Foreign Legion is a punk band from South Wales.
History 1984–1991 Foreign Legion formed in 1984 by Marcus Howells, David (Truskie) Thomas, Alan Powell and Michael Wilding. The band changed the name to Foreign Legion from Dead On Arrival when hearing of the existence of Canadian punk band DOA. Marcus had previously been vocalist in a punk band called Society (1980-1981) with then drummer Paul Black, Welsh actor and former star of The Voice UK. Dead on Arrival had two tracks on the Sane Records compilation “On the Street”, “Child Molester” and “Zyklon B”. Both songs written by guitarist David Thomas. Dead on Arrival had one song on 1984's Bullsheep Detector album. Following the name change to Foreign Legion (due partly to people shortening it to DOA, which could cause confusion with the Canadian band of that name) and a number of line-up changes (drummers in particular). Wilding left to be replaced by Patrick McDermott who later, with Thomas, formed the cult Welsh psychedelic “Original Mind Band”. Foreign Legion released their first EP “Distress Signals” in 1984, recorded at Studio 2 in John Street, Cardiff. The cassette EP included Powell’s songs “Spy” and “European Sunshine” and two more from Thomas “Smile for the Cameras” and “TV Escape”. After a few dozen gigs in South Wales and London’s 100 Club, including support slots with 999, Angelic Upstarts, Vice Squad and UK Subs, the lineup imploded early in 1985. The new line up released their first EP on their own Rent a Racket label with the line-up of M.H. on vocals, Lynne Murphy on guitar, Helen James on bass and Paul (Marshon) Marsh on drums. Later line-up changes included Paul Marsh introducing keyboards to the band for a short while, Andrew Heggie taking over on guitar and Steven Thomas on bass.Despite many live shows in London, Wales and France, three years passed before Surf City their second EP was released, with their first full-length album entitled Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf also released that same year, 1989. By this time a new line-up had evolved with Mark (Jolly) Williams on bass (from local band Blind Justice, who Andrew Heggie soon joined), together with Peter Giles on guitar and Ben Stansfield on drums, retaining only M.H. on vocals. During the 1980s the band played regular slots in the famous 100 Club and supported the likes of UK Subs, The Vibrators, The Partisans, Picture Frame Seduction, The Adicts, Major Accident, Toy Dolls, Angelic Upstarts, 999, Broken Bones and others including Bérurier Noir for one of their first concerts overseas in France, following gig exchanges with Burning Ambitions from Le Havre. They also supported The Alarm, Joe Strummer & the Latino Rockabilly War and the UK Subs when they visited the band's home town of Merthyr Tydfil.
The band split up in 1991.
2000–2023 Foreign Legion re-formed in 2000, with members from before the 1991 split; M.H. on vocals, Mark (Jolly) Williams on guitar, Andrew Heggie on bass and Ben Stansfield on drums. They released a split album with Major Accident called Cry of the Legion, before their next full-length album What Goes Around, Comes Around, produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. During the early 2000s the band released EPs and played in mainland Europe and USA with the Dropkick Murphys, Major Accident, The Templars, NY Relics and the UK Subs, The Misfits, Agnostic Front, Bad Manners, Stiff Little Fingers, The Buzzcocks including a show at New York's CBGBs. In 2007 the album Death Valley was recorded, featuring more new material as well as a re-worked version of Message From Nowhere from the first EP. By 2008 Jarrad (Nöir) Owens and Paul Black had joined the band. This lineup re-recorded six songs written by Mark (Jolly) Williams at SKWAD HQ South Wales – the session captured the band's newly invigorated live sound; with double kick drums and distorted fuzz bass the thrash and metal influences of the new rhythm section were clearly evident. These recordings eventually became the band's contribution to Reality Bites a split 12 track CD album with US band Sledgeback and also appeared bootlegged, with an incorrect lineup credited.
Following an appearance at the Legendary TJs in Newport in 2008, supporting the Anti-Nowhere League, guitarist Williams posted a statement on the band's Myspace account announcing his departure; Black and Owens soon followed. Members of local Caerphilly punk covers band Doc Savage joined M.H. in Foreign Legion for a short while before a new line-up emerged with the drummer from 1980s Cwmbran punk band Impact (who also featured on the 1984 Bullsheep Detector album) Glyn (Sid Lovely) Bendon, together with Simon Bendon on guitar and Canis Humanus on bass.
A split EP with German band Riot Company was released in 2011, with a further split EP released in 2012 with Italian band Cervelli Stanki. The band were now back on the road with gigs including the Rebellion festival alongside bands including PiL, Rancid, Buzzcocks and Social Distortion.
Demob bassist Steve Z joined the band in 2013, with live performances including two German festivals: Punk and Disorderly and Back On The Streets, a tour of northern Italy and performances in the UK, including headlining the first day at Gosport Punk Festival (with the UK Subs headlining the other day) and support slots alongside Sham 69, 999, Stiff Little Fingers and The Men They Couldn't Hang plus a return to the Rebellion festival alongside bands including Sham 69, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, GBH, Discharge, Peter Hook and The Light, TV Smith and many more.
