Savage Republic
Savage Republic (originally named Africa Corps) is an American, Los Angeles–based post-punk band, formed in the early 1980s and known for lengthy songs with an emphasis on percussion and droning guitars.
Savage Republic | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Africa Corps (1980–1982) Democratique et Populaire de Sauvage |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Post-punk, art punk, industrial |
| Years active | 1980–1983, 1984–1989, 2002–present |
| Labels | Independent Project Records, Sordide Sentimental, Fundamental, PIAS Recordings, Nate Starkman & Son, Mobilization Records, Staalplaat, A Silent Place, LTM Recordings |
| Spinoffs | Final Republic Wonder |
| Members | Thom Fuhrmann Ethan Port Alan Waddington Kerry Dowling |
| Past members | Bruce Licher Mark Erskine Jackson Del Rey Jeff Long Robert Loveless Greg Grunke Brad Laner Joel Connell Sterling Fox Val Haller Jack Housen |
The group reformed in 2002 and remains active with a different lineup.
History
The band was originally named Africa Corps, and was formed by UCLA students Bruce Licher (guitar) and Mark Erskine (drums/percussion).[1] They were joined by Philip Drucker (aka Jackson Del Rey), Robert Loveless, and Jeff Long.[1][2] Shortly before the release of debut album Tragic Figures in 1982 (on Licher's own Independent Project label) they changed their name to Savage Republic.[3] Licher was also responsible for the group's sleeve designs, which were hand-letterpressed and numbered by him.[3]
In early 1983, they issued a single, "Film Noir", backed with a version of "O Andonis" by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis (from the Costa-Gavras film Z), which garnered international attention.[4]
The group split up towards the end of 1983 with a second album partially completed; Loveless and Drucker completed it and it was released as an album (Jedda by the Sea) by their side project 17 Pygmies.[2] Tragic Figures was issued in Europe in 1984 on the Sordide Sentimental label.[1] A 7-inch EP of material recorded in 1981, Tragic Figure, was also issued that year.
The band returned in 1985 with the album Ceremonial, followed in 1986 with the Trudge EP.[1] A live double album was released in 1987.[1] Brad Laner joined prior to the 1988 album Jamahiriya Democratique et Populaire de Sauvage, and a further studio album (Customs) was released prior to the band splitting up in 1990.[1]
Licher continued to run his label, and received a Grammy nomination for the artwork for For Against's debut album.[3] He formed Scenic in the mid-1990s, a group that also featured Loveless and former Shiva Burlesque member James Brenner.[1] Laner went on to form Medicine.[1]
Savage Republic reformed in 2002 with original member Licher and members from the mid-1980s including Greg Grunke, Thom Fuhrmann and Ethan Port, although Licher left after a first tour. The remaining members recorded the album 1938, released by Neurot Recordings in 2007.[3]
Musical style
The band's music has been called industrial, with AllMusic's Richie Unterberger describing it as music that "grafted tribal percussion, industrial drones, and raga-like guitar lines together".[3] Unusual percussion was a large part of their sound, incorporating oil cans and metal pipes.[3] Trouser Press described the debut album as "a combination of industrial drone with deep machine-like swaths of dragging bass, Halloween horror-movie screams and some of the most delightfully tribal and tropical percussion found on disc".[2] When the band reformed in 1985 they incorporated more Arabic influences.[2] Later work also incorporated Greek influences.[2] The band's music was described in Music USA: The Rough Guide as "hypnotic post-modern raga-rock instrumentals" and "clattering noise-rock jams".[5]
Members
Current members
- Thom Fuhrmann – bass, guitars, vocals, trombone, keyboards (1984–1989, 2002–present)
- Ethan Port – percussion, guitar, 12-string guitar, percussion, maracas, metal horn, vocals (1984–1988, 2002–present)
- Alan Waddington – drums, backing vocals (2006–present)
- Kerry Dowling – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals (2008–present)
Former members
- Bruce Licher – guitar, 12-string guitar, bass, percussion, vocals (1980–1983, 1984–1990, 2002)
- Mark Erskine – drums, percussion, vocals (1980–1983, 1984–1987)
- Jackson Del Rey (Philip Drucker) – guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, saz (1980–1983, 1987–1989) (died July 16, 2022)
- Jeff Long – bass, vocals, guitar (1981–1983)
- Robert Loveless – keyboards, guitar, bass, mandolin, percussion (1982–1983, 1985–1986, 2002)
