Foreign Legion (band)
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | South Wales , Wales, United Kingdom |
| Products | Punk music, albums, EPs |
Foreign Legion is a punk ensemble originating from South Wales.
1984–1991
Formed in 1984, Foreign Legion emerged from the remnants of Society, which later became Dead On Arrival and contributed a track to the 1984 Bullsheep Detector compilation. To prevent confusion with the Canadian group DOA, they adopted the name Foreign Legion. After undergoing multiple personnel changes, particularly among drummers, their initial EP was released in 1986 under their independent label Rent a Racket. This lineup featured M.H. on vocals, Lynne Murphy handling guitar duties, Helen James on bass, and Paul (Marshon) Marsh on drums. Marsh briefly incorporated keyboards into their sound, while Andrew Heggie and Steven Thomas subsequently joined on guitar and bass respectively.
Although they performed extensively throughout London, Wales, and France, it took until 1989 for Foreign Legion to issue their second EP Surf City alongside their debut album Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf. By this period, the band included Mark (Jolly) Williams—formerly of Blind Justice—on bass, Peter Giles on guitar, Ben Stansfield on drums, with M.H. continuing as vocalist.
Throughout the 1980s, Foreign Legion frequently played at the iconic 100 Club and supported numerous influential punk bands such as UK Subs, The Vibrators, The Partisans, Picture Frame Seduction, The Adicts, Major Accident, Toy Dolls, Angelic Upstarts, 999, Broken Bones among others. Their touring extended to France where they shared stages with Bérurier Noir following collaborative exchanges with Le Havre's Burning Ambitions. Additional notable support appearances included gigs alongside The Alarm, Joe Strummer & the Latino Rockabilly War, and UK Subs in their hometown of Merthyr Tydfil.
The band ceased activities in 1991.
2000–2023
In 2000, Foreign Legion reassembled featuring original members M.H. (vocals), Mark (Jolly) Williams (guitar), Andrew Heggie (bass), and Ben Stansfield (drums). They released a split album titled Cry of the Legion in collaboration with Major Accident, followed by a full-length record What Goes Around, Comes Around, produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. During the early 2000s, the group issued several EPs and embarked on tours across Europe and the United States alongside acts like Dropkick Murphys, Major Accident, The Templars, NY Relics, UK Subs, The Misfits, Agnostic Front, Bad Manners, Stiff Little Fingers, and The Buzzcocks. Their itinerary included a performance at New York’s legendary CBGBs venue.
The 2007 album Death Valley showcased fresh material alongside a reinterpreted track from their debut EP. By 2008, new members Jarrad (Nöir) Owens and Paul Black joined the lineup, introducing thrash and metal elements evident in their split release Reality Bites with American band Sledgeback. Following a 2008 show at Newport’s Legendary TJs supporting Anti-Nowhere League, guitarist Williams departed; Black and Owens soon followed.
For a brief period, members of Caerphilly punk tribute band Doc Savage joined forces with M.H., prior to establishing a new lineup comprising Glyn (Sid Lovely) Bendon on drums, Simon Bendon on guitar, and Canis Humanus handling bass duties. This incarnation produced split EPs with Germany’s Riot Company in 2011 and Italy’s Cervelli Stanki in 2012. The band resumed touring activities including appearances at Rebellion Festival alongside PiL, Rancid, Buzzcocks, and Social Distortion.
In 2013 Steve Zuki from Demob took over bass responsibilities. Their performances that year included German festivals such as Punk and Disorderly and Back On The Streets, a tour across northern Italy as well as UK headline shows at Gosport Punk Festival. They also supported Sham 69, 999, Stiff Little Fingers and The Men They Couldn't Hang. Returning to Rebellion Festival featured them sharing stages with Sham 69 again alongside Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, GBH, Discharge, Peter Hook and The Light plus TV Smith.
Their 2013 release Light at the End of the Tunnel, issued by Germany’s KB Records, featured one track with vocals by Zuki. The album reflects the band’s Welsh working-class heritage through songs like Market Trader, Regeneration (Council List), and Miners (The Fathers' Sacrifice). The cover artwork by Merthyr artist Gus Payne portrays a Welsh miner kneeling while planting a sword into the earth—symbolizing hope and endurance. Vocalist M.H. explained that the record was crafted to empower working-class communities globally.
Mark Howells, the band's lead singer, passed away in June 2023.
2024–present
In 2024, Foreign Legion persisted with the backing of Mark (Marcus) Howells' daughter and brother, while guitarist Simon Bendon took on the role of lead vocalist.
The ensemble for 2024 made their first appearance by opening for The Professionals and Cockney Rejects, in addition to performing at Scotland's Punk on the Peninsula festival.
