Hands Off Nicaragua / Scum / They Shoot Children Don’t They?
Resist The Atomic Menace / Reach For The Light
(Chris Low collection)
Scorching debut 7″ single from Oi Polloi, a band that are brutally honest in what they believe in, and as human beings are not afraid to sometimes break down doors or pull down fences to get the personal messages across.
Oi Polloi are massive supporters of Earth, humanitarian, and animal rights issues, throwing themselves into all kind of benefit gigs world wide whenever the band can.
Wikki pee duh text below, one small mistake though, ‘Pigs For Slaughter’ was an Apostles track that Oi Polloi covered, not a track written by David Rat Connolly as far as I know.
Oi Polloi’s first studio recording was a demo entitled Destroi the System, which is believed to have been released in 1984 or 1985. After the now defunct music weekly Sounds gave their previous home-recorded demo a favourable review, demand increased for gigs further afield. A second studio demo, Green Anarchoi followed before the release of the first vinyl offering, Resist the Atomic Menace. The line-up of the group has starred an impressive fifty members since their formation, making up the countless incarnations of the band. The band is currently based in Scotland.
Attacking world leaders and multi-national companies with humour and anger in different languages The band holds a political view which some call ultra-hardline ecologism, with the motto “No compromise in defence of our earth”. They support direct action in defence of the environment, and endorse resistance against racialism, fascism and imperialism. They are considered by many to be one of the premier faces of anarcho-punk. They have recently started singing in Scottish Gaelic and use the language in day to day communications. They see the use of Gaelic and other endangered languages as important to maintaining the biocultural diversity of life. They recently toured Europe with Seattle-based punk band Mill a h-Uile Rud who sing entirely in Scots Gaelic. Singer Derek has recently become involved in Gaelic television and has appeared as Moses on a Gaelic comedy programme. Despite what some believe, the band did not start out as a “skinhead band” but was in fact formed by a bunch of teenage schoolkids (with a long haired lead singer who had a fear of skinheads!!) who played their first gig at Stewarts Melville College in Edinburgh in late 1981. After numerous other gigs in the Edinburgh area and the recording of the group’s first cassette demo “Last of the Mohicans” on a home hi-fi, drummer Stu “Doccy” Dunn left to become a karate instructor and was replaced by Muz who later recorded with the Apostles. Apostles and Political Asylum original drummer Chris Low also did a stint on the kit for a time while various other one time Oi Polloi members went on to play in such varied bands as Disorder, Exploited, Gin Goblins, Newtown Grunts, Moniack and In Decades Decline. Drummer Murray Briggs who played on several of the band’s 7” records as well as the “Fuaim Catha” LP now plays in Scottish Indie band Aberfeldy along with brother Riley who himself had a brief spell as Oi Polloi guitarist back in the ’90s. David ‘Rat’ Connolly was the guitarist through much of the early years, playing his last gig and album in 1991. Rat wrote the music for classic songs such as Pigs for Slaughter and Boot down the Door, he went on to become an Archaeologist and Middle Eastern adventurer.
The name Oi Polloi is a greeklish(Greek with Latin characters) spelled noun (Greek : Οι πολλοί). It’s literal meaning is “the many”, however it is extended to mean “the masses” or “the common people”. Oi! also refers to a form of punk music.
p
September 14, 2008 at 7:21 pmthis is Siekiera original line-up, not Oi Polloi on photo. Siekiera is however worth a note here. Cheers
Martin C
September 14, 2008 at 10:07 pmTheir version of ‘Pigs’ has a different tune and lyrics, the only thing in common is the ‘We’re taking no more…’ bit in the chorus. ‘Unite and Win”s a great Oi! album, ‘Commies and Nazis’ is a top tune. Couldn’t stand their later stuff though
Chris
September 14, 2008 at 11:50 pmI’ll check with Deek if it’s OK and if so get you the studio tape of the “Unite & Win” LP as I drummed on side one of that, plus a few other recordings.
Actually, the Oi Polloi lyrics to ‘PFS’ do share a few lines with the original but are more an ‘adaptation’ of the original Apostles words than anything; “go to Kensington…” ,for instance, being changed to Edinburgh’s affluent “Morningside” in the Polloi version.
Personally, I think they have just got better and better over the years and are without doubt one of the best and most entertainling live acts you are ever likely to see. They were absolutely blinding at the Chats palace AFA benefit the other month. Even if the music isn’t someone’s cup of tea I couldn’t urge them strongly enough to catch them live. Deek truly is the James Brown of punk!
Penguin • Post Author •
September 15, 2008 at 12:30 amWill change the photo for something more suitable, as usual I was rushed when uploading this post. If anyone has a photo of the 1986 (five piece?) line up that recorded this session then please get in touch. Chris?
