Fokofpolisiekar

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Fokofpolisiekar

Fokofpolisiekar (Afrikaans for "Fuck off police car") is a South African Afrikaans punk rock band from Bellville, near Cape Town.

The band was formed in April 2003, initially as a joke to shock the generally conservative South African Afrikaans community with its name and also the notion of an Afrikaans punk band. They released their first EP, As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand (If You Play With Fire, You Will Get Burned) soon after forming, and one of its tracks, Hemel op die Platteland (Heaven in the Countryside) made history when it became the first Afrikaans song to be officially playlisted on national radio station 5FM. Their first complete album, Lugsteuring (Air Disturbance), produced by John Paul De Stefani, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 with another EP, Monoloog In Stereo (Monologue in Stereo). Brand Suid-Afrika (Burn South Africa) was released in 2006. On 15 September 2006, they released their new album Swanesang (Swansong), that includes the hit single "Brand Suid-Afrika".

In late 2005, drummer (Jaco Venter) jumped out of a moving vehicle while the band was touring through South Africa. He suffered multiple injuries and was replaced by Justin who used to be the drummer for Neshamah, who ended up working on their "Brand Suid-Afrika" album as well as some tracks on the band's latest album "Swanesang".

After their first EP "As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand", and an even more popular full-length album, "Lugsteuring", the follow-up "Monoloog In Stereo" was taken in a more acoustic rock direction, contrasting the punk rock feel of the first album. However, "Brand Suid-Afrika" has had the band return to their punk rock roots. "Swanesang", their latest album, is a mixed bag of punk and acoustic elements, added with slightly more religious and less hate-spoken lyrics than on their previous discs.

Even though the band has a distinct and unique sound, it can be picked up that they are big fans of bands such as Queens of the Stone Age. At the Stellenbosch launch of the "Monoloog in stereo" EP, Francois van Coke commented they were very impressed with a Queens of the Stone Age DVD that they watched earlier that day.

Fokofpolisiekar have performed at various venues throughout South Africa and during October 2005 the band toured the United Kingdom. They are planning to tour the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom during November 2006.^[1]