The Exploited
Encyclopedia
The Exploited are a Scottish
punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk
band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk
band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on (around the time of Death Before Dishonour) they changed into a crossover thrash
band. Formed in Edinburgh
by ex-soldier Wattie Buchan they signed to Secret Records in March 1981 and released their debut EP Army Life. The album Punks Not Dead followed in the same year . Despite many lineup changes, the band continued into the 2000s and has developed a worldwide following. The band are writing material for a new album.
, The Clash
, The Damned), the quartet created a simple, no-frills sound characterized by speed and aggression. In 1980, the group founded its own independent record label
, Exploited Record Company, and immediately released their debut EP Army Life, which was #6 in the independent charts for eight weeks, then was in the top 20 for 18 months. They then released another single, "Barmy Army", which immediately jumped into the independent charts and remained there for 53 weeks, peaking at #4.
In 1981 the band signed to Secret Records and released the single "Dogs of War", which peaked at #2 in the independent charts and #63 in the national charts. The band then released their first live album, On Stage, recorded during a concert in Edinburgh. Thereafter, the band performed, along with Discharge, Anti-Nowhere League, Anti-Pasti and Chron Gen on a tour called Apocalypse Now.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk
Street punk
Street punk is a working class-based genre of punk rock which took shape in the early 1980s, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the Oi! style, performed by bands such as Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, Cockney...
band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on (around the time of Death Before Dishonour) they changed into a crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band. Formed in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
by ex-soldier Wattie Buchan they signed to Secret Records in March 1981 and released their debut EP Army Life. The album Punks Not Dead followed in the same year . Despite many lineup changes, the band continued into the 2000s and has developed a worldwide following. The band are writing material for a new album.
Early career
An early line-up comprised Big John Duncan on guitar, Dru Stix (Glen Campbell) on drums, Gary McCormack on bass and Terry Buchan on vocals. After a short time, Terry was removed from the band and his oldest brother,Walter 'Wattie' Buchan, took over. Inspired by the first wave of punk rock (Sex PistolsSex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, The Damned), the quartet created a simple, no-frills sound characterized by speed and aggression. In 1980, the group founded its own independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Exploited Record Company, and immediately released their debut EP Army Life, which was #6 in the independent charts for eight weeks, then was in the top 20 for 18 months. They then released another single, "Barmy Army", which immediately jumped into the independent charts and remained there for 53 weeks, peaking at #4.
In 1981 the band signed to Secret Records and released the single "Dogs of War", which peaked at #2 in the independent charts and #63 in the national charts. The band then released their first live album, On Stage, recorded during a concert in Edinburgh. Thereafter, the band performed, along with Discharge, Anti-Nowhere League, Anti-Pasti and Chron Gen on a tour called Apocalypse Now.
Current lineup
- Wattie Buchan - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Irish Rob - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Wullie Buchan - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Matt McGuire - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Guitar
- Hayboy (Steve) (1979–1980) - wrote the first verse and the music for "Army Life"
- Big John Duncan aka Jeff le Rennais (1980–1983)
- Karl “Egghead” Morris (1983–1985)
- Mad Mick (1985)
- Nig (Nigel Swanson) (1987–1989)
- Gogs (Gordon Balfour) (1989–1991)
- Fraz (Fraser Rosetti) (1991–1995)
- Arf (Arthur Dalrymple) (1990)
- Jamie Buchan (1995–1996)
- Robbie "Steed" Davidson (2001–2007)
- Gav Little (2007–2008)
Bass
- Mark Patrizio (1979–1980)
- Gary McCormackGary McCormackGary McCormack is a Scottish actor. He is best known for portraying "Larry" in Paul McGuigan's 1998 film The Acid House, written by Irvine Welsh. McCormack won a 1999 International Fantasy Film Award for Best Actor for his role. In 2002 he played a member of "Bill The Butcher's" gang in Martin...
(1980–1983) - Billy Dunn (1983–1984, 1996–1997)
- Wayne Tyas (1984–1985, 1986)
- “Deptford” John Armitage (1985–1986)
- Tony Lochiel (1986–1987)
- Smeeks (Mark Smellie) (1987–1993)
- Jim Gray (1993–1996)
- Davey (Dave Peggie) (2002–2003)
- Mikie (2003–2007)
Drums
- Jimbo (Jim Park) (1979)
- Glen Campbell (Dru M Stix) (1979–1982)
- Danny Heatley (1982)
- Steve Roberts (1982) (Troops of Tomorrow album)
- Dougie Mccann (1986-1987)
- Tony Warren (1989–1991)
- Reiner (1997)
- Daniel Lynch (1998–2000)
- Ian Purdie (Pud) (1991–1992)
Studio albums
- Punk's Not DeadPunk's Not Dead (The Exploited album)Punk's Not Dead is the debut album by the punk band The Exploited. It was released in 1981 by Secret Records. The album became the #1 independent album of 1981 in the United Kingdom...
