Radical Dance Faction

Last updated

Radical Dance Faction (RDF), originally known as Military Surplus, are a music group with punk, dub and ska styling, originally formed in Hungerford, Berkshire, England by singer Chris Bowsher, the group's only ever-present. They were active between 1987 and 1995 with a constantly changing line-up, with over 30 musicians passing through, releasing three albums.

Contents

They first reformed in 2006, going on to perform more live appearances and record two further albums.

History

Radical Dance Faction (RDF) were founded by Chris Bowsher in Hungerford in 1987. [1] Originally known as Military Surplus, [2] the band have experienced many line up changes, [1] with at least thirty different people having been part of the band at one time or another. Bowsher is the only person who has been in every line up of the band. [1]

RDF's music combines punk, dub, and ska, while Bowsher's lyrics, spoken rather than sung, deal mainly with political issues, such as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in the song "Chinese Poem". Bowsher also witnessed first hand the Hungerford massacre, describing his experience in the song "Hot on the Wire".

In 1990, they signed to Southern Records, releasing two albums on their own imprint Earthzone and going on to tour Germany and other parts of Europe. One tour was as the support act to Rebel MC and they also supported Ziggy Marley. RDF appeared at the huge Summerjam festival in Germany, in July 1993.

RDF were a regular act on the UK free festival scene prior to the 1994 Criminal Justice Act, and were part of the crusty/anarcho punk movement, [1] until they called it day in the mid-1990s. Their final album (until reformation) Raggamuffin Statement was a mixture of live recordings and remixes with new songs, including "Martin Foran", about the wrongly convicted prisoner. [3]

The band reformed in 2006, playing various festivals around the UK during 2007. They reformed again in 2012 and appeared at the Bearded Theory Festival in Derby. The band commenced a short tour in October 2012 to promote new album - Ammunition. [4] In recent years, they have performed at Glastonbury, Boomtown, Rebellion, Willow Man and Green Gathering festivals.

In 2018 RDF released their latest work, Daydream Dystopia, produced by Youth Sounds.

Current lineup (2023)

Past members

Discography

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punky Reggae Party</span> 1977 single by Bob Marley

"Punky Reggae Party" is a song by Bob Marley, recorded and released in 1977. Not appearing on any studio album, it was released in 1977 as a 12-inch single in Jamaica only on the Tuff Gong and Lee Perry's Black Art labels, as a B-side to the "Jamming" single on Chris Blackwell's Island Records label in some countries and was later released as a live single on Babylon by Bus. Subsequently, it appeared on a number of compilations and "Best of" albums as well as the Deluxe Edition of Exodus and the 2002 CD reissue of Legend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holograf</span> Romanian rock band

Holograf is a pop rock band from Bucharest, Romania. Since the band's formation in 1978, Holograf released 18 albums. The band won the Excellence Prize at Romanian Media Music Awards in 2013, the awards for best pop-rock artist and best pop-rock song at Radio Romania Music Awards Gala in 2014 and was nominated multiple times at Romanian Music Awards for Best Group and for Best Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ska-P</span> Spanish ska punk band

Ska-P is a Spanish ska punk band formed in 1994 in Vallecas, a district of Madrid, by a group of friends from Madrid, Navarre and Euskadi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Hall Crashers</span> American ska punk band

Dance Hall Crashers was an American ska punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Initially founded by former Operation Ivy members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, the band has had a fluid lineup over its career, with the most recent lineup includes Elyse Rogers and Karina Deniké on vocals, brothers Jason Hammon and Gavin Hammon on guitar and drums respectively, and Mikey Weiss on bass. They have released four studio albums, highlighted by the 1995 release Lockjaw which featured the minor hit song "Enough", produced by Rob Cavallo and featured in the film Angus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suburban Legends</span> American ska punk band

Suburban Legends are an American ska punk band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998 and later based themselves in nearby Santa Ana. After building a fanbase in the Orange County ska scene through their numerous regular performances at the Disneyland Resort, a series of lineup changes in 2005 introduced elements of funk and disco into the group's style.

Let's Go Bowling is an American third wave ska band hailing from Fresno, California. Since the band's inception in the year 1986, the band's traditional ska style, barbershop harmonies, wisely crafted instrumentals, and its frantic live performances, helped set the standard for dress and culture for West Coast Ska, which in turn, set the groundwork for the Third Wave Movement in 1995.

