Musicians - Oi Polloi

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	Musicians - Oi Polloi

Disambiguation: you may also be looking for hoi polloi

Oi Polloi are an anarcho-punk band from Scotland that formed around 1981, also notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk sub-genre.

History

Oi Polloi's first studio recording was a demo entitled Destroi the System, which is believed to have been released in 1984 or 1985. The band emerged from a previous incarnation known as Punjabi Chaos. After the now defunct music weekly Sounds gave the first demo a favourable review, demand increased for gigs further afield. A second demo, Green Anarchoi followed before the release of the first vinyl offering, Resist the Atomic Menace. The lineup of the band has starred an impressive fifty members since the formation, making up the countless incarnations of the band. The only member to remain since the formation of the band is Deek (also known as Degs or Ruairidh in Scots Gaelic), the lead singer. The band is currently based in Scotland.

The band holds a political view which some call ultra-hardline ecologism, with the motto "No compromise in defence of our earth". They support direct action in defence of the environment, and endorse resistance against racism, fascism and imperialism. They are considered by many to be one of the premier faces of anarcho-punk. They have recently started singing in Scottish Gaelic and use the language in day to day communications. They see the use of Gaelic and other endangered languages as important to maintaining the biocultural diversity of life. They recently toured Europe with Seattle-based punk band Mill a h-Uile Rud who sing entirely in Scots Gaelic. Singer Ruairidh has recently become involved in Gaelic television and has appeared as Moses on a Gaelic comedy programme.

The name Oi Polloi is a pun on the English loan of the Greek phrase hoi polloi which means literally "the many", but is extended to mean "the masses" or "the common people". Oi! refers to a form of punk music.

Discography

7" EPs

Resist The Atomic Menace 1986 (re-released 1994)
Outrage 1988
Omnicide 1991 (Words of Warning Records)
Guilty (Ruptured Ambitions records) 1993
Oi Polloi / Blownapart Bastards (Split) 1994
Oi Polloi - s/t (Nikt Nic Nie Wie)
Bare Faced Hypocrisy Sells Records The Anti-Chumawamba EP w/Riot/Clone, The Bus Station Loonies, Anxiety Society, The Chineapple Punks, Love Chips and Peas, and Wat Tyler 1998 (Ruptured Ambitions Records)

THC (Campary Rec.) 1998

Let The Boots Do The Talking (Ruptured Ambitions) 1999

Carson? (Nikt Nic Nie Wie) 2003

Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich (compilation with Mill a h-uile rud, Atomgevitter and Nad Aislingean) (Problem Records) 2005

12" LPs

Skins 'N' Punks Volume Two (Split w Betrayed) 1986
Unlimited Genocide (Split w A.O.A.) 1986
Mad As... (Split w Toxic Ephex) 1987
Unite And Win (Oi! Records) 1987
In Defence Of Our Earth (Words Of Warning Records) 1990
You've Heard It All Before Track on The Crass
Covers Compilation album (Ruptured Ambitions Records) 1993
Fight Back! (Re-Release Of Old Split Material)
Total Anarchoi (Live/Studio Collection - CD/LP) 1996
Fuaim Catha (Skuld Records) 1999
Outraged By The System (Step-1 Music) 2002

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Oi Polloi ]

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