The Varukers

The Varukers stood out as key participants in Britain's UK82 hardcore movement, sharing ideological ground with anarcho-punk circles while developing the D-beat approach that thrashed through their 1985 album One Struggle, One Fight and later shaped numerous early thrash metal bands. Often likened to Discharge, frontman Rat—whose real name is Anthony Martin—spent time in a later lineup of that group, and the Varukers remained a steady presence on the UK punk circuit, issuing furious, politically engaged recordings for decades after their first releases. Their classic era receives its clearest overview on the 1999 anthology The Punk Singles 1981-1985.

Anthony "Rat" Martin launched the Varukers in 1979 just as the initial British punk surge triggered by the Sex Pistols began to fade and tougher bands started surfacing. The original members were guitarist Bruce Riddel, bassist Tom Lowe, and drummer Gary Maloney. After sharpening their sound through live shows, the band made their recorded debut in November 1981 with a four-track EP on Birmingham's Inferno label. Gary Maloney exited shortly afterward, and Brian Roe, known as Brains, stepped in on drums. Inferno followed with the 1982 EP I Don't Wanna Be a Victim, then Riot City Records released the 1983 single "Die for Your Government" b/w "All Systems Fail," which introduced bassist George Jenkins after Tom Lowe departed. Riot City issued the band's debut full-length, Bloodsuckers, later that year.

Following the Bloodsuckers tour the lineup disintegrated, and Rat remained the sole original member in the next version of the group. Guitarist Damien Thompson, bassist Brik (Mark Briscoe), and drummer Andy Baker—who had previously played with Thompson in Warwound—recorded the 1984 three-song EP Led to the Slaughter and the eight-track mini-album Another Religion Another War, also released that year. After European dates Thompson and Brik left, replaced by guitarist Paul Miles and bassist Graham Kerr. This configuration cut the 1984 four-song single Massacred Millions for Rot Records. Rot issued Live in Holland in 1985, sourced from a soundboard recording of a June 1984 European show. As the band prepared its next album, Andy Baker gave way to a drummer known only as Warren. On their own Liberate Records imprint, One Struggle, One Fight appeared in 1985. The limited rarities collection Prepare for the Attack followed in 1986, and the group split two years later.

Rat assembled a new lineup in 1993 with guitarist Biff (Ian Smith), bassist Brian Ansell, and drummer Kev Frost. The 1995 album Still Bollox But Still Here contained fresh takes on earlier Varukers material. Kieran Plunkett replaced Ansell for 1998's Murder, after which Marvin Gauntlett handled bass on 2000's How Do You Sleep?, the band's first release to reach North America via Go-Kart Records. The six-song EP Hellbound was recorded in 2005 for a North American tour and later expanded with two additional tracks before resequencing for its 2009 reissue as Killing Myself to Live. Following eight years of live work and side projects, the Varukers returned with Damned and Defiant on the UK independent Nunny Dave Records in 2017. Killing Myself to Live was paired with Sick on the Bus's Music for Losers EP—also featuring guitarist Biff—for a 2018 European reissue. Nunny Dave released The Demos Anniversary Edition, compiling early-'80s recordings, in 2019. Noisy Bastards! Live! arrived in 2020 with two archival performances: one from London's 100 Club in 1983 and another from Gateshead's Bensham Working Men's Club in 1986. Cleopatra Records supplied a US edition of Damned and Defiant on CD and LP in 2022.