Radical Dance Faction (RDF) were founded by Chris Bowsher in Hungerford in 1986, and were originally known as ‘Military Surplus’. RDF’s music combines punk, dub, and ska and the’re known for being the legends of the UK free festival scene back in the day in the early 1990s, the band made at least two tours of Germany. One tour was as the support act to Rebel MC but they also supported Ziggy Marley at one point. RDF appeared at the huge Summerjam festival in July 1993. Chris Bowsher has been the lead singer from the early days of Military Surplus. Steve Swann, (R.I.P. The Dub Warrior) also one of RDF’s original line-up, co-founded the Revolutionary Dub Warriors and is a member of the reformed, dub, ska band Dub The Earth.
Past & present members of the band include – Mark McCarthy (Bass), Phil Astronaut (guitar), Mike Cooper (guitar), Steve Cruickshank (drums), Sarah Edwards (violin), Linda Goodman (vocals), Tim Hill (saxophone), Fred Johnson (bass), Paul McCabe (Keyboards), Murph (guitar), Brian Powell (guitar, bass), Style Scott (drums), Graham Spey (Keyboards), Steve Swann (Vocals), Chris Bowsher (Vocals), Matty Mann (Bass) Graham Usher (drums), Jim Warne (Guitar), Danny (Drums), Ozzy (bass), Chris Chescoe (Drums), Olly Thomas (Drums), Lewis Sykes (Bass), Jimmy Peters (Keyboards), Andy (from Newcastle) (drums), Karen Ricketts (Vocals).
Nowadays R.D.F can been seen playing at many of the major festivals like Boomtown as well as smaller ones like Solfest, Alchemy & Bearded Theory. Or at music venues & pub gigs up and down the UK every month of the year.