Renegade Soundwave

Renegade Soundwave

Renegade Soundwave, also known as RSW, is an electronic music group from London, United Kingdom. The group forms in 1986 and runs until 1996, with Karl Bonnie, Gary Asquith and Danny Briottet as its members. It works across alternative dance, big beat, breakbeat, electronic and grebo, and is also associated with dub and funky breaks.

Background and line-up

The group’s core members are Danny Briottet and Gary Asquith, both of whom previously play in Mass. Karl Bonnie is a founding member and leaves in 1990, after the release of the debut album. Asquith also has an earlier connection with Rema-Rema, one of the early 4AD signings.

Releases and style

Across its career, Renegade Soundwave releases four albums and twelve singles. Its early singles combine dance culture, East-end hip-hop and electro-industrial noise. Later singles include Biting my Nails and The Phantom, both of which become early dancefloor favourites. The group also earns a reputation as producers and remixers of other artists’ songs, alongside its own recordings.

Chart success

The group’s only UK Top 40 hit is Probably a Robbery, which reaches number 38 in the UK singles chart in 1990.