Radical Dance Faction

Emerging from Hungerford, Berkshire, in 1986, the group began life under the name Military Surplus, with Chris Bowsher at the centre. The project soon developed into Radical Dance Faction, usually shortened to RDF, with Bowsher remaining the only constant member through its various incarnations. The line-up changed frequently over the years, with more than thirty musicians passing through at different points, giving the band a fluid sound and personnel that could shift considerably from one period to another. 

Their music brought together punk, reggae, ska and dub, with Bowsher delivering his lyrics more as spoken-word or beat poetry than conventional singing. His writing dealt with social and political subjects, often drawing on events and experiences around him. “Chinese Poem”, for example, addressed the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, while “Hot on the Wire” was connected to Bowsher’s experience of witnessing the Hungerford massacre in 1987. 

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, RDF became closely associated with the British anarcho-punk and free-festival circuit, including the scene often described in the press as “crusty”. Their live activity extended beyond Britain, with tours in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. They signed with Southern Records in 1990 and released material through their Earthzone imprint, including the albums 'Borderline Cases' and 'Wasteland'. They also appeared at larger reggae and alternative events, including Germany’s Summerjam festival, and shared bills with acts such as Rebel MC and Ziggy Marley. 

The cassette releases 'Taking Refuge' and 'Hot on the Wire' appeared in 1989, followed by 'Borderline Cases' in 1990 and 'Wasteland' in 1991. The single “Landing Party” came out in 1991, while “Beast in the Doorway” followed in 1994. 'Raggamuffin Statement', issued in 1995, combined live recordings, remixes and new material, including “Martin Foran”, concerning the case of a prisoner who had been wrongly convicted. After the original run ended in the mid-1990s, RDF returned to activity in 2006 and played a number of festival dates in the following years. Another reformation took place in 2012, coinciding with the release of 'Ammunition' and appearances including the Bearded Theory Festival. Later releases included 'Daydream Dystopia' in 2018 and 'Welcome to the Edge' in 2023, while Bowsher also continued working with musicians from the RDF circle on related projects. 

Across the different line-ups, Chris Bowsher has remained the central figure, with his spoken delivery providing the most recognisable thread between the early Military Surplus recordings, the classic RDF period and the later material. The personnel around him have included musicians such as Steve Swann, Phil Astronaut, Linda Goodman, Mark McCarthy, Sarah Edwards, Tim Hill, Graham Spey and Martin Jenkins, among many others who passed through the band's constantly changing line-up.