Red Alert (band)


Red Alert are аn English punk/oi!-band, formed in Sunderland, England, in May 1979. The group released five EPs and a studio album, and appeared on numerous compilations, including Punk And Disorderly and Carry On Oi!. Three of the band's releases reached the Top 30 in the UK Indie Chart. Red Alert broke up in 1984, reformed five years later and continued touring and recording.

Band history

Red Alert's original line-up — Steve 'Cast Iron' Smith, Tony Van Frater, Gaz Stuart and Dona — debuted in the summer of 1979, at a carnival in Sunderland, performing mostly Clash and UK Subs covers.
Their first demo became their debut release: a self-financed four track EP Third And Final, only 250 copies of which were pressed and then sold at gigs. With the new drummer Gary 'Mitch' Mitchell the band produced its second demo In Britain and recorded two tracks for the Carry On Oi! compilation, only one of which -"SPG"- was included. Gary Bushell suggested that the band should send their material to No Future Records which they did and were signed a week later.
In the course of two years Red Alert released two 7-inch EPs, their debut LP We've Got The Power, a single and a 6 track 12-inch EP, all with new drummer Les 'Nobby' Cobb. Matty Forster replaced Cobb in 1984. This change bore little fruit: disillusioned and weary, the band called it quits; the band's last gig was a benefit for the miners' strike |miners' strike]. For some time Tony and Matty toured with Red London.
In 1989, all four original members of Red Alert started meeting again, at a new Kazbah club, opened in Sunderland. In early 1990 the reformed band did a gig with Red London and Attila the Stockbroker and, inspired by their warm reception, decided to go on — with the exception of Gaz, who was replaced by Tom Spencer.
After touring Western Europe alongside Red London, the quartet recorded their second LP Blood, Sweat 'N' Beers, released on Nightmare Records in Germany. Beyond The Cut followed in 1993.
With new drummer John Forster and later Lainey of Leatherface the band toured the United States and released the Super Yobs album, a split with The Templars. On return they released the "Street Survivors"/"Drinkin' With Red Alert" double 7-inch EP set.
In August 1994, new drummer Ian Syborn joined; with him in 1995-96 the band recorded Breakin' All The Rules CD for Dojo Records. Shortly after the release Lainey returned, this time as bassist. This line-up recorded Wearside, released by PlasticHead Records to coincide with the 1999 Red Alert - The Rarities compilation on Captain Oi! Records.
Red Alert's latest studio album Excess All Areas was released in 2005.

Line up

The band's current lineup includes:
  • Guitar- Mick Jones
  • Bass- Dave Jones
  • Drums- Axel Klempin
Ian Syborn died in 2002. Tony Van Frater died on 29 October 2015. Steve "Cast Iron" Smith died in Spain on 30 November 2022.

Discography

Singles and EPs

  • Third and Final EP 1980
  • In Britain EP 1982
  • Take No Prisoners EP 1982
  • "City Invasion"/"Negative Reaction" 1983
  • There’s a Guitar Burning EP 1983
  • We've Got the Power EP Live In Mondreagon 1992
  • "Drinkin' with Red Alert" / "Street Survivors" 1994
  • "Visca El Barça" 1996
  • “Double Aye/Eh Side”
  • Split EP w/Rough Cuts 2021

    Albums

  • We’ve Got the Power 1983
  • Blood, Sweat 'N' Beers 1993
  • Super Yobs 1994
  • Breakin' All the Rules 1996
  • Wearside 1999
  • ''Excess All Areas''

    Compilation albums

  • Red Alert: Oi Singles Collection 1995
  • Rebels in Society 1997
  • The Rarities 1999
  • Best Of 2000
  • Border Guards
  • ''Blazin' Thru The Years - The Best Of''

    Compilation appearances

  • Punk and Disorderly 1981
  • Carry On Oi! 1981
  • Angels With Dirty Faces 1984
  • There Is No Future.. 1984
  • Maggie, Maggie, Maggie; Out! Out! Out! 1987
  • Kids on the Street 1993
  • The Bright Side Of Oi 1994
  • LA Compilation 1995
  • Knock Out in the 1st Round 1996
  • Oi! The Rarities Vol 1 1995
  • No Future Punk Singles Collection Vol 1 1995
  • No Future Punk Singles Collection Vol 2 1996
  • Oi! Against Racism 1996
  • War is Insanity 1996
  • On the Streets 1997
  • We Are the Firm 1998
  • We Are the People 1998
  • Voice of a New Generation 1999