Savage Republic is a "seminal" Los Angeles industrial-art-punk band from the 1980s. The band began circa 1980 as Africa Corps with UCLA art students Bruce Licher, Mark Erskine, Jackson Del Rey, following various preliminary projects (Bridge, Tunnel Tones, Them Rhythm Ants). A tall, charismatic 17 year old hardcore skin head and Santa Monica High School student Jeff Long also performed with Africa Corps in 1981 and 1982. Jeff Long was a very charismatic figure and also played with the L.A. hard core band Wasted Youth. The band changed its name to Savage Republic in June 1982 when the first album Tragic Figures was released. Jackson Del Rey and Jeff Long split lyrical duties on Tragic Figures. The name was conceived by Mark Erskine in his garage along with other band members, with no particular signifigance beyond just describing the bands overall sound.