years_active label article_title past_members background genre origin name
1995 -- 1999 southern records stratford mercenaries
 ed gary `` gazzer '' buckley `` eddafed '' addley steve ignorant phil barker group_or_band punk rock stratford , london , england , uk stratford mercenaries
stratford mercenaries

stratford mercenaries were an english punk rock band that was formed in late 1995 by gary `` gazzer '' buckley from the punk band dirt and ed `` eddafed '' addley from the punk band suicidal supermarket trolleys .
the band was joined by steve ignorant from the punk rock band crass and phil barker from the punk rock band the buzzcocks in early 1996 .
the band released a 4-track extended play recording in august 1996 , followed by their first album in 1997 titled `` no sighing strains of violins '' .
tours of the usa , europe and japan followed in 1997 .
a follow-up album was released in 1998 titled `` a sense of solitude '' .
