Dogsflesh

ByLets Go Punk
English hardcore punk band Dogsflesh

Dogsflesh are an English band, formed in May 1982 by guitarist Rob Moore. Considered early pioneers of English hardcore punk, often nicknamed “UK82”, they were heavily influenced by The Exploited, GBH, Discharge, and Broken Bones. Their current musical style has shifted more towards rock and metal, but the band’s early influences can still be heard and live shows feature a mix of both styles.

Early Years

The initial line-up consisted of Rob on guitar, Perky on drums, Jim on bass, and Marty on vocals. They played only a handful of gigs around the Teesside area, most notably supporting GBH at Middlesbrough’s Rock Garden. The band recorded a three track demo in November 1982, featuring “Never Give In”, “Mad Dog” and “Destroy”.

Perky was replaced on the drums by John Lavender in January 1983, and the band went on to play Redcar’s Swan Hotel Ballroom supporting the UK Subs. Soon after, Rob moved to Stockton and replaced Jim and Marty with Tim Whitfield on bass and John McQuade on vocals.

Breakthrough and Touring

In June 1984, Dogsflesh contributed “Soldier Boy” and “Fight the System” to a Teesbeat compilation called the New Bowery. That September, Nigel Johnson (Nigsy) from The Filth joined as lead guitarist. With this lineup, the band wrote new material and played shows supporting The Angelic Upstarts, The Anti-Nowhere League, GBH, Discharge, English Dogs, and The Exploited.

In February 1985, they recorded a four-track demo at Offbeat Studios in Leeds with “Fast Living Boy”, “Out My Head”, “Bloody Road to Death”, and “Mad Punks And Psycho Skins”. A support gig with The Exploited led to Dogsflesh joining them for the rest of their tour. They later toured with Broken Bones and GBH, before Nigsy and John Lavender left the band.

2005-2009: Reformation and International Shows

Dogsflesh re-formed in 2005 with Rob Moore, Tim Whitfield, John McQuade, and John Lavender. They toured extensively in the UK and Europe, including Italy, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. Richie took over on drums in 2006, and in 2007 they headlined the B Stage at the Antifest Festival in the Czech Republic. That same year they embarked on their first U.S. tour, playing 15 gigs with support from local American bands. Greg Newton replaced Richie in 2008, and the band kept performing across the UK and Europe.

Releases during this period included a reissue of the Bloody Road to Death EP, the live album Live at Wakefield 2005, the EP The Threat Remains, and the full-length Vision Of Hell, which was also re-pressed in North America.

2009-2014: Revival Of Species

In 2009, longtime vocalist John McQuade stepped down, with Rob Moore taking over on vocals. The band toured Germany, France, and Belgium, then returned to the studio to record their second album Revival Of Species, released in 2010. The album was distributed in the U.S. via Unrepentant Records. Line-up changes on drums continued until Tommey Heaney joined in 2011. Dogsflesh appeared at Germany’s Resist To Exist Festival and the UK’s Rebellion Festival, continuing to earn strong reviews.

2015-2016: New Sound and Third Album

In 2015, the lineup shifted again with Kev Bambra on drums and Anth “Patti” Pattison on lead guitar. The band’s sound incorporated more rock and metal influences while keeping their punk energy. Songs like “So Fucked Up” and “Lamb To the Slaughter” marked this direction. They played extensively across Europe and performed in Greece at Vive Le Punk. Their third album, Critical Response, recorded at Prism Studios, was released in December 2016, mixing punk and metal into a crossover style.

2017: Return to the U.S.

A decade after their first American tour, Dogsflesh returned in 2017, playing shows in Milwaukee, Madison, Des Moines, St. Louis, Tulsa, Fort Worth, and Dallas. They were supported by Milwaukee band ZOR, who assisted with bookings and logistics.

2017-Present

After the U.S. tour, Dave Earl joined on lead guitar and Josh Robson took over on drums. The band toured the UK and France, including a successful 2018 run through Montpellier, Paris, Dijon, and Geneva. They also performed at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Birmingham. In 2019, they began working on their fourth studio album. The COVID shutdown delayed progress until 2022, when drummer Darren O’Grady joined. By early 2023, they were recording the final tracks for March Of The Damned, slated for release later that year.

International Appearances

Dogsflesh has performed extensively across Europe and North America. Notable appearances include:

  • Czech Republic (10 shows)
  • Slovakia (1)
  • Austria (1)
  • Netherlands (4)
  • Italy (6)
  • France (10)
  • Germany (6)
  • Belgium (3)
  • Switzerland (1)
  • United States (15)
  • Greece (1)

Major Festivals

  • Antifest (Czech Republic)
  • Resist To Exist (Germany)
  • Rebellion (UK)
  • North East Calling (UK)
  • Vive Le Punk (Greece)
  • Festival Maloka (France)
  • Hard Rock Hell (UK, Birmingham)

Discography

  • Vision Of Hell – Rock Garden Music (2007)
  • Vision Of Hell – Unrepentant Records (US pressing, 2008)
  • Revival Of Species – Rock Garden Music (2010)
  • Critical Response – Released November 2016
  • March Of The Damned – Pending release, 2023

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