Fokofpolisiekar
- What kind of music? Rock
- Their website
- The band was formed in April 2003, initially as a joke to shock the mostly conservative Afrikaans community with its name and also the notion of an Afrikaans punk band. All the members were well known in local underground music circles from their work in the bands New World Inside, 7th Breed and 22 Stars. They released their first EP, As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand soon after forming, and one of its tracks, Hemel op die Platteland made history when it became the first Afrikaans song to be officially playlisted on national radio station 5FM. Their first complete album, Lugsteuring , produced by John Paul De Stefani, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 with another EP, Monoloog In Stereo (Monologue in Stereo). In 2006 they released both an EP, Brand Suid-Afrika, and, a new albumSwanesang, that included the hit single “Brand Suid-Afrika”.
In late 2005, drummer Jaco Venter jumped out of a moving vehicle while the band was touring through South Africa. He suffered multiple injuries and was replaced by Justin Kruger, who was previously the drummer for Neshamah. He ended up working on their Brand Suid-Afrika album, as well as some tracks on the band’s latest album, Swanesang.
After their first EP As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand, and an even more popular full-length album, Lugsteuring, the following album Monoloog In Stereo went in a more acoustic rock direction, contrasting the punk rock feel of their first album. However, Brand Suid-Afrika had the band return to their punk rock roots. Swanesang, their last full-length album, is a mixed bag of punk and acoustic elements, featuring less controversial lyrics than their previous albums. They have also recorded a cover version of Depeche Mode’s Shake the Disease for the South African Depeche Mode tribute album Mode of Obscurity. In September 2008 the band released an EP/DVD entitled Antibiotika, which was recorded at Belville Studio’s in Cape Town. The EP features 4 new tracks, as well as a DVD featuring all of the bands music video’s and a behind-the-scene’s look at an upcoming documentary based on the band.
Fokofpolisiekar have performed at various venues throughout South Africa, and in October 2005 the band toured the United Kingdom. They also toured Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom during November 2006.1
membersFrancois Badenhorst – vocals
Johnny de Ridder – lead guitar
Hunter Kennedy – back-up vocals and rhythm guitar
Wynand Myburgh – bass
Jaco “Snakehead” Venter – drums
Justin Kruger – Touring drummer