The Exploited Biography

The Exploited are a Scottish punk rock band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1978. Originally a street punk band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy political influence. Formed in Edinburgh by Stevie Ross and Terry Buchan they were later joined by ex-soldier Walter ("Wattie") Buchan, they signed to Secret Records in March 1981 and released their debut EP Army Life. The album Punks Not Dead followed in the same year. Despite many lineup changes, "Wattie" Buchan has remained as the leader, and the band continued into the 2000s and developed a worldwide following. In 2012 the band started writing material for a new album.

Career

1978-1980

Original line up was Terry Buchan (vocals) Stevie Ross (guitar) Colin Erskine (bass) and Andy McNab (drums) Formed in the West Granton area of Edinburgh their first gig was at Craigmuir. Terry was replaced by his ex soldier older brother Wattie. After a few gigs in and around Edinburgh Stevie Ross left after an appearance in Aberdeen supporting the UK Subs. A few months later he and Terry Buchan formed The Exposed. The Exposed split in 1980 after a gig supporting The Exploited. While Terry left for London Stevie was prominent in the Edinburgh band scene during the 80's and fronted bands like Strychnine and Burlesque before becoming lead singer with blues band Roadside Medicine. Now based in West Lothian he still sings and writes original songs.

. Inspired by the first wave of punk rock (Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned), the quartet created a simple, no-frills sound characterized by speed and aggression. In 1980, the group founded its own independent record label, Exploited Record Company, and released their debut EP Army Life, which was number 6 in the indie/independent charts for eight weeks, then was in the top 20 for 18 months. They then released another single, "Barmy Army", which jumped into the independent charts and remained there for 53 weeks, peaking at number 4. Their single "Dead Cities" peaked at 31 on the national chart. Their single "Exploited Barmy Army" peaked at number 4 on the independent/indie chart.

In March 1981, the band signed to Secret Records, took a month to record their debut "Punks Not Dead", and released the single "Dogs of War", which peaked at number 2 in the independent charts and number 63 in the national charts. Also in 1981, the band released their first live album, On Stage, recorded during a concert in Edinburgh. Thereafter, the band performed, along with Discharge Anti-Nowhere League Anti-Pasti and Chron Gen on a tour called Apocalypse Now, which was recorded and released as a live album. Their album Punks Not Dead, released in April 1981, went to number 20 in May, then number 1 on the Independent Charts.

The band released the album ''Let's Start a War in 1983 and Horror Epics in 1985. The album Live at the Whitehouse was recorded in Washington, DC in 1985 at the 9:30 Club and was released in 1986. They also released the studio EP Jesus Is Dead in 1986, following up with Live and Loud, a videography of The Exploited performing around Europe and in the United States. "Sexual Favours", a single from the album Death Before Dishonour, was released in 1987. The album only ranked in the top 200 of the Britain Alternative Music list. The album sold out quickly, however.

1990s

In the early 1990s, they started working on the album The Massacre, which featured a new type of crossover thrash guitar style. Sometimes called also punk metal ), crossover is a form of thrash metal and hardcore punk which had mixed both genres together or had influences from each other. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock. This album was by far one of the band's most commercially successful. The band went on to release a Singles Collection album in 1993. The Exploited also released the videography Live in Japan in 1993. Their album Beat the Bastards was released in April 1996.

2000s

In January 2003, the band released their album Fuck the System on Dream Catcher Records, and also in 2003, they toured in the UK and US. On 14 October 2003, about 500 fans of the band started a riot in Montreal, Canada after an Exploited concert was cancelled due to the band not be allowed into the country. Rioters destroyed eight cars and set them on fire; broke 11 store windows and caused other damage. The band were banned from playing in Mexico City due to the riot. In a 2012 interview, Wattie Buchan said the new album is currently being finished and produced.

One reviewer called the Exploited "a delightful blast of angry, catchy hardcore/metal riffing", and also noted its "revolving-door line-up (to date, 11 guitarists, 11 bassists and 7 drummers) and a lead shouter so thickly-accented that it is literally impossible to understand a single word he says."

Current lineup

Former members

Vocals

Guitar

Bass

Drums

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Split albums

Live albums

EPs

Music videos

Videography

Best of collections

Compilation albums