Thursday, February 24, 2011

Kulturkampf


     In 1982, a band called Sub-Zeros split into two different bands. One was Societies Vultures which only lasted until sometime in 1983. Guitarist/vocalist Andy Burden of that band eventually moved to Sunderland and formed the Famous Imposters. The other band, was named Kulturkampf (meaning 'struggle for civilization') which consisted of brothers Mark and Carl Wroe, Paul Kirkwood and new vocalist Karl Gallear. 


     Their first gig was at Barugh Green, a benefit gig for Barnsley CND supporting the Passion Killers. Karl left the band aferwards after a misdemeanour, leaving the band as a three-pice, just in time for them to record their first demo, 'The Struggle', at Barnsley's Street Life Studios during July 1983. Shortly after, Andy Clough formerly of Sub-Zeros and Societys Vultures, joined as an additional guitarist.

   
     Kulturkampf continued to rehearse in mark's mom's betting shop. One interesting thing about Kulturkampf is that all their equipment was given to them as Christmas and birthday presents. Unfortunately, right before they were set to play at an all-day festival thing at Bierkeller in Leeds, Carl, their durmmer, broke his ankle playing around on a kid's BMX bike.


     In November 1983, Kulturkampf went into the Lion Studios in Leeds to record their second, and final, demo, 'The Corpse of Bureaucracy'. To everyone's disbelief, by the time their Mortarhate album was released in early 1986, Kulturkampf had already split up. They played their last show at the Nottingham Narrow Boat with Famous Imposters and the Scumdribblers.


     According to the band members, nothing dramatic had caused the split, but they where disillusioned with the lack in the bands progress. In 1984, two of the members began missing rehearsals to focus on their private lifes. Soon after, Kulturkampf were no more.



"We Need No More"


Firing on the front line with a machine gun. One day you're here, the next you're dead. Praying for hope that I'm not dead for the war that so many shed. The screams of murder and slaughter elite, as a thousand dead bodies lie by me feet. For in the mud and blood I fight for a lost cause that can't be right. We don't want your wars - they try to maim for a lost cause that can't be right. Media feeds us the lies and tells us their own story, but the real truth is hidden behind fame and glory. All your warts are just games of hate – fighting to the orders they dictate. Is this the life that wants to be led? Because in the end we’ll all be dead. War is nothing to be proud of – it’s the shame of life. Without all the weapons and nuclear arms we shouldn’t be in this strife. We can do without your violence, and war to meet its fate. All the world should live in peace and reject the system’s hate.


"A Nation with No Glory"


All across the nation I see people dying from the depression in the Third World, and in Belfast with a bomb. The news has just come on TV – there’s another war in Beirut, and the politicians arguing over who’s got the boot. Why can’t you hear them saying? Why can’t you hear them praying? Life’s begun and no-one’s won, and the people say “What’s it all about?” The scientists are murdering the animals with their rays while the meat and guts are rotting over the countless days. The political groups are arguing over who’s gonna with the day, when all the rack and ruin just ends up in our dismay. Are everybody in the system all too blind to see what society’s corruption is doing to you and me? We’ve gotta find a better way and learn to live life free, and the only way to do it is believe in anarchy.


"Let Them Live"


When I woke up screaming in the dark at night, from the blood of a murder and horrific fright. You talk Adolf Hitler gassing all the Jews – never hear the animals, because they’ve got no right to chose. They’ve no right to chose. You hear them in the abattoir, see them on your plate. You never realize their murder or realize their fate. You just blindly accept it as you blindly feed. All the innocent creatures slaughtered for your greed. A rich man’s ritual – from birth he’s been taught to hunt down foxes. He calls it sport. Block up its home, so to live it has to run – its limbs mutilated for trophies of a good day’s “fun”. People eat the murder – they don’t see it for real. Just because they say they like it they eat it every meal. Just think how you would feel “just for the taste”. All this pointless slaughter – what an incredible waste.


