Flux Of Pink Indians
Encyclopedia
Flux of Pink Indians were an English
anarcho-punk
/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford
, Hertfordshire
, England
.
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The band formed from the remaining members of the Epileptics (who later changed their name to Epi-X due to letters of complaint from The British Epilepsy Association) by Colin Latter (vocals) and Derek Birkett (bass guitar
) with guitarist
s Andy Smith, Neil Puncher, and drummer Sid Ation (who was also a member of Rubella Ballet
). Their debut EP
, Neu Smell, was released on Crass Records
in 1981.
Ation departed FOPI to work full time with his other band Rubella Ballet
, and was soon replaced by Bambi, formerly of Discharge
, while Smith was replaced by Simon Middlehurst. However, both departed quickly for their original band, The Insane. While auditioning for their replacements, Puncher also left, and the line up was completed by former Darlex and Epileptics guitarist Kevin Hunter and drummer Martin Wilson. The band's debut album, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible
was premiered on the band's own Spiderleg label.
The band's second LP, The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks
, was banned by retailers HMV
, and copies were seized by Greater Manchester
police from Eastern Bloc record shop, which was charged with displaying "Obscene Articles For Publication For Gain".
By 1986 the band had shortened their name to Flux and released their third album Uncarved Block, produced by Adrian Sherwood
, and featuring several members of the On-U Sound Records
label.
Birkett, making use of his experiences with Spiderleg, set up One Little Indian Records
. He still uses the Flux title for occasional projects. Latter went on to form the dance
influenced Hotalacio, and was joined by drummer Wilson and guitarist Middlehurst.
In 2007, the band re-formed for an intended one-off gig supporting ex-Crass
vocalist Steve Ignorant
for his "The Feeding Of The 5000" gig at London's Shepherds Bush Empire
in November of that year. The "Strive To Survive" era line-up (Latter, Hunter and Wilson) was joined by ex-Decadence Within bass player Ian Glasper replacing Birkett, and as a result of their well-received set the band played another three gigs in 2008, in Bradford, Dijon and London.
Tracks: "1970s Have Been Made In Hong Kong" / "System Rejects" / "Hitler's Still A Nazi" / "War Crimes"
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) with guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s Andy Smith, Neil Puncher, and drummer Sid Ation (who was also a member of Rubella Ballet
Rubella Ballet
Rubella Ballet are a punk rock band formed in autumn, 1979, who released several albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed in 2000.-History:...
). Their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Neu Smell, was released on Crass Records
Crass Records
Crass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
in 1981.
Ation departed FOPI to work full time with his other band Rubella Ballet
Rubella Ballet
Rubella Ballet are a punk rock band formed in autumn, 1979, who released several albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed in 2000.-History:...
, and was soon replaced by Bambi, formerly of Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
, while Smith was replaced by Simon Middlehurst. However, both departed quickly for their original band, The Insane. While auditioning for their replacements, Puncher also left, and the line up was completed by former Darlex and Epileptics guitarist Kevin Hunter and drummer Martin Wilson. The band's debut album, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible
Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible
Strive To Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible is an album by the anarchist punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. The later CD reissue also includes the band's Neu Smell EP as five additional tracks, though in an incorrect track order and listing....
was premiered on the band's own Spiderleg label.
The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks
The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks is an album by UK anarcho-punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. It was released as a double album on the band's own Spiderleg Records in 1984 as the follow-up to their debut, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible.The album was banned by retailers HMV...
, was banned by retailers HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
, and copies were seized by Greater Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
police from Eastern Bloc record shop, which was charged with displaying "Obscene Articles For Publication For Gain".
By 1986 the band had shortened their name to Flux and released their third album Uncarved Block, produced by Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
, and featuring several members of the On-U Sound Records
On-U Sound Records
On-U Sound Records is an English record label best known for releasing its own unique flavour of dub music since the 1980s. The label is owned by producer Adrian Sherwood and home to acts such as Tackhead, Dub Syndicate, African Head Charge, The London Underground, Little Annie, Creation Rebel,...
label.
