Red Alert

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Red Alert
General information
Genre (s) Oi! , Punk
founding 1979, 1989
resolution 1984
Founding members
Steve "Cast Iron" Smith
Tony Van Frater (until 1990)
Gaz Stuart (until 1990)
Dona (until 1980)
Current occupation
singing
 Steve Smith
guitar
 Mickey Jones
bass
 Dave Jones
former members
Drums
 Mitch
Drums
 Nobby
Drums
 Matty Forster
bass
 Tom Spencer
bass
 Gaz stoker
Drums
 Keith "Stix" Warrington
Drums
 John Forster (1994)
Drums (1994) , bass (1995-96)
Lainey
Drums
 Ian (1994- † 2002)

Red Alert is an Oi! - / Punk band from Sunderland .

Band history

In May 1979 the band was formed by Steve "Cast Iron" Smith (vocals), Tony Van Frater (guitar), Gaz Stuart (bass) and Dona (drums). After a few rehearsals, the band made their debut at the local carnival in Sunderland and played a set consisting of The-Clash - and UK-Subs - cover versions and their own pieces. A first EP called Third and Final was released in 1980 in self-distribution. After two changes on the drums, Nobby remained the permanent drummer of the band. In 1982, additional material was recorded that gave them a place on the third Oi! Sampler, Carry on Oi !! secured by Garry Bushell . After that, some EPs and the debut album We've Got the Power were released on No Future Records , which split from the band in 1984. Shortly afterwards, Nobby got out and Matty Forster took over the drums. They played in new material, but disillusioned with the Oi! Scene they broke up shortly afterwards.

Tony Van Frater and Matty Forster then joined Red London , who went in a similar direction. Gaz Stuart played in several cover bands . Smith withdrew completely from the music scene.

In 1989 the ex-members met regularly in a music club in Sunderland and it was decided to start a comeback . In 1990 they played their first gig with Red London and Attila the Stockbroker . Gaz Stuart dropped out after only one gig and was replaced by Tom Spencer, a cousin of Tom Von Frater. After a European tour through Switzerland, Germany and France, Von Frater got out and Gaz Stoker from Red London took his place. After a few more tours, Red Alert recorded their comeback album Blood, Sweat 'n' Beers in 1992 , which was released on the German label Nightmare Records . At that time the band no longer had a drummer and now used session members until Ian joined in 1994. In 1993 the next album, Beyond the Cut, was released via Nightmare Records and Knock Out Records . In 1994 Red Alert embarked on a US tour. Together with The Templars , Red Alert recorded a split album . For the 1996 album Breakin 'All the Rules , Gaz Stuart returns briefly.

Several other publications appeared in changing line-ups. The members of the bands also played in various line-ups of the Cockney Rejects , Red London and the Angelic Upstarts . In 2002 long-time drummer Ian died in a car accident. The last release to date, Sunderland vs. Stuttgart / Split CD with PDF was published in 2010 via Hasscontainer Booking & Records. Numerous compilations of unreleased material exist, as well as some of the band's greatest hits albums. They can also be found on various samplers.

meaning

Despite their early start, Red Alert about the beginning of the Oi! Movement were ignored. This was partly due to their great distance from London, the pivotal point of the Oi! Scene at the time, and their open anti-fascist attitude (expressed by the "Red" in the band name). Further reasons can be found in the constant line-up changes and membership in brother bands such as Red London. Nevertheless, they are now considered legends of the English punk scene, even if they are much more noticed outside of England.

Their musical style was not only fed by the "leaders" of the movement at the time, such as Sham 69 and the Rejects, but they also took on influences from British post-punk , such as The Ruts and The Clash . In the 1990s, however, they also switched to the pop market . The band incorporated some influences from other bands such as U2 and from the AOR into their music. You can even find a Bon Jovi cover on Breakin 'All the Rules .

Discography

Albums

  • We've Got The Power (1983)
  • Blood, Sweat 'n' Beers (1992)
  • Beyond The Cut (1994)
  • Super jobs! Showdown Volume No. 1 (split album with The Templars , 1994)
  • Red Alert Oi! Singles Collection (1995)
  • Breakin 'All the Rules (1996)
  • Rebels in Society (1997)
  • Red Alert (The Rarities) (1999)
  • Wearside (1999)
  • The Best of Red Alert (2000)
  • Border Guards (2001)
  • Excess All Areas (2005)
  • Red Alert - Producers of the Froide Split CD / Sunderland vs. Stuttgart (2010)

EPs and singles

  • Third and Final (1980)
  • In Britain (1982)
  • Take No Prisoners (1982)
  • There's a Guitar Burning (1983)
  • City Invasion (1983)
  • We've Got The Power (Live) (1992)
  • Border Guards (1994)
  • Drinkin 'With Red Alert / Street Survivors (Double EP, 1994)
  • Visca EL Barca (1996)
  • Havin 'a Drunken Christmas (2003)

literature

  • Matthias Mader: Oi! The Book Vol. 1, Berlin: IP Verlag 1996, ISBN 3-931624-02-1 , pp. 63-66