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Subhumans is a British punk band formed in 1980 in Wiltshire, England. The group is one of the defining acts of the anarcho-punk scene, with a musical style ranging between hardcore punk and anarcho-punk. The band's original members were Dick Lucas (vocals), Bruce Treasure (guitar), Trotsky (drums) and Grant Jackson (bass), who was replaced by Phil Bryant in 1983. Dick Lucas had previously sung in the local punk band Mental, while the others came from a band called The Stupid Humans.
Subhumans recorded their first demo in 1981, which impressed members of Flux of Pink Indians so much that they released the band's first EPs through their own label, Spiderleg Records. These included Demolition War, Reasons for Existence and Religious Wars. The band's debut album, The Day the Country Died, was released in 1983. Inspired by George Orwell's novel 1984, it immediately became a classic of British punk. Their second album, From the Cradle to the Grave, was released the same year and introduced a more progressive, experimental sound, including reggae influences and an almost 17-minute title track.
Subhumans' lyrics are socially critical and politically committed, often dealing with alienation, war, criticism of the system and the desire for freedom. Their music is energetic yet more structurally complex than many other contemporary punk bands, reflecting influences from the Sex Pistols, the Damned, and even King Crimson or Frank Zappa.
The band split up in 1985, but its members later played together in other formations such as Culture Shock and Citizen Fish. Subhumans briefly reunited in 1991 and again in 1998, and have been continuously active since 2004. Of the original members, Lucas, Treasure and Trotsky are joined by Bryant on bass. Over the years they have released several studio albums, including Worlds Apart (1985), 29:29 Split Vision (1986), Internal Riot (2007) and Crisis Point (2019).
Subhumans have had a significant influence on the punk scene: their songs have been covered by bands such as Queens of the Stone Age and MDC, and musicians like Fat Mike (NOFX) and Travis Barker (blink-182) cite them as an inspiration. The band remains active today, touring regularly and continuing to be one of the most important representatives of politically conscious, energetic punk music.
