Death in June are a neofolk group led by English folk musician Douglas Pearce, better known as Douglas P. The band was originally formed in Britain in 1981 as a trio, but after the other members left in 1984 and 1985 to work on other projects, the group became the work of Douglas P. and various collaborators. Douglas P. now lives in Australia.
Over the band's three decades of existence, they have made numerous shifts in style and presentation, resulting in an overall shift from initial post-punk and Industrial Records influence to a more acoustic and folk music-oriented approach. They are sometimes considered controversial (largely due to usage of themes and imagery relating to Nazi Germany). Douglas P.'s influence was instrumental in sparking neofolk, of which his music has subsequently become a part.
Pearce formed Death in June in 1981 in England, along with Patrick Leagas and Tony Wakeford. Pearce and Wakeford had been members of the political punk band Crisis, which formed in 1977. Crisis had gained a substantial following in the UK punk subculture. Crisis performed at rallies for The Right to Work, Rock Against Racism, and the Anti-Nazi League.
In the summer
The fires come
In mid-summer
The pyres burn
And, everything disappears
And, everybody hears
"Kapitulation, kapitulation
Kapitulation, kapitulation"
One week after the death
Of the leader
Two weeks after the birth
Of me
In the field of blackbirds
We beg to differ
In the field of blackbirds
We disagree
"Kapitulation, kapitulation
Kapitulation, kapitulation"
Our colour - the universe, grey!
Our colour - the universe, prey!
Our reason - I cannot say
Our judgement - we learn today
"Kapitulation, kapitulation
Kapitulation, kapitulation"
In the winter
The fires come
In mid-summer
Our pyres burn
And, all disappears
Yet, nobody hears