>> Angelic Upstarts
While The Angelic Upstarts' position as oi! godfathers has earned the band a mistaken affiliation with far-right-wing skinheads -- a position the act has always spoken out against -- its lyrical focus has tended to be one of the most humanistic and sympathetic ones of its genre. An outspoken critic of the government -- the band once glorified an IRA attempt to bomb government officials -- the act speaks out in favor of working-class struggles.
Formed in the mid-'70s, the Upstarts rose up alongside bands like Sham 69 during the oi! insurgance of 1979. The band's popularity would make it one of the most watched bands of its kind, as its music quickly moved out of the street-rock confines to explore ska, rocksteady and folk forms, all infused with punk energy and insolence. The Upstarts splintered in 1986, though have had several short-lived reunions since.
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Live From the Justice LeagueAngelic Upstarts |
