The Redskins

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The Redskins were a British band from the 1980s. It was founded by Chris Dean (vocals / guitar), who also worked as a writer for the NME under the name X-Moore , as well as Martin Hewes (bass / vocals) and Nick King (drums). The drums took over from 1985 Paul Hookham, who also played in The Woodentops and The Lemons.

Band history

All band members were left skinheads , with Chris Dean and Martin Hewes belonging to Tony Cliff's Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party (SWP) . During their concerts, the Socialist Worker , the SWP's party bulletin, was also expelled. The predecessor band of the Redskins were the No Swastikas (no swastikas).

According to various sources, the Redskins were founded in 1981 or 1982, their first single came out in July 1982 and was called Lev Bronstein (birth name of Leon Trotsky ). This was followed by many other singles, sampler contributions and the LP Neither Washington Nor Moscow , twice they made it into the top 50 of the British single charts . On September 15, 1986 the band played their last concert in Munich and broke up shortly afterwards, the appearances planned for the end of that year were canceled. Dean, Hewes and Hookham were still musically active as members of different bands.

In 1987, Strange Fruit Records released the tracks recorded during the Peel Sessions in 1982 and 1983 as 12 " . This was followed in 1994 Live , which was recorded during the Kick Over Apartheid Tour and distributed via Dojo Records and as a re-release via Mad Butcher Records. In 2005, Red Star Recordings released a tribute album on which Chris Dean himself can be heard in the intro, and 5 years later the best-of album Epilogue was released via Insurgence Records , which also contains three tracks from the time as No Swastikas . There is also a bootleg -LP called Rarities .

Style and image

The first works of the Redskins were still from the Oi! -Punk, with the addition of the wind section, consisting of Kevin Robinson (trumpet), Trevor Edwards (trombone) and Ray Carless (tenor saxophone), they became one of the most famous British Northern Soul combos of the 80s. Their third single Keep On Keeping On (this was the first for the DECCA label ) was a support single for the striking miners . The Redskins were also active in the anti- apartheid movement and in the Red Wedge movement, which aimed to overthrow Margaret Thatcher . Her concerts were repeatedly the target of attacks by right-wing extremist skinheads.

The Redskins played with well-known artists such as Billy Bragg and The Smiths throughout their careers . They were viewed as standing in the tradition of The Clash , although they took a critical stance towards them.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1986: Neither Washington Nor Moscow

Live albums

  • 1994: Live

Compilations

  • 2010: Epilogue

Singles and EPs

  • 1982: Lev Bronstein ( 7 " )
  • 1983: Lean On Me (7 ")
  • 1983: Lean On Me (Northern Mix) (12 ")
  • 1984: Keep On Keepin 'On! (7 ")
  • 1984: Keep On Keepin 'On! (12 ")
  • 1985: Bring It Down (This Insane Thing) (7 ")
  • 1985: Bring It Down (This Insane Thing) (12 ")
  • 1985: Kick Over The Statues
  • 1986: The Power Is Yours (7 ")
  • 1986: The Power Is Yours (12 ")
  • 1986: It Can Be Done (7 ")
  • 1986: It Can Be Done (12 ")
  • 1986: The Power Is Yours (propaganda EP) ( 10 " )
  • 1986: It Can Be Done (10 ")
  • 1987: Peel sessions (12 ")

Tribute albums

  • 2005: Reds Strike The Blues: A Tribute To The Redskins

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Profile of the Socialist Worker on socialistworker.co.uk , accessed April 10, 2020
  2. ↑ Peel Sessions of the Redskins on bbc.co , accessed on April 10, 2020
  3. ↑ Reds Strike The Blues: A Tribute To The Redskins on discogs.com , accessed April 10, 2020
  4. ↑ Epilogue at discogs.com (English), accessed April 10, 2020