Subhumans (U.K. band)
Encyclopedia
The Subhumans are an English anarcho-punk
band formed in the Warminster and Melksham
area of Wiltshire
in 1980. Dick Lucas
joined later in the year, having formerly been in another local band, The Mental. Other members had been in The Stupid Humans. The band's musical style is typically classified as hardcore punk
or anarcho-punk
.
The band released a demo
in 1981. It was heard by members of the band Flux of Pink Indians
, after being sent to them by Graham Burnett of the New Crimes fanzine
, and the band were so impressed that they offered the Subhumans a chance to put out a record on their newly-founded label Spiderleg Records
. The group's debut extended play, Demolition War
, subsequently appeared on Spiderleg Records in December 1981.
The Subhumans released two more extended plays in 1982, Reasons for Existence
and Religious Wars, as well as founding their own record label, Bluurg Records. Although initially focused on releasing cassette
recordings, the label produced its first vinyl
release with the "Wessex '82
" EP, which featured one track each by the Subhumans ("No Thanks"), The Pagans, Organised Chaos and The A-Heads.
The band's first LP
, "The Day The Country Died
" was released in 1983 on Spiderleg Records. Generally considered a classic of the anarcho-punk era, it was followed shortly after by the "Evolution
" EP, which was also the band's first record (bar the "Wessex '82" split) to be released on their own label. The band released "Time Flies... But Aeroplanes Crash
" later that same year, a 12" EP consisting of both studio and live tracks - the live tracks taken from an aborted live album. Towards the end of the year, original bassist Grant left the band (shortly before the recording sessions for their second album), and was replaced by Phil of the Pagans.
The following year, the band released their second album, From the Cradle to the Grave
. The release demonstrated a notable musical development for the band, particularly with the title track - a progressive piece that took up the album's entire second side, and ran for almost 17 minutes. It was followed by one last EP, "Rats
", in January 1985, and the "EP-LP" release - a compilation album comprising the band's first four EP's.
The Subhumans broke up at the end of 1985, with musical differences being cited as the main reason for the split. However, the band did manage to record their third album, Worlds Apart, before breaking up. A final 12" record (1986's "29:29 Split Vision") was also recorded and released posthumously, and demonstrated just how far the band's musical leanings had altered from their initial hardcore punk stylings. Lucas subsequently joined Culture Shock
in 1986 and then formed the political ska punk
band Citizen Fish
in 1990. A second Subhumans compilation album was released the same year ("Time Flies + Rats"), which comprised the two later EP's absent from the "EP-LP" release.
Subhumans had a brief reunion for a couple of shows in about 1991, and a more comprehensive return in 1998, which included UK
and U.S.
concert
s. This resulted in a semi-permanent return of the band as a touring entity, including at least two major tours of North America
in the twenty-first century - the Live in a Dive recording released on Fat Wreck Chords
being a product of the first. The band also recorded and released a new EP, "Unfinished Business", in 1998, which consists of previous unreleased songs from the band's original incarnation.
Since then, Subhumans have recorded a new album, "Internal Riot", and self-released it on Bluurg Records in September 2007. They toured in Europe
throughout 2007, and a month-long U.S. tour began on 24 August that year. They have maintained a live presence ever since.
Extended plays
Compilation albums
Live albums
Former members
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
band formed in the Warminster and Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
area of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 1980. Dick Lucas
Dick Lucas
Dick Lucas is the British vocalist of the 1980s British anarcho-punk rock band Subhumans, whom he joined in September 1980, as well as the ska-punk band Citizen Fish, joined in 1990. Before that he had been vocalist in The Mental, from March 1979 to August 1980...
joined later in the year, having formerly been in another local band, The Mental. Other members had been in The Stupid Humans. The band's musical style is typically classified as 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...
or anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
.
History
The band was formed in 1980, following the disbandment of the local punk band The Stupid Humans. Guitarist Bruce and drummer Andy were accompanied by original bassist Grant, previously from the band Audio Torture. The band were initially known as Superhumans, but changed their name to Subhumans shortly after the arrival of vocalist Dick, previously of The Mental. By the end of 1980, drummer Andy had left and was replaced by Trotsky, who has drummed for the band to this day.The band released a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
in 1981. It was heard by members of the band Flux of Pink Indians
Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
, after being sent to them by Graham Burnett of the New Crimes fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, and the band were so impressed that they offered the Subhumans a chance to put out a record on their newly-founded label Spiderleg Records
Spiderleg Records
Spiderleg Records was an independent record label founded by UK anarcho-punk band Flux Of Pink Indians in 1981.The band set up the label after releasing their first EP on the Crass Records label, which both taught them the skills necessary to run such a project and provided them with the seed cash...
