The Varukers
Encyclopedia
The Varukers are a UK D-beat
band formed in 1979
by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk
band Discharge
, known as D-beat
. Also, like Discharge, The Varukers' lyrics carry an anarchist political ideology.
, the band altered the spelling of their name to "The Varukers" in order to convey more aggression. When recording in the early 1980s, they were part of a broader trend known as "UK 82", Second Generation Punk, or UK Hardcore. Bands such as The Varukers, Discharge
, Chaos UK
, Amebix
, and Charged GBH
took the existing 1977-era punk sound and melded it with the incessant, heavy drumbeats and "wall of sound" distortion guitar sound of New Wave of British Heavy Metal
(NWOBHM) bands such as Motörhead. The new, harder-edged style also tended to use much darker, more nihilistic, and more violent lyrics, and vocals were often shouted rather than sung.
While the Varukers split in 1989, vocalist Rat and guitarist Biff put the band back together in 1991. Stylistically their 1990s-era music resembled the traditional UK82 style. Since the band had former members of Discharge
, a D-beat
sound developed as time went on. The band has gone through many line-up changes over the years with the only constant member being Rat on vocals while guitarist Biff has been with the band since 1985. They have recently released a retrospective CD on SOS Records
.
Even with Rat splitting his time between The Varukers and Discharge
and Biff splitting his time with Sick On the Bus The Varukers continue to tour. They shared a headlining spot with such acts as Broken Bones
, The Adicts
, Vice Squad
and GBH
at the ill-fated British Invasion 2k6
concert festival in San Bernardino
, California
which ended in rioting.
Guitarist Sean is the manager of public house
The Old Angel Inn in Nottingham
, United Kingdom
.
They are currently writing new material for a new album.
D-beat
D-beat is a style of hardcore punk developed in the early 1980s by imitators of Discharge, for whom the genre is named. Discharge may have themselves inherited the beat from Motörhead. The first such group was The Varukers.The vocal content of D-beat tends towards shouted slogans...
band formed in 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the 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 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...
, known as D-beat
D-beat
D-beat is a style of hardcore punk developed in the early 1980s by imitators of Discharge, for whom the genre is named. Discharge may have themselves inherited the beat from Motörhead. The first such group was The Varukers.The vocal content of D-beat tends towards shouted slogans...
. Also, like Discharge, The Varukers' lyrics carry an anarchist political ideology.
History
Initially known as The VeruccasPlantar wart
-External links:* at the Mayo Clinic website* at The Merck Manual* at dermnet.com...
, the band altered the spelling of their name to "The Varukers" in order to convey more aggression. When recording in the early 1980s, they were part of a broader trend known as "UK 82", Second Generation Punk, or UK Hardcore. Bands such as The Varukers, 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...
, Chaos UK
Chaos UK
Chaos UK are an English hardcore punk band formed in 1979 in Portishead, near Bristol. They played fast aggressive hardcore punk rock initially. The original line up of Simon on vocals, Andy on guitar, Chaos on bass and Potts on drums recorded two EP's and a full LP for Riot City Record...
, Amebix
Amebix
Amebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...
, and Charged GBH
Charged GBH
Charged GBH are an English Street punk band, formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited...
took the existing 1977-era punk sound and melded it with the incessant, heavy drumbeats and "wall of sound" distortion guitar sound of New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
(NWOBHM) bands such as Motörhead. The new, harder-edged style also tended to use much darker, more nihilistic, and more violent lyrics, and vocals were often shouted rather than sung.
While the Varukers split in 1989, vocalist Rat and guitarist Biff put the band back together in 1991. Stylistically their 1990s-era music resembled the traditional UK82 style. Since the band had former members 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...
, a D-beat
D-beat
D-beat is a style of hardcore punk developed in the early 1980s by imitators of Discharge, for whom the genre is named. Discharge may have themselves inherited the beat from Motörhead. The first such group was The Varukers.The vocal content of D-beat tends towards shouted slogans...
sound developed as time went on. The band has gone through many line-up changes over the years with the only constant member being Rat on vocals while guitarist Biff has been with the band since 1985. They have recently released a retrospective CD on SOS Records
SOS Records
SOS Records is a California-based punk-rock record label.- Bands :*4 Past Midnight*Abrasive Wheels*The Adicts*The Agitators*Bad Manners*Bang Sugar Bang*Blitz*Broken Bones*Conflict*DBD*The Diffs*Drongos for Europe*Exploited*Final Conflict...
.
Even with Rat splitting his time between The Varukers and 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...
and Biff splitting his time with Sick On the Bus The Varukers continue to tour. They shared a headlining spot with such acts as Broken Bones
Broken Bones
Broken Bones are a Hardcore punk band with a distinct sound that is heavily influenced by other UKHC punk bands such as Discharge, and in later cases, crossover thrash.-Career:...
, The Adicts
The Adicts
The Adicts are an English punk band from Ipswich, Suffolk, England. One of the more popular punk rock bands in the 1980s, they were often in the indie charts at that time. Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground. It was also featured in a commercial...
, Vice Squad
Vice Squad
Vice Squad is a punk band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. The band formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. Songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage was a founding member and is currently with the band, although there was a period of time when the band had a different...
and GBH
GBH
GBH may refer to:* Grievous bodily harm, certain crimes of personal assault in English law * Girth at breast height, a standard measurement of the circumference of a tree: see diameter at breast height...
at the ill-fated British Invasion 2k6
San Bernardino punk riot
The San Bernardino punk riot occurred on March 4, 2006, after a punk rock festival titled the British Invasion 2k6 in San Bernardino, California, United States was shut down early due to the stabbing of a youth during the concert...
concert festival in San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
which ended in rioting.
Guitarist Sean is the manager of public house
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...
The Old Angel Inn in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
They are currently writing new material for a new album.
Discography
- Protest and survive EP (1981)
- I Don't wanna be a victim EP (1982)
- Die for your government SINGLE (1982)
- Bloodsuckers ALBUM (1983)
- Led to the slaughter EP (1984)
- Another Religion Another War EP (1984)
- Massacred millions EP (1984)
- One Struggle, One FightOne Struggle, One FightOne Struggle, One Fight is an album by punk group The Varukers.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Paul Miles.#"Protect Not Dissect" - 3:17#"A Lesson We Must Never Forget" - 2:28#"Animal's an Animal" - 1:51#"One Struggle, One Fight" - 1:48...
LP (1984) - Prepare For The Attack LP (1986)
- Nothing changed EP (1994)
- Deadly Games LP, CD (compilation) (1994)
- Still bollox but still here (re-release of old tracks) CD (1995)
- Murder LP, CD (1998)
- How Do You Sleep? (2000)
- Riot City Years: '83-'84 CD (2004)Punk Core Records
- Punk Singles 1981–1985 CD (2005)
- 1980–2005: Collection Of 25 Years CD (2006) re-recorded tracks
- Killing Myself to Live CD (2009)
- Murder / Nothing' Changed LP (Re-Issued 2010)on Rodent Popsicle Records
External links
- [ The Varukers on allmusic.com]
- The Varukers on Myspace
- Interview with Marvin