Formed in response to the so-called 'Second Summer Of Love' by Duncan X and Lee Fraser, the splendidly named Sheep On Drugs set out to simultaneously mock and revel in the excesses of pop culture. Blending a mixture of sleazy rock, hard techno and punk nihilism into their own peculiar cabaret act of a rock'n'roll band, they set out on tour with buckets of blood, syringes and a pulpit from which Duncan could rant at Punter (as they termed the audience), who lapped it up with a knowing postmodern acceptance of their own commodification. SOD (as they are appropriately referred to) released their first single, 'Catch 22/Drug Music', in 1991. Two sides of sardonic observation of the world of work and the rave scene respectively established them as favourites on the electronic body music/industrial scene. Keeping up an unhealthy live schedule, Sheep On Drugs perfected a live show which extended to Grand Guignol theatrics : bloody dummies suspended over the stage, blank rounds fired above the audience, and the ever-scathing Duncan acting out the dark side of club culture. 'Motorbike/Mary Jane'(1992) took the sleazy disco out on the road of a Saturday night, proving that as far as anthemic nihilism went, SOD could deliver the goods. The remixes and sloganeering of the 'TV USA' and 'TRACK X' EPs followed that year, leading to a deal with Island. 'TRACK X' was later covered by Grace Jones, retitled 'SEX DRIVE'. SOD went on to release the hit single, '15 Minutes Of Fame', in the spring of 1993, closely followed by the cheekily entitled 'GREATEST HITS'. With
major-label backing, the venues and stageshows became bigger and more
sophisticated, with slides and neon slogans projecting Sheep On Drugs'
message : Drugs are for Sheep, Buy the Product. The proliferation
of product available included two new EPs, 'FROM A TO H AND BACK AGAIN'
(1993) reaching no. 40 in the UK chart ( proving that SOD are truly
popstars ) and 'LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL' (1994), also the tasteful Rubber
Johnnies range of SOD condoms. One more flirtation with Island brought
us 'ON DRUGS' (1994). |