All About Us

The Present Day

Kosmik Overdrive are a three piece that play energetic dodgy versions of 70's and 80's punk (in our opinion) classics. We comprise of a singer, two guitarists and a very capable drum machine.

Below is a brief history of how we ended up doing what we do.

Brief History & Discography 1993-2003 By Rik Kosmik.

10 YEARS OF CHAOS MAYHEM AND F***ED UP HEARING!

Locals Ladies and Gentlemen I bring you a story of the best and most formidable local ultra cider fuelled PUNK ROCK band from the bowels of Gloucestershire! The true story of KOSMIK OVERDRIVE (KOD).

The Eastern Dursley Tapes 1993-1998:

Rik Kosmik meets friend Rob 'Spam' Stanley in a local pub whilst watching a local band with local people, and in a pissed up haze decided to form a band! Previous to 1993 Rik had been making the odd vocal stage appearances with Gloucester based MC5/Stooges type band called TANTALUS. Rik and Rob agreed a pact to build a band with only one goal in mind.... to crank it up! Work started on original material and cranked up covers, all penned and literally welded together in Rob's Dursley Highfields Council flat. From May 1993 KOD started to have some very cranked up jamming sessions.

At the expense of Robs parrots hearing, drummers and other prospective guitarists were trailed and tried, and er...generally never seen in Dursley again!

1994 to 1996 saw 4 different drummers, and a good 10 or so guitarists until in 1996 Kraig (Matson Oi! Boy) Kosmik joined on bass. Due to exploding drummers and more than a passing interest in The Sisters of Mercy, this era saw initial experiments with the drum machine. Gigs at this time ranged from BBQs and some Pub appearances with covers and original material.

Two demo tapes are recorded with the line up of Rik, Rob, Kraig, Drum Machine and Rob's parrot on backing vocals. These tapes have no titles but consist of 8 tracks each, produced between 1997 and 1999 at Robs Highfield flat. It is reported that these demos were fetching nothing on ebay last week.

Matson was a gas years 1999-2003:

1999 Rik and Rob (still the best of mates) have many musical differences appearing. Early 1999 and Rob splits from KOD, leaving Rik and Kraig. The relentless 2 remaining Punks jam on, and write a shed load of new original material with a more hardcore punk edge using the drum machine.

Kraig introduces Rik to Dave Kosmik (amazingly he has the same surname!!!) who spanks the bass plank. Soon after a Yamaha RM1X sequencer drum machine is purchased and used as the drummer and the bass player. Dave switches to a six-stringer and the 3 piece mutate into a real electronic Oi! band, gelling together automatically. Practices concentrate on original material mainly at the now sadly shutdown Youth Arts Centre at Northlands in Pittville Cheltenham, UK.

The evil-capitalistic scum of a so-called Cheltenham Council close Northlands Youth Arts Centre thus depriving local bands of a really good local Arts Centre. KOD rally to the cause and headline a charity benefit gig at Cheltenham Axiom centre. Also KOD Record a song Urban Dream for the Northlands benefit charity CD ('XCLAIM' 1999.) The CD being a compilation of Northlands practicing bands that write their own original material. The track and live headlining gig gets really good local newspaper reviews. The track is also put out as a 1-track demo title 'Urban Dream' (1999) by the band.

KOD soon headline another charity gig for Bristol Children's Hospital, and around this time release a home made 7 track CD entitled '4 What I Don't Know' (2000), a write up of the bands new demo in KERRANG! (international music magazine) brings another rave review!

The band plays lots of gigs from Bristol to Cheltenham, including the rather large Bristol Bierkeller. Rik Kosmik gets an interview on local radio (10/2000) and plays Urban Dream plus H Bomb on the propaganda airwaves to the masses.

KOD return to a real studio! And record a 7-track demo titled 'Destruction' (2001) again rave reviews follow in its wake. One of the tracks is used on a worldwide punk compilation by Departure Records The collectors vinyl LP is entitled 'Words will never be actions' (2002), the KOD track is the acclaimed Corporate War!

Rik Kosmik compiles a CD of all previous released material, including bonus tracks. The CD is entitled 'KOD CCCP Casebook Part 1' (2002) and is handed out to loyal fans and band members only.

A small 5 track live demo is launched, titled 'Kill The Media Scum' (11/2002). The CD includes 2 punk covers, and is well received by the fans.

KOD in The Present Day - 2003 and beyond:

With the line up of Rik, Dave and Kraig Kosmik and the drum machine, still going strong the band now concentrate on cider fuelled punk covers specialising in causing much drunken mayem in a local grot-hole near you (if you live in Gloucestershire that is).

KOD has now been cranking for 10 years. We salute and thank the fans and decent promoters etc who have made it possible for us to keep going with the usual ultra keen enthusiasm and look forward to another 10.

Locals Ladies and Gentlemen this is the story of KOD fo far......!

KOD 1993-2003 Discography:

2 x KOD Tapes no title 1997/1999.
Urban Dream, on XCLAIM Northlands CD compilation 1999.
Urban Dream CD demo/single 1999.
For What I don't know, 7 track live demo CD 2000.
Destruction, 7 track studio demo CD 2001.
KOD CCCP Casebook Part 1 CD 2002.
Corporate War track on Words will never be actions (vinyl) LP 2002, Departure Records.
Kill the Media Scum, 5 track live demo 11/2002.
Scam 69 Punk COvers With Respect 08/2003