Radical Dance Faction Explained

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.

History

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 bands

Current lineup (2023)

Past members

Discography

Albums

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-579-4. 225.
  2. Web site: Radical Dance Faction | Biography | AllMusic. AllMusic. 28 October 2013.
  3. Web site: Double injustice victim in rights fight. Helen. Carter. 15 October 2015. Bbc.co.uk. 2020-06-13.
  4. Web site: Radical Dance Faction: Ammunition - album review. Joe. Whyte. Loiuderthanwar.com. 31 August 2013. 2020-06-13.
  5. Web site: INFINITIVE SPLITS, by CHRIS BOWSHER and THE FACTION. Iliveinhellrecords.bandcamp.com. 2020-06-13.
  6. Web site: Radical Dance Faction. Discogs.com. 2020-06-13.

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