Riot Squad
Encyclopedia
Riot Squad were a second-wave punk rock
band from Mansfield
, England
, initially active between 1981 and 1984.
documentary which discussed how Desperate Bicycles
took a DIY approach and decided that they could do the same. Two weeks after forming the band, they played their first gig at the King Of Diamonds pub
in the mining village of Shirebrook, Derbyshire Langwith Junction
, followed a few weeks later by a gig at a local Working Mens Club, which had to be interrupted half way through to allow the audience to play bingo. Wayne Butler saw the band perform that night and offered to join as the band's bass player. The band began playing further afield and with money borrowed from Dunk's father recorded their first demo, Religion Doesn't Mean a Thing in a basement studio in Mansfield. Dunk set up Rot Records, initially as a cassette-only label, and sold the demo at shows and via mail order to try to recoup the recording costs, eventually selling 1,500 copies. On the strength of the demo, the band were signed to Rondelet Records, who issued the band's first single, "Fuck The Tories", which reached number 23 on the UK Indie Chart
in August 1982, and reached the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart
. Nello was replaced by 'Staz', and Rondelet re-issued the band's Religion... demo as their second EP. After a UK tour, Staz left the band, with Butler moving to guitar, and 'Chedd' recruited on bass. The Rondelet label folded, prompting Dunk to turn Rot into a proper label, releasing the next three Riot Squad singles, although he stepped down as singer, being replaced briefly by Rick Williams and then Butler's brother Lee. In early 1984, the band released "There Ain't No Solution", but musical differences within the band would cause them to split that year. Dunk compiled the Rot singles and a few unreleased tracks on the No Potential Threat album, which reached number 13 on the indie chart.
Dunk continued to run Rot Records until the label's distributor, Red Rhino went bankrupt.
The band's records became highly collectible in the years that followed, with Anagram Records releasing a CD compilation, The Complete Punk Collection in 1995.
Riot Squad reformed in 2004.
In January 2006 drummer Paul Pommi Palmer and bassist Ched recruited two new members. Young guitarist Luke, who was 15 years their junior and a new frontman in the form of Chiz (ex Septic Psychos and Dead Meat). The new line up was well met and played a number of dates across the country as well as Europe. The new line up had a sharper edge and played faster and were much tighter. They entered the studio in November 2006 to record their first full length album in over 20 years. 'Persecute the Weak, Control the Strong' was released in March 2007 and was voted Punk Album of the Year 2007 by Fungal Punk.
One of the tracks 'Violence on the Streets' featured on US label 272 Records 'Punk Kills Vol 1' in late 2007.
Only 6 months after the albums release, Ched called it a day due to family commitments and was replaced by Mick, twin brother of Chiz (and also of the same previous bands). Mick soon swapped became guitarist to make way for Pete, who would take up the bass.
The band are playing regularly and have recorded once more. The new material promises to show itself by summer 2008.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, 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...
, initially active between 1981 and 1984.
History
Riot Squad formed in 1981, with an initial line-up of Duncan "Dunk" Mason (vocals), Nigel "Nello" Nelson (guitar), and Paul "Pommi" Palmer (drums), Nelson the only one of the three with any musical experience. They were inspired by a John PeelJohn Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
documentary which discussed how Desperate Bicycles
Desperate Bicycles
The Desperate Bicycles were an English new wave group who released a series of independent recordings in the late 1970s and inspired many other bands to do likewise. The Desperate Bicycles pioneered the do-it-yourself ethic of punk, adopting a proselytising role exemplified by their ardent...
took a DIY approach and decided that they could do the same. Two weeks after forming the band, they played their first gig at the King Of Diamonds pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in the mining village of Shirebrook, Derbyshire Langwith Junction
Langwith Junction
Langwith Junction is an urban area, now included in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, England.It derives its name from a junction on the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway....
, followed a few weeks later by a gig at a local Working Mens Club, which had to be interrupted half way through to allow the audience to play bingo. Wayne Butler saw the band perform that night and offered to join as the band's bass player. The band began playing further afield and with money borrowed from Dunk's father recorded their first demo, Religion Doesn't Mean a Thing in a basement studio in Mansfield. Dunk set up Rot Records, initially as a cassette-only label, and sold the demo at shows and via mail order to try to recoup the recording costs, eventually selling 1,500 copies. On the strength of the demo, the band were signed to Rondelet Records, who issued the band's first single, "Fuck The Tories", which reached number 23 on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
in August 1982, and reached the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Nello was replaced by 'Staz', and Rondelet re-issued the band's Religion... demo as their second EP. After a UK tour, Staz left the band, with Butler moving to guitar, and 'Chedd' recruited on bass. The Rondelet label folded, prompting Dunk to turn Rot into a proper label, releasing the next three Riot Squad singles, although he stepped down as singer, being replaced briefly by Rick Williams and then Butler's brother Lee. In early 1984, the band released "There Ain't No Solution", but musical differences within the band would cause them to split that year. Dunk compiled the Rot singles and a few unreleased tracks on the No Potential Threat album, which reached number 13 on the indie chart.
Dunk continued to run Rot Records until the label's distributor, Red Rhino went bankrupt.
The band's records became highly collectible in the years that followed, with Anagram Records releasing a CD compilation, The Complete Punk Collection in 1995.
Riot Squad reformed in 2004.
In January 2006 drummer Paul Pommi Palmer and bassist Ched recruited two new members. Young guitarist Luke, who was 15 years their junior and a new frontman in the form of Chiz (ex Septic Psychos and Dead Meat). The new line up was well met and played a number of dates across the country as well as Europe. The new line up had a sharper edge and played faster and were much tighter. They entered the studio in November 2006 to record their first full length album in over 20 years. 'Persecute the Weak, Control the Strong' was released in March 2007 and was voted Punk Album of the Year 2007 by Fungal Punk.
One of the tracks 'Violence on the Streets' featured on US label 272 Records 'Punk Kills Vol 1' in late 2007.
Only 6 months after the albums release, Ched called it a day due to family commitments and was replaced by Mick, twin brother of Chiz (and also of the same previous bands). Mick soon swapped became guitarist to make way for Pete, who would take up the bass.
The band are playing regularly and have recorded once more. The new material promises to show itself by summer 2008.
Singles/EPs
- Religion Doesn't Mean a Thing (1981) Rot (demo tape)
- "Fuck The Tories" (1982) Rondelet (#23)
- "Riot In The City" (1982) Rondelet
- Don't Be Denied EP (1983) Rot (#39)
- I'm OK, Fuck You EP (1983) Rot (#11)
- There Ain't No Solution (1984) Rot (#22)
Albums
- No Potential Threat (1984) Rot (#13)
- The Complete Punk Collection (1995) Anagram
- Persecute the Weak, Control the Strong (2007) Suicide Circle Records
Appearances on compilations
- Police Power appeared on Pax Records Punk Compilation (year unknown)
- Society's Fodder and Lost Cause appeared on 100% Hardcore Punk (1998) Captain Oi
- Violence On The Streets appeared on Punk Kills Vol.1 (2007) 272 Records, CA, US
- Speed Cameras appeared on Angry Scenes Vol. 3 (2008) Angry Scenes Records, UK