Foreign Legion (band)

Foreign Legion is a punk band from South Wales.[5]

Foreign Legion
Foreign Legion live in 1986
Background information
Origin	Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
Genres	Punk, Street punk, Oi!
Years active	1984–1991, 2000–present
Labels	Aggrobeat Rebel Sound KB Records Sliver Records Rusty Knife Records/Marchiato A Fuoco/Oi! Shop Trooper Records Durty Mick Records Dirty Faces Upstart Productions DSS Records Venture Schlawiner Records Rent a Racket
Associated acts	Impact[1] 8.4%[2] Demob Doc Savage Blind Justice[3] Dead On Arrival Society
Website	Facebook page [4]
Members	M.H. - vocals Simon Bendon - guitar Dave Linehan - bass Greg Boulton - drums
Past members	(Guitar) David (Truskie) Thomas, Lyn Murphy, Julie, Andrew (Eggy) Heggie, Steven Thomas, Peter Giles, Mark (Jolly) Williams, Mark Blaxland, Frank Busani, Miguel Emultschoenn. (Bass) Alan Powell, Helen James, Mark (Jolly) Williams, Andrew (Eggy) Heggie, Martyn Richards, Jarrad (Nöir) Owens, Ian Poulsom, Dog / Canis Humanus, Steve Zuki, John Hunt. (Drums) Nigel Cleaver (RIP), Michael Wilding, Patrick McDermott, Paul (Marshon) Marsh, Mark (Froggy) Price, Pandy, Ben (Stan) Stansfield, Paul Black, Glyn (Sid Lovely) Bendon. (Keyboards) Paul (Marshon) Marsh.

1984–1991

Foreign Legion formed in 1984 from the ashes of a band called Society, later Dead On Arrival.[5] Dead on Arrival had one song on 1984's Bullsheep Detector album.[6] Following the name change to Foreign Legion (due partly to people shortening it to DOA, which could cause confusion with the Canadian band of that name[7]) and a number of line-up changes (drummers in particular) the band released their first EP in 1986, on their own Rent a Racket label[8][9] with the line-up of M.H. on vocals, Lyn Murphy on guitar, Helen James on bass and Paul (Marshon) Marsh on drums.[5] Later line-up changes included Paul Marsh introducing keyboards to the band for a short while, Andrew Heggie taking over on guitar and Steven Thomas on bass.
Despite many live shows in London, Wales and France, three years passed before Surf City their second EP was released, with their first full-length album entitled Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf also released that same year, 1989. By this time a new line-up had evolved with Mark (Jolly) Williams on bass (from local band Blind Justice,[3][10][11] who Andrew Heggie soon joined), together with Peter Giles on guitar and Ben Stansfield on drums, retaining only M.H. on vocals.
During the 1980s the band played regular slots in the famous 100 Club and supported the likes of UK Subs, The Vibrators, The Partisans, Picture Frame Seduction, The Adicts, Major Accident, Toy Dolls, Angelic Upstarts, 999, Broken Bones and others[12] including Bérurier Noir for one of their first concerts overseas in France, following gig exchanges with Burning Ambitions from Le Havre. They also supported The Alarm,[13] Joe Strummer & the Latino Rockabilly War[14] and the UK Subs when they visited the band's home town of Merthyr Tydfil.
The band split up in 1991.[5]

2000–present

Foreign Legion re-formed in 2000, with members from before the 1991 split; M.H. on vocals, Mark (Jolly) Williams on guitar, Andrew Heggie on bass and Ben Stansfield on drums.[5] They released a split album with Major Accident called Cry of the Legion, before their next full-length album What Goes Around, Comes Around, produced by Mick Jones of The Clash.[5][15][16] During the early 2000s the band released EPs and played in mainland Europe and USA with the Dropkick Murphys, Major Accident, The Templars, NY Relics and the UK Subs ,The Misfits, Agnostic Front, Bad Manners, Stiff Little Fingers, The Buzzcocks including a show at New York's CBGBs.[12] In 2007 the album Death Valley was recorded, featuring more new material as well as a re-worked version of Message From Nowhere from the first EP.[5][17][18] By 2008 Jarrad (Nöir) Owens and Paul Black had joined the band. This lineup re-recorded six songs written by Mark (Jolly) Williams at SKWAD HQ South Wales - the session captured the band's newly invigorated live sound; with double kick drums and distorted fuzz bass the thrash and metal influences of the new rhythm section were clearly evident. These recordings eventually became the band's contribution to Reality Bites a split 12 track CD album with US band Sledgeback[5][19][20] and also appeared bootlegged, with an incorrect lineup credited.

