The Oppressed are a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

Oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was ...

band that formed in 1981 in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

, Wales. Most of the musicians in the band's various lineups have been

skinhead A skinhead is a member of a subculture which originated among working class youths in London, England, in the 1960s and soon spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, with a second working class skinhead movement emerging worldwide in th ...

s. Throughout the band's career, the members (especially vocalist Roddy Moreno) openly expressed opposition to

racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

and

fascism Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy an ...

— in their lyrics, interviews, on-stage comments and other actions. In 1989, Moreno visited

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and met a few members of

Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) are anti-racist skinheads who oppose white power skinheads, neo-fascists and other political racists, particularly if they identify themselves as skinheads. SHARPs aim to reclaim the original multicultura ...

(SHARP). On his return to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, he started promoting SHARP ideals to British skinheads. The band has also had ties to other anti-racist groups, such as

Anti-Fascist Action Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) was a militant anti-fascist organisation, founded in the UK in 1985 by a wide range of anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations. It was active in fighting far-right organisations, particularly the National Front an ...

. Moreno is a

Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1899 as R ...

supporter, and some of the band's songs express that support. The band has split and re-formed several times, the first occasion in 1984 after which Moreno focused on his record labels, Oi! Records and Ska Records for the remainder of the decade. Their most recent split was in 2016, but they re-formed in 2020, and continue performing today. The present day line-up is Roddy Moreno (vocals/guitar), fellow founder member Russell "Ducky" Payne (guitar), Che Jones (drums) and Ross Goldworthy (bass).

Discography

EPs

*''Never Say Die'' (1983) *''Victims / Work Together'' (1983) *''Fuck Fascism'' (1995) *''5-4-3-2-1'' (1996) *''They Think Its All Over...It Is Now'' (1996) *''Anti-Fascist Oi!'' (1996) *''Best of The Oppressed Bonus 7 Inch'' (1996) *"The Richard Allen Tribute Single" (1997) *''Strength In Unity'' (1997) plit w/Impact*''The Noise'' (1997) *''Oppressed / Fatskins'' (1998) *"Out on The Streets Again" (1999) plit_w/Cock_Sparrer.html" ;"title="Cock_Sparrer.html" ;"title="plit w/Cock Sparrer">plit w/Cock Sparrer">Cock_Sparrer.html" ;"title="plit w/Cock Sparrer">plit w/Cock Sparrer*"Heavyweight Oi! Championshop of the World" [split w/Klasse Kriminale] *''Insurgence'' EP (2005) *"Football Violence" (2008) *''7er Jungs / The Oppressed'' (2010) *''Antifa Hooligans'' (2011) *''S.H.A.R.P. as a Razor'' (2011) [split w/The D Teez, The Bois] *''2 Generations - 1 Message'' (2013) plit EP w/Wasted Youth*''Blue Army'' (2013)

Studio and compilation albums

*''Oi!Oi! Music'' (1984) *''Fatal Blow'' (1985) *''Dead & Buried'' (1988) *''Dead & Buried / Fatal Blow'' (1996) *''The Best of The Oppressed'' (1996) *''Music For Hooligans'' (1996) *''We Can Do Anything'' (1996) *''Live (Llanrumney Youth Club 1984)'' (1997) *''More Noize For The Boys'' (1998) *''Totally Oppressed'' (1999) *''Oi Singles & Rarities'' (2001) *''Skinhead Times 1982-1998'' (double CD) (2005) *''Won't Say Sorry - The Complete Cover Story'' (double CD) (2005) *

DVD

*''Brotherhood: The Oppressed/The Prowlers Live in Toronto - 4.30.05'' (2008)

References

External links

The Oppressed @ Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oppressed, The Musical groups from Cardiff Welsh punk rock groups Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom Oi! groups Skinhead British anti-fascists Political music groups