Thee Faction

British socialist garage punk band from Surrey, England

Not to be confused with The Faction or Faction.

Thee Faction

Red Scare (left), Babyface (right)

Background information
Origin| Surrey, England
Genres| Garage punk, punk, garage rock
Years active| 2010–present
Labels| Soviet Beret[1]
Members| Billy Brentford Nylons
Babyface
Dai Nasty
Kassandra Krossing
Thee Citizen
Red Scare
Nineteen Nineteen
The Ol' One Hand
Past members| The G.A.
Horace Hardman
Christine Campbell
Website| theefaction.org

Thee Faction are a British garage rock/garage punk band from Surrey, England, noted for their explicit socialist agenda.[2] They refer to their music, which incorporates elements of garage rock, pop and rhythm and blues[3] as "Socialist RnB".[4][5] Their album Up The Workers! was rated one of the Daily Mirror's top twenty albums of 2011.[6]

## Biography

[edit]

Thee Faction's debut album At Ebbw Vale was released in 2010.[7] Dubbed 'rhythm and booze' and 'timely'[8] by Simon Price in The Independent it was rated 8/10 in Vive Le Rock.[9] Is This Music? praised the record, comparing the band to Dr. Feelgood.[10]

Their second album Up The Workers! or, Capitalism is Good For Corporations That's Why You've Been Told Socialism is Bad All Your Life[11] was described by the Daily Mirror as "Power-packed garage rock 'n' soul underlined by a defiantly political edge."[6] The title track featured Ivan Chandler (The Echoes) on piano.[11] The album was rated 7/10 by Drowned in Sound who praised it as "a lot of fun, undeniably stirring. Thee Faction write showstoppers" but also criticised the music as "entertaining in a very conventional way".[12]

The band's third album Singing Down The Government, or, The War of Position and How We're Winning It,[13] was released in 2012, and introduced all-female horn section Brass Kapital.[14] The album was promoted by headlining appearances at the Marxism Festival[15] and Tolpuddle Martyrs festival and included contributions by Richard Archer from Hard-Fi and rapper Clencha.[13][16] Free download-only singles for tracks 'Soapbox'[17] and 'Sausage Machine'[18] were accompanied by promotional videos.[19] Q Magazine praised the album as "a critique of societal hegemony on the back of a grimy blues'n’b twang, rife with the contagious energy of people who know they're right",[20] and it was rated 7/10 by Mick Farren in Classic Rock Blues magazine.[21]

Thee Faction released fourth album Good Politics: Your Role As An Active Citizen Within Civil Society[20][22] in 2013, preceded by single 'Better Than Wages',[23] remixed from the album by Andy Lewis. The album featured (on one track each) guest vocals from writer Francis Wheen[24] and saxophone from Crayola Lectern, and was rated 8/10 in Classic Rock[25] and 4/5 in The Independent[26] and Mojo[27] who called it "wildly galvanising, blisteringly angry, insanely entertaining blue-collar rock'n'roll".

Flyer for a Thee Faction-curated gig in aid of the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign.

Thee Faction released fifth album Reading Writing Revolution: The Tendency of the Rate of Profit to Fall in June 2015,[28] preceded by a track on double-CD fundraising album Orgreave Justice[29][30] and free download single "Choose Your Enemy", released on 29 March with accompanying video.[31][32] A second free download single "(You've Got The) Numbers (Why Don't You Use It)" accompanied the release. The album received 5/5 in the Morning Star,[33] 9/10 at MaximumVolumeMusic,[34] and a positive review in Socialist Standard,[35] while R*E*P*E*A*T zine called it "highly enjoyable, dangerously tuneful, subversively catchy and dialectically danceable, as well as being (as the title implies) properly educational - thought provoking and agitational."[36] The band announced a number of summer festival dates, including Glastonbury,[37] and a return to Tolpuddle[38] and the Matchwomens Festival.[39]

Thee Faction guitarist Babyface, under cadre name "Chris Fox", won the Beard Liberation Front's 'St David's Day Beard of Wales' title in 2015, 2017 and 2018.[40][41] He was runner-up in 2016.[42]

Thee Faction keyboard player and vocalist Kassandra Krossing, aka Cassie Fox, started the Loud Women organisation and festival in 2015. She also now plays bass in "mummycore" band I, Doris, along with Thee Faction trombonist Nineteen Nineteen. [43]

Thee Faction's most recent gig to date was a 2017 benefit show for the anti-Haringey Development Vehicle campaign. The band has not officially confirmed a hiatus, although a slogan on one of their web-pages, "R&B sui generis",[44] may indicate that, like other left-wing groups, they have gone into the Labour Party.

