The Oppressed

The Oppressed

The Oppressed are a Welsh oi! band from Cardiff, formed in 1981. Their music is generally described as oi, punk and punk rock, and the group is strongly associated with the skinhead scene, with most of the musicians in its different line-ups being skinheads.

Origins and early line-up

The band begins with a Cardiff line-up in 1981 under the name Forced Oppression. The first formation includes brothers Russell and Ronnie Payne, along with Gary Tier and Martin Brennan. Around the same time, brothers Dom and Roddy Moreno, together with Vince King and Ed Fleming, perform in another band, Insanity Squad, which follows on from Section 20. When Insanity Squad ends in December 1981, Roddy Moreno replaces Ronnie Payne in The Oppressed.

Political stance and SHARP links

Throughout their career, the band, and especially Roddy Moreno, openly oppose racism and fascism through lyrics, interviews, stage comments and other actions. After visiting New York City in 1989 and meeting members of Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP), Moreno begins promoting SHARP ideas among British skinheads. The Oppressed also have ties to other anti-racist groups, including Anti-Fascist Action.

Breaks, reunions and labels

The band splits and reforms several times. After the first split in 1984, Moreno focuses on his record labels, Oi! Records and Ska Records, for the rest of the decade. The Oppressed reunite again in 1994 and maintain friendships with bands such as Red London, Los Fastidios, Stage Bottles and Banda Bassotti. Their most recent split is in 2016, before they reform in 2020 and continue performing.

Members and association

The current line-up includes Roddy Moreno on vocals and guitar, Russell “Ducky” Payne on guitar, Che Jones on drums and Ross Goldworthy on bass. The group is identified with Welsh punk/oi, and Moreno is also known as a Cardiff City F.C. supporter, with some of the band’s songs expressing that support.