"Pollution"


The Earth is decaying from rot and pollution. A distorted brain makes us all the pain. Discharge and waste gets thrown in our face. Nuclear energy to kill all humanity. My lungs have now turned green and there’s no-one to be seen. For miles around there is a sound of all the people who have drowned. Factories and industries churning out the smoke. Oxygen in the air is turning into mucus. Plutonium, uranium – burning to dilute. We don’t want your equation to make more radiation. For all your sciences and all your arts, all the world is going to be torn apart by all the chemicals and all your gases, to separate and kill – kill all the masses.


"The End"


There they all sit in Number 10, having a drink now and then – whispering out their stupid lies. It ain’t gonna help the whole of mankind. Enola Gay had it all to say. They’re gonna kill us with deadly rain – to blind us with their burning light, to blister us with their fearful might. Speaking with lies of nuclear war – perhaps it’s been suggested all before. Are they gonna tell us once and for all, or do we have to suffer the four minute call? Someone in the world is trying to end it, so we will have to protest and try to disarm it. For we don’t want a Third World War, for it began and ended in 1984.


"Please Help"


Do you know how it feels to be watched upon – to be caged to be raged, to be shat upon, to be used as a scapegoat for a workman’s joke? Look at us and laugh at us to the worlds you provoke. You put us in an asylum from day to day, and no one wants to know if we die away. The village conversation says that one of us is dead, “But what’s it really matter when they have cabbage for a head?” The working man’s money is spent on nuclear arms. The working man’s money is spent on nuclear arms. The working man’s money is spent on meat in the farms. Millions upon millions is spent on a tragic waste, while no one wants to know of the Rampton case. “A thousand pounds is the aim of the walk. I don’t know why we do it for the spastics who can’t talk.” “They’re no use to any of us or society – Just convert them away to cure their insanity.”


"General Instigators"


The army’s here, they’re here to stay. They’re never, ever going to go away. Fighting with their weapons of war – the Irish plead that they don’t want no more. Killing people seems such a game, but it’s not the death that counts it’s only the fame. You’ve got to fight for what you think is right, but death and blood is only an act of might. Why do people have to die? Why do people have to cry? Why do people have to hate? Have the Government got the right? The Government only want to be thrilled while innocent people are killed. The cause for wars and problems might be right, but sadists and generals will never see the light. Another dead hero so put him on the list. Wars and deaths are run by the fist. A death here and a death shot there – people are running faster from the soldiers’ war scare.


Downloads:

The Struggle
http://www.box.net/shared/zqmvve1hcr
The Corpse of Bureaucracy
http://www.box.net/shared/9bet39upfi
Live at Haddon Hall, Leeds, July 24th, 1984
http://www.box.net/shared/09yscycifs

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Sinyx



      Formed in the summer of 1979, out of two schoolmates and two other young punks that had previously been in some of their local bands, The Sinyx took form. They were inspired and motivated by the early anarchist punk scene. After playing in bedrooms and using somewhat broken equipment, they managed to come upon a practice room and much better instruments.


     In the spring of 1980, The Sinyx played their first gig at a local youth center supported by the Eratics, to an eccentric audience from Essex, London. They received plenty of good feedback, which led them to play throughout London and Southern England. Concerts were played all over pubs, clubs and community centers, despite interruptions and violence brought by nazis and radicals. They also played several gigs with their fellow local travelers, The Icons.


     Their first demo was recoded on 1/3/80, at the Elephant Studio, Wapping, London. "Mark of the Beat" was included in Bullshit Detector - Volume one, after the band sent a copy of the demo to Crass. A second demo was recorded later that year, featuring four tracks: Suicide, Britain is a Mausoleum, Decadence and Animal. Unfortunately, Two of the four members left the band shortly after, which led to the band recruiting two members from The Icons on guitar and bass. This lead to their more intense and hypnotic sound heard later on such songs as "The Plague".


     In 1981, The Black Death E.P. was recorded at the Spectrum studio in Southend. It was released on the Reality Attack label. In 1982, the band went through yet another line up change. "Filf" left the band, making room for two new members(one being Steve Pegrum, the drummer of Kronstadt Uprising). This new line up made their debut on 26/3/82, alongside The Mob and Rudimentary Peni. Even though they claimed to have reached their best sound yet, vocalist "Alien" left the band after a gig on 11/9/82, at the Moonlight club in West Hampstead, London, with Rudimentary Peni and Riot/Clone. Alien revealed that he left the band to "focus my energies on more political interests".