- 1981 - Troops of TomorrowTroops of TomorrowTroops of Tomorrow is the second album by the punk rock band The Exploited, released in 1982 through Secret Records. A medley of "War", "Disorder" and "UK 82", covered by Slayer and Ice T is featured in the soundtrack for Judgment Night ...
- 1982 - Let's Start a War... (Said Maggie One Day)Let's Start a WarLet's Start a War, or Let's Start a War... , is the third album by the punk rock band The Exploited, released in 1983 through Pax Records [PAX 18]. The title refers to Margaret Thatcher's decision to go to war over the Falkland Islands in 1982, suggesting that she did so almost on a whim...
- 1983 - Horror EpicsHorror EpicsHorror Epics is an album by the punk rock band The Exploited, released in 1985 through Konexion. The title track refers to the horror of starvation in the third world, and westerners tendency to look away.-Track listing:...
- 1985 - Death Before DishonourDeath Before DishonourDeath Before Dishonour is the fifth studio album by the Scottish punk rock band The Exploited. It was released on April 15, 1987 through Rough Justice Records. With this release, The Exploited moved to a more crossover thrash direction...
- 1987 - The MassacreThe Massacre (The Exploited album)The Massacre is an album by the Hardcore punk band The Exploited, released in 1990 through Rough Justice. It's the second crossover thrash album by The Exploited.-Track listing:* All songs written by The Exploited# "The Massacre" – 3:03...
- 1990 - Beat the BastardsBeat the BastardsBeat the Bastards is an album by the Scottish band The Exploited, released in 1996 through Rough Justice.-Track listing:# "Beat the Bastards" – 4:21# "Affected By Them" – 3:04# "Don't Blame Me" – 5:00# "Law for the Rich" – 3:20...
- 1996 - Fuck the SystemFuck the SystemFuck the System is an album by the hardcore punk band The Exploited, released in 2003 by Spitfire Records. Ironically, this album was available in the US in a "clean version" with its anti-authoritarian title censored to "F*** the System" and edits made to the tracks themselves...
- 2003
Singles
- "Army Life" - 1980 (EP)
- "Exploited Barmy Army" - 1980 (EP)
- "Dogs of War" - 1981
- "Dead Cities" - 1981 (EP)
- "Attack/Alternative" - 1982
- "Computers Don't Blunder" - 1982
- "Troops of Tomorrow" - 1982
- "Rival Leaders" - 1983 (EP)
Split albums
- Don't Let 'Em Grind You Down (W/Anti-Pasti) - 1981
- Britannia Waives The Rules (W/Chron Gen & Infa Riot) - 1982
- Apocalypse Punk Tour 1981 (W/The Anti-Nowhere League, Chron Gen, Anti Pasti & Discharge) - 1992
Live albums
- On StageOn Stage (The Exploited album)-Track listing:# Cop Cars# Crashed Out# Dole Q# Dogs Of War# Army Life# Out Of Control# Ripper# Fuck The Mods# Exploited Barmy Army# Royalty# S.P.G.# Sex And Violence# Punks Not Dead...
- 1981 - Apocalypse Tour (Limited Edition) - 1981
- Live At The WhitehouseLive at the WhitehouseLive at the Whitehouse is a live album by The Exploited, it was recorded in Washington in 1985 and released in 1986.-Track listing:# Let's Start a War# Jimmy Boyle# Don't Forget the Chaos# I Believe in Anarchy# God Saved the Queen# Alternative...
- 1985 - Live And Loud - 1987
- Live Lewd Lust - 1989
- Don't Forget The Chaos - 1992
- Live In Japan - 1994
- Live at the White House - 1996
Videography
- Live At The Palm Cove - 1983
- Sexual Favours - 1987
- The Exploited: 83-87 - 1993
- Live In Japan - 1993
- Alive At Leeds - 1995
- Rock and Roll Outlaws - 1995
- Buenos Aires 93 - 1996
- Beat 'Em All - 2004
Best of collections
- Totally Exploited - 1984
- Castle Masters Collection - 1990
- Apocalypse '77 - 1992
- Singles Collection - 1993
- Dead Cities - 2000
- Punk Singles & Rarities 1980-83 - 2001
- The Best Of The Exploited - Twenty Five Years Of Anarchy And Chaos - 2004
- Complete Punk Singles Collection - 2005