## Politics

[edit]

The band have performed with, and for, various artists and organisations of the broad Left including Attila the Stockbroker, Robb Johnson, Chris T-T, Grace Petrie, Colour Me Wednesday, The Tuts, Billy Bragg, TV Smith, The Hurriers, Mark Steel, Josie Long, the SWP, the Welsh Communist Party and the Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign.[45][46][47]

The band appear to be unaligned with any particular organisation or tradition but are noted for promoting ideas associated with guild socialism, democratic socialism, classical Marxism and left communism, while supporting a range of left-wing and trade union causes.[48][49][50] Notwithstanding the band's use of Ostalgic tropes and apparent (possibly parodic) anti-revisionism, in a 2013 interview they declared themselves "libertarian socialists of one kind or another".[51]

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

* At Ebbw Vale LP/CD (Soviet Beret, 2010)
* Up the Workers! or, Capitalism Is Good for Corporations That's Why You've Been Told Socialism Is Bad All Your Life CD (Soviet Beret, 2011)
* Singing Down the Government, or, The War of Position and How We're Winning It CD (Soviet Beret, 2012)
* Good Politics: Your Role as an Active Citizen in Civil Society CD (Soviet Beret, 2013)
* Reading Writing Revolution: The Tendency of the Rate of Profit to Fall CD (Soviet Beret, 2015)

### Singles/EPs

[edit]

* Better Than Wages (remix) CD [promo single]
* Songs to Remind the Class of the Glorious Victory to Come and the Work That Must Be Done to Get There CD EP (Soviet Beret, 2013) [ft. Attila The Stockbroker and Judy Dyble]

### Compilation appearances

[edit]

* "Deft Left" on Now Hear This 103 (The Word) (CD) 2011
* "Relentless" (Judy Dyble with Thee Faction) on Judy Dyble - Gathering The Threads (3CD) 2015
* "Police State" on Orgreave Justice (2CD) 2015
* "Rent Strike" on Don't Be Left Without Us (2CD) 2016

## Members

[edit]

Current members

* Billy Brentford – vocals (2010–present)
* Dai Nasty – drums (2010–present)
* Nylons – face-melting guitar (2010–present)
* Babyface – guitar, polemic (2010–present)
* Kassandra Krossing – vocals, organ of truth (2010–present)
* Thee Citizen – bass and superstructure (2012–present)[52]
* Red Scare – trumpet (2011–present)[53]
* Nineteen Nineteen – the 'bone of contention (2011–present)[53]
* The Ol' One Hand – saxophone (2015–present)[54]

Former members

* Horace Hardman – bass (2010–2011)[52]
* The G.A. – saxophone (2011–2015)[53][54]

Live members

* Bert 'iggins – Welsh harp
* Charley Marx – auxiliary guitar
* Jenny Marx – auxiliary drums

