D-beat

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Origins#

One of the earliest examples of D-beat can be found in the Buzzcocks’ song “You Tear Me Up,” on their debut LP, Another Music In A Different Kitchen. It featured a fast, intense drumbeat which Discharge would later emulate in the distinctive drumbeat of D-beat. Discharge formed in 1977 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, initially playing a basic variety of street punk inspired by the Sex Pistols and The Clash. In 1979, the group changed its line-up and began to develop a new, more aggressive style. At this time Terry “Tezz” Roberts of Discharge developed their characteristic drum beat, for which the D-beat subgenre is named. Roberts commented in 2004 that “I just wanna be remembered for coming up with that f-ckin’ D-beat in the first place! And inspiring all those f-ckin’ great Discore bands around the world!” Discharge’s inspiration for the style has led it to be referred to as “Discore”. Roberts’ beat is similar to the basic percussive backbone of songs by Motörhead, and many subsequent groups borrow from this group a great deal as well as Discharge. After 1982, the group changed its style to a more conventional form of heavy metal. However, their classic sound inspired other groups to emulate them; The Varukers, also from England, were the first of these. As punk historian Ian Glasper put it, “The Varukers were the original Discore band, the first and best of the hardcore punk acts to take the simple, yet devastatingly effective formula laid down by Discharge and play it as fast, hard, heavy as they could.” While the style was first practiced in England, it became especially inspirational to a number of groups in Sweden. D-beat was initially known as “kängpunk” (“boot punk”) in Sweden. The first Swedish D-beat song is “Marquee,” by Rude Kids, from Stockholm, recorded in 1979. They were followed by KSMB (En Slemmig Torsk), Missbrukarna, and more famously, Anti Cimex. Anti Cimex’s second 7-inch EP, Raped Ass, has been described as “one of the rawest and most violent hardcore releases ever.” and most prominently Mob 47. Mob 47, also from Stockholm, was known as the fastest of the kängpunk groups. The group also blended Discharge’s style with American hardcore punk, diversifying the style. The heaviest of Swedish crust bands was Crude SS

DB on Music Theory Print

D-beat

Origins#