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Refused

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For the album by The Residents, see Refused (album).
Refused
OriginUmeå, Sweden
GenresHardcore punk, experimental rock, alternative metal[1]
Years active1991–1998, 2012–present
LabelsBurning Heart, Epitaph (US)
MembersDennis Lyxzén
David Sandström
Kristofer Steen
Jon Brännström
Magnus Flagge
Past memberssee below
Websiteofficialrefused.com

Refused is a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three full-length albums before originally splitting up in 1998. Kerrang! magazine listed the band's 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come at No. 13 on their 50 Most Influential Albums of All Time list in 2003.[2] Refused is composed of vocalist Dennis Lyxzén, guitarists Jon Brännström and Kristofer Steen, drummer David Sandström and bassist Magnus Flagge. Their lyrics are often of a non-conformist and politically far-left nature.[2][3]

On January 9, 2012, the band announced their long-awaited reunion (which was also highly contested considering the band's original and explicit declaration to never reunite),[4] confirming shows at Coachella, Rock am Ring, Ruisrock, Roskilde Festival, Groezrock, Way Out West Festival, Sonisphere Festival (Cancelled), Download Festival, Rock for People, Primavera Sound, Hellfest,Fuji Rock Festival, and Pukkelpop

History

Career trajectory (1991–1998)

Refused formed in early 1991[5] with Dennis Lyxzén, David Sandström, Pär Hansson, and Jonas Lindgren and released their first demo, "Refused," the same year. With an already altered lineup (including Kristofer Steen joining from local band Abhinanda with Pär Hansson going the other way) the band released their first studio album, This Just Might Be the Truth, in 1994.

Refused's final line-up consisted of Dennis Lyxzén, David Sandström, Kristofer Steen, and Jon Brännström, who released everything from Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent to the definitive album The Shape of Punk to Come. The band never found a permanent bass player.

Refused broke up in late 1998. Some believe this happened as a result of a depletion of creative energy and band members wanting different things. There was also conflict between Dennis and the rest of the band.[2] Band members stated that their first shows after the release of Shape of Punk to Come were emotionally devastating and that their final tour was an awful experience.[5] The band eventually cancelled the tour and announced their breakup through a strongly-worded press release, described below. Their last performance of their United States tour was played in Harrisonburg, Virginia but was shut down by police.[4]

Daniel P. Carter described in January 2012 how unfairly poor the reception that Refused used to receive was, and how they never had the chance to make an impact whilst together.[6]

After breakup (1999–2009)

After Refused split up, they released one final, fiery open letter titled "Refused Are Fucking Dead." It can be read in full here [3] on their label Burning Heart's website.

Lead singer Dennis Lyxzén went on to form The (International) Noise Conspiracy while the other members, as well as venturing into their own projects, formed the group TEXT.

In 2007 Dennis and David briefly reformed their Refused side project, Final Exit, which existed in the mid-late 1990s and originally consisted of members of Refused and Abhinanda, with each member taking a different role to that which they had in their main bands (e.g., David on vocals and Dennis on bass guitar).

As of May, 2008, Dennis Lyxzén and David Sandström have formed a new straightforward hardcore band under the name AC4.

Kristofer Steen is now a director and made a documentary on the band's last year in existence called Refused Are Fucking Dead.

Rumours (2010–2011)

In March 2010, Epitaph Records put up the old Refused website online with the words "Coming Soon."[7][8] Rumours spread across the Internet about what the new website could indicate, including speculation of a reunion.[9] Citing an anonymous source "close to the situation," Punknews.org unofficially announced that the band would perform at European music festivals in 2010.[10] Dennis Lyxzén has denied claims of a Refused reformation as he and David Sandström are busy with AC4.[9][11] The new band website was later announced to be a promotional site for a reissue of Refused's final album, The Shape of Punk to Come.[9] The reissue, released on June 8, 2010, is a three-disc set with an unreleased live album recorded in 1998 and the Refused Are Fucking Dead DVD documentary in addition to the full original album.[12]

In November 2011, multiple posters said to be for the upcoming 2012 Coachella Festival appeared on several Internet sites, and the line-ups included Refused.[13] This started new rumours of a long-awaited reunion.

