First Offence

First Offence were a British hardcore hip hop group founded in 1989 by Steve Harris, Ian Bent and Bill Spiby. The band hailed from Little Hulton in Salford. The ethos behind the band was to articulate the concerns and ideas of British working class council estate kids through the medium of hip-hop. In practice this meant songs about being on the dole and lots of punk rock samples. 
The band got a lot of attention from the music press following their first single (which was NME single of the week) recorded a Peel session and released a couple more singles. Their love of sampling and disregard for the niceties of sucking up to music journos and record executives ensured that they never made the big time. All three of the band continued to work in music and the media in various capacities following the break up of the band in the early nineties. 
The band also had an anonymous masked dancer called the Phantom. Most of their material was produced by Carl Adesile in Salford. 
== Links to Peel ==
Peel first discovered the group in October 1990 when he played a track from their debut single on his radio programme. Further material from the group were played on his shows, including a session recorded for his programme in 1991. 
After Peel's death in 2004, Rob Da Bank, revisited their session track, 'Drugs' on his show. 
== Sessions ==
1. Recorded: 1991-02-19. First Broadcast: 16 March 1991. Repeated: 15 June 1991
*Three Steps / A Brotherhood Of Man / Money / Drugs
== Other Shows Played ==
;thumb|220x220px1990
*28 October 1990: 'Tell 'Em What U Like (12")' (Blip Music)
*02 December 1990: 'Tell 'Em What U Like (12")' (Blip Music)
;1991
*03 February 1991: Government Decides (12" - Tell Em What U Like) Blip Music 
*09 February 1991: 'Government Decides (Madamswood Mix) (12")' (Blip Music)
*02 March 1991: Just Try Me (12") Blip 
*10 March 1991: 'Just Try Me (12")' (Blip Music)
*30 March 1991: Just Try Me (12") Blip Music
*08 September 1991: 'Round 'N' Round (12"-Round 'N' Round / Three Steps)' (Corona)
*29 September 1991: Round 'N' Round (12" - Round 'N' Round / Three Steps) Corona
*28 December 1991: 'Round 'N' Round (12"-Round 'N' Round / Three Steps)' (Corona)
;2004
*07 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): Drugs (session)
== External Links ==
*Web Archive
*Discogs
Category:Artists