Following an appearance at the Legendary TJs in Newport in 2008, supporting the Anti-Nowhere League, guitarist Williams posted a statement on the band's Myspace account announcing his departure; Black and Owens soon followed.[5] Members of local Caerphilly punk covers band Doc Savage joined M.H. in Foreign Legion for a short while before a new line-up emerged with the drummer from 1980s Cwmbran punk band Impact (who also featured on the 1984 Bullsheep Detector album) Glyn (Sid Lovely) Bendon, together with Simon Bendon on guitar and Canis Humanus on bass.

A split EP with German band Riot Company was released in 2011,[7][12] with a further split EP released in 2012 with Italian band Cervelli Stanki. The band were now back on the road with gigs including the Rebellion festival alongside bands including PiL, Rancid, Buzzcocks and Social Distortion.[21][22]

Demob bassist Steve Zuki joined the band in 2013, with live performances including two German festivals: Punk and Disorderly[23] and Back On The Streets,[24] a tour of northern Italy and performances in the UK, including headlining the first day at Gosport Punk Festival[25] (with the UK Subs headlining the other day) and support slots alongside Sham 69, 999, Stiff Little Fingers and The Men They Couldn't Hang plus a return to the Rebellion festival alongside bands including Sham 69, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, GBH, Discharge, Peter Hook and The Light, TV Smith and many more.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel was recorded in 2013 and released on Germany's KB Records in August 2013.[26] Featuring one song sung by bassist Zuki, the album features a number of songs referencing the band's Welsh working-class background, including Market Trader, Regeneration (Council List), and Miners (The Fathers' Sacrifice). The cover image by fellow Merthyr resident Gus Payne[27] depicts a Welsh miner kneeling with his hand on the hilt of a sword planted into the ground,[28] possibly referencing the sword in the stone myth and, along with the album title and the closing track Phoenix From The Flame, provides a positive theme with hope for the future. Vocalist M.H. confirms this intent to project hope for the future; "Light At The End Of The Tunnel is meant to give hope and strength to all the working class people all over the word, that the shining sword...".[29]

Discography

(Solo releases in bold) [30]

Albums

Year of release	Title	Producer	Foreign Legion tracks (* track positions in brackets for mixed split release)	Personnel	Split artist	Label	Format	Vinyl colour	Cat. No.
2016	Always Working Class		We Are Legion~ Dogoodgers Nowhere Left To Hide~ Drugs For Mugs~ Bare Faced Lies Justice~ Criminally Insane~ Nev's Birthday Bash Fat Cats~ Know Where You Are~ This Is Our Music~# Still No Punks In My Town	MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) John (bass/vocals) Dave (bass/vocals on ~) (guitar on #) Sid (drums)		Aggrobeat	CD		ABCD032
2014	Light At The End Of The Tunnel[28][31]	Lyndon Price[27]	Jenny What A Place To Be Regeneration (Council List) My Radio Hey Girl George Best Stalker Market Trader Three Years (The Untold Story) Miners (The Fathers' Sacrifice) Drunken Heroes Phoenix From The Flame	MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Steve Zuki (bass/vocals) Sid (drums)		Aggrobeat / Rebel Sound	Vinyl	Green-mint Green with red splatter	ABLP015
2013						KB Records	CD		3221
2010	Reality Bites [19]		*(2) Sunset On Babylon (3) Wake Up (6) Obvious (7) Johnny (10) Fake Gangsta (11) Wasted	MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Jarrad Noir (bass) Paul Black (drums/backing vocals)	Sledgeback	Sliver Records	CD		367524
2007	Death Valley[32][33]		Lots Of Fun Alright Strange Town Rat Race Message From Nowhere She Loves Me Not Take A Look Party In Praque Where Do We Go Sunset On Babylon Death Valley Lots Of Fun (Reprise)	MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Frank (guitar) Martyn (bass) Stan (drums)		Durty Mick Records	CD		DMR0004-3
2002	What Goes Around Comes Around	Mick Jones	Wake Up Valleys Mentality Don't Ask Me Why Wish You Were Here My Town Another Day FL Powergames Smiling Assassin Obvious Wheres Johnny Gone	MH (vocals) Frank (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums) Jolly guitar on obvious. Another day. Valleys Mentality		DSS Records	CD / Cassette		DSS043
2000	Cry of the Legion		Clockwork Pop And Orange Jump Open Your Eyes Fake Gangster Hate Machine Just A Faze	MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums)	Major Accident	DSS Records	CD / Vinyl	Black	DSS024
1990	Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf	Ian Wallace and Foreign Legion	Surf City Keep Pushing Back What A Place To Be Message From Nowhere Get Off My Back Gentleman Talk Dirty Stop Messing Around Why Take My Life Away What Am I Gonna Do Beau Geste Those Were The Days	MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums)		Venture Records	Vinyl	Black	VR/FL 100

