Refused

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REFUSED ARE FUCKING DEAD



If a band ever finds that it is not giving their best effort and playing at the edge of their abilities at all times, then they are not playing the kind of music that they should be playing.

- Patrick T. Daly, Oxford, UK



This philosophy, placed in the context of hardcore music, is what made Refused so unique. Complex rhythms, hardcore rage, political activism and a dose of experimental sonic confusion all smashed together to create a seamless ball of energy.



Refused set themselves apart by fuelling their collective creativity with the tension that is inherent in the band environment. With five creative forces using the whole to satisfy each of their own creative desires, there is potential for failure here. Fortunately, there was enough unity in the vision to turn tension into energy.



We made this album wanting to challenge peoples preconceptions of what a Punk band could be and what it could play, because Punk is the most conservative musical form there is. Even in Hardcore, there are so many rules about what is and what is not acceptable, and that completely negates the whole spirit of the original idea.

- Dennis Lyxzén / Refused.



Lyrically speaking, Refused delves heavily into the political arena. Their Anarchist stance becomes clear in The Deadly Rhythm, when they ask,



Is it our duty to die for governments and for gods? / Is it our privilege to slave for market and industry? / Is it our right to follow laws set to scare and oppress? / Is it our gift to stay in line and will it take away the blame? / We can no longer pay the price / We'll get organized / We will no longer believe that working for you will set us free.



Stretching beyond the political arena and into the area of personal motivation, they attempt to light a fire under your ass in Summer Holidays vs. Punk Routine by saying, We're all tired of dying / So sick of not trying / Scared that we might fail / We'll accomplish nothing / Not even failure.



The spokesmen of Refused were Dennis Lyxzèn, David Sandström, Kristofer Steen and Jon F.Brännström.



Dennis was the oldest and also the most outspoken on the political destruction of common values. He was notorious for his loud and bold ways, excellent dancing skills and finely tuned writing on political issues.



David was the arrogant and self-proclaimed leader of the poetic commune, often seen sporting a great beard, talking about himself as the genetic replica of Charles Mingus. A great composer and a most ferocious drummer.



Kris was the prophet of sound. What he hears he paints with and when he sees he hears, eyes are just an aid to hearing if you look at it that way.

Jon was the young yet nostalgic romantic and with a crooked smile and a hat he is known to mankind as the unrelentless avenge of social status in dance music, his prominent beat-making skills granting Refused access to previously unreachable dimensions.



The myth has it that Refused was formed out of the cultural vacuum provided by a society with no sense of art or humane politics. The group was very much reactionary but in such a way that it actually does challenge the conservative conventions of modern culture.



The Shape Of Punk To Come album was the final chapter of the Refused saga. They split up in the fall of 98.



Read their final communiqué here: burningheart.com/refused