Oi Polloi

Oi Polloi are a punk band from Edinburgh, Scotland. Their name comes from the Greek term "hoi polloi".

History

Oi Polloi was formed in 1981 when the members of the band were around 14 years old. The high school they attended had charity "rock concerts" where the students could perform in from time to time. While many of the students were interested in punk rock, these events were dominated by top 40 cover bands. Oi Polloi was formed out of a desire to see some punk rock at these events.

Not long after their formation, Oi Polloi sent a demo tape to Sounds, a magazine that reviewed demo tapes. After the review of their tape appeared, hundreds of people were writing to the band requesting a copy. It was through this that they discovered a whole underground, do it yourself, scene. Oi Polloi started to play more and more gigs and it soon became "too fun to stop".

After a couple more demo tapes, Oi Polloi released their first vinyl recording, "Resist the Atomic Menace," in 1986. One year later the band released their first full length LP, "Unite and Win,"on Oi! Records. Then, in 1988, the band began to tour abroad.

Over the years Oi Polloi has toured extensively throughout Europe and North America. Oi Polloi continued to release music from time to time, with their next full length studio albums appearing in 1990 ("In Defence of our Earth") and 1999 ("Fuaim Catha"). They have also released seven inch EP's about every second year. Oi Polloi has made an effort to keep all their material available and many albums, such as "Fight Back", are compilations of old material from records that are no longer available. The band also released live recordings regularly, most recently in 2003 with "Alive and Kicking."

Music

Some of the earliest musical influences on Oi Polloi were the Cockney Rejects, Blitz, and the 4-Skins. Shortly after the formation of the band Discharge became an influence, musically and lyrically. The current sound of the band still carries a taste of the early Oi! influence, but is generally much faster and harder. Their most recent releases contain just a hint of metal and most would now describe them as crust punk rather than Oi!.

Lyrically, Oi Polloi speak almost exclusively about politics. Environmentalism, animal rights, and anti-racism / anti-fascism are some of the key issues in their songs. However, not all Oi Polloi songs are political. "Anarcho Pie", for example, features a recipe for a tasty vegan treat.

Members

Over the years Oi Polloi has had quite a number of line up changes. Ex-members of the band currently play with The Exploited, Disorder, and The Bus Station Loonies, to name a few. The current line up of the band is:

Deek - Vocals (original member)

Ricky - Guitar

Calum - Bass

Cam - Drums

Despite touring for up to nine months in a year, the members of Oi Polloi do not consider themselves to be a professional band. All members of the band are very busy outside of the band with jobs, volunteer work, and studies. Even while touring the band keeps busy with other things, such as planting trees.

Discography

Full Length Releases (LP's, CD's)

Unite and Win

• Released in 1987 by Oi! Music
• Re-released in 2001 by Step-1 Music
• Released on LP and CD
• CD contains 8 extra tracks that originally appeared on the Skins'n'Punks 7" and the This is Oi! compilation
• Track Listing :
  1. Punx 'N' Skins
  2. We Don't Need Them
  3. Kill The Bill
  4. Lowest Of The Low
  5. Nuclear Waste
  6. Commies And Nazis
  7. Pigs For Slaughter
  (extended mix)
  8. Scum
  9. Thrown On The Scrapheap
  10. Punx Picnic In Princes Street Gardens
  11. Mindless Few
  12. Unite And Win

In Defence of our Earth

• Released in 1990 by Words of Warning
• Released on LP and CD
• CD contains extra tracks from the Omnicide 7"
• LP came with a booklet of Lyrics, art, and writing.
• CD comes with just lyrics and a little art.
• Track Listing:
  1. Thin Green Line
  2. 23 Hours
  3. When Two Men Kiss
  4. Whale Song
  5. What Have We Done
  6. Victim Of A Chemical Spillage
  7. Anarcho - Pie
  8. Clachan Chalanais
  9. Free The Henge
  10. Nazi Scum
  11. World Park Antarctica

Outraged by the Atomic Menace

• Released in 1990 by Words of Warning on LP
• Track Listing :
  • ???

Live in Berlin

• Released in 1994 by Red Rosetten Records
• Track Listing:
  1. Nuclear Waste
  2. Rich Scumbag
  3. Kill The Bill
  4. Free The Henge
  5. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  6. Guilty
  7. Scum
  8. Bash The Fash
  9. The Only Release?
  10. Stop Vivisection Now
  11. Punx Picnic
  12. Greatest Working Class Rip Off (Crass cover)
  13. Victim Of A Chemical Spillage
  14. Break The Mould
  15. A Look At Tomorrow
  16. Helmut Kihl-Fick Dick Selbst!
  17. The Right To Choose
  18. Nazi Scum
  19. When Two Men Kiss

