artist.artist

Vice Squad

artist.totalReleases

Vice Squad is a UK punk rock band whose first single releases included the classic ‘Last Rockers’ 7” in 1980. This was followed by the landmark albums ‘No Cause For Concern’ in 1981 and ‘Stand Strong Stand Proud’ in 1982, which were both released on EMI. Since then, Vice Squad has delivered short, sharp songs with incisive political lyrics and a dash of humour spat out over a thunderous rhythm and machine-gun rock ’n’ roll guitars. The band has become 100% DIY since forming Last Rockers Records in 2009. In keeping with the DIY ethic, the previous albums were recorded in the band’s home studio in South London, and the new album, ‘Punk Rockers: The Best of Vice Squad’, continues this with the band maintaining full artistic control with the benefit of global distribution via Cargo. Despite live performances being stopped by lockdown, VS soldiered on in the studio and produced stunning acoustic versions of songs previously released on albums 'London Underground', 'Defiant' and 'Get A Life'. These songs were released on the 'Vice-O-Lation' EPs. These recordings showcased Beki's powerful and versatile voice and Rooney's skill as an instrumentalist and producer. Other recent releases include the EP ‘It’s Too Late To Be Normal’, a re-release of their 1999 album ‘Get A Life’ on yellow and violet vinyl, the ‘Spitfire vs Bomber’ EP, and Beki’s first solo release for many years, ‘The Unbereaved’. Their previous album, ‘Battle of Britain’, was released in 2020 and was highly praised by fans and press. Review of Battle of Britain in the Vive le Rock best albums of 2020: 'Thirteen stabs of violence and vitriol ably mixing punk and metal in a cacophony of riffs.... 'Poverty Face' and 'Pulling Teeth will set your dials for you, no question about it.' Classic Rock 'A full-on, no-holds-barred, impassioned assault, us-versus-them, high-octane, good-natured but ferociously angry punk album.' Powerplay Magazine ‘Battle of Britain’ showcases a highly experienced band who deliver their defiance with energy and wit. Their instrumental skill is matched by Beki’s blistering vocals to deliver an album of the highest calibre. Vice Squad is fronted by raucous-voiced singer/guitarist Beki Bondage, who was famed for being a teenage champion of animal rights long before the current popularity of veganism. Vice Squad’s song ’Humane’ was one of the first-ever animal rights songs. In March 2022 the 'Humane' 3-track digital EP was released via Bandcamp and raised £2,500 for animals in Ukraine. Beki has been featured on the front cover of a number of influential music tabloids such as Melody Maker, NME, Sounds, Record Mirror, and Smash Hits. After a hiatus, Beki formed a new version of Vice Squad in 1997 featuring longstanding members of her post-VS outfit, The Bombshells, and they have released several quality albums of powerful punk songs that have been very well received across the world. Vice Squad is considered one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time, paving the way for other female punk and rock singers and influencing male performers such as Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame, who was introduced to Vice Squad via his sister’s record collection. Vice Squad was part of the now legendary Social Chaos tour of North America in 1999, which featured bands such as TSOL, DRI, Murphy’s Law, The UK Subs, The Dropkick Murphys, and The Business. Beki was the only female musician on the tour. In August 2023, the ‘If I Knew What I Know Now’ 4-track CD EP and a special edition booklet were released along with a promo video for the title track. June 2023 A video for ‘Pulling Teeth’ was released. ‘The Winter Of Discontent’ 5-track Limited Edition CD EP with a Christmas card was released in late November 2022 along with two videos, ‘You Don’t Fool Me’ and ‘Christmas Has Been Cancelled’. August 2022 saw the release of two limited-edition CD EPs, 'Bang Bang Bang' and 'Hidden Vices Volume 1'. Promo videos for 'Bang Bang Bang' and 'Killjoy' were also released. 'Rooms At The Top' CD EP was released in April 2022 with a promo video cut from live footage of the band. 'Battle of Britain' was released in red and blue vinyl formats in December 2021, and December also saw the release of a remix of 'A Dog Is For Life', available as a digital download only. September 2021 saw the second Motörhead tribute with the release of the 'Road Crew' EP. 'We Are The Road Crew', 'Damage Case, and 'Motorhead' were given the acoustic treatment, and 'Iron Fist' was recorded in the more typical Vice Squad electric style. Two videos, 'Iron Fist' and 'Damage Case', were also released. In May 2021 they released the 'Vice Of Spades' EP in tribute to Motörhead, taking 'Ace of Spades,' 'Dancing On Your Grave,' 'No Class,' and 'Bomber' and giving them the acoustic treatment with a country and western twist and honky tonk piano. Videos for 'Ace of Spades' and 'Dancing On Your Grave' were released to accompany the EP. In December 2020 they released the digital download 'The Story Of My Life', and the accompanying video was shot on Clapham Common. The 2014 album Cardboard Country’ was launched on the back of a very successful Pledge campaign raising funds for the Shelter homeless charity in line with the album title, which was inspired by 'Cardboard City', the name given to the settlement of homeless people living in cardboard boxes near London's Waterloo station.