Birkett, making use of his experiences with Spiderleg, set up One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
. He still uses the Flux title for occasional projects. Latter went on to form the dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
influenced Hotalacio, and was joined by drummer Wilson and guitarist Middlehurst.
In 2007, the band re-formed for an intended one-off gig supporting ex-Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
vocalist Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant
Steve Ignorant is a singer and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band Crass with Penny Rimbaud in 1977. After Crass stopped performing in 1984, he has worked with other groups including Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, The Stratford Mercenaries, Current 93 , US punk band Thought Crime, as well as...
for his "The Feeding Of The 5000" gig at London's Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Empire
The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, run by the Academy Music Group. It was built in 1903, as a music hall, and in 1953 became the BBC Television Theatre...
in November of that year. The "Strive To Survive" era line-up (Latter, Hunter and Wilson) was joined by ex-Decadence Within bass player Ian Glasper replacing Birkett, and as a result of their well-received set the band played another three gigs in 2008, in Bradford, Dijon and London.
Original lineup
- Colin Latter (vocals)
- Derek Birkett (bass guitar)
- Andy Smith (guitar)
- Neil Puncher (guitar)
- Sid Ation (drums)
Later members
- Dave "Bambi" Ellesmere (drums)
- Simon Middlehurst (guitar)
- Kevin Hunter (guitar)
- Martin Wilson (drums)
- Louise Bell (guitar)
- Tim Kelly (guitar)
The Licks
- 1970's E.P. (1979, Stortbeat Records, 7", BEAT8)
Tracks: "1970s Have Been Made In Hong Kong" / "System Rejects" / "Hitler's Still A Nazi" / "War Crimes"
The Epileptics
- Last Bus To Debden EP (1981, Spiderleg, 7", SDL2) #17
- 1970's E.P. (1982, Spiderleg, 7", SDL1) (re-recording of The Licks EP with Penny RimbaudPenny RimbaudJeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
of CrassCrassCrass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
on drums) #21
Flux of Pink Indians
- Neu Smell EP (1981, Crass RecordsCrass RecordsCrass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
, 7", 321984-2) #2 - Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering PossibleStrive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering PossibleStrive To Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible is an album by the anarchist punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. The later CD reissue also includes the band's Neu Smell EP as five additional tracks, though in an incorrect track order and listing....
(1983, Spiderleg Records, LP, SDL8) #1 (UK Albums ChartUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#79) (reissued 1987 on One Little Indian) - The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like PricksThe Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like PricksThe Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks is an album by UK anarcho-punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. It was released as a double album on the band's own Spiderleg Records in 1984 as the follow-up to their debut, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible.The album was banned by retailers HMV...
(1984, Spiderleg Records, DLP, SDL13) #2 (reissued 1987 on One Little Indian) - Neu Smell EP (1987, One Little Indian, 12", 12TPEP1) #30 (this release credited to 'Flux')
- LiveStatement (2002, Overground Records, LP/CD)
- Fits and Starts (2003, Dr. Strange RecordsDr. Strange RecordsDr. Strange Records is a record label and record store located in Alta Loma, California. It started out as an apartment-based distro in 1988 and became a record label in 1989, run out of the "Doc's" apartment until 1997 when the store was first opened....
, CD)
Flux
- Taking a Liberty EP (1985, Spiderleg Records, 7", SDL16) #5
- Uncarved Block (1987, One Little Indian RecordsOne Little Indian RecordsOne Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
, LP, TP1) #16 - "Vision" (1987, One Little Indian, 12", 12TP9)
- Not So BraveNot So BraveNot So Brave is a compilation album of songs by the anarchist punk band Flux Of Pink Indians released posthumoulsy by Overground Records. Tracks 1-8 are from their demo 'Strive', track 9 is an alternative mix, track 10 is an album version for the compilation album Wargasm, tracks 11-16 are their...
(1997, Overground, LP/CD, OVER67/OVER67CD)
External links
- Flux of Pink Indians on Myspace
- [ Flux of Pink Indians] at Allmusic