. The group's debut extended play, Demolition War
Demolition War
Demolition War is the first extended play released by the anarcho-punk group Subhumans. It was originally released on Spiderleg Records in 1981, and was also released as part of the EP-LP compilation on Bluurg Records in 1985.-Track Listing:...
, subsequently appeared on Spiderleg Records in December 1981.
The Subhumans released two more extended plays in 1982, Reasons for Existence
Reasons for Existence
Reasons for Existence is the second extended play released by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans. It was originally released on Spiderleg Records in the spring of 1982, and also as part of the EP-LP release on Bluurg Records in 1985.-Track listing:...
and Religious Wars, as well as founding their own record label, Bluurg Records. Although initially focused on releasing cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
recordings, the label produced its first vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
release with the "Wessex '82
Wessex '82
The Wessex '82 7" is a split extended play release by UK punk bands The Subhumans, The Pagans, Organised Chaos and The A-Heads. Each band contributes one track to the record...
" EP, which featured one track each by the Subhumans ("No Thanks"), The Pagans, Organised Chaos and The A-Heads.
The band's first LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, "The Day The Country Died
The Day the Country Died
-Personnel:* Dick Lucas - lead vocals* Bruce Treasure - guitar, backing vocals* Grant Jackson - bass* Trotsky - drums...
" was released in 1983 on Spiderleg Records. Generally considered a classic of the anarcho-punk era, it was followed shortly after by the "Evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
" EP, which was also the band's first record (bar the "Wessex '82" split) to be released on their own label. The band released "Time Flies... But Aeroplanes Crash
Time Flies... But Aeroplanes Crash
Time Flies...But Aeroplanes Crash is the fifth extended play by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans. Unlike their previous EP's, "Time Flies..." was released as a 12" record, and features both live and studio tracks - the live tracks being taken from an aborted live album, recorded at Feltham Football...
" later that same year, a 12" EP consisting of both studio and live tracks - the live tracks taken from an aborted live album. Towards the end of the year, original bassist Grant left the band (shortly before the recording sessions for their second album), and was replaced by Phil of the Pagans.
The following year, the band released their second album, From the Cradle to the Grave
From the Cradle to the Grave (album)
From the Cradle to the Grave is a 1983 album by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans-Track listing:# "[Untitled Track]" – 0:44# "Forget" – 1:20# "Waste of Breath" – 1:58# "Where’s the Freedom?" – 3:25# "Reality Is Waiting for a Bus" – 2:14...
. The release demonstrated a notable musical development for the band, particularly with the title track - a progressive piece that took up the album's entire second side, and ran for almost 17 minutes. It was followed by one last EP, "Rats
RATS
RATS may refer to:* RATS , Regression Analysis of Time Series, a statistical package* Rough Auditing Tool for Security, a computer program...
", in January 1985, and the "EP-LP" release - a compilation album comprising the band's first four EP's.
The Subhumans broke up at the end of 1985, with musical differences being cited as the main reason for the split. However, the band did manage to record their third album, Worlds Apart, before breaking up. A final 12" record (1986's "29:29 Split Vision") was also recorded and released posthumously, and demonstrated just how far the band's musical leanings had altered from their initial hardcore punk stylings. Lucas subsequently joined Culture Shock
Culture Shock (band)
Culture Shock was an anarcho-punk / ska punk band formed in Warminster, Wiltshire, England, in 1986 by Dick Lucas, previously of the Subhumans. Over their four year history the band played hundreds of gigs, including frequent appearances at free festivals, and released three studio albums on the...
in 1986 and then formed the political ska punk
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band Citizen Fish
Citizen Fish
Citizen Fish is a ska punk band that has been together since 1990. The band often makes strong social and political statements, dealing with themes such as anti-consumerism, vegetarianism, questioning the status quo, and encouraging people to get along with one another...
in 1990. A second Subhumans compilation album was released the same year ("Time Flies + Rats"), which comprised the two later EP's absent from the "EP-LP" release.
