Flux Of Pink Indians
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Flux Of Pink Indians was an anarcho-punk/post punk band that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.
[edit] Biography
The band formed from the remaining members of the Epileptics (who later changed their name to Epi-X due to letters of complaint from The British Epilepsy Association) by Colin Latter (vocals) and Derek Birkett (bass guitar) with guitarists Andy Smith, Neil Puncher, and drummer Sid (who was also a member of Rubella Ballet). Their debut EP "Neu Smell" was released on Crass Records in 1981. This included songs promoting vegetarianism and anti-war ideas, as well as "Tube Disasters", which featured a vein of black humour that was unusual amongst their peers.
Sid departed FOPI to work full time with his other band Rubella Ballet, and was soon replaced by Bambi, formerly of Discharge, while Andy was replaced by Simon. However, both departed quickly for their original band, The Insane. While auditioning for their replacements, Neil also left, and the line up was completed by old Epileptics guitarist Kevin Hunter and drummer Martin Wilson. The Indian's debut album, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible, confirmed the promise of the EP, and premiered the band's own Spiderleg label. Alongside the more conventional punk songs were a number of highly perceptive attacks on consumer society. The anti-religious "Is Anybody There" was a particularly effective example, using simple but jarring lyrics to emphasize its point.
The band's second LP, The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks, was unsurprisingly banned by retailers HMV, and copies were seized by Greater Manchester police from Eastern Bloc record shop, which was charged with displaying "Obscene Articles For Publication For Gain". The album, ironically, concerned violence between men and women, based on the experiences of a band member who had been sexually assaulted.
By 1986 the band had shortened their name to Flux and released their third album Uncarved Block. This featured more philosophical lyrics, largely inspired by influences such as Zen Buddhism and Benjamin Hoff's book The Tao of Pooh, coupled to percussion-heavy dance and funk based rhythms.
Birkett, making use of his experiences with Spiderleg, has gone on to set up the highly successful One Little Indian Records, and still uses the Flux title for occasional projects. Latter went on to join the dance-influenced Hotalacio.
[edit] Discography
- "Neu Smell" (EP, Crass Records, 1981) cover art
- "1970s Have Been Made in Hong Kong" (EP, Spiderleg Records, 1981 (released under the name of 'The Epileptics', this record was a re-recording of an earlier release made following a dispute with the Epileptics' old label Stortbeat. This EP also features Penny Rimbaud of Crass on drums)
- Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible (LP, Spiderleg Records, 1983)
- The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks (LP, Spiderleg Records 1984)
- "Taking a Liberty" (EP, Spiderleg Records, 1985)
- Uncarved Block (LP, released under the name 'Flux', One Little Indian Records 1986)
