Red London

Red London was an English punk band that originated in Sunderland in December 1981. Influenced by iconic bands such as The Clash, Chelsea, SLF, The Angelic Upstarts, The Ruts, and The Jam, the band chose their name from a Sham 69 song.

Formation and Early Years

Guitarist Kid Stoker founded the band, later joined by his brother Gaz Stoker on bass, who came from the fellow Sunderland punk group The Rebels. The Rebels’ other members went on to establish Red Alert. Completing the lineup were vocalist Patty Smith and drummer Raish Carter. In 1982, Red London inked a deal with Razor Records, leading to their first release, the Sten Guns in Sunderland EP in 1983, followed by the full-length album This is England in 1984, which earned a stellar 5/5 review in Sounds magazine.

European Touring and Lineup Changes

From 1985 onward, Red London embarked on extensive European tours. Drummer Raish Carter, who was replaced for the band’s debut album, returned on vocals, taking over from Patty Smith for the third release in 1987, the Pride and Passion EP. This release was on the French label Gougnaf Mouvement. The second album, Outlaws, surfaced in 1989 under the Negative label, with Marty Clark now handling vocal duties. Throughout the 1990s, Red London continued their musical journey with multiple releases for various labels in the UK and abroad.

Reunion in 2018

After a hiatus, Red London regrouped in 2018, marking their return with a performance at the Museum Vaults in Sunderland, showcasing the enduring spirit of their punk anthem.