7 inch vinyl

Year of release	Title	Foreign Legion track(s)	Personnel	Split artist(s)	Label	Vinyl colour(s)	Cat. No.
2015	Oi! The International Street-Punk League	Nowhere Left To Hide Our World Today	MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Dave Linehan (bass) Sid (drums)	The Shame	Aggrobeat	Blue	ABEP022
					Rebel Sound	Red	REB1038
2012	Clockwork Kids Still Alive!	Market Traders Drunken Heroes	MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Dog (bass) Sid (drums)	Cervelli Stanki	Rusty Knife Records Marchiato A Fuoco Oi! Shop	Black
2011	Salute To The Boys	Phoenix From The Flames Another Bullshit Night		Riot Company	KB Records	Picture disc Black	KBR 061
2007	"Live split"[34]	Where's Johnny Gone Another Day	MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Frank (guitar) Martyn (bass) Stan (drums)	Suburban Lockdown	Durty Mick Records	Black	DMR0002-7
2007	Send In the Legion (2 different covers)	Powergames Wake Up		Paris Violence	Trooper Records	Yellow	KBR 022
2000	Punk Rock Jukebox	Where's Johnny Gone Rain Alright (Stick Together)	MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums)		DSS Records	Black	DSS 010
2000	The Years Gone By EP	Wake Up Don't Ask Me Why What Are You Doing Now Jump			Upstart Productions	Green Black	UP7004
2000	The We Don't Care About Rock 'n' Roll	There Ain't No Punks 17 Years Of Hell* (*Partisans cover version)		District	Dirty Faces	Marbled	DF 89/01
1990	1984 Street Trash (Packaged with "1984 The Fourth" 12 inch album)	Get Off My Back	MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums)	Active Minds Disgorge Slaver	New Wave Records	Black	NW-033
1989	Surf City EP	Surf City What A Place To Be Why Take My Life Away Those Were The Days	MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums) Pandy (drums)		Schlawiner Records	Green Black	S 05
1986	Trenchline EP	Trenchline Message From Nowhere National Affairs Lots Of Fun	MH (vocals) Lyn (guitar) Helen (bass/vocals) Marshon (drums)		Rent a Racket	Black	RRR0001

Compilations

Year of release	Title	Foreign Legion track(s)	Personnel	Other bands included	Label	Format	Cat. No.
1996	Oi! The Rarities, Volume 2 [35]	Message From Nowhere Trenchline	MH (vocals) Lyn (guitar) Helen (bass/vocals) Marshon (drums)	Crash Anti-Social The Squats Special Duties Condemned 84 Resistance 77 Frankie Flame	Captain Oi! Records	Vinyl	AHOY LP 46
1989	Pop Oi![36]	Surf City	MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums) Pandy (drums)	Slaughter and The Dogs The Crack The Hoopers Criminal Class Five O American Eagle The Kicker Boys Frankie Flame Moonstomp Guttersnipe Army The Strike Madhatters The Resort The Business	Link Records	Vinyl	LINK LP 095

