The Oppressed formed in Southall, London during the late 1970s, a working-class area where unemployment and police tensions were part of daily life. Frontman Garry Bushell led the band with a raw, aggressive punk sound that reflected those surroundings. Their song 'A C A B' became a rallying cry, its title spelling out 'All Coppers Are Bastards' and capturing a widespread distrust of police among disaffected youth at the time.
They released albums like 'Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot!' in 1981 and 'The Fight for Our Lives' in 1982. Other songs in their catalog include 'I'm Not A Fool,' 'Same Ol' Story,' and '1984.' Their concerts sometimes turned into clashes with authorities, and they faced accusations of glorifying violence, though they kept playing their message regardless.
The band's lineup changed over time, with members like Roddy Moreno on guitar, Dave Parsons on bass, and Tony Roberts on drums passing through. They put out 'The Carnival Is Over' in 1983 and 'Rest in Peace' in 1989. Their music stayed rooted in that early punk energy, blunt and unpolished, speaking directly to the frustrations they saw around them.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.