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Savage Republic

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Savage Republic
Also known asAfrica Corps (1980–1982)
Democratique et Populaire de Sauvage
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPost-punk, art punk, industrial
Years active1980–1983, 1984–1989, 2002–present
LabelsIndependent Project Records, Sordide Sentimental, Fundamental, PIAS Recordings, Nate Starkman & Son, Mobilization Records, Staalplaat, A Silent Place, LTM Recordings
SpinoffsFinal Republic
Wonder
MembersThom Fuhrmann
Ethan Port
Alan Waddington
Kerry Dowling
Past membersBruce Licher
Mark Erskine
Jackson Del Rey
Jeff Long
Robert Loveless
Greg Grunke
Brad Laner
Joel Connell
Sterling Fox
Val Haller
Jack Housen

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.

The group reformed in 2002 and remains active with a different lineup.

History

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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

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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

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Current members

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  • 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

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  • 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

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Guest musicians

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  • 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

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Studio albums

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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

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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

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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

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Date Title Label
2002 Complete Studio Box Set Mobilization Records
2010 Procession: An Aural History 1981-2010 LTM Recordings

Home videos

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Date Title Label
1988 Disarmament Atavistic

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, pp. 490-491
  2. ^ a b c d e Enthal, Andrea & Robbins, Ira "Savage Republic", Trouser Press. Retrieved March 22, 2013
  3. ^ a b c d e f Unterberger, Richie "Savage Republic Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2013
  4. ^ "Savage Republic : Biography". Ltmrecordings.com. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. ^ Unterberger, Richie (1999) Music USA: The Rough Guide, Rough Guides, ISBN 978-1858284217, p. 402
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