The band continued through the industrial troubles of the 1980s and the closure of Grimethorpe Colliery on 13 October 1992.

Following the closure of the Grimethorpe Colliery in 1993, the Band was sponsored by RJB Mining (later UK Coal plc) and then by Powerfuel.

The band has appeared on rock and pop records, including "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease", on Roy Harper's 1975 HQ album, and Peter Skellern's 1978 and 1979 albums Skellern (including the hit single "Love Is the Sweetest Thing") and Astaire.

[citation needed] One former member of the band, trombonist Andy Cato, went on to co-found electronic music duo Groove Armada.

[3] International fame came with the film Brassed Off, the plot of which was based on Grimethorpe's struggles against pit closures, and whose soundtrack was recorded by the band.