Faction

     Faction began in Hackney as a small gang that used to do nothing but smoke and drink, but they managed to get themselves introduced to the world of punk in the late seventies and were inspired to start their own bands. Some of the bands that came out of that gang were 'The Stupid Humans', 'Subhumans' and 'Organised Chaos'. Among the members of that gang, was a man named Rob Challice and he too wanted to start a band. Rob alongside his friend Martin(who played drums) relocated up to Kent and formed Anthrax(U.K. version, not the metal one!) and started the Enigma Fanzine. Rehearsals were tough, so Rob and the other singer Sue(a fourteen year old girl with spiky hair) left  Anthrax and relocated back to Hackney to form Faction with Sue on vocals, Rob on bass, Martin on drums and Ann-Dee on guitar.

     Rob and Martin then moved into a squatted street street in Hackney, Brougham Road, number 96, and used the basement for rehearsals. Rob had this to say about choosing the name Faction: "I think it was by democratic vote. The name scored quite highly because you could circle the A and N, and convert the O in the CND sign. Essential stuff". In the Spring of 1982, their guitarist was replaced by Paul Vantransit(formerly from 'The Snails' and 'This Bitter Lesson') who would become their permanent guitarist. Rob found inspiration in the Hackney/East London/Squat scene as it had become the new home and introduced him to The Mob, Zounds and Blood and Roses, which were followed by the Kill your Pet Puppy fanzine/collective whom also inspired him.

     Rob continued by starting his own label called 96 tapes(96 was part of his address), which helped several bands get their music and message out. In 1982, Faction released their 'Through the WIndow' tape along with a booklet containing they lyrics and a bunch of their ideas and philosophy's. Shortly after the release of that tape, the band played at the infamous Zig Zag Squat gig in December of that same year. Unfortunately, Sue left in February of 1983, and the band struggled with several new singers until they found Pip and began to work on an E.P. that would hopefully be released on the Spiderleg label.

     Two more tapes were released, first a live split with D & V called 'No No No Don't Drop Yer Bombs On Us They Urt' and another full length tape called 'If They Give You Ruled Paper.... Write The Other Way'. Their E.P. with Spiderleg never happened, but they managed to release it with Dick Lucas's Bluurg label and titled it 'You've got the fire'. Right before work on the record started, Pip left and was replaced by Mel from The A-heads, and Neil was added as a keyboardist.

     However, by the time the E.P. was released, Faction had split. Rob wanted to focus on his tape label, Neil went on to play guitar for Blyth Power alongside the remaining members Jospeh Porter and Curtis from The Mob(The Mob had just split), and Mel was still performing with the A-Heads. Martin and Paul may have just remained in London. Since The Mob were gone, their 'All the Madmen' label was passed down to Rob, so he had to run that, 96 Tapes, and another label called Wot? Distribution. Eventually, all those labels dissolved, and Rob is now a big-time booking agent.

"Intro"

A cold blowing,
over rubble.
The stench of bodies, rotting flesh.

A voice cries out!
A voice in the wilderness.
The voice can't see and it just wont rest
Revolution came to late to save them,
and now there's no one to see the mess.

No sounds of laughter in the paper
The Sightless size of rotting flesh!

Sightless size of rotting flesh!
Sightless size of rotting flesh!
Sightless size of rotting flesh!


"Obligatory War song"


All my hard work,
All my life thrown away!
A method with which the system chooses
To repay.
Arguments between the special elite,
bring the world crashing to it's feet!

War game! War games!
War games War games!
War Games! War games!
And to the people at the top,
It's just a fucking joke!

Ever see a general
in the front lines?
With the politicians
led safe behind?
They tell us we must fight for our queen!
Millions die for them
It doesn't mean a thing!

War game! War games!

War games War games!

War Games! War games!

And to the people at the top,

It's just a fucking joke!

Government spends our money on research

to get more efficient ways to destroy the earth!

Hiroshima wasn't quite enough.

Oh, did you really think they're after that?

Maybe not.

War game! War games!

War games War games!

War Games! War games!

And to the people at the top,

It's just a fucking joke!

I had to listen to the song to figure these out myself. If anyone has any more, please post them in the comments!

Soon to come Downloads:

Demo with Andy Martin from the Apostles on guitar 198?
http://www.box.net/shared/fkasirtottqroz1c780v
'This Bitter Lesson' Value of Defiance 1982
http://www.box.net/shared/3hezrtc4hc0cii5z69bg

Through the Window Cassette 1982 96 Tapes (Recommended. Superb Tape!)
http://www.box.net/shared/c9n4cf77gu5sb7zu4o5e

Live at the Zig Zag 1982
http://www.box.net/shared/fteeta8jreg6n61exg6f

No No No Don't Drop Yer Bombs On Us They Urt Cassette 1983 96 tapes(Received incorrect CD-R)

If They Give You Ruled Paper.... Write The Other Way Cassette 1983 96 Tapes(Received incorrect CD-R)

You've got the Fire E.P. 1983 Bluurg
http://www.box.net/shared/c6frjcoyhpknvz7keeea
Rising free tape 1983 V.I.S.A.(Live with D & V and the Subhumans)
http://www.box.net/shared/89q0t2h49ogynvesuy7v