Renowned for their high energy live shows the band deliver their set with passion and humour and have been touring and releasing successful albums since the1980s.
Their latest album ‘Cardboard Country’ was released on their own Last Rockers label last year. The album is launched on the back of a very successful Pledge campaign raising funds for the Shelter homeless charity in line with the album title.
Vice Squad is fronted by raucous voiced singer/guitarist Beki Bondage who was featured on the front cover of a number of influential music tabloids such as Melody Maker, NME, Sounds, Record Mirror and Smash Hits. The band is 100% DIY and has no record company or management backing. Since reforming Vice Squad in 1997 the band has released several albums with powerful punk songs that are very well received by fans and press. In keeping with the DIY ethic the albums were recorded in the front room of Beki’s South London flat.
2016 – The band started the year with some UK gigs then ventured across the channel for shows in Den Haag and Antwerp, where they shared a stage with the Toy Dolls and Funeral Dress at the prestigious Trix music venue. More UK dates followed including an appearance at the Southampton Punk Festival and a sold out show at the legendary Hope&Anchor in London. Vice Squad donated a song called ‘Little Red Gloves’ to the S.O.P.H.I.E charity along with Cradle of Filth and Arch Enemy. The band played to a packed venue at Northwest Calling Festival in Manchester on 4th June and on 5th August they played the Tower Street Arena as part of the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool.
www.vicesquad.co.uk
Propaganda
Vice Squad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of memories that flood the mind
Served up on TV, film and book
Bitter testament of mankind
They can keep their propaganda
And their glorious farce of war
My life isn't their's to squander
You wear your medals oh so proud
For you did serve your country well
Told to proclaim your bravery loud
There was no glory, only hell
Lest we forget who gave their lives
Those who fought so we'd be free
Those who were conned by ancient lies
You'll make no murderer of me
I'll bear no arms for your rat race
See through the army boys pretence
I won't betray the human race
Leaping to the system's defence
The lyrics of Vice Squad's song "Propaganda" are a powerful commentary on the deceitful and manipulative nature of war propaganda. The first verse sets the tone with the image of a shattered look on the face of someone who has experienced the horrors of war. The memories flood the mind, but they are not just personal memories – they are also memories shaped and reinforced by the propaganda that saturates popular culture. The bitter testament of mankind is the fact that we keep repeating the same mistakes, driven by the lies and distortions that we are fed.
The chorus rejects the propaganda and the farce of war that it supports. The artist asserts their own autonomy and their refusal to be a pawn in someone else's game. The second verse touches on the way in which veterans are often celebrated for their bravery, despite the fact that the reality of war is far from glorious. The third verse acknowledges the sacrifice of those who have fought and died for freedom, but also highlights the way in which many were deceived into believing in the righteousness of the cause. The final verse is a defiant rejection of the military-industrial complex and the culture it spawns, a refusal to betray the values of humanity in service to the system.
Overall, "Propaganda" is a powerful protest song that speaks to the need for critical thinking and autonomy in the face of powerful forces that seek to manipulate and control us.
Line by Line Meaning
Across your face that shattered look
The expression on your face shows the pain and sadness brought by the memories of war.
Of memories that flood the mind
The mind overflows with unwanted memories of the past.
Served up on TV, film and book
The media presents war in a glorified manner to the general public.
Bitter testament of mankind
War shows the inhumanity and cruelty of humanity.
They can keep their propaganda
I reject the manipulation and lies spread by those in power.
And their glorious farce of war
I refuse to accept the glorification of war as something great and honourable.
My life isn't their's to squander
I am not willing to sacrifice my life for the benefit of those in power.
Like that of those who died before
I refuse to follow the path of those who died serving in wars.
You wear your medals oh so proud
The medals symbolize the recognition given to those who have served in wars.
For you did serve your country well
Those who have served in wars are praised as heroes for the fighting done for their country.
Told to proclaim your bravery loud
The media and society forces those who have served in wars to proclaim their bravery as superior to others.
There was no glory, only hell
The harsh reality of war contradicts the perceived glory and honour that society gives it.
Lest we forget who gave their lives
We should always remember and honour those who have lost their lives serving in wars.
Those who fought so we'd be free
Those who have fought in wars are hailed as heroes for their supposed contribution to freedom.
Those who were conned by ancient lies
Many soldiers are manipulated into fighting for false reasons.
You'll make no murderer of me
I refuse to become a killing machine for anyone else's purposes.
I'll bear no arms for your rat race
I reject the notion that war is a legitimate way to achieve political goals or gain power.
See through the army boys pretence
I can see through the acts of bravado and trickery by those in the army.
I won't betray the human race
I will not harm other humans simply because someone else says it is necessary.
Leaping to the system's defence
I refuse to blindly follow and defend the actions of those in power just because they hold authority.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BATEMAN, BOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind