Warminster, UK · ska-punk · anarcho-punk

Culture Shock

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The Subhumans' dub-and-ska-inflected sibling band, built for movement rather than confrontation — Dick Lucas leading the dance instead of the charge.

Culture Shock were formed in 1986 in Wiltshire by singer Dick Lucas after the Subhumans stopped playing, and drew several members from that circle of Warminster-area punk bands. Where the Subhumans dealt in fast, angular hardcore, Culture Shock built their songs on ska and reggae rhythms with dub-influenced bass and space in the arrangements, while keeping Lucas's wordy, politically pointed lyrics.

Those lyrics touched on cruelty to animals, the conflict in Northern Ireland, war and social alienation, but Lucas generally aimed for a positive, empowering angle rather than straightforward anger. Their records appeared on Bluurg, the label run from within the same scene, and across the band's run they released six studio albums.

Culture Shock split at the end of 1989 when two members, Bill and Nige, chose to prioritise young families. Lucas went on to form Citizen Fish with the outgoing bassist Jasper and two further former Subhumans members, carrying a similar sound forward. Nigel died in 1993.

Interest in the band revived after the 2012 release of a retrospective CD, Everything, prompting Culture Shock to reform as a gigging band the following year. The line-up stayed the same as before, with the addition of Alex, also of Citizen Fish, on guitar, and they have continued to play at intervals since.

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ska-punkanarcho-punk