As Dead On Arrival

Year of release	Title	Dead On Arrival track	Personnel	Other bands included	Label	Format	Cat. No.
1984	Bullsheep Detector [6]	Child Molester	MH (vocals) Truskie (guitar) Alan (bass) Michael (drums)	Icons of Filth Impact Death Patrol No Choice Sharpnel Yr Anhrefn Soldier Dolls Armistice Classified Protest Reality Attack Secluded Abnormal Condemned No Label Skull Attack Living Legends Pseudo Sadists Picture Frame Seduction	Anti-Society Records	Vinyl	ANTI 020

Bibliography

• Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980-1984 by Ian Glasper (four pages on the band). Cherry Red Books (2004). ISBN 1-901447-24-3[37]

References

1. Archived 23 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
2. "8.4% | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
3. "Blind Justice | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
4. "Foreign Legion Welsh Punk". Facebook. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
5. "Punk & Oi In The Uk". Punkoiuk.co.uk. 23 August 2000. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
6. "V/A BULLSHEEP DETECTOR - WELSH PUNK COMPILATION 80-84 LP - lavidaesunmus". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013.
7. "Punk Rock '77 thru Today: Foreign Legion ***New Interview***". Punkrock77thrutoday.blogspot.co.uk. 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
8. "SXSW | Culture". The Guardian. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
9. "Foreign Legion – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
10. "South Wales: B". Link2wales.co.uk. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
11. "Blind Justice (3)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
12. Archived 18 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
13. "Gig: 11/17/1987, The Alarm, Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre | The Alarm". Thealarm.com. 17 November 1987. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
14. "Ruck Riot'N Roll | Ian Bone". Ianbone.wordpress.com. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
15. Robb, John (1 January 2003). "Album Review: Foreign Legion - S/T / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
16. "SoundClick artist: Foreign Legion - Punk Rock Wales". Soundclick.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
17. "Foreign Legion Bio | Foreign Legion Career". MTV. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
18. "Foreign Legion". Welsh Icons. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
19. "Vive Le Rock!". Vive Le Rock!. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
20. "Sledgeback & Foreign Legion | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
21. "Rebellion UK 2012 line-up and rumours". eFestivals.co.uk. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
22. "Rebellion Festival 2012 Line Up". Virtualfestivals.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
23. "Punk & Disorderly - The Festival". Punk-disorderly.de. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
24. "Back On The Streets Festival". B-o-t-s.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
25. "Gosport Punk Fest. – FFRUKiT!". Ffruk.com. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
26. "plentyMarkets on-demand eCommerce Solution". Kb-records-shop.de. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
27. "Foreign Legion (3) - Light At The End Of The Tunnel (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
28. "Foreign Legion - 'Light At The End Of The Tunnel' (KB Records)". Uberrock.co.uk. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
29. "FOREIGN LEGION (Wales – Oi!) | oioimusic.com". Oioimusicblog.wordpress.com. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
30. "Foreign Legion (3) Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
31. "Foreign Legion – Light At The End Of The Tunnel (ABLP015) | AGGROBEAT.com". Aggrobeatblog.wordpress.com. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
32. "Foreign Legion Death Valley CD". 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
33. "Foreign Legion - Death Valley - Dmir04 - F - Cd - by Durty Mick Records - Born in 1982 Died in 1990". Punkrockcds.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
34. "Foreign Legion / Suburban Lockdown - Split - Vinyl". RevHQ.com. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
35. "Oi!: The Rarities, Vol. 2 CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
36. "OI! the Discography Page: Link Records Discography". Oithediscography.blogspot.co.uk. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
37. Glasper, Ian (2004). Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk, 1980-1984 - Ian Glasper - Google Books. ISBN 9781901447248. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

External links

• Foreign Legion's Facebook page
• Foreign Legion's Youtube
• 2012 interview with vocalist Marcus Howells
• 2012 interview with vocalist Marcus Howells
• 2012 interview with vocalist Marcus Howells