Anti System

2025-02-23T21:44:06Z

2A06:5902:5E0A:C500:C4D5:5CBB:950E:1077:

{{Short description|English punk rock band}}{{Refimprove|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Anti System
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = 
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]], UK
| genre = [[Anarcho punk]], [[UK82]], [[hardcore punk]]
| years_active = 1982–1986; 2014–present
| label = Boss Tuneage
| associated_acts = Morbid Humour, Pax Records
| website = 
| current_members = *Dean Martindale
*Mickey Knowles
*Mark "Varik" Teale
*Mark "Keaney" Keane
*Kevin Frost
| past_members = *Phil Dean
*Dom Watts
*George Clark
*Dave Damned
*Simon 'Nogsy' Nolan
*Liam Sheeran
*Mick Teale
*Phil Hobson
*Kev Haste
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}

'''Anti System''' is an English [[punk rock]] band from [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]], England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anti System |url=https://punkygibbon.co.uk/bands/a/antisystem.html|website=Punkygibbon.co.uk}}</ref>

==History==
Formed in [[Bradford]] in 1982, the original line-up consisted of Phil, George, Dom and Dave Damned on vocals. Following their first gig at the Palm Cove in Bradford on September 14, 1982 (with Friktion Agitators, The End and Complete Disorder), Dave Damned was replaced by Nogsy (Simon Nolan). The band recorded a demo at Lion Studios in Leeds which led to them being signed to Marcus Featherby's [[Pax Records]].

Anti System recorded a session at [[Cargo Studios]] from which the tracks ''Mansworld'' and ''Breakout'' were chosen to appear the Pax Records compilation album ''Punk Dead - Nah Mate, The Smell Is Jus Summink In Yer Underpants Innit''<ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Punk Dead - Nah Mate, The Smell Is Jus Summink In Yer Underpants Innit |date=26 September 1983 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1128912-Various-Punk-Dead-Nah-MateSmell-Is-Jus-Summink-In-Yer-Underpants-Innit |language=en |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref> in early 1983.

Their next release was the five-track ''Defence of the Realm'' EP.<ref>{{Citation |title=Anti-System - Defence Of The Realm EP |date=26 September 1983 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/796614-Anti-System-Defence-Of-The-Realm-EP |language=en |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref> By this time George had been replaced on bass by former Raw guitarist Mickey Knowles although he appears on two of the five tracks.

This line-up also played on the tracks ''Schoolboy'' and ''Why Should It Happen'' which appeared on the compilation ''Bollox To The Gonads - Here's The Testicles'', also on Pax Records.

By May 1983 Nogsy had been replaced by former Raw vocalist Liam Sheeran. During Liam's time with the band a live album was recorded but remains unreleased. Both Mickey and Liam left in 1984 and former members of the band Subvert/Morbid Humour joined a new line-up.

In 1985, Anti System released a split single ''Strange Love/So Long As''<ref>{{Citation |title=Anti-System / Morbid Humour - Anti-System / Morbid Humour |date=26 September 1985 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2284753-Anti-System-Morbid-Humour-Anti-System-Morbid-Humour |language=en |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref> with Morbid Humour's ''Oh, My God (Parts 1 & 2)'' on the flip side. This was followed by the ''No Laughing Matter''<ref>{{Citation |title=Anti-System - No Laughing Matter |date=26 September 1985 |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/288943-Anti-System-No-Laughing-Matter |language=en |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref> album and the 12" ''A Look at Life'' EP<ref>{{Citation |title=Anti-System - A Look At Life |date=26 September 1986 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1128975-Anti-System-A-Look-At-Life |language=en |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref> on Reconciliation Records.

Like some other anarcho-punk bands of the time, the band were promoters of [[animal rights]] causes, their debut EP being a benefit for animal welfare groups and prior to the recording of the ''A Look at Life'' EP there was a necessity for a new line-up as two of the original members had been imprisoned for various animal rights actions. Mark Keane and Michael Teale were imprisoned in 1986, shortly after recording ''A Look at Life''.

In 2009, a family tree and profile of the band was published in the book ''Bradford Noise of the Valleys Volume One - 1967-1987''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cavanagh, Webster |first=Gary, Matt |title=Bradford's Noise of the Valleys Volume One: 1967-1987 |publisher=Mutiny 2000 Publications |year=2013 |isbn=978-0992675509}}</ref>

In 2012, guitarist Varik formed a new version the band with past members Mark Keane and Mickey Knowles.

==Musical style==
The band's music has been categorised as [[anarcho punk]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Anti System |url=http://www.obsceneextreme.cz/en/bands/detail/id/anti-system/2019|website=Obsceneextreme.cz |accessdate=31 January 2020}}</ref> and [[hardcore punk]].<ref name="DIY" /> In an article by DIY Conspiracy, they were referred to as one of the pioneers of [[UK82]].<ref name="DIY">{{cite web |title=Anti-System: We Came to Tell the Establishment to Fuck Off Again! |url=https://diyconspiracy.net/anti-system-interview/|website=Diyconspiracy.net |date=17 January 2018|accessdate=31 January 2020}}</ref> Their lyrics often political, supporting [[anarchism]] and [[animal rights]].<ref name="DIY" />

They have cited influences including [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[Crass]] and [[Conflict (band)|Conflict]].<ref name="DIY" />

==Members==
;Current
*Dean Martindale - Vocals
*Mickey Knowles - Guitar
*Mark "Varik" Teale - Guitar
*Mark "Keaney" Keane - Bass
*Kevin Frost - Drums

==Discography==
===Recordings===
*''82 Demo ''(Self Release, 1982)
*''In Defence of the Realm'' (EP, Pax Records, 1983)
*''No Laughing Matter'' (LP, Reconcile, 1985)
*''A Look at Life'' (12", Reconcile, 1986)
*''Live At Sheffield Marples LP'' - Unreleased
*Split 7" w/MORBID HUMOUR (Reconcile, 1986)
*''What Price Freedom'' (Boss Tuneage, 2017)

===Appearances on compilations===
*''Punk Dead? Nah Mate, The Smell is Jus Summink in Yer Underpants Innit'' (Pax Records, 1982)
:Tracks - ''Man's World, Aftermath''
*''Bollox to the Gonads - Here's the Testicles'' (Pax Records, 1984)
:Tracks - ''Schoolboy, Why Should it Happen''

== See also ==
*[[Animal rights and punk subculture]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p15436/discography|pure_url=yes}} Anti System on allmusic.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080615163312/http://www.havocrex.com/press/article/3/83 Essay discussing Anti-System in paragraphs 4, 12]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:British crust and d-beat groups]]
[[Category:English heavy metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1981]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from West Yorkshire]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Anti System