Remember Chumbawamba? That band that got knocked down but got up again with their 1997 megahit “Tubthumping”?

Think you know them? Think again.

Behind the catchy anthem lies a band with a radical past, anarchist ideals, and more surprises than your last Wikipedia rabbit hole.

Here are five shocking facts that’ll make you see Chumbawamba in a whole new light.

1. They Were Anarchist Punks (Yes, Really)

Before “Tubthumping” flooded radio waves, Chumbawamba was a raucous anarcho-punk collective formed in 1982.

They lived in a squat, released DIY cassettes, and sang about class war—far cry from the one-hit-wonder image.

Even at their commercial peak, they donated profits to radical causes and famously threw a bucket of water on UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott at the 1998 Brit Awards.

Talk about sticking to their roots.

2. They Hated Their Own Hit Song

Irony alert: The band loathed how “Tubthumping” overshadowed their political message.

They called it a “stupid drinking song” and were baffled by its success.

In interviews, they’d sarcastically thank fans for “ignoring 15 years of music to cheer for the one about beer.”

Imagine being tormented by your own paycheck.

3. They Sabotaged a Nike Ad

When Nike used “Tubthumping” in a 1998 World Cup ad without permission, Chumbawamba retaliated.

They donated the unexpected royalties to anti-sweatshop campaigns and publicly shamed Nike for labor abuses.

Chaotic good? Absolutely.

4. One Member Was a Spy for an Animal Rights Group

Dunstan Bruce, a founding member, infiltrated a pharmaceutical lab undercover for the Animal Liberation Front.

He documented animal testing abuses, leading to a media storm—and a brief stint on the UK’s “most wanted” list.

Not your typical rockstar résumé.

5. They Broke Up Over… a Folk Album?

After 30 years of chaos, Chumbawamba disbanded in 2012—not with a punk scream, but a folk whisper.

Their final album was a collection of acapella protest songs, proving they’d rather fade out oddly than burn out predictably.

So, next time “Tubthumping” plays at a bar, remember: That song is the tip of a very weird, very radical iceberg.

Still think they’re just that one-hit-wonder? Didn’t think so.