Savage Republic

The Profile

Savage Republic is an American post‑punk band from Los Angeles, founded by UCLA students Bruce Licher and Mark Erskine (initially as Africa Corps). Known for tribal percussion, industrial textures, and Middle Eastern guitar figures, they debuted with Tragic Figures (1982) on Independent Project Records, evolved through Trudge (1985) and Ceremonial (1986), and originally disbanded in 1989. They reunited in the 2000s, releasing 1938 (2007) and continuing activity thereafter.

Formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s; early releases on Independent Project Records; frequent use of oil cans, drums, and metal pipes; European touring in 1987; disbanded in 1989; brief 2002 reunion; 2007 comeback with EP SIAM and the album 1938; January 2008 Italian dates (Bologna, Potenza, Lama, Rome, Milan) cited in the interview.

The reviews portray Savage Republic as a seminal LA post‑punk outfit fusing tribal percussion, industrial clatter, and Middle Eastern motifs. Tragic Figures is hailed as a landmark debut; Trudge and Ceremonial pivot toward expansive ethno‑psychedelia. Jamahiriya earns fervent praise for its immersive intensity, while Customs is lauded for a meta‑musical Albini homage. An interview covers the 2000s comeback and the making of 1938.