The varukers started out in '79 formed by vocalist Rat,the line up then was:
Rat -Vocals, Bruce Riddel -Guitar, Tom Lowe -Bass, Garry Malone -Drums
In November '81 they released their first record on the Birmingham based
Inferno label,it was a 4-track EP called "Protest and survive".
After this was released Garry left the band to play with Discharge
and he was replaced by Brian Roe.
Varukers recorded one more record on the Inferno label,a 3-track
EP called "Don't wanna be a victim" which was released in June '82
,shortly after Tom Lowe left the band.
The band then signed with Bristol based Riot city records and a new
bassplayer called George joined.
They released a single called "Die for your government" and after
the success of this they released the album "Bloodsuckers".
Then there was a period of major upheavals,with the bassplayer,
drummer and guitarist all parting company.
Drummer Andy Baker and guitarist Damien Thompson (both ex Warwound)
and bassplayer Broken Brick joined the band.
With this new line up they went into the studio to record the "Led
to the slaughter" EP and two months later recorded their much acclaimed
mini album "Another religion another war" both on Riot city records.
In August '84 after touring Germany and Holland they signed with
Mansfield based label Rot records.
Damien and Brick left the band and were replaced by Paul Miles on
guitar and Graham Kerr on bass.
The first release on Rot records was a 4-track 12" EP called
"Massacred millions".
There was also a live album released which was recorded earlier in
the year,when they toured Holland.
After the EP was released Andy Baker left to join in Damiens new
group Sacrilege.
New drummer Warren joined and they went in to the studio to record
"One struggle one fight".
This was released on the bands own label Liberate records.
The Varukers split in '88 as the various members went their separate ways.
But in '93 vocalist Rat decided to put the band back together
after recieving a lot of support and correspondence from around the
world,the time was right for the second coming.
Recruited on guitar was Biff,on bass Brian and on the drums Kev.
In the beginning of '94 they went to Germany and Belgium for some
gigs and it was a great success.
Around the same time UK label Retch records released a live CD from '84.
In August/September '94 they did a short tour of the US and went
on a Scandinavian tour,while in Scandinavia a 4-track EP called
"Nothings changed" was released on Weird records.
In August of '95 the Varukers signed to German label We bite.
Their first release was a CD called "Still bollox but still here"
which was released in November '95.
This is a compilation of their old songs,since a lot of 'em can be
hard to find the band decided to re-record 'em.
As far as inspiration all I could get from 'em was that they saw
Sex pistols performing Pretty vacant on Top of the pops (weird that
something this good could come from a show like that)
There is a new record to be released early '97,more info as soon as
I get it.
If you want to write to Varukers,here's the address:
THE VARUKERS
10 SHELDON GROVE
WOODLCES ESTATE
WARWICK
WARWICKSHIRE
ENGLAND
Varukers official homepage.