51, Flux of Pink Indians, Neu Smell

Can ye smell the neu smell, tumbling through the air?
Aye, I can lad
It's coming from over there
Over the hills, down the valley, there's new buildings there
There's a nuclear power dumpsite
Someone doesn't care
Parliament says it's safe
Well why not bury it there?

The band formed from the remaining members of the Epileptics (who later changed their name to Epi-X due to letters of complaint from The British Epilepsy Association) by Colin Latter (vocals) and Derek Birkett (bass guitar) with guitaristsAndy Smith, Neil Puncher, and drummer Sid Ation (who was also a member of Rubella Ballet). Their debut EP "Neu Smell" was released on Crass Records in 1981. This included songs promoting vegetarianism and anti-war ideas, as well as "Tube Disaster", which featured a vein of black humour that was unusual amongst their peers.

Sid departed FOPI to work full time with his other band Rubella Ballet, and was soon replaced by Bambi, formerly ofDischarge, while Andy was replaced by Simon Middlehurst. However, both departed quickly for their original band, The Insane. While auditioning for their replacements, Neil also left, and the line up was completed by former Darlex and Epileptics guitarist Kevin Hunter and drummer Martin Wilson. The Indian's debut album, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible, confirmed the promise of the EP, and premiered the band's own Spiderleg label. Alongside the more conventional punk songs were a number of highly perceptive attacks on consumer society. The anti-religious "Is Anybody There" was a particularly effective example, using simple but jarring lyrics to emphasize its point.

The band's second LP, The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks, was banned by retailers HMV, and copies were seized by Greater Manchester police from Eastern Bloc record shop, which was charged with displaying "Obscene Articles For Publication For Gain". The album concerned violence between men and women, based on the experiences of a band member who had been sexually assaulted.

By 1986 the band had shortened their name to Flux and released their third album Uncarved Block. This featured more philosophical lyrics, largely inspired by influences such as Zen Buddhism and Benjamin Hoff's book The Tao of Pooh, coupled to percussion-heavy dance and funk based rhythms. Produced by Adrian Sherwood, and featuring several members of the On-U Sound Records label.

Birkett, making use of his experiences with Spiderleg, has gone on to set up the highly successful One Little Indian Records, and still uses the Flux title for occasional projects. Latter went on to form the dance-influenced Hotalacio and was joined by drummer Martin and guitarist Simon Middlehurst.

In 2007 the band re-formed for an intended one-off gig supporting ex-Crass vocalist "Steve Ignorant" for his "The Feeding Of The 5000" gig at London's Shepherds Bush Empire in November of that year. The "Strive To Survive" era line-up (Latter, Hunter and Wilson) was joined by ex-Decadence Within bass player Ian Glasper replacing Birkett, and as a result of their well-received set the band played another three gigs in 2008, in Bradford, Dijon and London.