      The sinyx tried to carry on, but drummer Steve Pegrum also left in 1982 to focus more on Kronstadt Uprising. The "Unknown Revolution" E.P. was in the works, so he needed to become more committed to that band. After recruiting more new members and playing a couple more shows, "John" left the band in 1984, which ultimately led to the unfortunate demise of the Sinyx.


"Death to Decadence"


What's so good about my life-?
Does it mean so much to you?
Why can't you let me be?
I will not be trodden down.
My life won't resign itself
to what will be will be.

Luxury ain't what I want.
You're avoiding all the facts
when you tell me what I need.
Pensioned job, a family,
and a firm's car aren't for me.
I'll try and let my mind be free.

Twilight, daylight of your life.
Spend your young days working for;
Then you are put out to grass.
Try and force me I will shout.
My silence price is not too high,
'Cause freedom's not too much to ask.

If you've got lots of money,
Buy yourself a limosine,
Cocktail cabinet in the back.
Other people starve to death,
But you've got lots of money.
It's just a brain that you lack.


"The Plague"


Bring those of no mind
And throw them on the cart,
The dregs of mankind,
The people with no heart.
The plague is here,
But we have nothing to fear.
Bring out the dead...

BRING OUT THE DEAD
BRING OUT THE DEAD
BRING OUT THE DEAD

Those dressed as wolves
Who are just sheep,
Their minds have gone,
Their brains asleep.
The plague is here,
But we have nothing to fear.
Bring out the dead...

Anarchy is here the
Plague of peace.
there's no more army,
No police.
The plague is here,
But we have nothing to fear.
Bring out the dead.


"Animal"


I am not an animal.
Why treat me like an animal?
Why try to make my life small?
I am not an animal.
The only animal'round here is you:
Uncivilized in all you do.
Like a dog you train me.
the ideal pet I will not be.

I am not an animal.
Won't come running when you call.
I won't run at your hell.
I won't pray and I won't kneel.
Why do you wish to abuse me;
I live not just to serve you.
I live to serve me too.

I am not an animal.
Into your deep pit I fall.
I won't be your perfect pet.
Loyalty you will not get.
Why do you command my life?
Find me a mate, I mean a wife.
I WILL BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS ME.
I WILL BREAK THE TIES THAT BIND ME.
I am not an animal.


"Bullwood Hall"


Bullwood Hall is in Hockley.
No entry for you and me.
The system locks girls behind doors
Just for breaking poxy laws.
Human beings kept in cages;
Locked in cells for fucking ages.
There are girls in Bullwood Hall;
Let them out, free them all.

Prison, government, property.
Prison, paid for you by you and me.
Prison, just who is to blame?
Prison, governments are all the same.

A girl has no money, no job too.
So she steals; there's nothing she can do.
To help, the system does fuck all.
Anyways, whose laws did she break?
Stop this lunacy for everyone's sake.
The system is where the blame lies.
See what freedom their tax buys.

High brick walls with iron bars.
Rich men sit in Rolls Royce cars.
If they weren't so fuckin' greedy,
No one will lock up the needy.
But locked up the innocent stay;
The system threw their keys away.
State kidnapping I deplore.
Kidnap breaks the fukin' law.

Lock politicians in their prisons.
Let them taste their own sweet poison.
The queen has much to answer for.
She is rich, the fuckin' whore.
Sandringham, Windsor and all,
Some now live in Bullwood Hall.


"Britain is a Mausoleum


Living here under the system
Is like living in a mausoleum.
The people are the living dead.
If they're not, they get electrodes on their head.
We're steered through life's boring course,
Yet very few feel remorse.
To keep us bound they need no chains
Because they slowly kill our brains.

Living in a mausoleum
Living in a mausoleum
Living in a mausoleum
Not a place I'd choose to stay
Living in a mausoleum
Living in a mausoleum
Living in a mausoleum
It don't have to be this way.

