British Beef are...

• Felix Milburn Foster - vocals, guitar
• James Lindsey - guitar
• Gaz Brookfield - bass
• Pat Smith - drums

United by a love of Dead Kennedys, NOFX, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Green Day, this Swindon-based band is fast gaining a reputation for themselves on the London music scene. Flying high on the success of their Radio One unsigned win, British Beef have been playing venues around the capital, most recently supporting Pete Doherty’s new band Babyshambles.

It all started two years ago when lead singer Felix Milburn Foster accompanied his girlfriend to an audition. Fate intervened and Felix emerged as lead singer of Swindon’s hottest unsigned band. Early offerings such as ‘No Win Situation’ secured the band’s Radio One victory. However, with growing interest in the band a line up change was inevitable and in January 2004 British Beef enlisted the local talents of bass player Gaz Brookfield. Brookfield has brought new depth to the song writing, proffering such tracks as ‘I Can’t Breathe’; thus proving that this band are not simply social rebels or street punk popsters.

This is not the same old teenage rebellion outfit as spawned by their predecessors. Their music is ballsy, it makes you want to jump yourself silly, but their lyrics are far from the disingenuous ramblings of a post skate punk phenomenon and it shows. The final critical ingredient came in the form of drummer Pat Smith. Introduced to the band in March 2004, he was to complete the line up and begin a new era for British Beef.

In essence, British Beef are a punk band not afraid to embrace the finer points of pop. Their latest offering ‘The Foel Sessions’ recently recorded at the Foel Studios in Wales is testament to the fast paced, high energy, punk pop sound that has become this band’s trademark. After months of honing their craft the release of their debut single will undoubtedly be the start of something big. In the words of Radio One DJ Jo Whiley, ‘All the signs are good!’