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"Without doubt one of the most exciting Punk bands playing anywhere in the World today. From the brilliant 'Barcode Generation' to 'Hotline to Hades', the Drongos are no longer playing the best Punk Rock in the UK, but clearly setting the standard for Punk to come. Intelligent. Exhilarating. Honest. Quite simply - Brilliant"
- Kerrang! Radio
"Great UK punk band that combines GBH and Peter & The Test Tube Babies while still sounding modern and relevant." - Coretex Records
Updated Band Bio and Discography (minus the countless comps we've been on)
formed in 1979 in Birmingham England, playing early gigs with mates GBH (who we still gig with today) Dead Wretched and the Varukers. The band shared the stage in the early days with bands like GBH, Exploited, Dead Kennedys, Crass, the Pogues, The Beat, and all the UK82 bands of the time.
The Drongos first single was a DIY release in 1981 called 'Hope And Glory'. The band also recorded two EPs on Inferno Records in 1982 - 'Death's A Career' and 'Eternity', which actually charted at around 47 in the national UK charts - Unfortunately, nobody in the band bothered reading music press at the time or listened to Radio One (we were the first punks in our town to have our own flats/ homes, so everyone came back to our place to get wrecked. We didn't need much encouragement to join in) So, to cut a long story short - we never knew until our then guitarist Anton joined in 1999, that we sold any records, and we of course never made any money and got ripped off like every band on Inferno Records.
The band split in 1985 - reformed in 88 - carried on and off until the mid 90s, never actually splitting up but not doing anything, either. The band kicked things off again for real in 1999 for a gig with GBH and the UK Subs (thanks to Jock from GBH getting Dek Drongo pissed and persuading him to reform the band)... Tommy Drongo on vocals (is the only original member), Dek (who joined in July 82) on bass, Anton on guitar and Kimbo on drums.
This line up recorded the bands first two albums in 2003's 'Barcode Generation' and 2005's 'Hotline To Hades' (Hotline was also released in the U.S by SOS Records). We then released a single in 1990 on Renegade Records 'This Town/Cool Baby' (once again ripped off) followed by an EP 'Wasted' in 2001 on Intimidation Records. 2007 saw the release of a 12" Singles and rarities album 'Death's A Career' on Italian label Pure Punk, along with Rob MDM joining the band as 2nd guitarist and a 7"EP called 'Dance When Maggie's Dead' on their own DFE Records.
2009 saw the departure of Kimbo, Anton and Rob with replacements in Dave “Ohmsy” on Guitar and Danny on drums, whose initial imput spurred on ideas for new songs. In January 2010, to mark the 30th year celebrations, DFE released their latest album 'Cage The Rage', which has been well received both at home and abroad. The band have been through many hard times, losing some good friends on the way -R.I.P Trogg, and Ivan, having their own personal losses and close encounters with death, but the Drongos are a gang, who together will always find a way.
Drongos For Europe are currently one of the hottest bands in the UK gigging and touring more than most bands from the eighties, having toured many times in Europe and also touring the US with Toxic Narcotic and Defiance in 2003, and have been regulars at the Rebellion Festivals for the last nine years. Now the band receives much airplay and press in Europe and the UK, and have supported Rancid on their UK (2006) tour.
Drongos For Europe have also been part of UK tours with the Misfits, Angelic Upstarts and their old mates GBH, and still packing in punk rockers old and new to this day.
The Drongos will once again in 2012 be touring in Europe and the UK, playing various festivals in Europe, playing gigs as far apart as Athens, to Estonia and all places in between.
Drongos For Europe are what we always have been - a PUNK ROCK band - "Play Loud - Die Hard"
A not complete discography as there are countless tracks on countless compilation albums CD and vinyl from across the World.
1981 - Adverse Chorus 7" - Drongos For Europe & Kite Records
1982 - Death's A Career 7" - Inferno
1982 - Eternity 7" - Inferno
1990 - Cool Baby 7" - Renegade Records & Dragnet Records
2001 - Return Of The Punk Monster CD - Data
2003 - Wasted 7" - Intimidation
2003 - Barcode Generation - Dislocate Records & Puke N Vomit
2003 - Live at the U.S.A. Bootleg CD - Snot Records
2004 - Hope And Glory 7" - Puke N Vomit (USA)
2004 - Barcode Generation LP - Puke N Vomit & Dislocate UK
2005 - Hotline To Hades CD - Punk Shit/ DFE Records
& SOS Records (USA) (ripped us off!)
2006 - Barcode Generation CD - DFE Records
re-release as previous releases sold out.
2007 - Death's A Career - Singles and Rarities LP
singles & rarities
2007 - Dance When Maggie's Dead 7"+CD - DFE Records
2007 - Mouthguard / Drongos For Europe Split CD
Bullpit Records
2010 - Cage The Rage CD - DFE Records
2012 - Messed Up EP 10" red vinyl+CD - DFE Records
Messed Up EP 10" red vinyl +CD DFE Records
Cage the Rage CD
DFE Records