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Soviet Beret Records | Home of Socialist R&B and official record company for proletarian struggle". Sovietberet.wordpress.com. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
2. ^ "Neil Scott: Not a Review. Reviews are Bourgeois". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
3. ^ "Album Reviews – 2010". Tastyfanzine.org.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
4. ^ Simon Andrew (15 November 2012). "Thee Faction – Singing Down the Government". Beat-surrender.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
5. ^ Keen, Ross (15 May 2012). "Thee Faction: An Interview". Louderthanwar.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
6. ^ a b "Thee Faction's Up The Workers: the Daily Mirror's 17th best album of 2011 | Thee Faction". Theefaction.wordpress.com. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
7. ^ "Thee Faction – At Ebbw Vale (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. October 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
8. ^ Simon Price (21 November 2010). "Album: Thee Faction, At Ebbw Vale (Soviet Beret) – Reviews – Music". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
9. ^ "Vive Le Rock!". Vive Le Rock!. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
10. ^ Moller, Roy (2 December 2010). "is this music?" long players Thee Faction " is this music?". Isthismusic.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
11. ^ a b "Thee Faction – Up The Workers! (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
12. ^ August, Els (11 August 2011). "Album Review: Thee Faction – Up The Workers! / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
13. ^ a b "Thee Faction – Singing Down The Government (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
14. ^ "Vive Le Rock!". Vive Le Rock!. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
15. ^ "Home | Marxism 2014". Marxismfestival.org.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
16. ^ "clencha | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
17. ^ Bill Cummings (12 September 2012). "Thee Faction get on their 'Soapbox' for FREE release". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
18. ^ "Comrades, Thee Faction Needs You!". Louderthanwar.com. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
19. ^ "theefaction". YouTube. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
20. ^ a b "Thee Faction. – Projekta". Projekta.is. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
21. ^ "Thee Faction – Did we share this with you? Your actual..." Facebook.com. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
22. ^ Shepherd, Sam (8 July 2013). "Thee Faction – Good Politics: Your Role As An Active Citizen Within A Civil Society | Album Reviews". Musicomh.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
23. ^ "Thatcher dies. Thee Faction launch new video. | Thee Faction". Theefaction.wordpress.com. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
24. ^ "Thee Faction – Good Politics (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
25. ^ "This Machine Kills Capitalism – Buy Thee Faction's 'Good Politics' – the new album | Thee Faction". Theefaction.wordpress.com. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
26. ^ Simon Price (13 July 2013). "Album review: Thee Faction, Good Politics (Soviet Beret) – Reviews – Music". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
27. ^ "Thee Faction land four star review in Mojo | Thee Faction". Theefaction.wordpress.com. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
28. ^ "Default Parallels Plesk Page". Rhythm-and-booze.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
29. ^ "Orgreave Truth and Justice CD Out Now feat. Paul Heaton, Sleaford Mods, TV Smith, Billy Bragg and more". Louderthanwar.com. 20 February 2015.
30. ^ "OTJC CD out now! – Orgeave Truth and Justice Campaign". Otjc.org.uk. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
31. ^ Thee Faction (29 March 2015). "Thee Faction - Choose Your Enemy (Official Video)". YouTube.
32. ^ "DOWNLOAD 'CHOOSE YOUR ENEMY' | Thee Faction". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
33. ^ "Factional activity a revolutionary gem". Morningstaronline.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
34. ^ "REVIEW: THEE FACTION - Reading, Writing, Revolution". MaximumVolumeMusic.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
35. ^ "No. 1335 November 2015 - The Socialist Party of Great Britain". Worldsocialism.org. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
36. ^ "Reading Writing Revolution : Thee Faction". Repeatfanzine.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
37. ^ "THEE FACTION GET THEIR RS IN GEAR! - Vive Le Rock Magazine". Vivelerock.net. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
38. ^ "Trades Union Congress - Billy Bragg returns to Tolpuddle Festival in 2015". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
39. ^ "Matchfest Line up". Matchfest.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
40. ^ "St David's Day Beard of Wales poll sees triumphs for MP Paul Flynn & musician Chris Fox". Kmflett.wordpress.com. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
41. ^ "Musician Chris Fox shaves Times journalist & senior Labour AM to win St David's Day Beard of Wales". 28 February 2018.
42. ^ "St David's Day 'Beard of Wales' winners announced". Telegraph.co.uk. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
43. ^ "I, Doris: 'The Girl From Clapham' – the Squeeze classic from her point of view". louderthanwar.com. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
44. ^ "Thee Faction". En-gb.facebook.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
45. ^ Callinicos, Alex; Zaretsky, Eli; Mollett, Amy; Brumley, Cheryl (19 July 2012). "Marxism and the left". Blogs.lse.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
46. ^ "Grym Go Iawn i Bobl Cymru – Real Power for the People of Wales – Plaid Gomiwnyddol Cymru – Welsh Communist Party". Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
47. ^ "'A celebration of a class resurgent'". Morningstaronline.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
48. ^ "Thee Faction | "Taking down the Tory government, one song at a time" (The Guardian)". Theefaction.wordpress.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
49. ^ Bennett, Peter (11 November 2011). "Thee Faction 'Capitalism Is Good For Corporations' – album review". Louderthanwar.com. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
50. ^ "MUSIC NEWS: ORGREAVE TRUTH AND JUSTICE GIG DATE SET – Orgeave Truth and Justice Campaign". Otjc.org.uk. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
51. ^ "IS Network – 'Love music, hate capitalism': an interview with Thee Faction". Internationalsocialistnetwork.org. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
52. ^ a b "Introducing: Thee Faction's New Line-up". 13 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
53. ^ a b c Thee Faction (31 October 2011). "You Want To See Thee Faction With Brass Kapital? Here They Are". Retrieved 11 February 2017.
54. ^ a b Thee Faction (15 April 2015). "Tomorrow night Brass Kapital..." Facebook. Retrieved 11 February 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Thee Faction website
* Thee Faction bandcamp

### Reviews

[edit]

* At Ebbw Vale review
* Louder Than War review
* Up The Workers review
* Singing Down The Government review
* Review in Morning Star
* Morning Star live review
* God Is In The TV live review
* Reading Writing Revolution, Socialist Standard

### Interviews

[edit]

* Interview by Jack Monroe
* ISN interview
* Thee Faction on class
* 2015 interview
* Interview by Rock n Reel
* Louder Than War interview

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