Chaotic Dischord
Chaotic Dischord is an English punk rock band from Bristol, England, whose origins are steeped in humorous rebellion and irreverence. They are said to have been formed in 1981 by members of Vice Squad and their road crew, and even recorded one EP under the name Sex Aids.
History
The original lineup consisted of Ampex Oxobox (bass), Evo Stix (drums), Ransid (vocals), and Pox (guitars). Numerous myths surround their formation, but one enduring tale suggests the band was created as a parody of the overly serious second-wave punk bands signed to Riot City Records – a twist that would eventually see them become one of the label’s best-selling acts. Following an argument with Riot City boss Simon Edwards, members of Vice Squad (Dave Bateman and Shane Baldwin) claimed they could produce music “in ten minutes” on similar lines, inspiring the recording of the track “Glue Accident.” To conceal their true identity, the band falsely claimed a connection with Vice Squad, and Edwards misspelled their name as Chaotic Dischord – a spelling that stuck.
Chaotic Dischord’s brand of punk was deliberately provocative, aiming to shock and insult with a prolific use of expletives. Their releases scored several hits on the UK Indie Chart and earned praise from critics; for instance, Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll lauded their raw intensity, and Attila The Stockbroker (under the pseudonym John Opposition) gave their album Fuck Religion… a perfect five-star rating.
The band also recorded a one-off EP, Back On The Piss Again, under the alias Sex Aids. Later, when Beki Bondage left Vice Squad and relocated to London, Ampex departed from Chaotic Dischord as well. In retaliation, Bondage and Oxobox released an album credited to Chaotic Discord, titled Fuck Off You Cunt!… What a Load of Bollocks!!! This album was recorded in a burst of improvisational energy over three nights and, despite its commercial success, the band made no profit from it.
In a tongue-in-cheek move, the band released the album Live In New York in 1984 despite never having played a gig – the crowd noise was taken from a Beatles performance at Shea Stadium. When Riot City Records closed, Chaotic Dischord moved to Not Very Nice Records and continued to release material until they eventually split up in 1988 when Ransid’s tool hire business began to thrive.
Reunion
After years of cult status and ongoing offers from punk festivals worldwide, Chaotic Dischord reformed to play at the Rebellion Festival in 2020. Although that event did not materialize, they subsequently performed at the festival in 2022 and 2023. The band played its first-ever gig at Exchange in Bristol in February 2022 and has since toured internationally, including shows in Vancouver, Madrid, Berlin, Australia, and Ramsgate. They also periodically perform secret gigs under their alias Sex Aids. In August 2023, they launched their first physical release in 35 years – a limited edition maxi-single on pukey-coloured 10-inch vinyl, featuring songs from two previously download-only releases.
Discography
Singles/EPs
- Fuck The World 7-inch EP (1982, Riot City) – UK Indie Chart No. 14
- Never Trust a Friend 7-inch (1983, Riot City) – No. 30
- Back On The Piss Again 7-inch (1983, Riot City) – No. 24 (as Sex Aids)
- Don’t Throw It All Away 12-inch (1984, Riot City) – No. 14
- Songs To Fuck Your Mum To (2022, Download Only)
- Our Mental Health Is Fucking Mental (2023, Download Only)
Albums
- Fuck Religion, Fuck Politics, Fuck The Lot of You! (1983, Riot City)
- Don’t Throw It All Away (1984, Riot City)
- Live In New York (1984, Riot City)
- Fuck Off You Cunt!… What a Load Of Bollocks!!! (1984, Syndicate, as Chaotic Discord)
- Now! That’s What I Call A Fucking Racket Vol. 1 (1985, Not Very Nice)
- Goat Fuckin’ Virgin Killerz From Hell (1986, Not Very Nice)
- Very Fuckin’ Bad (1988, Not Very Nice)
- Songs To Fuck Your Mental Health To (2023, Irresponsible Punk Songs)