Work all, that is your function.
Police man hits you with his truncheon.
Your brain shudders from his blows,
Beats you till your reason goes.
A zombie existence for you,
If you've got no thoughts you'll make no fuss.
Parallel life you exist
Life reduced to work or a shopping list.

If you're different you're a mental.
This makes me so tempermental.
If you're criminally insane,
Electric shocks sear through your brain.
Soon you don't know who you've been,
But at least your mind is clean.
The filth is gone, your mind is new,
Thinking just what they want you to.


"Blasphemer"


Sinner, bastard, vampire creature - enemy,
Your mental sickness defiles all humanity.
There is no room for your sick theology.
Drop your cross, blasphemer, and you will be free.

Blasphemer, prepare to die.
Blasphemer, prepare to die.
Blasphemer, prepare to die.
Blasphemer, prepare to die.

With your worship you condemn liberty.
Your reign of terror will not last you will see.
You will die - there is no reprieve for heresy.
You will see that Hell on Earth can never be.


Downloads:

1st Demo(3-1-1980)
http://www.box.net/shared/61jjvn8qpd
2nd Demo(9-6-1980)
http://www.box.net/shared/cgisclhypc
Live at the Action Space(9-19-1980)
http://www.box.net/shared/y207azdfb0
Live at the Focus(August 1982)
http://www.box.net/shared/763mtshejy
The Black Death E.P.(1982)
http://www.box.net/shared/yceroxckj8
Live at the Dratford Y.M.C.A. (8-5-82)
http://www.box.net/shared/ybrmpguhy7
3rd Demo(1985)
http://www.box.net/shared/p21q9lvlsf

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Living Legends




     Definitely a dangerous band. They started out as Page 3 and played several violent, sexual, disturbing, somewhat political gigs. They were also known as Class War(the name Page Three was chosen by the band by sticking a pin into a book and naming themselves whatever they got from that). Often they would hide their real band name or pose as a different Page 3 to avoid having their shows canceled due to their bad reputation. After irritating Crass with their porno punk antics, Crass unplugged their equipment and refused to play any further shows with them after a gig in Swansea. Unfortunately for Crass, Ian Bone angered a bunch of football hooligans and Crass had to get involved.


      Ian Bone is noted as the head of Class War, the most dangerous man in Britain and founder of the Class War Magazine. His ideas supported a violent anarchist revolution and he was often arrested. When the Living Legends began gigging, they would have strippers all over the place and play music with very offensive and violent lyrics. Ian is a ray of hope, and a strong anarchist figure with brilliant ideas. It wasn't until The Living Legends split that the band Class War began.


     Luckily, two Living Legends recording sessions from 1981, 1982 and some live material from the late eighties were found from BBP so the band managed to get documented on tape and later on a discography CD. The line-up that went on to record the session with 'Island Wars' and that played at the 101 club with Conflict was Ian Bone, Doc Whelan, Roland Cleaver, Gareth Joseph, Dean Poole and Nicky Evans. Ian Bone also took part in the hilarious Class War zine. The band promoted violent anarchy, and just like the Apostles and the Rondos, saw too many flaws and Pacifism and Crass to bring any sort of change.


     Anarchist Ian Bone is still active to this day and has taken part in several debates and interviews. An autobiography is also out.



"Tory Funerals"


There's some occasion, some special events
You could say they were heaven sent
They engrave the stones with Roman Numerals
My favorite ones....... they're Tory Funerals

Conservative Ministers or Tory MPs
There's one sure way for them to please
They can call me a bastard, call me a red
In return......... just drop dead

Tory Funerals........ Tory Funerals
I want more of Tory Funerals
Tory Funerals........ Tory Funerals
I want more of Tory Funerals

ORDER! ORDER!
The Speaker for the House of Commons - For it is he!
It is my painful duty to have to inform the house that the Rt. Hon member for Finchley
Mrs. Margaret Thatcher has........ dropped dead!