Blue Orchids are an English post-punk band formed in Manchester in 1979, when Martin Bramah left the Fall, after playing on the band's debut album Live at the Witch Trials. Christened by Salford-based punk poet John Cooper Clarke the band recorded for Rough Trade and acted as backing band for the Velvet Underground's Nico before a 25-year period of intermittent activity and fluctuating line-ups.

Timpuri Noi is a Romanian alternative rock band.

<i>The Madness</i> (The Madness album) 1988 studio album by The Madness

The Madness is the only studio album by the British ska/pop band The Madness, a short-lived incarnation of Madness. It was originally released in mid-1988, on the label Virgin. The album was produced by the Three Eyes, a pseudonym, whose identities remain a mystery. With the demise of Madness and the group's own label Zarjazz, the Madness were directly recruited under Virgin Records.

<i>Man from Wareika</i> 1977 studio album by Rico Rodriguez

Man from Wareika was the first album recording for Rico Rodriguez led by his own artistic imagination, and his first recording created for album release. It is notable for being the only roots reggae album to be released on Blue Note Records.

<i>War Babies</i> (Hall & Oates album) 1974 studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates

War Babies is the third studio album by American pop music duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. The album was released in October 1974, by Atlantic Records. It was their last of three albums for Atlantic Records before moving to RCA Records. The album was produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren and other members of Utopia, his then-recently-formed prog-rock band, perform on the record.

The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone." They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period, including Bob Marley & The Wailers, on their first single "Simmer Down." They reformed in 1983 and have played together ever since.

<i>Electronic Projects for Musicians</i> 2008 compilation album by The Apples in Stereo

Electronic Projects for Musicians is a b-sides and rarities compilation album by the indie rock band The Apples in Stereo. It was released April 1, 2008 under the Simian Records, Yep Roc Records, and Elephant 6 labels. It can be seen as a companion to Science Faire, a 1996 compilation that collects recordings from the band released prior to their first album.

I Voted for Kodos was an American ska punk and pop punk band, signed to Snapdragon Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimpbot</span>

PIMPBOT was an American ska punk band from Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It was formed in 2001. Blending influences of reggae, dance-rock, hardcore punk, and rocksteady, the band was a local favorite, playing at many Honolulu venues. Pimpbot performed at the world-famous Wave Waikiki at the closing celebration, headlined the grand opening of the stage at Kemo'o Farms, and the popular Sunset on the Beach event at Waikiki Beach.

<i>Fat Sound</i> 1992 studio album by Bad Manners

Fat Sound is the seventh studio album by the ska band Bad Manners, released in 1992 on Pork Pie Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandragora (band)</span> English rock band

Mandragora are an English space rock/world dance music band from Brighton, England, whose formative output can be described as psychedelic rock with ethnic sounds and tribal rhythms. Formed in 1983, the band have released 5 albums of their own, and a collaborative album with Phil Thornton. They built up a loyal following on the free festival circuit of the 1980s and 1990s, and were signed to Delerium Records. In recent years Mandragora have evolved into a world music/electronic dance act featuring singers and musicians from all corners of the globe.

dDub is a band from New Zealand. Their style is rock-roots, reggae, soul-ska, and dub. They have played numerous outdoor festivals in New Zealand, including Splore, Queenstown Winter Festival, Soundsplash and Rhythm & Vines.

Pocket Billiards are a Belfast-based 9-Piece Ska / Punk / Rock band who originally formed in 2001. The band fuse ska, reggae and dub with punk rock and heavy riffs, creating an energetic and powerful sound.

The Ska Vengers is an Indian, New Delhi–based band that blends ska, dub, punk, jazz, and rap in their music, along with various experimental styles. The group consists of Stefan Kaye, Delhi Sultanate (vocals), Begum X (vocals), The Late Nikhil Vasudevan, Chaitanya "Chaz" Bhalla (guitars), and Tony Guinard.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 225. ISBN   0-85112-579-4.
  2. ↑ "Radical Dance Faction | Biography | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Carter, Helen (15 October 2015). "Double injustice victim in rights fight". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Whyte, Joe (31 August 2013). "Radical Dance Faction: Ammunition - album review". Loiuderthanwar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "INFINITIVE SPLITS, by CHRIS BOWSHER and THE FACTION". Iliveinhellrecords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Radical Dance Faction". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.