Light at the End of the Tunnel was recorded in 2013 and released on Germany's KB Records in August 2013. Featuring one song sung by bassist Z, the album features a number of songs referencing the band's Welsh working-class background, including Market Trader, Regeneration (Council List), and Miners (The Fathers' Sacrifice). The cover image by fellow Merthyr resident Gus Payne depicts a Welsh miner kneeling with his hand on the hilt of a sword planted into the ground, possibly referencing the sword in the stone myth and, along with the album title and the closing track Phoenix From The Flame, provides a positive theme with hope for the future. Vocalist M.H. confirms this intent to project hope for the future; "Light At The End Of The Tunnel is meant to give hope and strength to all the working class people all over the word, that the shining sword...".
Singer Mark Howells died in June 2023.
2024–present With the blessing of Mark (Marcus) Howells' daughter and brother, Foreign Legion continued in 2024, with guitarist Simon Bendon taking over on lead vocals.
2024 performances with this new line up began with support slots for The Professionals and Cockney Rejects together with a performance at Punk on the Peninsula festival in Scotland.
Discography
Albums Year of releaseTitleProducerForeign Legion tracksPersonnelSplit artistLabelFormatVinyl colourCat. No.2021The Early Years (Compilation LP)(Distress Signals) Spy TV Escape Smile For The Camera European Sunshine Brand New Cadillac (Trenchline EP) Trenchline Message From Nowhere National Affairs Lots Of Fun (Surf City EP) Surf City What A Place To Be Why Take My Life Away Those Were The Days (Distress Signals) MH (vocals) Truskie (guitar) Powell (bass) Mike (drums) (Trenchline EP) MH (vocals) Lynne (guitar) Hel (bass) Marshon (drums) (Surf City EP) MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums) Pandy (drums)Puke N Vomit RecordsVinylSky blue and dark blue splatter / Yellow / Pink / BlackPNV 1022018Back Tö BasicsBack Tö Basics Murderer Hömeless Uncle Tom She's A Punk Bullshit Heröes Welcöme Strange Töwn Drink Start A War MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Steve Z (bass/vocals) Sid (drums)Violated RecordsCD PUNK CD0232020 (Rerelese)Clockwork PunkCassetteCWP 0182020 (Rerelese)Street JusticeVinylOrangeSJ013-12016Always Working Class We Are Legion~ Dogoodgers Nowhere Left To Hide~ Drugs For Mugs~ Bare Faced Lies Justice~ Criminally Insane~ Nev's Birthday Bash Fat Cats~ Know Where You Are~ This Is Our Music~# Still No Punks In My Town MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) John (bass/vocals) Dave (bass/vocals on ~) (guitar on #)Sid (drums)AggrobeatCDABCD0322020 (Rerelese)Laketown RecordsVinylYellow / BlackLTR-0132020 (Rerelese)Traditional Style Records / Inatoxx Oi! RecordsCassette TSR-003 / ITX 102013Light at the End of the Tunnel Lyndon Price Jenny What A Place To Be Regeneration (Council List) My Radio Hey Girl George Best Stalker Market Trader Three Years (The Untold Story) Miners (The Fathers' Sacrifice) Drunken Heroes Phoenix From The Flame MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Steve Z (bass/vocals) Sid (drums)KB RecordsCD32212014 (Rerelese)Aggrobeat / Rebel SoundVinylGreen-mint / Green with red splatterABLP0152010Reality Bites (Split LP)*(2) Sunset On Babylon (3) Wake Up (6) Obvious (7) Johnny (10) Fake Gangsta (11) Wasted MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Jarrad Noir (bass) Paul Black (drums/backing vocals)SledgebackSliver RecordsCD3675242021 (Rerelese)Clockwork PunkCassette CWP 0232007Death ValleyLots Of Fun Alright Strange Town Rat Race Message From Nowhere She Loves Me Not Take A Look Party In Prague Where Do We Go Sunset On Babylon Death Valley Lots Of Fun (Reprise)MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Frank (guitar) Martyn (bass) Stan (drums)Durty Mick RecordsCDDMR0004-32002What Goes Around Comes AroundMick Jones Wake Up Valleys Mentality Don't Ask Me Why Wish You Were Here My Town Another Day FL Powergames Smiling Assassin Obvious Wheres Johnny GoneMH (vocals) Frank (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums) Jolly guitar on 'Obvious', 'Another Day' and 'Valleys Mentality'DSS RecordsCD / CassetteDSS0432003 (Rerelese)Jimmy Jazz RecordsCassetteJAZZ 0532019 (Rerelese)Street JusticeVinylYellowSJ012-12001Cry of the Legion (Split LP)Clockwork Pop And Orange Jump Open Your Eyes Fake Gangster Hate Machine Just A Faze MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums)Major AccidentDSS RecordsCD / VinylBlackDSS0242021 (Rerelese)Street JusticeCD / VinylRed & black marbledSJ016-1 (Vinyl + CD) / SJ016-2 (CD)1990Welcome to Fort ZinderneufIan Wallace and Foreign LegionSurf City Keep Pushing Back What A Place To Be Message From Nowhere Get Off My Back Gentleman Talk Dirty Stop Messing Around Why Take My Life Away What Am I Gonna Do Beau Geste Those Were The DaysMH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums)Venture RecordsVinylBlackVR/FL 1002021 (Rerelese)Puke N Vomit RecordsVinylPink / Purple / Red / BlackPNV 105
7-inch vinyl