THE TRIBUNES

Bio:

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ABOUT US

Formed in 2005 whilst touring with Mick Jones (The Clash, BAD) and Tony James' (Gen X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik) new project CarbonSilicon, The Tribunes (Of The Oppressed) emerged from the long-time musical collaboration of William Blake, Danny the Red and guitarist Bradford. Following in the tradition of bands like The Clash, their music became welded to their front-line political action and the friendship forged between Danny and Poetic Justice (Makola Mayambika) fighting to stop the Oldham BNP Nazis getting elected. Having both been intimately involved in the anti-capitalist protests and social forums 1999-2003, and the massive anti-war movement that culminated in the huge protests of February 2003, it was this emergent internationalism combined with the ongoing struggles of the Palestinian people... the fight for justice of Mumia Abu-Jamal, as well as drawing on the historical struggles of the US Civil Rights Movement... Malcolm X... the Black Power movement... the US anti-Vietnam War movement...the Great Miners' Strike of '84/85, that inspired them.

Hooking up with vocalist and Deadtime frontman Murdoch (whom they met while on tour with CarbonSilicon), their dream was to create a cerebral modernist jazz and funk backdrop to words of political activism based on their experiences, and the historic and heroic struggles of those that went before them....

They also know how to lay down a serious groove.

Peace y'all...

R.I.P BLAIR PEACH...School teacher and anti-fascist murdered on 23 April 1979 by members of the Metropolitan Police’s Special Patrol Group while he was attending an anti-Nazi demonstration in Southall in West London.

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NEWS.... APRIL 27 2008

ALL TO LONDON FOR THE LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM CARNIVAL

The Tribunes of the Oppressed will be opening the anti-racist/anti-fascist carnival at 12 noon.

THE GOOD THE BAD & THE QUEEN, HARD FI will be playing later with other bands and artists from a variety of different musical genres (see the link below for details)

DON'T SWALLOW THE NAZI POISON!

FUCK THE BNP!

On May the 1st at the local elections, we are asking people to

NOT VOTE FOR THE NAZI BNP!

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WHAT WE DO....

www.4wardever.org

Check out the website of this organisation that campaigns for justice those who have died in police custody. They have uploaded onto their website profiles and tracks from various artists who have been involved in this important campaign. The Tribunes have contributed four tracks including a version of the new single Beautiful Life, scheduled for release in the new year.

Tribunes Blog

Check out The Tribunes blog which will be updated regularly, for a mixture of politics, music and all things cultural...

Lenin's Tomb

If you like your politics incisive with a touch of added humour and a soupcon of piss taking of establishment figures and pro-war apologists such as the likes of Christopher Hitchens, The Tribunes of the Oppressed would eagerly encourage you to sample the delights of Lenin's Tomb

LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM..

CARNIVAL AGAINST RACISM

The tribunes are honoured to have been asked to open this major event on the 27th April, a carnival against racism and fascism, organized to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Rock Against Racism gig in Victoria Park. Book your tickets and organize coaches to bring friends along to this event... the line up for the day looks astounding!

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Buy Single

You can purchase our most recent release on 12" vinyl (single) direct from The Tribunes. We also have a limited edition 4 track CD E.P. version available featuring bonus tracks.
Contact us by email or by post at the address below:

Contact Us

Email: tribunesoftheoppressed@hotmail.co.uk
The Tribunes
P.O. Box 137
Manchester
M30 0UK

Both Eyes Blind Video

New Pictures

Taken at the Manchester Academy Nov 12 2007 CULTURES OF RESISTANCE tour for the SOCIALIST WORKER appeal, with Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble.


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News

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Single Reviews

Some great new single reviews just in:

Imagine The Streets' Mike Skinner has stumbled into a smokey jazz-blues bar in New York. He's drunk, he's politically active and he's pissed off. It shouldn't work, the tootling sax and the gently insistent cymbal with the spare piano parts every so often - all backing the spoken word delivery. But it does and it sounds pretty cool...very interesting

Tasty Fanzine

'Both Eyes Blind' is a silky jazz/blues fusion from The Tribunes. Spoken work set against beautifully laid back jazzy vibes, chilled and superbly poised, this is a superb single.