Subhumans had a brief reunion for a couple of shows in about 1991, and a more comprehensive return in 1998, which included UK
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...
and U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s. This resulted in a semi-permanent return of the band as a touring entity, including at least two major tours of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the twenty-first century - the Live in a Dive recording released on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
being a product of the first. The band also recorded and released a new EP, "Unfinished Business", in 1998, which consists of previous unreleased songs from the band's original incarnation.
Since then, Subhumans have recorded a new album, "Internal Riot", and self-released it on Bluurg Records in September 2007. They toured in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
throughout 2007, and a month-long U.S. tour began on 24 August that year. They have maintained a live presence ever since.
Discography
Studio albums- The Day the Country DiedThe Day the Country Died-Personnel:* Dick Lucas - lead vocals* Bruce Treasure - guitar, backing vocals* Grant Jackson - bass* Trotsky - drums...
(1983) - From the Cradle to the GraveFrom the Cradle to the Grave (album)From the Cradle to the Grave is a 1983 album by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans-Track listing:# "[Untitled Track]" – 0:44# "Forget" – 1:20# "Waste of Breath" – 1:58# "Where’s the Freedom?" – 3:25# "Reality Is Waiting for a Bus" – 2:14...
(1983) - Worlds Apart (1985)
- 29:29 Split Vision (1986)
- Unfinished Business (1998)
- Internal Riot (2007)
Extended plays
- Demolition WarDemolition WarDemolition War is the first extended play released by the anarcho-punk group Subhumans. It was originally released on Spiderleg Records in 1981, and was also released as part of the EP-LP compilation on Bluurg Records in 1985.-Track Listing:...
(1981) - Reasons for ExistenceReasons for ExistenceReasons for Existence is the second extended play released by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans. It was originally released on Spiderleg Records in the spring of 1982, and also as part of the EP-LP release on Bluurg Records in 1985.-Track listing:...
(1982) - Religious WarsReligious Wars (Subhumans album)Religious Wars is the third extended play by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans. It was released on Spiderleg Records in 1982, and rereleased as part of the EP-LP compilation on Bluurg Records in 1985.-Personnel:*Dick Lucas - vocals*Bruce - guitar...
(1982) - Wessex '82Wessex '82The Wessex '82 7" is a split extended play release by UK punk bands The Subhumans, The Pagans, Organised Chaos and The A-Heads. Each band contributes one track to the record...
(1982) (split with the Pagans, Organized Chaos and the A Heads) - Evolution (1983)
- Time Flies... but Aeroplanes CrashTime Flies... But Aeroplanes CrashTime Flies...But Aeroplanes Crash is the fifth extended play by the anarcho-punk band Subhumans. Unlike their previous EP's, "Time Flies..." was released as a 12" record, and features both live and studio tracks - the live tracks being taken from an aborted live album, recorded at Feltham Football...
(1983) - Rats (1984)
- Unfinished Business (1998)
Compilation albums
- EP-LP (1985)
- Time Flies + Rats (1990)
Live albums
- Live in a Dive (2004)
Miscellaneous
- Birmingham Foundry (Video, live at Birmingham Foundry, Barn End 1998)
- Angry Songs and Bitter Words compilation album (a cover version of "Tube Disasters" by Flux of Pink IndiansFlux Of Pink IndiansFlux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
) (Ruptured Ambitions RecordsRuptured Ambitions RecordsRuptured Ambitions Records first began life as a 'do-it-yourself' promotional outfit for punk, and punk-related independent musical ensembles based in the Plymouth and West Devon areas of the UK....
) (2003)
Band members
Current members- Dick LucasDick LucasDick Lucas is the British vocalist of the 1980s British anarcho-punk rock band Subhumans, whom he joined in September 1980, as well as the ska-punk band Citizen Fish, joined in 1990. Before that he had been vocalist in The Mental, from March 1979 to August 1980...
- lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(1980–present) - Bruce Treasure - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- (1980–present) - Phil - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- (1983–present) - Trotsky - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- (1980–present)
Former members
- Steve Lucas - guitar
- Herb - bass (1980-1982)
- Grant Jackson - bass (1982-1983)