Foreign Legion (band)
Encyclopedia
Foreign Legion was a punk
band from South Wales
, often referred to as the longest running punk group in Wales.
. The band released their first EP on their own label 'Rent a Racket'. Their first full-length album entitled 'Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf' was released on the Venture label. During the 80s the band played regular slots in the famous 100 Club
and supported the likes of The Partisans, The Adicts
, Major Accident and Joe Strummer
.
of The Clash
. The band released a few EPs and played around Europe and supported the likes of the Dropkick Murphys, the Templars, NY Relics, UK Subs; USA dates with Major Accident, playing worldwide in venues such as CBGBs (the only Welsh band to ever play the legendary club).
In 2007 Death Valley was recorded, the latest album featuring more new material as well as a re-worked version of the classic 'Message From Nowhere'.
The band recorded an untitled EP in 2008, featuring the final lineup of the band. Re-recording songs written by Mark 'Jolly' Williams from the band's illustrious catalogue, this was the first recording to feature the rhythm section of Noir and Black.
Following an appearance at TJ's in support of Anti-Nowhere League, guitarist Williams posted a statement on the band's myspace announcing his departure - Black and Noir followed, signalling the end of the band.
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 from South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, often referred to as the longest running punk group in Wales.
1984–1991
Foreign Legion formed in 1984 from the ashes of a band called Society (band)Society (band)
Society were a punk rock band formed in 1980 by Cyfarthfa High School students Ian Gravell and Steve Hammett in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The lineup included vocalist Marcus Howells who later formed Foreign Legion ....
. The band released their first EP on their own label 'Rent a Racket'. Their first full-length album entitled 'Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf' was released on the Venture label. During the 80s the band played regular slots in the famous 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
and supported the likes of The Partisans, The Adicts
The Adicts
The Adicts are an English punk band from Ipswich, Suffolk, England. One of the more popular punk rock bands in the 1980s, they were often in the indie charts at that time. Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground. It was also featured in a commercial...
, Major Accident and Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
.
2000–2008
Foreign Legion reformed in 2000, With a lineup consisting of a number of original members,they released a split album with Major Accident called Cry of the Legion; then the band wrote the album What Goes Around, Comes Around (DSS Records) which was produced by Mick JonesMick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. The band released a few EPs and played around Europe and supported the likes of the Dropkick Murphys, the Templars, NY Relics, UK Subs; USA dates with Major Accident, playing worldwide in venues such as CBGBs (the only Welsh band to ever play the legendary club).
In 2007 Death Valley was recorded, the latest album featuring more new material as well as a re-worked version of the classic 'Message From Nowhere'.
The band recorded an untitled EP in 2008, featuring the final lineup of the band. Re-recording songs written by Mark 'Jolly' Williams from the band's illustrious catalogue, this was the first recording to feature the rhythm section of Noir and Black.
Following an appearance at TJ's in support of Anti-Nowhere League, guitarist Williams posted a statement on the band's myspace announcing his departure - Black and Noir followed, signalling the end of the band.
Albums
- Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf (1987)
- Cry of the Legion (2000)
- What Goes Around Comes Around (2002)
- Death Valley (2007)
- Reality bites (2010) Split album with SledgebackSledgebackSledgeback is a Seattle, Washington punk rock band formed in early 2004, with Hungarian born American guitarist Gábor Szakácsi as the front man...
EPs and singles
- "Trenchline" EP (Rent a Racket 1984)
- "Surf City" EP (1987)
- "The Years Gone By" EP
- "Punk Rock Jukebox" (DSS Records)
- Split EP with German band District
- Split EP "Send In the Legion" (2 different covers with French band Paris Violence)
- Split single with Suburban Lockdown USA on Durty Mick Records
- Untitled and Unreleased EP (2008) - Recorded with the final lineup, since appeared bootlegged and miscredited to an offshoot lineup.
Notability
- The only Welsh band to have played in CBGBCBGBCBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
s. - Played with bands such as the Misfits, Dropkick Murphys, Stiff Little Fingers, the Buzzcocks, UK Subs, the Addicts, Agnostic Front and loads more.