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 debut album "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,also the tasteful Rubber Johnnies range of SOD condoms. One more flirtation with Island brought us ".ON DRUGS" (1994), from which the song "From A to H And Back Again" (title shortened to "A 2 H" on the album) was released. This entered the lower reaches of the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, proving what Duncan and Lee had known all along, that they were "pop stars" and belonged in the the charts.
A few months after this chart success Polygram bought Island Records. The new company decided to "let go" any bands on their books which had not recouped advances. Unfortunately SOD was one of those bands (not surprising considering their "pop" career had just begun).
Following the return to independence with their own Drug Squad label, the duo released the jungle influenced "SUCK" EP and "STRAPPED FOR CASH" EP in 1995. Not cut out to run a company , the band then signed to Invisible Records in 1996 and headed for the USA. The first product of this alliance was the "DOUBLE TROUBLE" (1996) CD, repackaging the Drug Squad EPs for American release; followed in 1997 by the excellently titled "ONE FOR THE MONEY' and (live) "TWO FOR THE SHOW". Updating Sheep On Drugs' populist trash aesthetics with booming drum'n'bass, the album capitalizes on their increasing popularity in America and Japan, mercilessly encouraging attempts to ban their live film shows and proudly upholding their boast of being "the most subversive band of all time!".
After a couple of grueling tours of the US with Invisible, under much worse conditions than previous experienced, and a blackmail attempt, "sign this or we won't pay your tour wages", on Duncan and he'd had enough. The magic had gone out of the music business for Duncan (helped along by Invisible), and December 1997 was the last time he performed on stage.
As Duncan X then moved onto his new persona as a tattooist, Lee Fraser worked on his instrumental, drum 'n' bass project "Bagman", releasing the debut album "Wrap" in 1998 (2004 saw the second Bagman release "Trax"). He also contributed extensively to the Ogre(Skinny Puppy)/Martin Atkins collaboration "Rx".
Lee then spent a couple of years remixing other bands (Sweet, AC/DC, and Bob Marley to name a few of the known artists). Then joined the "Damage Manual" in 2000, being involved on their first few releases.
In 2002 Lee was offered some gigs as Sheep On Drugs which he really wanted to do. After getting the expected refusal from Duncan to be involved ("not even if they added another 0 to the fee"), the search was on to find a replacement for him, an impossible task. Lee tried various line-ups, none of which worked to his satisfaction. This left Lee with the difficult task of writing "F**K", the long awaited first album without Duncan X, by himself. Possibly the most aggressive SOD album to date, "F**K" is a combination of twisted vocal angst, surfing a bouncing, pelvic thrusting beat. F**K indeed. This was released by Invisible's Records alter ego, Underground Inc.(April 2005). At this point Lee realised that he would have to become "the cunt at the front" (his own words), to avoid being let down by other potential front persons.
Just as Lee was about to give up hope on finding a partner in crime, he met Johnny Borden. As a performance artist and singer/pianist in her own right, Johnny fitted right in with SOD's twisted ethics and soon the two were performing together.
2006 saw the release of a compilation album consisting of rare and unreleased SOD mixes (old and new). "Best Of a Bad Bunch" was released by Underground Inc. This to be the last release on Invisible/Underground Inc., as the band and record company no longer saw eye to eye, especially where accounting was concerned. SOD spent several years severing contractual ties with Invisible/Underground Inc., from which they are now free.
While legal proceedings continued, Lee and Johnny started writing songs, consequently collaborating on their first album together. This has since been completed and will be released for digital download on Monday 6th December 2010. Dig deep kiddies, you know you need it
DISCOGRAPHY:
SOD SINGLES/E.P.s :
Catch 22/Drug Music (Transglobal, 1991)
Motorbike/Mary Jane (Transglobal, 1992)
Track X (Transglobal, 1992)
TV USA (Transglobal, 1992)
15 Minutes Of Fame (Island, 1993)
From A To H And Back Again (Island, 1993)
Let The Good Times Roll (Island, 1994)
Suck (Drug Squad, 1994)
Strapped For Cash (Drug Squad, 1995)
Double Trouble (Invisible, 1996) - compilation of 'Suck' and 'Strapped For Cash'
SOD ALBUMS :
Greatest Hits (Island, 1993)
.On Drugs (Island, 1994)
One For The Money (Invisible, 1997)
Never Mind The Methadone (Invisible, 1998) - remixes
Two For The Show (Invisible, 1998) - live
F**K (Underground Inc. 2005)
Best Of A Bad Bunch (Underground Inc. 2006) -rare and unreleased mixes
BAGMAN ALBUMS:
Wrap (Invisible, 1998)
Trax (Underground Inc. 2004)
