Since getting together over a jam session at a military base in June 2004, Taxi Violence have gone on to stake their rightful claim as one of South Africa’s most prized rock acts, rocking crowds, winning awards and gathering a legion of ardent followers wherever their music is heard.
From the get-go, everything about this hard working rock band that hails from Cape Town has been stamped with a sense of the unique. Not content to follow the herd and belt out the popular sound of the day, Taxi Violence chose the path less travelled, adopting retro rock ‘n roll/ Southern swamp blues as their medium of artistic expression.
When the front covers of South Africa’s daily entertainment newspapers throughout three different cities announced the arrival of “The next BIG things!” early on in 2006, it was with a sense of uncanny prophecy, for in the months that followed, Taxi Violence would, through sheer dedication and solid musicianship, rise from relative local obscurity to being a band in national demand.
Taxi Violence released their critically acclaimed debut album, “Untie Yourself”, in 2006 which went on to be nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) for “Best English Rock Album of the Year.”
“Untie Yourself” (2006) nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award) for Best Rock Album
“The Turn” released in 2009 to critical acclaim
Headliners at all South African festivals including Rocking The Daisies, Oppikoppi
Over 1000 units of “The Turns” sold within the first 2 weeks
Music video for “Devil ‘n Pistol” debuted in the MK charts at #9 on first week of airplay
South African launch tour recently completed. The band performed to sold out crowds in Benoni, Durban, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Potchefstroom and Johannesburg. Tour also included a headline slot at Oppikoppi.
Toured Germany and Holland in 2009
“The Turn is ‘n vurige kwantumsprong vorentoe vir die Kaapse rockers” – Danie Marais, Die Beeld ****
“It rocks hard, it rocks deep, but it also insists on itself as something new” – Niel Bekker, Speakerbox “Taxi Violence are that rare beast, an old-fashioned band. If they were fine artists, they’d be painting the oil masters of tomorrow rather than staging the conceptual performances of yesterday’s news.” – Chris Roper, Mail & Guardian
Back to top
