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 The band was originally named Africa Corps, and was formed by UCLA students Bruce Licher (guitar) and Mark Erskine (drums/percussion).Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, , pp. 490-491 They were joined by Philip Drucker (aka Jackson Del Rey), Robert Loveless, and Jeff Long.Enthal, Andrea & Robbins, Ira "Savage Republic", Trouser Press. Retrieved March 22, 2013 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.Unterberger, Richie "Savage Republic Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2013 Licher was also responsible for the group's sleeve designs, which were hand-letterpressed and numbered by him.
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.
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. Tragic Figures was issued in Europe in 1984 on the Sordide Sentimental label. A 7-inch EP of material recorded in 1981, Tragic Figure, was also issued that year.
In April of 1983, the band took part in the Mojave Exodus gig. In advance of the show, audiences gathered in a vacant parking lot in downtown Los Angeles, boarding a bus for a three hour drive to the gig's secret location: a dry lakebed in the Mojave desert.
The band returned in 1985 with the album Ceremonial, followed in 1986 with the Trudge EP. A live double album was released in 1987. 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.
Licher continued to run his label, and received a Grammy nomination for the artwork for For Against's debut album. He formed Scenic in the mid-1990s, a group that also featured Loveless and former Shiva Burlesque member James Brenner. Laner went on to form Medicine.
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.
Musical style 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". Unusual percussion was a large part of their sound, incorporating oil cans and metal pipes. 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". When the band reformed in 1985 they incorporated more Arabic influences. Later work also incorporated Greek influences. The band's music was described in Music USA: The Rough Guide as "hypnotic post-modern raga-rock instrumentals" and "clattering noise-rock jams".Unterberger, Richie (1999) Music USA: The Rough Guide, Rough Guides, , p. 402
Members Current members 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 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 Kendra Smith – percussion, bass guitar (1981)
Guest musicians Louise Bialik – vocals Nicola Pitchford – vocals Bryan Taylor – drums Julia Zuker – violin Tara Tavi – yang qin John Crawford – shakers, , doumbek Stella Papandreopoulo – vocals Blaine Reininger – violin Emad Gabra – oud Hayden Ortiz – trumpet Adrian Carrillio – trombone Robert Verdugo – trombone Carlos Jimenez – trumpet Laura Mace – vocals Gino Munoz – trumpet
Timeline
Discography Studio albums DateTitleLabel1982Tragic FiguresIndependent Project Records/Sordide Sentimental1985CeremonialFundamental1988Jamahiriya Democratique et Populaire de SauvageFundamental1989CustomsFundamental20071938Neurot Recordings2012VarvakiosLTM Recordings2014AegeanMobilization Records2021MeteoraMobilization Records
Singles and EPs DateTitleLabel1983"Film Noir" (7-inch single)Independent Project Records1984Tragic Figure (7-inch EP)Independent Project Records1986Trudge (12-inch EP)PIAS Recordings1988"Viva La Rock 'N' Roll" (7-inch EP)Independent Project Records2007Siam (CD EP)Mobilization Records2009Sword Fighter - Taranto !!! (7-inch single)A Silent Place2018God & Guns / Tranquilo (7-inch single)Mobilization Records20201938 / Siam (10-inch single)Mobilization Records2022For Free Ukraine! (7-inch single)Don't Sit On My Vinyl! / Mobilization Records
Live albums DateTitleLabel1987Live Trek 1985 - 1986Nate Starkman & Son/Fundamental1987Live at the Melkweg 25.9.87 (cassette only)Staalplaat 1988Lectisternium June 27, 1988 (cassette only)Savage Republic Tapes1990ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟΝ: Live in Europe 1988Fundamental1994Recordings From Live Performance, 1981 - 1983Independent Project Records2022Africa Corps Live at the Whiskey a Go Go 30th December 1981Independent Project Records
Compilation albums DateTitleLabel2002Complete Studio Box SetMobilization Records2010Procession: An Aural History 1981-2010LTM Recordings
Home videos DateTitleLabel1988DisarmamentAtavistic
References
External links Official Savage Republic website Savage Republic at Mobilization Records Savage Republic at LTM Recordings