The Republic were a twelve-piece band that I got involved with at the beginning of the 80s. A South African actor whom I'd known from Stratford-on-Avon whilst I was at drama college and he was at the RSC, called John Matchikiza, had joined the band to help put it together, and he started writing lyrics for the songs. He and I eventually became the co-singers, sometimes duetting and sometimes singing solo. John then went back to South Africa and became a successful actor/writer/director and I became the lead singer.
We were signed to Charlie Gillet's Oval Records and recorded an EP called Three Songs By The Republic which included a song called One Chance and another, criticising the Falklands War called Don't Believe.