Fokofpolisiekar
Encyclopedia
Fokofpolisiekar is an Afrikaans punk rock
band
from Bellville, near Cape Town
, South Africa. Due to the obscenity in the name, they are also commonly known simply as Polisiekar ("Police car") or FPK.
Afrikaans community with its name and also the notion of an Afrikaans punk band. All the members were well known in local underground music circles from their work in the bands New World Inside, 7th Breed and 22 Stars. They released their first EP, As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand
(If You Play With Fire You Will Get Burned) soon after forming, and one of its tracks, Hemel op die Platteland (Heaven in the Countryside) made history when it became the first Afrikaans song to be officially playlisted on national radio station
5FM
. Their first complete album
, Lugsteuring
, produced by John Paul De Stefani, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 with another EP, Monoloog In Stereo
(Monologue in Stereo). In 2006 they released both an EP, Brand Suid-Afrika
(Burn South Africa), and, a new album Swanesang
(Swan Song), that included the hit single "Brand Suid-Afrika".
In late 2005, drummer Jaco Venter jumped out of a moving vehicle while the band was touring through South Africa. He suffered multiple injuries and was replaced by Justin Kruger, who was previously the drummer for ultra-conservative Christian band, Neshamah. He ended up working on their Brand Suid-Afrika album, as well as some tracks on the band's latest album, Swanesang.
After their first EP As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand, and an even more popular full-length album, Lugsteuring
, the following album Monoloog In Stereo
went in a more acoustic rock direction, contrasting the punk rock feel of their first album. Brand Suid-Afrika had the band return to their punk rock roots. Swanesang, their last full-length album, is a mixed bag of punk and acoustic elements, featuring less controversial lyrics than their previous albums. They have also recorded a cover version of Depeche Mode
's Shake the Disease
for the South African Depeche Mode tribute album Mode of Obscurity. In September 2008 the band released an EP/DVD entitled Antibiotika, which was recorded at Belville Studios in Cape Town. The EP features 4 new tracks, as well as a DVD featuring all of the band's music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming documentary based on the band.
In 2009, a documentary about the band was released. "Fokofpolisiekar: Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do" premiered at the 2009 Encounters International Documentary Film Festival in July, where it won the "Audience Award". It was released nationwide in theatres across South Africa on 23 October 2009.
Fokofpolisiekar have performed at various venues throughout South Africa, and in October 2005 the band toured the United Kingdom. They also toured Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom during November 2006.
. The band's earlier material is widely regarded as heavily influenced by bands such as Alkaline Trio. At the Stellenbosch launch of the "Monoloog in Stereo" EP, Francois Van Coke commented that they were very impressed with a Queens of the Stone Age
DVD that they watched earlier that day, although it was noted in a review of "Monoloog in Stereo" that the band's sound on the EP had evolved rapidly and had begun to resemble bands like The Get Up Kids.
The band mostly performs music that can be classified as either punk rock or alternative rock
, varying somewhat between albums and songs. A common theme throughout their music is commentary on all aspects of South African life, but in particular the socio-political situation Afrikaans-speaking South Africans currently find themselves in. The band also delves into the issue of religion and whether it still has any place left in Afrikaans culture, with songs ranging from what some might consider blasphemous, to introspective songs wherein the band question their own views on religion.
They have matured musically with every album released, with their early albums being very raw and punky, to the release of "Swanesang" which was a more alternative rock-styled delivery. Songs like "Heiden Heiland", "Prioritiseer", "Brand Suid-Afrika" and "Backstage" off Swanesang displayed a more mature style of songwriting, as well as more complex studio production (such as the use of a vocoder to fill out Van Coke's singing). Swanesang was recorded at B-Sharp Studio's in Boksburg, South Africa and was co-produced by Johnny De Ridder. The album was released in September 2006.
The bands latest EP/DVD Antibiotika is a progression on the sounds the band explored with Swanesang while also hinting at the strong influence other projects like aKing and Van Coke Kartel have brought to the Fokofpolisiekar sound. The EP was recorded at Belville Studio's in Cape Town, South Africa and as with Swanesang was co-produced by Johnny De Ridder.
Much outrage has also been expressed by the Christian
community in South-Africa over the use of allegedly "anti-religious" lyrics in many of the bands songs. Lyrics such as "Kan iemand dalk 'n god bel/En vir hom sê ons het hom nie meer nodig nie," directly translated as "Could somebody phone a god/And tell him we don't need him anymore," (from their hit song "Hemel Op Die Platteland") has been met with some resistance from Christian groups.
In 2004 the band were involved in a bar fight when a group of men recognized them and insulted Van Coke, calling him a "faggot". Since then the band has earned a reputation for fistfights that often break out at their CD launches and gigs. Another example is the CD launch of Lugsteuring, where the band had to jump off the stage to help stop a fight.
