South African Rock/Metal/Punk Bands?

[Bowiefan871]

Are there any good South African bands that fall under the aforementioned genres?

The only bands I know of are K.O.B.U.S., which is metal, and Chris Chameleon, who usually performs music ranging from pop-rock to folk.

It'd be appreciated if links were posted to sample music of the bands. :-)

[ches]

You are probably familiar with Seether, who used to be called Saron Gas while they were still in South Africa. There's also Springbok Nude Girls, Just Jinjer (used to be Just Jinger), and soooooo many more. If you like Afrikaans music, Valiant Swart, Koos Kombuis, etc. SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC

[Bowiefan871]

Oh wow I had no idea Seether was from South Africa. They must be South Africa's most mainstream band, right?

[ches]

Do you mean "most successful in America?" Yes, they are probably that, though Tree63 could give them a run for their money. The Springbok Nude Girls were forced with the decision "go to America or break up" and chose to break up, but reunited when solo efforts weren't paying the bills.

Another South African band in the US is Henry Ate (Miami), and if you do run in the Christian music circles, Jeremy Camp's wife is South African; she was lead singer of The Benjamin Gate until she met Camp while touring with them and I guess the band didn't survive her having two babies and being a wife. She tours with Camp singing back-up, I think, and may have released a CD on her own.

[Bowiefan871]

I checked out the Springbok Nude Girls. I was listening to "Illuminate." Absolutely fantastic song!

Is rock/metal/punk growing in popularity in South Africa? Or is the South African music scene leaning more towards folk/tribal/jazz? I have noticed via MySpace/Facebook, that there are a lot more people in South Africa within the punk/emo/goth fashions than in earlier years. I moved away from South Africa almost 10 years ago so I don't really remember much. However, the only fashion other than the "norm" and tribal styles, was metalhead fashion from what I remember. But even that didn't seem very popular back then. From seeing MySpace profiles it seems like there are just so many young people within the emo/pop-punk/hardcore/screamo scenes.

You mentioned Springbok Nude Girls had to break up for financial reasons since they wanted to stay in South Africa. Is this because the record companies in South Africa simply are not anywhere near as...how should I say it...wealthy or "big" when compared to UK or US record companies?

EDIT: I checked out more songs by Springbok Nude Girls. I can't believe they aren't more popular than they really are.

[ches]

Springbok Nude Girls (SNG) were at the top of the game in South Africa. They released a song and it went to Number 1. They released an album and it went to Number 1. They went on tour and it sold out. They had to move to the US to take it to the next step and chose not to. Arno Blumer had a wife and two small kids, Adriaan Brand apparently went to Taiwan for two years, etc. They didn't break up for financial reasons, I suppose they broke up because they wanted different things musically.

They got back together for financial reasons I presume. I mean, Arno Carstens had two hugely successful solo albums, but Theo Crous formed K.O.B.U.S. which wasn't exactly mainstream, to put it mildly. I'm sure there was a lot more to it than money in motivating them to get back together, but I can see how money was a strong motivator for all of them. The South African music scene still isn't big enough for the average band not to have day jobs.

The bands I saw live - Lithium, Sugardrive, Battery9, Boo!, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Squeal, Henry Ate, Just Jinger, SNG, Black Diamond, Semisane, The LED, etc. have all been through so many incarnations or moved into as members moved to different things. The members of The LED, for instance, were all business/engineering students and now earn 6 figures in London, Houston, Joburg, etc. and their days as one of the best bands in SA are nostalgic memories of their student years.

As for your trying to put South African music into some kind of box, well you just can't. One of my favorite SA musicians is Farrell Adams. The man is the definition of eclectic. Between all the bands he and his Nine cohorts have been in they have played the entire music spectrum, and meld so many styles into one incarnation you cannot classify any of it. Farrell Adams Downloads :: calabashmusic.com South Africa is a cultural melting pot and the music is equally diverse.

As popular as SNG is in some circles, they probably do not sell half as many albums as some of the kwaito groups. Kwaito Music :: calabashmusic.com

[Bowiefan871]

I have to bump this thread just to inform everyone that Dave Matthews is a South African. I'd say DMB is more successful than Seether in America.