User:Warmark/No friends of harry

== N.F.O.H. can rightly claim the mantle of the first and most influential of the South African ‘alternative/goth bands’, for years they stood alone as the spokespersons for disillusioned white youth tired of the pop fodder dished out by radio. ==

Goth-rock band formed in Johannesburg in 1986

A post-mortem

No Friends Of Harry were a big rock band in South Africa before we had big rock bands.

Ahead of their time in more way than one, they lasted twelve years and produced three albums and six top ten hits. No Friends of Harry's uncompromising approach to the traditionally unsophisticated South African music industry enabled them to achieve widespread support while still retaining their creative control and artistic integrity.

No Friends of Harry started out as a four-piece rock outfit in Johannesburg. A flair for innovative and powerful performances, combined with energetic nation-wide touring and a strong creative managment team, ensured a fiercely loyal following. Lead singer, songwriter and Rob was responsible for the analytical, often cynical world view of the band. This straightforwardness is countered by Rob's guitar style, which reflects his interest in visual art, "Classicism is about control - the line is everything; Romanticism is more about emotional expression. I like to mix and match."

This only in part explains the massive appeal of the band. They burst onto the scene at a time when the only local music was cheesy made for radio stuff, and alternative imported music was very expensive to come by.

With their intellectual content, and powerful, emotive live responses, No Friends of Harry descended like gods on a music public starved for the thing they represented. Already prominent on the club scene in Johannesburg, the members of No friends were able to turn their entire crowd on to the band.

Years of hard work on this solid base turned them into somewhat of an icon in the SA music industry. At their farewell show at Oppikoppi, a young punter remarked, "Hell, I've heard so much about these guys, and they were awesome. Why the hell are they breaking up?"