Conflict

by Jason Ankeny
Anarchy in the U.K., indeed — such was the ultimate goal for the fiercely political British punk band Conflict, a group fueled by its hatred of Thatchers England, the media, the military, and the general status quo of late 20th century life. Conflict played its first gig in 1981 led by vocalist Colin Jerwood, who would remain one of the groups few constants throughout its fluid existence. Much more permanent was the groups political agenda, which was already firmly ensconced by the release of their 1983 debut Its Time to See Whos Who; songs took on topics like Vietnam, nuclear arms, and vegetarianism. The animal liberation movement, which would remain one of Conflicts central concerns throughout their career, returned to the fore on the next years Increase the Pressure, with its cover arts focus on the Save the Seals fight.
The bands increased political involvement, often in support of unpopular causes, led a number of their concerts to be broken up by the police; a 1987 appearance at the Brixton Academy even ended in widescale rioting (as ed on the live record Turning Rebellion Into Money, named after a Clash lyric). At about the same time, ex-Crass member Steve Ignorant joined Conflict as a joint vocalist. His tenure ended in 1989, the year the band released three different records: The Final Conflict, Against All Odds, and Standard Issue 82-87, a compilation of rare singles and album cuts. After four years of inactivity, Conflict released a single in 1993, followed later in the year by the album Conclusion. The records title proved premature, however; by 1996, the group was back on tour, in support of a re-recorded, re-titled, and re-issued Its Time to See Whos Who Now.