(Cheers, laughter, party poppers, etc)

I couldn't care less I couldn't give a toss
At the sudden death of a factory boss
They ruling class are really hated
All I want......... is them cremated

Dig 'em out the graves when they're dead Corpse don't care if it's kicked in the head
Rip 'em apart, forget former glories
One good thing..... More dead Tories


Tory Funerals


"Premature Ejaculation"

PES are fucking up mu sexual relations
PES are ruining all the deeper sensations
PES are preventing possible penetrations
PES are giving me shorter and shorter vibrations

Verse

I'm coming too quickly, I'm coming too fast
It gets worse and worse 'cos I know it won't last
When I look in her face she looks aghast
No sooner have I started and it's over at last

Verse

I've tried to think of something else every time I screw
No sooner have I though of it I'm almost through
I've tried counting sheep or closing stable doors
But when I count the first baa lamb
Out it pours

Verse

I've tried using durex, a condom or a sgeath
She even puts it on for me using her teeth
Just got it on looks lovely and firm
When out it comes a white waxy worm


Downloads:

Demo Swnasea Studio 1981
The Pope is a Dope 1981
Cardiff Studio Recordings 1982
Better Dead than Wed 1985 Mortarhate
Live at the Action Arms, Hackney, London
Mr. Grins Studio Recordings 1995
Live in Cheltenham 1999
Unknown 198X
http://www.box.net/shared3lgpl7hd(all together)

A Couple of Things.

     When it comes to 'Anarcho Punk', a lot of people just seem to want to 'collect' rare tracks by these bands blindly without realizing what they were truly about. It is sad that nearly all the 'Crass' bands that were against the 'Sex Pistols' punk bands that sold out ended up getting swept under the carpet and forgotten about over time. Lots of blogs have tried to spread the music, but putting a band picture with a download link to poorly titled tracks isn't going to change the way people think. What mattered the most to 'anarcho punk' wasn't the fashion or the music. It was the content in their lyrics and getting people to think for themselves.

     This blog will be dedicated in covering all the bands with as much detail as can be researched about them along with pictures and endless pages of lyrics. I want people and read them and hopefully question the things around themselves, seeing as though most of the lyrics are still relevant today, or even more than they ever were back then. Putting down the downloading link is the last thing I am worried about seeing as though lots of these songs are already out there somewhere to download. However, I do have some material that has never been uploaded before, but it will be a pain to get them into split MP3 files.

     Going to be busy with a lot of things(School and my band). I will be using box to upload my files. You will need Itunes to play all of my songs(It's a free download). I can only get a certain number of downloads every month and when my limit is up the files become unavailable until the next month so you better get them fast! Some may appear untitled, but once put into Itunes, they will all be shown to be labeled correctly. I also need to get some equipment to rip some tapes and records. I will get it all sorted out eventually but will take several months to do.

     Credit to most of the pictures, info and songs goes mostly to the Kill your Pet Puppy blog(many, many thanks for your contributions), Gabesuk82.blogspot.com, Heather Joyce(Toxic Shock/Metro Youth/Sanction), Revulsion, Famous Imposters, Rich Cross(Metro Youth/Sanction. I recommend you check out his website which is listed on the bottom of this page), Hagar The Womb, Sean McGee, lots of fanzines I've forgotten the names of, Roy Wallace, Sean(Anarka and Poppy), The Cravats, Lance Hahn, Terminalescape.blogspot.com Fallout, Paula Taylor, an individual known as "Whirling Pig Dervish", 433rpm.blogspot.com, Trunt(for several of the photographs), Miles "Rat Naplam", Feed your Head, Graham Burnett, Andrew Bayles(DAN), Jim Wafford, Zillah Minx, Sid, Paul Cussens, Iain Influx and Ian Glasper(a great author indeed). All those people are the ones who truly deserve to be given credit, not me. I am simply bringing all the information together in a simple, consolidated manner.

     Once again, just to clarify, I take no credit in any of the pictures and most of the information on this blog.

     Once you download and listen to these bands, or if you are familiar with them I would appreciate it if you comment on what you thought about them/memories,other info. Most of these songs will be remastered and far better in quality than the ones you find out there in blogs, soulseek, etc.