Commercial? Well 'Both Eyes Blind' may not go zooming up the charts but as an introduction to the band it's a fantastic sampler that whets the appetite for more of the same. The Tribunes specialise in political and social comment; their philosophy is "...we stand with the oppressed and against the oppressors. Our songs are like bullets and every single one should hit its target." Strong words indeed - and, strong songs too if 'Both Eyes Blind' is anything to go by!

The Tribunes are realistic about their music; they know their music isn't going to change the world but they hope that through their songs they can get their voices, opinions and beliefs heard. Sounds cool to me! The Tribunes, between them, have quite a musical pedigree and now just want to be heard for exactly what they are. Certainly, 'Both Eyes Blind' is a great piece of work. If The Streets colliding head-on with Coltrane sounds interesting to you then I suggest you seek out The Tribunes and enjoy what they do.

The Tribunes play 'proper' music and 'Both Eyes Blind' is a very tasty little morsel just for starters. Now look for their album for the main course - a true feast is promised!

Peter J Brown aka toxic pete (www.toxicpete.co.uk)

I was intrigued by the supposed 'fusion of jazz, blues, spoken word' and was suitably impressed. The song is strong with a ferocious moral undertone. The vocalist sounded like a less adolescent Mike Skinner - that is meant to be a compliment! The pianos were gorgeous as were the sax solos. The music was a relaxing antithetic partner to the hard-hitting lyrics.

Lucy, BURST Radio, Bristol University

Our debut single has also been reviewed by author Martin Smith:

The great jazz band leader, Duke Ellington, once said, “I think making a statement of social protest in music, calls for real craftsmanship”. And that is exactly what The Tribunes do.

Their debut 12” single Both Eyes Blind/Whitey Lands On Planet Mars is a glorious jazz infused burner that combines the soul of Gil Scott Heron, the musical craftsmanship of Charlie Mingus and the political anger of Joe Strummer.

The Tribunes are a band that wears their political commitment on their sleeves.

Martin Smith

Releases

Our debut 12" single Both Eyes Blind/Whitey Lands On Planet Mars is out NOW, distributed by Honest Jons Records. You can buy the single via your local independent retailer or online from the Honest Jons online shop

We're planning a new single release in the New Year... "Beautiful Life" b/w "Moulded, Packed and Wrapped" available on CD and as a download... watch this space for details...

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Join the Fightback...

Against Fascism

Against War - Stop the War Coalition

For Justice for those who die at the hands of the Police ..uot;>

Migrant Media - The Film Injustice

For a Left Alternative to New Labour, Privatisation and War

North West Asylum Seekers Defence Group

Action Palestine - Against Israeli Apartheid

Free Mumia Abu Jamal

Member Since:

February 14, 2006

Members:

Poetic Justice aka Makola Mayambika (Words, Vocals)
Murdoch (Words, Vocals)
Danny The Red (Drums, Percussion)
William Blake (Bass, Trombone)
Bradford (Acoustic & Electric Guitars)
Romaris (Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Yamaha Polyphonic Synthesizer)
Kim (Sax, Flute)
Heck (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
Richie Wassle (Trombone)
Sam Lewis (Tenor, Soprano, Alto Saxes)
Alan Clare (Guitar, Keyboard)


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Influences:

For
Improvisational modernism and reinvention...
Gil Scott Heron.
Coltrane, Sly and the Family Stone, Rage Against the Machine, Max Roach, Paul Robeson, N.W.A., Woodie Guthrie, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Charlie Mingus...
The Clash
The DIY independents
Democracy (from below)
Socialism (from below)
Genuine National Liberation movements

Against
Injustice
Oppression
Racism
Homophobia
Exploitation
Sexism
Fascism
Neoliberalism
War
Imperialism
Anything that divides workers...

"No nation which oppresses another can itself be free." Karl Marx

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"I Hate indifference. Living means taking sides... Indifference is the dead weight of history. It is a lead weight for those with new ideas, a ballast within which the most beautiful enthusiasms can drown..."

"I take sides. I live. In the active consciousness of my side I already feel the future society being built..."

"I am alive, therefore I take sides. That's why I hate those who don't take sides, those who are indifferent."

Antonio Gramsci, 1917

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