Martin C
September 15, 2008 at 3:29 amAh right, I stagger corrected! I think it’d definitely be worth uploading – how many other oi! albums do you get with references to dry roast peanuts full of ‘mother nature’s protein’? Maybe being a bit harsh, it’s just I kind of zone out when things go hardcore/thrash, unless it’s really dumb and/or funny. Deek deserves respect for constantly speaking out against the boneheads and sticking to his shooters.
Penguin • Post Author •
September 15, 2008 at 9:18 amOK media fire or persons unknown seem to have deleted the files on this post. Not sure how or why. I have changed my password now in case someone sussed it and decided to edit my work. If any of the other posts are affected then I am probably going to give up on posting stuff.
Will reinsert these files now. Please let me know if any other files are affected.
Chris
September 15, 2008 at 12:49 pmPenguin: Will change the photo for something more suitable, as usual I was rushed when uploading this post.
Howzabout one of Catweasel? that’s pretty much how Deek looks these says 😉 but send me a txt msg tonight to remind me and i’ll send you some Oi Polloi pics from this period.
Martin C: it’s just I kind of zone out when things go hardcore/thrash.
Yea, me n’all. Have never liked that style of music. Love Discharge & Peni but nothing thrashier than that and in fact forgot that Oi Polloi even do stuff like that I always skip those songs on the records and they don’t do many of them live.
Chris
September 16, 2008 at 12:14 amBy the way, that gig with Instigators and HDQ thee’s the flyer for above was the first date on Oi Polloi’s first European tour which I drummed on. This gig was filmed and we went back to stay with the guy who filmed it. If anyone might have an idea who that might be or where I could get a copy of the video that would be great.
Penguin • Post Author •
September 16, 2008 at 1:15 amTry Simon (of Suicidal Supermarket Trolleys) now in New York. Think I saw him filming the bands that night Chris. Google the band name and see if you get lucky.
Frankenstein
September 16, 2008 at 1:23 amI am in still in touch with Simon, having been in the Trolleys – let me know how to get in touch with you and I can send you contact info…..
chris
September 16, 2008 at 11:22 amYes!! Simon of Suicidal Supermarket Trolleys! That’s the boy! Please pass on my email or his via this site so I can get in touch to see if he still has a copy. Many thanks. Chris
Simon Trolley
September 18, 2008 at 3:57 pmAhhhh, i remember that gig well ! I remember that we built a bonfire in my backyard after the gig, and burnt everything and anything all night, including the garden fence. My neighbors were not happy the next day ! And correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember Oi Polloi referred to their little European jaunt as “The Tartex Tour”, due to the band having dozens of tubes of the yummy vegetarian taste bud tickler in their bags. Got some photos of us all in the backyard burning shit, surrounded by lots of broken tv’s, but I’m not sure about the video. Have a feeling the audio came out distorted (much like my memory). I do have a video of Oi Polloi playing with Chaos UK the Sunday after the Punks Picnic in Edinburgh at a place called the Venue. 1989 perhaps ? I don’t know it’s all a blur. Great band, and a great bunch of people that i have a lot of respect for.
Penguin • Post Author •
September 19, 2008 at 12:33 amHi Simon hope you are well, have not seen you since I lived with Pete Alberto, Clair and new born Alice in Wood Green. You lived with Jasper (I think) and that lovely american punkette (cant remember the name sorry!)You are in New York now…hope that is working out for you. Saw a website with you still looking pretty spikey some time ago.
Chris
September 19, 2008 at 10:10 pmhaha, yes, “Tartex Tour” indeed. I lost count of how many tubes of that I must have nicked from the local health food shop. That and these cartons of chocolate custard. Think we lived on a combination of both round Europe and back again!!
Would love to see those piccies from the bonfire. I’ve sent you an e-mail.
But I recall the video being fine. Anyway, who cares how we sounded, I for one, just wanna see how fresh-faced I looked 20+ years ago!!
Cadillac
September 21, 2008 at 7:56 pmOi Oi Polloi mas episkeytikan prin ligo kero sti Thessaloniki kai omologo pos itan super
That was Greeklish
Simon Trolley
September 22, 2008 at 8:30 amUmmm….. yes…. and i second the motion ! More Greeklish – the cradle of our civilization.
Chris
August 20, 2010 at 3:15 am@ Simon Trolley, just remembered this thread. Any joy with finding that video or the photos you took? Would love to see them.
Incidentally, that photo of an early OI Polloi above was taken at a party in one of their mates called Jason’s bedroom in summer 1984 with original guitarist Gav and Rat on bass.
DEKADENCIA G
October 15, 2010 at 2:46 pmhola tony(HI)..very thanks for you things for my book,very very thanks.
Please,you have one mail of OI POLLOI?CITIZEN FISH?and others olds bands for make direct contact with theys for the book. bye friend…DEKADENCIA G
R Sole
September 9, 2024 at 11:30 amNot that it matters, but Oi Polloi often rewrite the same song , pigs for slaughter ended up having completely different lyrics from the version which borrowed from The Apostles (that was on destroi the system) … I wish they’d still play John Major fuck you!