It all began in 1993 with an organization named "Community Music", based in London, where bassist Dr. Das was teaching music technology. Dr. Das joined forces with one of his students, rapper Deeder Zaman, and a civil-rights activist named DJ Pandit G, to form the ADF sound system, dedicated to performing anti-racism concerts. ADF was expanded a year later when Guitarist Chandrasonic came on board. The arrival in 1995 of Sun-J, a militant radical fascinated by "live" technology, completed the group.
Facts and Fictions, their first album (released in 1995 by Nation Records), went virtually unnoticed in a country still obsessed with retro-pop guitars. At the time, Asians had not yet won total acceptance in Britain. Across the Channel, by contrast, the group was a popular stage attraction and performed regularly, especially in France, where its second opus, R.A.F.I., was released in 1997. Rafi's Revenge, a new version of R.A.F.I., expanded, re-recorded, and energized by the group's stage experience, came out the following year.
Primal Scream?through a joint tour of the United Kingdom organized in the summer of 1997?was the catalyst that revealed ADF to the British media. The two groups worked together on the single "Free Satpal Ram," with its many references to the living conditions of Asians victimized by the unjust treatment they receive in Great Britain.
ADF toured extensively in 1998, confirming its stage reputation and drawing a highly diverse public. Primal Scream's campaign began to attract admirers. Journalists, impressed with the energy projected by ADF on stage, launched into exaggerated comparisons with the famous punk groups of the past. ADF performed at numerous British and Continental European festivals, and at the Fuji Rock festival in Japan. To their great surprise, they were also enthusiastically received in the United States, where they toured as an opening act for the Beastie Boys
With admirable perseverance, ADF has helped break down the prejudice against music from Asia and, by extension, against Asian people in general. In recognition of this effort, ADF received the "BBC Asian Award for Music" in December 1998.
Thanks to this award, ADF was able to obtain funds from the London Arts Board to support the launch of ADF Education (ADFED), a program designed to promote and implement the teaching of music and music technology to young people. ADFED is now an independent organization that runs numerous music workshops in London.
In the spring of 1999 ADF made its first starring tour in the U.S.A. and Canada. They were accompanied by the Japanese group Audio Active, which opened for them. This tour, dubbed the "Asian Invasion," was a fantastic success. Most of its concerts were sold out.
Protection - we do a lot of it these days. Sun cream for our skin, sunglasses for our eyes, condoms for you know where - but do you remember to protect your hearing?
Click to find all the information you need to look after your hearing now so you can enjoy music for years to come
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