Fight Back

• Released in 1995 by Campary Records on LP
• Later released on CD and cassette by Bastard Records
• Contains the Oi Polloi tracks from the split LP's with AOA and Betrayed
• Note that Oi Polloi themselves do not recommend picking up a copy of the Bastard Records release do to the extremely poor mastering job.
• Track Listing :
  1. Go Green
  2. You Cough/They Profit
  3. Punx Or Mice?
  4. Nuclear Waste
  5. The Only Release?
  6. Apartheid Stinx
  7. Boot Down The Door
  8. Americans Out
  9. Thugs In Uniform
  10. Pigs For Slaughter
  11. Rich Scumbag
  12. Never Give In

Total Anarchoi

• Released in 1996 by Step-1 Music
• Released on LP and CD
• Half studio tracks, half live tracks.
• CD contains a few bonus tracks (*)
• Track Listing :
  1. Nuclear Waste
  2. Boot Down The Door
  3. Pigs For Slaughter
  4. Scum
  5. Thrown On The Scrapheap
  6. Punx Picnic
  7. Mindless Few
  8. Unite And Win
  9. Omnicide
  10. Americans Out
  11. Pigs For Slaugter
  12. Thugs In Uniform
  13. Nazi Scum
  14. Nuclear Waste
  15. Free The Henge
  16. Punx Picnic
  17. State Violence, State Control*
  18. If the Kids are United*

Fuaim Catha

• Released in 1999 on LP by Skuld Records
• Released in 2003 on CD by Combat Rock Industry
• Comes with a 20 page A4 booklet of lyrics, artwork and writing
• Fuaim Catha is Gaelic for "noise of struggle"
• Track Listing
  1. The Earth Is Our Mother
  2. Terra-Ist
  3. Take Back The Land
  4. Religious Con
  5. Don't Burn The Witch
  6. The Right To Choose
  7. Fuck Everybody Who Voted Tory
  8. Sios Leis A' Ghniomhachas Mhoir
  9. G.L.F.
  10. Willie McRae
  11. Deathcafe
  12. Your Beer Is Shit And Your Money Stinks
  13. Sell-Out
  14. No More Roads
  15. Hunt The Rich
  16. Mindrot
  17. Anti-Police Aggro

Six of the Best

• Released in 2002 by Rugger Bugger Discs on CD
• Contains the tracks from six 7" records on CD
• Track Listing:
  1. Punx 'N' Skins
  2. Stop Vivisection Now
  3. Boot Down The Door
  4. No Filthy Nuclear Power
  5. Hands Off Nicaragua
  6. Scum
  7. They Shoot Children Don't They?
  8. Resist The Atomic Menace
  9. Reach For The Light
  10. Dealer In Death
  11. Onmicide
  12. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  13. Die For B.P.
  14. Rich Man's World
  15. Guilty (original version)
  16. Guilty
  17. Break The Mould
  18. John Major - Fuck You
  19. Bash The Fash
  20. The Right To Choose
  21. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  22. When Two Men Kiss
  23. The Only Release?
  24. THC
  25. Sex with Strangers
  26. Simon Weston
  27. Meine Augen

Outraged by the System

• Released by Step-1 Records in 2002
• Track Listing:
  1. Resist the Atomic Menace
  2. Death by Night
  3. Outrage
  4. Thugs in Uniform
  5. Leaders
  6. Minority Authority
  7. Go Green
  8. Scum
  9. They Shoot Children
  10. The Only Release
  11. Foundations for a Future
  12. No Filthy Nuclear Power

Alive and Kicking

• Released in 2003 by Step-1 Music
• Live recording made in 2002.
• Contains several songs that are not available on any other recording at this time
• Track Listing:
  1. Americans Out
  2. Free the Henge
  3. Nuclear Waste
  4. When Two Men Kiss
  5. Kill the Bill
  6. The Only Release
  7. Let the Boots do the Talking
  8. Victims of a Gas Attack
  9. THC
  10. Don't Burn the Witch
  11. Wille McRea
  12. They Shoot Children Don't They
  13. Boot Down the Door
  14. Guilty
  15. George Bush Fuck You
  16. The Right to Choose
  17. Nazi Scum
  18. Punx Picnic
  19. and more...

Split LP's

Unlimited Genocide

• Released in 1986 by COR Records on LP
• Split with AOA
• Track Listing:
  1. Go Green
  2. You Cough/They Profit
  3. Punx Or Mice?
  4. Nuclear Waste
  5. The Only Release?
  6. Apartheid Stinx

Skins'N'Punks Volume Two

• Released in 1987 by Oi! Records on LP
• Split with Betrayed
• Track Listing:
  1. Boot Down The Door
  2. Americans Out
  3. Thugs In Uniform
  4. Pigs For Slaughter
  5. Rich Scumbag
  6. Never Give In

Mad as Fuck

• Released in 1987 by Green Vomit Records
• Split with Toxik Ephex
• Track Listing :
  1. Go Green
  2. Scum
  3. Minority Authority
  4. They Shoot Children, Don't They?
  5. The Only Release?
  6. Foundations For A Future
  7. No Filthy Nuclear Power

Singles, EP's etc.