Controversy surrounding the band peaked in April 2006, when bass guitarist Myburgh wrote the words "fok god" ("fuck god") on the wallet of a fan while they were discussing religion. This occurred in the early hours of the morning when he was intoxicated after a show. Religious leaders from all over South-Africa used various media (including radio interviews and letters to newspapers) to express their disapproval of the band's religious sentiment. This almost resulted in the band being excluded from the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival
. In the end the band was allowed to play on the condition that the words "fok god" not be sung in any of their songs. The band later asked the public to forgive them, as that would be "...what Jesus would have done".
Some of the recent controversy surrounding the band came from the video for the single "Brand Suid-Afrika" which hints at homosexuality
, alcoholism
, racism
and anarchism
.
Yet despite the controversy surrounding their music (and to some extent because of it) the band remains highly popular in South Africa, drawing large crowds wherever they perform. They are also one of the most requested bands on the South African music television channel MK.
Van Coke began performing acoustic sets in Stellenbosch under his own name in the last half of 2007, alongside Laudo Liebenberg, before they both set out on their own new bands.
Wynand Myburgh and Francois van Coke began a new endeavor, Van Coke Kartel with drummer Justin Kruger. Their self-titled debut album Van Coke Kartel was released in December 2007, with the follow-up album Waaksaam & Wakker being released in September 2008.
Jaco Venter and Hunter Kennedy have formed a new band, aKING, along with Hennie van Halen and Laudo Liebenberg who performed with Van Coke on his acoustic sets. Their debut album, Dutch Courage, was released in February 2008 and has gone on to be arguably the most successful of all the Fokofpolisiekar off shoot bands.
Hunter Kennedy, Johnny De Ridder and Pierre Greeff have formed a new group, Die Heuwels Fantasties
, which has an electronic sound in the vein of The Postal Service
. In December 2007 they announced plans to release their first EP through their own label, Supra Familias. Johnny De Ridder is also the producer. They released an self-titled full length album in march 2009 under their Supra Familias Label.
Fokofpolisiekar still regularly perform at various concerts and festivals normally on the same bill as aKING and Van Coke Kartel. In September 2008 the band released an EP of new material after originally toying with the idea of releasing a "greatest hits" compilation. A lot of fans have questioned if the band are still on a hiatus or rather just being selective over the amount of shows and press they do.
In September 2009, their vocalist Francois Van Coke had an interview with HeadbangToday.com in which he said: "We're not on a break anymore. We are doing 2-5 shows a month, but more festivals and bigger shows. After the release of ‘Antibiotika’, we would really like to do another full length album, probably next year."
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Bellville, near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa. Due to the obscenity in the name, they are also commonly known simply as Polisiekar ("Police car") or FPK.
Band history
The band was formed in April 2003, initially as a joke to shock the mostly conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Afrikaans community with its name and also the notion of an Afrikaans punk band. All the members were well known in local underground music circles from their work in the bands New World Inside, 7th Breed and 22 Stars. They released their first EP, As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand
As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand
"As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand", directly translated to "if you play with fire you will burn," is the debut CD of the South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It is an eight track EP released in 2003 by Rhythm Records in South Africa...
(If You Play With Fire You Will Get Burned) soon after forming, and one of its tracks, Hemel op die Platteland (Heaven in the Countryside) made history when it became the first Afrikaans song to be officially playlisted on national radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
5FM
5FM
5FM is a South African FM radio station that follows a Top 40 music format and is owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation , South Africa's public broadcaster...
. Their first complete album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Lugsteuring
Lugsteuring
Lugsteuring is the first full length album from the South African alternative rock band Fokofpolisiekar...
, produced by John Paul De Stefani, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 with another EP, Monoloog In Stereo
Monoloog in Stereo
Monoloog in Stereo is a 6 track EP by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. The album contains 6 tracks with a playtime of 23:18. It was released in 2005....
(Monologue in Stereo). In 2006 they released both an EP, Brand Suid-Afrika
Brand Suid-Afrika
"Brand Suid-Afrika", which can directly be translated to "Burn South Africa," is a 4-track CD single by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It was released by Rhythm Records in 2006 and includes a music video of a previously released single, "Hemel Op Die Platteland "...
(Burn South Africa), and, a new album Swanesang
Swanesang
Swanesang is the second full length album by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It was released in 2006 by Rhythm Records and is 45:33 minutes long. It is not as heavy as previous albums and contains more melodic and alternative sounds...
(Swan Song), that included the hit single "Brand Suid-Afrika".
