Oi Polloi


Oi Polloi are a punk rock band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are now generally more associated with the anarcho-punk genre. The band has become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre. The name comes from the Greek expression "οἱ πολλοί", Anglicized hoi polloi, meaning "the masses" or "the common people".
The band has gone through about 50 members since their formation, and their only permanent member has been vocalist Deek Allen, who has also been involved in Gaelic-language television. The band has included punks and skinheads. The members have been supporters of Anti-Fascist Action and Earth First!, and they use the motto "No Compromise in Defence of Our Earth," which is an adaptation of Earth First!'s motto. They support direct action in defence of the environment, hunt sabotage, as well as resistance to racism, sexism, homophobia, fascism and imperialism. They are also supporters of Linux and criticized Microsoft in their song, L.I.N.U.X.

Career

After gigs in the Edinburgh area and the recording of the band's self-recorded first cassette demo, Last of the Mohicans, drummer Stu "Doccy" Dunn left to become a karate instructor. A second studio demo, Green Anarchoi and their first vinyl EP, Resist the Atomic Menace, followed.
Oi Polloi started singing in Scottish Gaelic in 1996, recording the Carson? EP,, then recording and releasing the full-length LP Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach in 2006. The band members also use Scottish Gaelic in day-to-day communications.
In 2013, they collaborated with CLÀR, a Scottish Gaelic publisher, to launch Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach, a Gaelic science fiction novel by Tim Armstrong, the singer of Mill a h-Uile Rud, at events at Elvis Shakespeare on Leith Walk and on The Cruz Boat at the shore in Leith.

Legacy and influence

of American avant-garde metal group Neurosis cited the band as an influence, along with other British Anarcho-punk bands of the early 80s.

Discography

12" LPs

  • Skins 'N' Punks Volume Two 1986
  • Unlimited Genocide 1986
  • Mad As... 1987
  • Unite And Win 1987
  • In Defence of Our Earth 1990
  • You've Heard It All Before 1993
  • Fight Back! 1994
  • Total Anarchoi 1996
  • Fuaim Catha 1999
  • Outraged by the System 2002
  • Heavenly Peace 2006
  • Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach 2006
  • Gaidhlig na Lasair 2006
  • Total Resistance to the Fucking System 2008
  • SS Politician 2010
  • Duisg! 2012
  • Saorsa 2016

    7" EPs

  • Resist the Atomic Menace 1986
  • Outrage 1988
  • Omnicide 1991
  • Guilty 1993
  • Oi Polloi / Blownapart Bastards 1994
  • Oi Polloi - s/t
  • Bare Faced Hypocrisy Sells Records The Anti-Chumbawamba EP w/Riot/Clone, The Bus Station Loonies, Anxiety Society, The Chineapple Punks, Love Chips and Peas, and Wat Tyler 1998
  • THC 1998
  • Let the Boots Do the Talking 1999
  • Carson? 2003
  • Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich 2005
  • Mind the Bollocks 2007
  • Cyklopen split EP with Kansalaistottelemattomuus 2010
  • Split EP with Appalachian Terror Unit Profane Existence /NNNW 2011
  • Split EP with Na Gathan Problem Records 2012

    DVD

''Oi Polloi: The Movie''