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Strange Tenants

Over 20 years on, as their legendary status has grown, most people are aware that Strange Tenants were the pre-eminent Australian SKA band of the 1980s. What is often overlooked today, however, is that at their peak, they were one of the most popular and successful live bands of any style. In the early 1980s, hundreds, sometimes thousands of fans - referred to by the music press as "the Tenants' army" - swarmed to their gigs up and down the east coast of Australia. Strange Tenants also did national tours with international acts such as U2, Style Council and UB40.

The Planet Smashers

Formed in 1994 in Montreal, Quebec, the Planet Smashers’ infectious pop infused melodies, rippin’ horn licks and killer live shows, quickly established them as the city’s “Kings of Ska”. They released their first album (“Self-Titled”) on Planet Smasher’s founder Matt Collyer’s own label STOMP Records and hit the road. By 1997 they were no longer a local band, but a national phenomenon, headlining shows across Canada and pushing their second record, “Atttack of The Planet Smashers” which reached 2 on the national college radio charts for 2 months straight.

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Fishbone

Fishbone is a long-lived, influential band, self-described as jazzy ska-gospel punk rock-reggae. The band was formed in 1979 in the ghettos of South Central Los Angeles by Angelo Moore, also known as "Dr. Madd Vibe" (vocals, saxophones ranging from soprano to bass, and theremin); Kendall Jones (guitar); John Norwood Fisher (bass); Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums); "Dirty" Walter A. Kibby II (trumpet); and Chris Dowd (keyboards, trombone).

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The Wailers

There are - at least - two artists by this name. A reggae band and a garage rock / r&b band. 1) Together with Bob Marley, the Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. In England alone, they've notched up over twenty chart hits, including seven Top 10 entries. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear.

Babylon Circus

Babylon Circus is a ska punk band from Lyon (France) formed in 1995 and consisting of ten members. They have released 5 albums, the most recent being 'La Belle Étoile' (2009). Official Website

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NOFX

Formed in Berkeley, CA, in 1983 and relocating to Los Angeles not long afterwards, NOFX steered clear of major labels and commercial exposure over the course of their career, recording an impressive number of full-lengths albums plus an assortment of EPs and singles. They were the ultimate example of skate-punk, but they also made ska-punk. The band started out as a trio comprising vocalist/bassist Fat Mike (Mike Burkett), guitarist Eric Melvin, and drummer Erik Sandin (aka Erik Ghint/Erik Shun).

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Vertigo

That soaring melodic tension between guitar and vocal, its bass lines, tinged with longing, and driving yet thoughtful rhythm section make Vertigo one of those rare bands whose offerings of gritty beauty and haunting intensity escape the trap of cliche and affectation. The four-piece band out of Knoxville, Tennessee, marries alt/pop lyricism and well-grounded composition with yearning themes and experimental musicianship, connecting with audiences in electric, deeply personal live performances.

Nancy Vandal

Nancy Vandal is a punk band from Sydney, Australia that performed from 1993 to 2001 and had a reunion performance in 2003 and have, as of December 2008, planned a reunion and new EP for 2009. The band was initially called Hard Axe To Follow, then Nancy Vandal and the Popgun Assassins, but the last part of the name was later dropped. Nancy Vandal was formed by Warrane College students Foxtrotsky/Fox Trotsky and JJ LaMoore as a strictly pretend band as neither of them could play an instrument. Eventually the pair formed a real band called Meataxe that played on campus.

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Area 7

There is more than one artist with this name 1. an Australian, punk, ska punk band formed in 1994 2. A Peruvian all female Nu Metal band formed in 1999 1. Area-7 rose from the ashes of Madness cover band Mad Not Madness. In 1994 three members, Dugald McNaughtan (keyboards), Charles "Chucky T" Thompson (guitar) and Dan Morrison (drums) left the group and began to write their own songs. They formed a band and named it after a lyric from The Specials' Dawning of a New Era.

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