- Greg Grunke – bass, guitar, vocals, dulcimer, recorder, cümbüs (1984–1990, 2002–2008)
- Brad Laner – drums, percussion, vocals, keyboards, tapes (1987–1989)
- Joel Connell – drums (2002)
- Sterling Fox – drums (2005–2006)
- Val Haller (Adrian Osborne) – bass, melodica (2007)
- Jack Housen – bass (2007–2008)
Touring/live members
- Kendra Smith – percussion, bass guitar (1981)
Guest musicians
- Louise Bialik – vocals (1985) (on Ceremonial (1985), track "Andelusia")
- Nicola Pitchford – vocals (1988) (on Jamahiriya (1988), track "Jamahiriya")
- Bryan Taylor – drums (2007, 2022) (on Siam EP (2007), track "Heads Will Roll"; 1938 (2007), track "Song For Rikki", For Free Ukraine! (2022), track "Stingray (Tonight Show Version)")
- Julia Zuker – violin (2007) (on 1938 (2007), tracks "Caravan", "White Ginger", "Peking")
- Tara Tavi – yang qin (2007) (on 1938 (2007), track "Peking")
- John Crawford – shakers, (2007) (on 1938 (2007), track "Torpedo"), doumbek (2013) (on Aegean (2014), track "Omonoia")
- Stella Papandreopoulo – vocals (2011) (Aegean (2014), track "Aegean")
- Blaine Reininger – violin (2013) (Aegean (2014), tracks "The Arab Spring" and "Salanika")
- Emad Gabra – oud (2013) (Aegean (2014), tracks "The Arab Spring" and "Barbizon Exposure")
- Hayden Ortiz – trumpet (2013) (Aegean (2014), tracks "Victory" and "Pio Pico")
- Adrian Carrillio – trombone (2013) (Aegean (2014), tracks "Victory" and "Pio Pico")
- Robert Verdugo – trombone (2018, 2022) (on God & Guns / Tranquilo (2018)/Meteora (2021), track "God & Guns"; For Free Ukraine! (2022), track "Stingray (Tonight Show Version)")
- Carlos Jimenez – trumpet (2018, 2022) (on God & Guns / Tranquilo (2018)/Meteora (2021), track "God & Guns"; For Free Ukraine! (2022), track "Stingray (Tonight Show Version)")
- Laura Mace – vocals (2022) (on For Free Ukraine! (2022), track "Meteora (For Ukraine Version)")
- Gino Munoz – trumpet (2022) (on For Free Ukraine! (2022), track "Stingray (Tonight Show Version)")
Timeline
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Discography
Studio albums
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Tragic Figures | Independent Project Records/Sordide Sentimental |
| 1985 | Ceremonial | Fundamental |
| 1988 | Jamahiriya Democratique et Populaire de Sauvage | Fundamental |
| 1989 | Customs | Fundamental |
| 2007 | 1938 | Neurot Recordings |
| 2012 | Varvakios | LTM Recordings |
| 2014 | Aegean | Mobilization Records |
| 2021 | Meteora | Mobilization Records |
Singles and EPs
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Film Noir" (7-inch single) | Independent Project Records |
| 1984 | Tragic Figure (7-inch EP) | Independent Project Records |
| 1986 | Trudge (12-inch EP) | PIAS Recordings |
| 1988 | "Viva La Rock 'N' Roll" (7-inch EP) | Independent Project Records |
| 2007 | Siam (CD EP) | Mobilization Records |
| 2009 | Sword Fighter - Taranto !!! (7-inch single) | A Silent Place |
| 2018 | God & Guns / Tranquilo (7-inch single) | Mobilization Records |
| 2020 | 1938 / Siam (10-inch single) | Mobilization Records |
| 2022 | For Free Ukraine! (7-inch single) | Don't Sit On My Vinyl! / Mobilization Records |
Live albums
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Live Trek 1985 - 1986 | Nate Starkman & Son/Fundamental |
| 1987 | Live at the Melkweg 25.9.87 (cassette only) | Staalplaat |
| 1988 | Lectisternium June 27, 1988 (cassette only) | Savage Republic Tapes |
| 1990 | ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟΝ: Live in Europe 1988 | Fundamental |
| 1994 | Recordings From Live Performance, 1981 - 1983 | Independent Project Records |
| 2022 | Africa Corps Live at the Whiskey a Go Go 30th December 1981 | Independent Project Records |
Compilation albums
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Complete Studio Box Set | Mobilization Records |
| 2010 | Procession: An Aural History 1981-2010 | LTM Recordings |
Home videos
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Disarmament | Atavistic |
References
- ^ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, pp. 490-491
- ^ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Enthal, Andrea & Robbins, Ira "Savage Republic", Trouser Press. Retrieved March 22, 2013
- ^ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Unterberger, Richie "Savage Republic Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2013
- ^ "Savage Republic : Biography". Ltmrecordings.com. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie (1999) Music USA: The Rough Guide, Rough Guides, ISBN 978-1858284217, p. 402