The Varukers
are a UK hardcore punk band formed in 1979 by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk band Discharge, known as D-beat. Also, like Discharge, The Varukers' lyrics carry an anarchist political ideology.
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THE VARUKERS TICKETS
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History
When the Varukers were recording in the early 1980s, they were part of a broader trend known as "
UK 82", Second Generation Punk, or UK Hardcore. Bands such as The Varukers,
Discharge,
Chaos UK,
Amebix, and
Charged GBH took the existing 1977-era punk sound and melded it with the incessant, heavy drumbeats and "wall of sound" distortion guitar sound of
New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands such as
Motörhead. The new, harder-edged style also tended to use much darker, more nihilistic, and more violent lyrics, and vocals were often shouted rather than sung.
While the Varukers split in 1988, vocalist Rat put the band back together in 1993. Stylistically their 1990s-era music resembled the traditional
UK82 style. Since the band had former members of
Discharge, a
D-beat sound developed as time went on. The band has gone through many line-up changes over the years with the only constant member being Rat on vocals. They have recently released a retrospective CD on
SOS Records.
Even with Rat splitting his time between The Varukers and
Discharge, the Varukers continue to tour. They shared a headlining spot with such acts as
Broken Bones,
The Adicts,
Vice Squad and
GBH at the ill-fated
British Invasion 2k6 concert festival in
San Bernardino,
California which ended in rioting.
They are currently writing new material for a new album.
Discography
1981
- Protest and survive
EP Inferno Records
1982
- ''I Don't wanna be a victim EP Inferno Records
- Die for your government
single Riot City Records
- Bloodsuckers
LP Riot City Records
1983
1984
- Led to the slaughter
EP Riot City Records
- Another Religion Another War
EP Riot City Records
- Massacred millions
EP Rot Records
- Live Album Retch Records
- One Struggle One Fight
LP Liberate Records
1985
- Live In Holland
LP Rot Records. Limited edition of 1500
1986
- Prepare For The Attack
LP Attack Records. Limited edition of 1000
1994
- Nothing changed
EP Weird Records
- Deadly Games
LP, CD (compilation) Abstract Sounds
1995
- Still bollox but still here
(re-release of old tracks) CD We Bite Records
1996
- Varukers - Protest and Survive: The Varukers Live
CD
- One Struggle, One Fight
CD re-release
1998
- Murder
LP, CD Asylum Records
1999
- Bloodsuckers / Prepare For The Attack
CD re-release
2000
- How Do You Sleep?
Go Kart Records
2001
- Massacred Millions
- Riot City Years: '83-'84
CD Punk Core Records
- Vintage Varukers: The Rare and Unreleased
CD Punk Core Records
2003
2005
- Punk Singles 1981–1985
CD Anagram Records
- 1980–2005: Collection Of 25 Years
CD