Red London
| Company type | Punk rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Sunderland , England |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Red London is a punk rock group from England that originated in Sunderland in December 1981. Their sound draws inspiration from bands such as The Clash, Chelsea, SLF, The Angelic Upstarts, The Ruts, and The Jam. The band took their name from a track by Sham 69.
Guitarist Kid Stoker established the band, with his brother Gaz Stoker joining on bass—Gaz previously played in the Sunderland punk outfit The Rebels, whose members eventually formed Red Alert. Vocalist Patty Smith and drummer Raish Carter completed the initial lineup. In 1982, they secured a contract with Razor Records, releasing their debut EP Sten Guns in Sunderland in 1983, followed by the 1984 LP This is England, which earned a perfect 5/5 rating from Sounds magazine.
Beginning in 1985, the band toured across Europe. During this period, Raish Carter switched to lead vocals, replacing Patty Smith for the 1987 EP Pride and Passion, issued by the French label Gougnaf Mouvement. Their sophomore album Outlaws came out in 1989 through another French label, Negative, featuring Marty Clark as the new vocalist. Throughout the 1990s, Red London continued to release numerous records under various UK and international labels.
The group reunited in 2018 and performed at the Museum Vaults in Sunderland. In 2024, they released a new album titled Back On The Streets on both CD and vinyl formats via Mad Butcher Records. The lineup as of 2023 consists of Patty Smith on vocals, Gaz Stoker handling bass duties, John Forster on drums, and Marty Jackson alongside Scott Dixon providing guitar and backing vocals.
Their upcoming album, Keeping It Real, is scheduled for release in early 2026.