Foreign Legion formed

Foreign Legion formed in 1984 by Marcus Howells, David (Truskie) Thomas, Alan Powell and Michael Wilding. The band changed the name to Foreign Legion from Dead On Arrival when hearing of the existence of Canadian punk band DOA. Marcus had previously been vocalist in a punk band called Society (1980-1981) with then drummer Paul Black, Welsh actor and former star of The Voice UK. Dead on Arrival had two tracks on the Sane Records compilation “On the Street”, “Child Molester” and “Zyklon B”. Both songs written by guitarist David Thomas. Dead on Arrival had one song on 1984’s Bullsheep Detector album. Following the name change to Foreign Legion (due partly to people shortening it to DOA, which could cause confusion with the Canadian band of that name ) and a number of line-up changes (drummers in particular). Wilding left to be replaced by Patrick McDermott who later, with Thomas, formed the cult Welsh psychedelic “Original Mind Band”. Foreign Legion released their first EP “Distress Signals” in 1984, recorded at Studio 2 in John Street, Cardiff. The cassette EP included Powell’s songs “Spy” and “European Sunshine” and two more from Thomas “Smile for the Cameras” and “TV Escape”. After a few dozen gigs in South Wales and London’s 100 Club, including support slots with 999, Angelic Upstarts, Vice Squad and UK Subs, the lineup imploded early in 1985. The new line up released their first EP on their own Rent a Racket label with the line-up of M.H. on vocals, Lynne Murphy on guitar, Helen James on bass and Paul (Marshon) Marsh on drums. Later line-up changes included Paul Marsh introducing keyboards to the band for a short while, Andrew Heggie taking over on guitar and Steven Thomas on bass. Despite many live shows in London, Wales and France, three years passed before Surf City their second EP was released, with their first full-length album entitled Welcome to Fort Zinderneuf also released that same year, 1989. By this time a new line-up had evolved with Mark (Jolly) Williams on bass (from local band Blind Justice, who Andrew Heggie soon joined), together with Peter Giles on guitar and Ben Stansfield on drums, retaining only M.H. on vocals. During the 1980s the band played regular slots in the famous 100 Club and supported the likes of UK Subs , The Vibrators , The Partisans , Picture Frame Seduction , The Adicts , Major Accident , Toy Dolls , Angelic Upstarts , 999 , Broken Bones and others including Bérurier Noir for one of their first concerts overseas in France, following gig exchanges with Burning Ambitions from Le Havre . They also supported The Alarm , Joe Strummer & the Latino Rockabilly War and the UK Subs when they visited the band’s home town of Merthyr Tydfil .