In late 2005, drummer Jaco Venter jumped out of a moving vehicle while the band was touring through South Africa. He suffered multiple injuries and was replaced by Justin Kruger, who was previously the drummer for ultra-conservative Christian band, Neshamah. He ended up working on their Brand Suid-Afrika album, as well as some tracks on the band's latest album, Swanesang.
After their first EP As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand, and an even more popular full-length album, Lugsteuring
Lugsteuring
Lugsteuring is the first full length album from the South African alternative rock band Fokofpolisiekar...
, the following album Monoloog In Stereo
Monoloog in Stereo
Monoloog in Stereo is a 6 track EP by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. The album contains 6 tracks with a playtime of 23:18. It was released in 2005....
went in a more acoustic rock direction, contrasting the punk rock feel of their first album. Brand Suid-Afrika had the band return to their punk rock roots. Swanesang, their last full-length album, is a mixed bag of punk and acoustic elements, featuring less controversial lyrics than their previous albums. They have also recorded a cover version of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's Shake the Disease
Shake the Disease
"Shake the Disease" is Depeche Mode's thirteenth UK single , and was not released on an actual studio album but was released on the compilation The Singles in the same year, along with "It's Called a Heart". It reached #18 in the UK singles chart...
for the South African Depeche Mode tribute album Mode of Obscurity. In September 2008 the band released an EP/DVD entitled Antibiotika, which was recorded at Belville Studios in Cape Town. The EP features 4 new tracks, as well as a DVD featuring all of the band's music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming documentary based on the band.
In 2009, a documentary about the band was released. "Fokofpolisiekar: Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do" premiered at the 2009 Encounters International Documentary Film Festival in July, where it won the "Audience Award". It was released nationwide in theatres across South Africa on 23 October 2009.
Fokofpolisiekar have performed at various venues throughout South Africa, and in October 2005 the band toured the United Kingdom. They also toured Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom during November 2006.
Band members
- Francois Badenhorst – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Johnny de Ridder – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Hunter Kennedy – back-up vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Wynand Myburgh – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jaco "Snakehead" Venter – 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 ....
- Justin Kruger – Touring drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Music style
Even though the band has a unique sound, especially when compared to other Afrikaans bands, their more recent albums have hinted at being inspired by bands such as Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
. The band's earlier material is widely regarded as heavily influenced by bands such as Alkaline Trio. At the Stellenbosch launch of the "Monoloog in Stereo" EP, Francois Van Coke commented that they were very impressed with a Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
DVD that they watched earlier that day, although it was noted in a review of "Monoloog in Stereo" that the band's sound on the EP had evolved rapidly and had begun to resemble bands like The Get Up Kids.
The band mostly performs music that can be classified as either punk rock or alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, varying somewhat between albums and songs. A common theme throughout their music is commentary on all aspects of South African life, but in particular the socio-political situation Afrikaans-speaking South Africans currently find themselves in. The band also delves into the issue of religion and whether it still has any place left in Afrikaans culture, with songs ranging from what some might consider blasphemous, to introspective songs wherein the band question their own views on religion.
They have matured musically with every album released, with their early albums being very raw and punky, to the release of "Swanesang" which was a more alternative rock-styled delivery. Songs like "Heiden Heiland", "Prioritiseer", "Brand Suid-Afrika" and "Backstage" off Swanesang displayed a more mature style of songwriting, as well as more complex studio production (such as the use of a vocoder to fill out Van Coke's singing). Swanesang was recorded at B-Sharp Studio's in Boksburg, South Africa and was co-produced by Johnny De Ridder. The album was released in September 2006.
The bands latest EP/DVD Antibiotika is a progression on the sounds the band explored with Swanesang while also hinting at the strong influence other projects like aKing and Van Coke Kartel have brought to the Fokofpolisiekar sound. The EP was recorded at Belville Studio's in Cape Town, South Africa and as with Swanesang was co-produced by Johnny De Ridder.
Controversy
The band has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. Initially, radio stations were hesitant to play the band's tracks because of the profane "Fokof" ("fuck off") in the band's name. The nickname Polisiekar ("police car") was soon adopted by that part of the mainstream media who did not want to pronounce the full name in fear of objection from the public.Much outrage has also been expressed by the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community in South-Africa over the use of allegedly "anti-religious" lyrics in many of the bands songs. Lyrics such as "Kan iemand dalk 'n god bel/En vir hom sê ons het hom nie meer nodig nie," directly translated as "Could somebody phone a god/And tell him we don't need him anymore," (from their hit song "Hemel Op Die Platteland") has been met with some resistance from Christian groups.
In 2004 the band were involved in a bar fight when a group of men recognized them and insulted Van Coke, calling him a "faggot". Since then the band has earned a reputation for fistfights that often break out at their CD launches and gigs. Another example is the CD launch of Lugsteuring, where the band had to jump off the stage to help stop a fight.
