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.
They first reformed in 2006, going on to perform more live appearances and record two further albums.
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.
Related bandsedit
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.
Bowsher released an album, Infinitive Splits, in 2010 billed as Chris Bowsher and The Faction, with Martin Jenkins and Oisin Meehan - including versions of RDF songs.[5]
^Carter, Helen (15 October 2015). "Double injustice victim in rights fight". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^Whyte, Joe (31 August 2013). "Radical Dance Faction: Ammunition - album review". Loiuderthanwar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^"INFINITIVE SPLITS, by CHRIS BOWSHER and THE FACTION". Iliveinhellrecords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ ab"Radical Dance Faction". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
External linksedit
Official Radical Dance Faction website
Official site on MySpace
January 01, 1970
radical, dance, faction, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, oc. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Radical Dance Faction news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 They first reformed in 2006 going on to perform more live appearances and record two further albums Contents 1 History 2 Related bands 3 Current lineup 2023 4 Past members 5 Discography 5 1 Albums 5 2 Singles 6 References 7 External linksHistory editRadical 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 Related bands editSteve 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 McCarthy joined The Wonder Stuff in 2004 Murph joined The Rhythmites Bowsher released an album Infinitive Splits in 2010 billed as Chris Bowsher and The Faction with Martin Jenkins and Oisin Meehan including versions of RDF songs 5 Current lineup 2023 editChris Bowsher vocals Ben Drums Louis Bass David Frag Fletcher Guitar Karen Backing Vocals Danni Backing Vocals Angus Duprey Keys Past members editLinda Goodman vocals Steve Swann vocals bass Fred Johnson bass Karen Woodhead backing vocals Graham Usher drums Sid Wobble harmonica Mark McCarthy bass Richard Paterson keyboards Phil Astronaut guitar Mike Cooper guitar Sarah Edwards violin Tim Hill saxophone Kevin Vernon percussion 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 Martin Jenkins keyboards Ben King keyboards Luke Winton drums Josh Bannerman drums Shanks Drums Murph Guitar Dan Foster Bass Discography editAlbums edit Taking Refuge 1989 6 mini album cassette only Hot on the Wire 1989 6 mini album cassette only Borderline Cases 1990 Earthzone LP CD 1 Wasteland 1991 Earthzone LP CD MC 1 Raggamuffin Statement 1995 Inna State LP CD MC Ammunition 2012 LP CD DD Daydream Dystopia 2018 Welcome to the edge 2023 Singles edit Landing Party 12 1991 Beast in the Doorway 12 CD 1994 References edit a b c d e f 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 Radical Dance Faction Biography AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 28 October 2013 Carter Helen 15 October 2015 Double injustice victim in rights fight Bbc co uk Retrieved 13 June 2020 Whyte Joe 31 August 2013 Radical Dance Faction Ammunition album review Loiuderthanwar com Retrieved 13 June 2020 INFINITIVE SPLITS by CHRIS BOWSHER and THE FACTION Iliveinhellrecords bandcamp com Retrieved 13 June 2020 a b Radical Dance Faction Discogs com Retrieved 13 June 2020 External links editOfficial Radical Dance Faction website Official site on MySpace Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Radical Dance Faction amp oldid 1220090246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