Albums
| Year | Title | Producer | Tracks | Personnel | Split artist | Label | Format | Vinyl colour | Cat. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The 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 |
MH (vocals) Truskie, Lynne, Peter (guitars) Powell, Hel, Jolly (bass) Mike, Marshon, Stan, Pandy (drums) |
Puke N Vomit Records | Vinyl | Sky blue/dark blue splatter Yellow / Pink / Black |
PNV 102 | ||
| 2018 | Back Tö Basics | Back Tö Basics Murderer Hömeless Uncle Tom She's A Punk Bullshit Heröes Welcöme Strange Töwn Drink Start A War |
MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Steve Zuki (bass/vocals) Sid (drums) |
Violated Records | CD | PUNK CD023 | |||
| 2020 (Rerelese) | Clockwork Punk | Cassette | CWP 018 | ||||||
| 2020 (Rerelese) | Street Justice | Vinyl | Orange | SJ013-1 | |||||
| 2016 | Always 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) |
Aggrobeat | CD | ABCD032 | |||
| 2020 (Rerelese) | Laketown Records | Vinyl | Yellow / Black | LTR-013 | |||||
| 2020 (Rerelese) | Traditional Style Records / Inatoxx Oi! Records | Cassette | TSR-003 / ITX 10 | ||||||
| 2013 | Light 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 Zuki (bass/vocals) Sid (drums) |
KB Records | CD | 3221 | ||
| 2014 (Rerelese) | Aggrobeat / Rebel Sound | Vinyl | Green-mint / Green with red splatter | ABLP015 | |||||
| 2010 | Reality 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) |
Sledgeback |
Sliver Records |CD |367524 | ||||
| Clockwork Punk |Cassette | |CWP 023 | |||||||||
| Death Valley | Lots 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 Records |CD |DMR0004-3 | ||||||
| rowspan="3"|What Goes Around Comes Around | Mick 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 Gone |
MH (vocals) Frank (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums) Jolly guitar on 'Obvious', 'Another Day' and 'Valleys Mentality' |
DSS Records |CD / Cassette |DSS043 | |||||
| Jimmy Jazz Records |Cassette | |JAZZ 053 | |||||||||
| Street Justice |Vinyl |Yellow |SJ012-1 | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Cry 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 Accident |
DSS Records |CD / Vinyl |Black |DSS024 | |||||
| Street Justice |CD / Vinyl |Red & black marbled |SJ016-1 (Vinyl + CD) SJ016-2 (CD) | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf | Ian Wallace and Foreign Legion | Surf 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 Days |
MH (vocals) Peter (guitar) Jolly (bass) Stan (drums) |
Venture Records |Vinyl |Black |VR/FL 100 | |||||
| 2021 (Rerelese) |
Puke N Vomit Records |
Vinyl |
Pink / Purple / Red / Black |
PNV 105 |
7-inch vinyl
| Release Year | Record Title | Foreign Legion Songs | Band Members | Collaborating Artist(s) | Record Label | Vinyl Colour Variants | Catalogue Number |
| 2017 | Last Rough Cause / Föreign Legiön (Split) |
Nev's Birthday Bash Drugs For Mugs |
MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Dave Linehan (bass) Sid (drums) |
Last Rough Cause | Aggrobeat | Black / Orange |
ABEP034 |
| 2015 | Oi! The International Street-Punk League (Split) |
Nowhere Left To Hide Our World Today |
The Shame | Aggrobeat | Blue | ABEP022 | |
| Rebel Sound | Red | REB1038 | |||||
| 2012 | Clockwork Kids Still Alive! (Split) |
Market Traders Drunken Heroes |
MH (vocals) Simon (guitar) Dog (bass) Sid (drums) |
Cervelli Stanki | Rusty Knife Records Marchiato A Fuoco Oi! Shop |
Black | |
| 2011 | Salute To The Boys (Split) |
Phoenix From The Flames Another Bullshit Night |
Riot Company | KB Records | Picture disc / Black |
KBR 061 | |
| 2007 | Foreign Legion / Suburban Lockdown (Split) (Live) |
Where's Johnny Gone Another Day |
MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Frank (guitar) Martyn (bass) Stan (drums) |
Suburban Lockdown | Durty Mick Records | Black | DMR0002-7 |
| 2007 | Send In the Legion (Split) (Two different covers) |
Powergames Wake Up |
Paris Violence | Trooper Records | Yellow | KBR 022 | |
| 2000 | Punk Rock Jukebox | Where's Johnny Gone Rain Alright (Stick Together) |
MH (vocals) Jolly (guitar) Eggy (bass) Stan (drums) |
DSS Records | Black | DSS 010 | |
| 2000 | The Years Gone By EP | Wake Up Don't Ask Me Why What Are You Doing Now Jump |
Upstart Productions | Green / Black |
UP7004 | ||
| 2000 | 'The We Don't Care About Rock 'n' Roll (Split) |
'There Ain't No Punks' '17 Years Of Hell* (*Partisans cover)' |
'District' | 'Dirty Faces' | 'Marbled' | 'DF 89/01' |
Compilation Albums
1989| Release Year | Compilation Title | Foreign Legion Contributions | Lineup | Additional Bands Featured | Publishing Label | Media Format | Catalogue Number |
| 1996 | Oi! The Rarities, Volume 2 | "Message From Nowhere" "Trenchline" |
MH (vocals) Lyn (guitar) Helen (bass/vocals) Marshon (drums) |
"Crash" "Anti-Social" "The Squats" "Special Duties" "Condemned 84" "Resistance 77" "Frankie Flame" |
Captain Oi! Records | "Vinyl" | "AHOY LP 46" |
| "Pop Oi!" | "Surf City"
MH (vocals) |
As Dead On Arrival
Release Year Compilation Title Dead On Arrival Song(s) Band Members Other Featured Artists Label Format Catalogue Number rowspan="2"|1984 On The Street Child MolesterZyklon B rowspan="2"|MH (vocals)
Truskie (guitar)
Powell (bass)
Cleaver (drums) Primitive
Vicious Hamsters
Acid Attack
Oi Polloi
Devoid
The Abductors
Catch 22
Criminal Justice
Fungus
4 Minute Warning
The Clergy
Obscene Females
Rough Justice Sane Records Vinyl SANE 003 Bullsheep Detector Child Molester Icons of Filth
Impact
Death Patrol
No Choice
Sharpnel
Template:Yr Anhrefn<br}Soldier Dolls
Armistice
Classified Protest
Reality Attack
Secluded
Abnormal
Condemned
No Label
Skull Attack
Living Legends
Pseudo Sadists
Picture Frame Seduction Anti-Society Records Vinyl ANTI 020
Bibliography
- Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984 by Ian Glasper, featuring four pages dedicated to the band. Published by Cherry Red Records in 2004.