Resist the Atomic Menace

• Released in 1986 by Endangared Musik.
• Re-released in 1994 by Campary Records
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Oi Polloi's first vinyl release
• Track Listing:
  1. Hands Off Nicaragua
  2. Scum
  3. They Shoot Children Don't They?
  4. Resist The Atomic Menace
  5. Reach For The Light

Outrage

• Released in 1988 by Words of Warning
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing:
  1. Outrage
  2. Thugs In Uniform
  3. Resist The Atomic Menace
  4. Death by Night

Omnicide

• Released in 1991 on Words of Warning
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing:
  1. Dealer In Death
  2. Onmicide
  3. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  4. Die For B.P.

Guilty

• Released in 1993 by Ruptured Ambitions
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing:
  1. Guilty
  2. Break The Mould
  3. John Major - Fuck You
  4. Bash The Fash

Self Titled

• Released in 1994 by Nikt Nic Nie Wie
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing:
  1. The Right To Choose
  2. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  3. When Two Men Kiss
  4. The Only Release?

Right to Choose

• Released in 1994
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Split with Blown Apart Bastards
• Track Listing :
  1. The Right to Choose
  2. Victims of a Gas Attack

Punks'N'Skins

• Released in 1996 by Fight 45 Records
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing:
  1. Punx 'N' Skins
  2. Stop Vivisection Now
  3. Boot Down The Door
  4. No Filthy Nuclear Power

THC

• Released in 1998 by Campary Records
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Track Listing :
  1. THC
  2. Sex with Strangers
  3. Simon Weston
  4. Meine Augen

Let the Boots Do the Talking

• Released in 1999 by Ruptured Ambitions
• Released on 7" vinyl
• Comes with a 16 page booklet that includes:
  • Lyrics
  • Dis-band song generator
  • Lots of writing from Oi Polloi
  • Artwork, news clippings, and so on...
• Track Listing :
  1. It Doesn't Have to be like This
  2. Let the Boots do the Talking
  3. Stay Alert
  4. Fuck the National Lottery
  5. Threshers - Fuck off!

Tapes (Demo, live, etc)

Destroi the System

• 1985 Self Released demo tape
• Track Listing :
  1. Punx 'N' Skinz
  2. Thugs In Uniform
  3. Never Give In
  4. Minority Authority
  5. Boot Down The Door
  6. Stop Vivisection Now
  7. Skinhead
  8. Pigs For Slaughter
  9. No Filthy Nuclear Power

Green Anarchoi

• Self Released Demo Tape, 198?
• Track Listing :
  1. Go Green
  2. You Cough They Profit
  3. Punx Or Mice
  4. Nuclear Waste
  5. The Only Release
  6. Apartheid Stinks

Live Worldwide

• Released in 1992 by Ruptured Ambitions
• Track Listing:
  1. Americans Out
  2. Nuclear Waste
  3. Thugs In Uniform
  4. Albert Reynolds
  5. Die For B.P.
  6. No Survivors
  7. Pigs For Slaughter
  8. Victim Of A Gas Attack
  9. Victim Of A Chemical Spillage
  10. The Only Release
  11. Fuck The Poll Tax
  12. Punx Picnic
  13. Resist The Atomic Menace
  14. Thin Green Line
  15. Scum
  16. Does The System Work?
  17. 23 Hours
  18. Americans Out
  19. Nazi Scum
  20. When Two Men Kiss
  21. Free The Henge
  22. A Look At Tomorrow
  23. Nuclear Waste
  24. State Violence, State Control
  25. Sceptre Of The Universe
  26. Victim Of A Gas Attack
  27. Punx Picnic
  28. Does The System Work?
  29. John Major - Fuck You
  30. Pigs For Slaughter
  31. If The Kids Are United

Live at the Z Club

• Released in 1994 by Ruptured Ambitions
• Track Listing:
  1. Resist The Atomic Menace
  2. Pigs For Slaughter
  3. Nuclear Waste
  4. Punx Picnic
  5. The Greatest Working Class Rip-Off
  6. The Only Release?
  7. Rich Scumbag
  8. Victims Of A Gas Attack
  9. Stop Vivisection Now!
  10. Bash The Fash
  11. When Two Men Kiss
  12. Guilty
  13. Kill The Bill
  14. Hun The Rich
  15. Free The Henge
  16. Helmut Kohl
  17. The Right To Choose
  18. Nazi Scum
  19. If The Kids Are United

Sources:

http://www.punkoiuk.co.uk/frames.htm?http&&&www.punkoiuk.co.uk/interviews/oipolloi.htm

http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/sharpnovara/oi_polloi.htm

R'lyeh Rising Fanzine #4