Fokofpolisiekar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fokofpolisiekar | ||
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 The band during live performance
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | Polisiekar, Die Bende | |
| Origin | Bellville, South Africa  |
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| Genre(s) | Alternative rock Punk rock |
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| Years active | 2003–2007 | |
| Label(s) | Rhythm Records | |
| Website | Official Website | |
| Members | ||
| Francois Badenhorst Hunter Kennedy Johnny de Ridder Wynand Myburgh Jaco Venter |
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Fokofpolisiekar is an Afrikaans punk rock band from Bellville, near Cape Town, South Africa. The band name translates directly into English as "fuck off police car", although due to the obscenity in the name, they are more commonly known simply as Polisiekar (police car) or among avid Afrikaans speaking fans as "Die Bende" (The Gang).
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[edit] Band history
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'll Get Burnt) 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). In 2006 they released both a single, Brand Suid-Afrika (Burn South-Africa), and (on 15 September 2006), a new album Swanesang (Swansong), that included 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, featuring less controversial lyrics than their first albums.
Fokofpolisiekar have performed at various venues throughout South Africa and during October 2005 the band toured the United Kingdom. They also toured Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom during November 2006.[1]
[edit] Band members
- Francois van Coke (Real name: Francois Badenhorst) – vocals
- Johnny de Ridder – lead guitar
- Hunter Kennedy – back-up vocals and rhythm guitar
- Wynand Myburgh – bass
- Jaco "Snakehead" Venter – drums
[edit] Music style
Even though the band has a distinct and unique sound, especially among Afrikaans bands, their music hints at being inspired by bands like Queens of the Stone Age. At the Stellenbosch launch of the "Monoloog in stereo" EP, Francois van Coke (lead singer) commented they were very impressed with a Queens of the Stone Age DVD that they watched earlier that day.
The band mostly performs music that can be classified as either punk rock or alternative rock, varying somewhat between albums and songs. A common theme throughout their music is commentary on all aspects of South African life, but especially the social and political situation Afrikaans-speaking South Africans currently find themselves in. The band also delves into the issue of religion and whether it still has any place left in Afrikaans culture, with songs ranging from what some might consider blasphemous through to introspective songs questioning their own views on religion.
They have matured more with every album released, with their early albums being very raw and punky, to the most recent album "Swanesang" which is a more alternative rock-styled delivery. Songs like "Heiden Heiland", "Prioritiseer", "Brand-Suid Afrika" and "Backstage" off Swanesang display a more mature style of songwriting, as well as more complex studio production (such as the evident use of a vocoder to fill out Van Coke's singing). Swanesang was recorded in Boksburg, South Africa and was co-produced by De Ridder. The album was released in September 2006.
[edit] Controversy
The band has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. Initially, radio stations were hesitant to play the band's tracks because of the profane "Fokof" ("fuck off") in the band's name. The nickname Polisiekar ("police car") was soon adopted by that part of the mainstream media who did not want to pronounce the full name in fear of complaints by the public. The band's name is also controversial considering the crime situation in South Africa, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
A lot of outrage has also been expressed by the Christian community in South-Africa over the use of apparently anti-religious lyrics in many of the bands songs. Lyrics such as "Sal iemand dalk 'n god bel/En vir hom sê ons het hom nie meer nodig nie," directly translated as "Will somebody phone a god/And tell him we don't need him anymore," (from their hit song "Hemel Op Die Platteland") has been met with some resistance from Christian groups.
In 2004 the band were involved in a bar fight when a group of men recognized them and insulted van Coke, calling him a "faggot". [2] Since then the band has gotten a reputation for the fistfights that break out at their CD launches and gigs, one example being the CD launch of Lugsteuring where the band jumped off the stage to help stop a fight. [3]
Controversy surrounding the band peaked in April 2006 when bass guitarist Myburgh wrote the words "fok god" ("fuck god") on the wallet of a teenage fan during an argument about religion. Religious leaders from all over South-Africa used various media (including radio interviews and letters to newspapers) to express their disapproval of the band's sentiments. This almost resulted in the band being kicked out of the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival. [4] In the end the band was allowed to play on the condition that the words "fok god" not be sung in any of their songs. The band later apologised for the incident, saying that they had not meant any offence.[5]
Some of the recent controversy surrounding the band came from their new video for the single "Brand Suid-Afrika" which hints at homosexuality, alcoholism, racism and anarchism.
Yet for all their controversy (and to some extent because of it) the band remains hugely popular in South Africa, drawing large crowds wherever they perform. They are also one of the most requested bands on the South African music television channel MK89.
[edit] Hiatus
On March 13 2007, Myburgh announced the hiatus of Fokofpolisiekar in the Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, saying, "All of us want to do our own thing, such as Johnny who wants to start producing, and Francois and myself who are doing our own solo projects." Talks regarding a new album will commence in August of 2007. (MK89 Interview March 2007)
Van Coke has already begun performing acoustic sets in Stellenbosch under his own name.
[edit] Discography
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[edit] Notes
- ^ Fokofpolisiekar European Tour November 2006. Rhythm Records. Retrieved on October 10, 2006.
- ^ News24: 'Boers' rev up Fokofpolisiekar.
- ^ News24: Fistfight at CD launch.
- ^ IOL: Punk Afrikaans band suffers Christians' wrath.
- ^ IOL: Controversial band can play at KKNK.
