone knows what it is.