Who can forget “Wild Thing”? The Troggs have always been remembered for this 60’s anthem but it is just one of their many UK hits. “With A Girl Like You”, “I Can’t Control Myself”, “Any Way That You Want Me” “Give It To Me” And “Love Is All Around”. They all followed in rapid succession to give The Troggs worldwide acclaim. Dubbed by many as “the first British punk band” they have continued playing in their own uncompromising style of good basic rock music. 

Never strangers to controversy, many of their records were considered by the ‘powers that be’ too suggestive for the masses and were promptly banned. How anybody could judge Reg Presley’s tongue in cheek delivery to be dangerous to the morals of the young is hard to believe. 

The Troggs still boast two founder members; with the perpetual Reg Presley fronting the band and Chris Britton on lead guitar. They are now joined by Peter Lucas on bass and Dave Maggs on drums. 

Their popularity has never waned and they are still in great demand nationwide and in Europe, where they regularly headline in front of thousands of fans at festivals. Their appeals holds no age barriers, fans range from the stalwarts who have supported them throughout the years to the many new fans from younger generations. 

Reg Presley still pursues his acting career in between gigs. He has sparred with Muhammad Ali, secured a cameo role in a Bob Dylan film and appeared in an episode of Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford TV series. He has also participated in two editions of Channel 4’s quiz, The Music Game. 

The Troggs and Wild Thing have been used in many advertising campaigns in recent years; for instance; coffee in Scandinavia, Mexican Relish in the USA and Canada, Insurance in Europe. In 1993 “Anyway That You Want Me” was re-recorded for a Yoplait Fruit Royale commercial. Plus in Germany there was a re-release of “With A Girl Like You” to coincide with the televising of a promotion for the milk and fruit juice packaging company Tetrapak. A CD that also included “Wild Thing” and “I Can’t Control Myself” was issued to publicise the product. 

Nowadays, The Troggs are very much a cult band. Polygram in the USA and UK released a 52 track double box set CD and Castle Music Pictures and Polygram co-operated to produce a video spanning 26 years of great Troggs music.