Controversy surrounding the band peaked in April 2006, when bass guitarist Myburgh wrote the words "fok god" ("fuck god") on the wallet of a fan while they were discussing religion. This occurred in the early hours of the morning when he was intoxicated after a show. Religious leaders from all over South-Africa used various media (including radio interviews and letters to newspapers) to express their disapproval of the band's religious sentiment. This almost resulted in the band being excluded from the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival
Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is an Afrikaans language arts festival that takes place yearly in the South African town of Oudtshoorn. The festival includes both the visual and the performing arts and is officially recognized by the South African government as a national arts festival...
. In the end the band was allowed to play on the condition that the words "fok god" not be sung in any of their songs. The band later asked the public to forgive them, as that would be "...what Jesus would have done".
Some of the recent controversy surrounding the band came from the video for the single "Brand Suid-Afrika" which hints at homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
.
Yet despite the controversy surrounding their music (and to some extent because of it) the band remains highly popular in South Africa, drawing large crowds wherever they perform. They are also one of the most requested bands on the South African music television channel MK.
Hiatus
On 13 March 2007, Myburgh announced the hiatus of Fokofpolisiekar in the Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, saying, "All of us want to do our own thing, such as Johnny who wants to start producing, and Francois and myself who are doing our own solo projects."Van Coke began performing acoustic sets in Stellenbosch under his own name in the last half of 2007, alongside Laudo Liebenberg, before they both set out on their own new bands.
Wynand Myburgh and Francois van Coke began a new endeavor, Van Coke Kartel with drummer Justin Kruger. Their self-titled debut album Van Coke Kartel was released in December 2007, with the follow-up album Waaksaam & Wakker being released in September 2008.
Jaco Venter and Hunter Kennedy have formed a new band, aKING, along with Hennie van Halen and Laudo Liebenberg who performed with Van Coke on his acoustic sets. Their debut album, Dutch Courage, was released in February 2008 and has gone on to be arguably the most successful of all the Fokofpolisiekar off shoot bands.
Hunter Kennedy, Johnny De Ridder and Pierre Greeff have formed a new group, Die Heuwels Fantasties
Die heuwels fantasties
-Name:Die Heuwels Fantasties is an Afrikaans electronic band from Bellville, South Africa.Die Heuwels Fantasties is composed of Hunter Kennedy , Pierre Greeff , and Johnny de Ridder .-First Album, Die Heuwels Fantasties:Their...
, which has an electronic sound in the vein of The Postal Service
The Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
. In December 2007 they announced plans to release their first EP through their own label, Supra Familias. Johnny De Ridder is also the producer. They released an self-titled full length album in march 2009 under their Supra Familias Label.
Fokofpolisiekar still regularly perform at various concerts and festivals normally on the same bill as aKING and Van Coke Kartel. In September 2008 the band released an EP of new material after originally toying with the idea of releasing a "greatest hits" compilation. A lot of fans have questioned if the band are still on a hiatus or rather just being selective over the amount of shows and press they do.
In September 2009, their vocalist Francois Van Coke had an interview with HeadbangToday.com in which he said: "We're not on a break anymore. We are doing 2-5 shows a month, but more festivals and bigger shows. After the release of ‘Antibiotika’, we would really like to do another full length album, probably next year."
Discography
- As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy BrandAs Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand"As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand", directly translated to "if you play with fire you will burn," is the debut CD of the South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It is an eight track EP released in 2003 by Rhythm Records in South Africa...
EP 2003 - LugsteuringLugsteuringLugsteuring is the first full length album from the South African alternative rock band Fokofpolisiekar...
2004 - Monoloog In StereoMonoloog in StereoMonoloog in Stereo is a 6 track EP by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. The album contains 6 tracks with a playtime of 23:18. It was released in 2005....
EP 2005 - Brand Suid-AfrikaBrand Suid-Afrika"Brand Suid-Afrika", which can directly be translated to "Burn South Africa," is a 4-track CD single by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It was released by Rhythm Records in 2006 and includes a music video of a previously released single, "Hemel Op Die Platteland "...
Single 2006 - SwanesangSwanesangSwanesang is the second full length album by South African punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. It was released in 2006 by Rhythm Records and is 45:33 minutes long. It is not as heavy as previous albums and contains more melodic and alternative sounds...
2006 - AntibiotikaAntibiotikaAntibiotika is the 2008 double CD by the Afrikaans South African band Fokofpolisiekar. It contains 4 tracks and 8 music videos of previous releases with a trailer of the upcoming Fokofpolisiekar Documentary.- Tracks :Disk 1 / CD:...
EP 2008 - Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Do 2010