Reunion (2012–present)

In BBC Radio 1's "Punk Show" on January 2, 2012, Mike Davies stated that Refused, along with At the Drive-In would be reforming in 2012.[citation needed] On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Refused would be performing for the 2012 Coachella Festival. The reunion was confirmed via Dennis Lyxzen's Facebook page. Later that day, it was announced that they would also be playing at Way Out West Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden. They will also headline one of the biggest punk festivals in the world, Groezrock in Belgium. The confirmation that Refused would be UK exclusives at Sonisphere Festival in the UK was made on February 20. However, in light of Sonisphere UK's subsequent cancellation, Refused were officially booked by Download Festival on April 3, to perform there at Donington Park, also in the UK, instead. On February 29, Refused played a secret show in Umeå, their first live performance since 1998.[14] Refused are also confirmed for the Rock for People festival in Czech Republic. They appeared for the first time on TV on the Jimmy Fallon show - 7/18/2012. Dennis has stated that their reunion is a "one-off" and is coming to an end.[15]

Influences

Refused incorporated revolutionary left[disambiguation needed] and anti-capitalist politics, into a sound that paid homage to The Nation of Ulysses and Born Against. Before the Umeå hardcore phenomenon went into full bloom, the band was seen as part of the scene centered around youth-oriented venue Galaxen, along with the punk-rock scene as well as metal bands such as Meshuggah.

Drummer David Sandström states that before the band formed he was a "glue-sniffing death metal kid" but eventually a fan of Step Forward, the embryo of Refused. As Step Forward called it quits and friendship between David and Dennis Lyxzen grew stronger, Dennis took him home and made him listen to Youth of Today's We're Not in This Alone album over and over again in a room alone.[16]

The album This Just Might Be the Truth was mostly influenced by popular American hardcore bands of the time (such as Earth Crisis)[citation needed] as well as various bands from the New York hardcore scene.[citation needed] By the time of its release, the band already had a strong anti-establishment profile.[17]

On their second album, Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, the band had a heavier sound, largely due to Dennis adopting a screaming style rather than shouting.

Band members

Discography

Main article: Refused discography

Albums

DVDs

References in media

See also

References

  1. ^ Refused at allmusic
  2. ^ a b http://www.burningheart.com. "burningheart.com". burningheart.com. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  3. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Refused - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic.
  4. ^ a b "Refused Are Fucking Dead". Burning Heart Records. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b FALAH ZAIDAN, TURKISH IMIGRANT (2006). [1] (Documentary). Burning Heart Records. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |title= (help)
  6. ^ Daniel P Carter (2012-01-10). "My thoughts on the Refused reformation". rocksound.tv.
  7. ^ "Refused 'set to reform'". NME. March 27, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Karan, Tim (March 27, 2010). "Refused Hint a Reformation, Album with Epitaph". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Pratt, Greg (March 29, 2010). "Epitaph Confirms Deluxe Reissue of Refused's The Shape of Punk to Come As Reunion Rumours Run Wild on the Internet". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  10. ^ Yancey, Bryne (March 27, 2010). "UPDATED: Refused updates website, reunion in the works". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  11. ^ Magnusson, Daniel (March 29, 2010). "REFUSED PÅ VÄG ATT ÅTERFÖRENAS". Gaffa (in Swedish). Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  12. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 7, 2010). "Refused to issue deluxe 3 CD Shape of Punk to Come". Punknews.org. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  13. ^ Leaked Coachella 2012 Poster
  14. ^ "Video: Refused perform first show in 14 years « Consequence of Sound". Consequenceofsound.net. 2012-03-01.
  15. ^ "Refused to play Jimmy Fallon Show 7/18 - Stereokiller News". Stereokiller.com.
  16. ^ Documentary on "the vegan movement" aired on Swedish Radio P3 in November 2008 http://www.sr.se/sida/artikel.aspx?ProgramId=2519&artikel=2465680 ; http://www.sr.se/laddahem/podradio/SR_p3_dokumentar_081124015419.mp3
  17. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r272829
  18. ^ "THE BASSPLAYER | Refused Official Site". Officialrefused.com.preview.binero.se. 2012-02-20.
  19. ^ La Dispute Interview (Brad (Interviewer), Jordan Dreyer, Adam Vass) (Podcast). Fromthegarage.net. Dec 13, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2011. Brad with FromTheGarage.net chats with Jordan and Vass from La Dispute about the band's history, their emergence onto the post-hardcore scene, and the new album. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help)
  20. ^ "Power Violence Band United Nations Frontman Geoff Rickly Urges Followers to Drop Cameras, Pick Up Rocks, Get Active" Headbangers Blog. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
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