Oi Polloi

Oi Polloi are a punk rock band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are now generally more associated with the anarcho-punk genre. The band has become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre.[1] The name comes from the Greek expression "οἱ πολλοί", Anglicized hoi polloi, meaning "the masses" or "the common people".

This article is about the Scottish punk band. For the Greek expression, see hoi polloi.

Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi playing at Augustibuller in Sweden, 6 August 2005.
Oi Polloi playing at Augustibuller in Sweden, 6 August 2005.
Background information
OriginEdinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active1981–present
LabelsCampary Records, Ruptured Ambitions, Words of Warning, Oi! Records, Green Vomit
MembersDeek Allen
Cameron Tongs
Oigridh
Olsen
Past membersAde (drummer)
Matt Finch (guitar)
Dirty Dave Campbell (guitar)
Yaga (guitar)
Derek Reid (bass)
Riley Briggs (guitar)
Murray Briggs (drums)
Grant Thorburn (drums)
Chris Low (drums) Kev McInally (drums)
Grant 'Muz' Munro (bass)
Chris Willsher (drums)
Goz (bass)
Calum Mackenzie (bass)
Brian Tipa
others

The band has gone through about 50 members since their formation, and their only permanent member has been vocalist Deek Allen, who has also been involved in Gaelic-language television.[2] The band has included punks and skinheads. The members have been supporters of Anti-Fascist Action and Earth First!, and they use the motto "No Compromise in Defence of Our Earth," which is an adaptation of Earth First!'s motto. They support direct action in defence of the environment, hunt sabotage, as well as resistance against racism, sexism, homophobia, fascism and imperialism.

Career
Oi Polloi performing at Augustibuller festival in Lindeberg, Sweden in August 2005.

After gigs in the Edinburgh area and the recording of the band's self-recorded first cassette demo, Last of the Mohicans, drummer Stu "Doccy" Dunn left to become a karate instructor. A second studio demo, Green Anarchoi and their first vinyl EP, Resist the Atomic Menace, followed.

Oi Polloi started singing in Scottish Gaelic in 1996, recording the Carson? EP, (2003), then recording and releasing the full-length LP Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach in 2006.[3] The band members also use Scottish Gaelic in day-to-day communications.[4]

In 2013, they collaborated with CLÀR, a Scottish Gaelic publisher, to launch Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach, a Gaelic science fiction novel by Tim Armstrong, the singer of Mill a h-Uile Rud, at events at Elvis Shakespeare on Leith Walk and on The Cruz Boat at the shore in Leith.[5]

Legacy and influence

In an interview with The Guardian in 2016, the band was citied along with a number of other British Anarcho-punk bands of the early 80s as being an influence to the American avant-garde metal group Neurosis.[6]

Discography
Oi Polloi live in 2006.

12" LPs
  • Skins 'N' Punks Volume Two (Split w Betrayed) 1986
  • Unlimited Genocide (Split w A.O.A.) 1986
  • Mad As... (Split w Toxik Ephex) 1987
  • Unite And Win (Oi! Records) 1987
  • In Defence of Our Earth (Words of Warning Records) 1990
  • You've Heard It All Before Track on The Crass Covers Compilation album (Ruptured Ambitions Records) 1993
  • Fight Back! (Re-Release of Old Split Material) 1994
  • Total Anarchoi (Live/Studio Collection – CD/LP) 1996
  • Fuaim Catha (Skuld Records) 1999
  • Outraged by the System (Step-1 Music) 2002
  • Heavenly Peace]' (split 12-inch EP w Nikmat Olalim, Campari Records) 2006
  • Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach (self release/Campari records/Nikt Nic Nie Wie) 2006
  • Gaidhlig na Lasair (compilation of underground Gaelic punk and techno)(Problem? Records) 2006
  • Total Resistance to the Fucking System (Plastic Bomb) 2008
  • SS Politician (Chaosrurale Records/Active Rebellion) 2010
  • Duisg! (Plastic Bomb/Active Rebellion) 2012
  • Saorsa (Ruin Nation Records) 2016

7" EPs
  • Resist the Atomic Menace 1986 (re-released 1994)
  • Outrage 1988
  • Omnicide 1991 (Words of Warning Records)
  • Guilty (Ruptured Ambitions Records) 1993
  • Oi Polloi / Blownapart Bastards (Split) 1994
  • Oi Polloi - s/t (Nikt Nic Nie Wie)
  • Bare Faced Hypocrisy Sells Records The Anti-Chumbawamba EP w/Riot/Clone, The Bus Station Loonies, Anxiety Society, The Chineapple Punks, Love Chips and Peas, and Wat Tyler 1998 (Ruptured Ambitions Records)
  • THC (Campary Rec.) 1998
  • Let the Boots Do the Talking (Ruptured Ambitions Records) 1999
  • Carson? (Nikt Nic Nie Wie) 2003
  • Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich (compilation with Mill a h-Uile Rud, Atomgevitter and Nad Aislingean) (Problem Records) 2005
  • Mind the Bollocks (Kämäset Levyt Records) 2007
  • Cyklopen split EP with Kansalaistottelemattomuus 2010
  • Split EP with Appalachian Terror Unit Profane Existence (US)/NNNW (Europe) 2011
  • Split EP with Na Gathan (Limited May Tour Edition) Problem Records 2012

DVD

Oi Polloi: The Movie[7]

See also

References
  1. "An dà chòmhlan punc a tha a' seinn sa Ghàidhlig". The Scotsman (18 March 2005)
  2. "Oi Polloi - Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. "Ar-a-mach cànain: a' chiad chlàr fada roc gu tur sa Ghàidhlig". The Scotsman (5 May 2006)
  4. "Gaels must look to the radical fringe". The Scotsman (30 July 2005)
  5. Armstrong, Tim (April 2013). "Bogadh Punc ann an Dun Eideann". DRILSEACH. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. Deller, Alex (3 November 2016). "Neurosis: 'Crass were the mother of all bands'". The Guardian. Kings Place, London. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. DVD, Oi Polloi-The Movie. "Oi Polloi - The Movie DVD". Oipolloithemovie.bigcartel.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
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