Radical Dance Faction
Radical Dance Faction (RDF), originally Military Surplus, is a band from Hungerford, Berkshire.
History
Radical Dance Faction (RDF) were founded by Chris Bowsher in Hungerford in 1986. Originally known as 'Military Surplus', the band has experienced many line up changes, with at least eighteen different people having been part of the band at one time or another. Chris 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 song, deals 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".
RDF were a regular act on the UK free festival scene prior to the 1994 Criminal Justice Act, and were part of the crusties and anarcho punk movement until they called it day in the mid 1990s. The band reformed in 2006 playing various festivals around the UK during 2007.
In the late 80's they signed to 'Southern' records, going on to tour Germany & other parts of Europe in the early 1990s. One tour was as the support act to Rebel MC & they also supported Ziggy Marley at one point. RDF appeared at the huge Summerjam festival in Germany, July 1993.
They appeared at The Bearded Theory festival in Derby on Sunday 20 May 2012. The band commenced a short tour in October 2012 to promote their new album - Ammunition. In recent years they have performed at the likes of Glastonbury, Boomtown, Rebellion, Willow Man & The Green Gathering festivals.
Related bands
- Steve Swann, one of RDF's original line-up, co-founded the Revolutionary Dub Warriors and was a member of the reformed, dub, ska band Dub The Earth.
- Phil left RDF in 1995, and together with other ex-RDF members and John from AOS3, formed P.A.I.N.
- Linda and Graham Spey went on to form the band DF118.
- Mark McCarthey joined The Wonder Stuff in 2004.
- Murph joined The Rhythmites.
Past Members
• Linda Goodman (Vocals)
- Steve Swann (Vocals, Bass)
• Fred Johnson (Bass)
- Graham Usher (Drums)
- Sid Wobble (Harmonica)
• Mark McCarthy (Bass)
- Richard Paterson (Keyboards)
- Phil Astronaut (guitar)
- Mike Cooper (guitar
- Sarah Edwards (violin)
- Tim Hill (saxophone)
- Paul McCabe (Keyboards)
- Brian Powell (guitar, bass)
- Style Scott (drums)
- Graham Spey (Keyboards)
- Jim Warne (Guitar)
- Danny (Drums)
- Ozzy (bass)
- Chris Chescoe (Drums)
- Olly Thomas (Drums)
- Lewis Sykes (Bass)
- Jimmy Peters (Keyboards)
- Andy (from Newcastle) (drums)
- Lynn Forte (Drums)
• Spot Gaffey (Drums
- Matty Mann (Bass)
- Karen Ricketts (Backing Vocals)
- Ben King (keyboards)
• Luke Winton (Drums)
• Josh Bannerman (Drums)
Current Lineup 2016
- Chris Bowsher ( vocals)
- Shanks (Drums)
- Murph (Guitar)
- Dan Foster (Bass)
Discography
Albums
- Taking Refuge (1989,[2] cassette only)
- Hot on the Wire (1989,[3] cassette and vinyl)
- Borderline Cases (1990)
- Wasteland (1991)
- Raggamuffin Statement (1995)
- Ammunition (2012)
Singles
- "Landing Party"
- "Beast in the Doorway"
References
- ↑ "Radical Dance Faction | Biography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ Radical Dance Faction at discogs.com
- ↑ Hot On The Wire at youtube.com