Strike: The UK's Pioneering Drum & Bass Force

Strike is a British electronic music project and production duo that became a defining act in the UK's commercial drum & bass scene of the late 1990s. Hailing from London, the group achieved mainstream success with their 1997 anthem "U Sure Do," which became a crossover hit and a platinum-selling single.

Early career

The core of Strike was formed by producers Andy Gardner and Mark Yardley. The duo emerged from London's vibrant mid-90s club culture, where the breakbeat hardcore and jungle scenes were rapidly evolving into the faster, more complex sound of drum & bass. Their early work was characterized by a focus on heavy, rolling basslines and infectious vocal hooks, setting them apart from more underground contemporaries.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough arrived in 1997 with the release of "U Sure Do" on the independent label 367 Records. The track, built around a massive bassline and a memorable vocal sample from the 1991 dance track "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz, exploded onto the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at number 6 and earned a platinum certification, becoming one of the first drum & bass records to achieve such widespread commercial recognition.

Key tracks

U Sure Do — This platinum-selling single broke drum & bass into the UK Top 10 and remains the group's signature track.

I Believe — A follow-up single that charted at number 36, showcasing their continued ability to craft accessible drum & bass anthems.

My Love Is Always — Featured on their debut album, this track highlighted their skill in blending soulful vocals with high-energy breakbeats.

For Your Love — Another successful single that demonstrated the duo's consistent production formula and club-ready sound.

Capitalizing on the success of "U Sure Do," Strike released their debut album, "I Believe," in 1998. The album compiled their hit singles with new material, solidifying their position as leading figures in the accessible, vocal-driven side of the drum & bass genre. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the duo remained active, releasing further singles and performing major DJ sets, though they never quite replicated the massive chart impact of their initial hit.

Fans of Strike's high-energy, bass-heavy approach to drum & bass should also explore the work of Shy FX, a foundational UK producer known for blending dancehall and jungle. The anthemic, crossover style is also echoed by Roni Size, whose Mercury Prize-winning work brought drum & bass to a new audience. For the more mainstream, vocal-led side of the genre, check out DJ Fresh, who achieved major UK chart success in the 2010s. The production duo's club-focused sound shares similarities with Adam F, another key artist who helped shape drum & bass's journey from the underground to the charts.

The music of Strike maintains a strong presence on specialist electronic and dance radio stations. Their classic tracks are frequently featured on drum & bass radio shows, UK garage retrospectives, and 90s dance music programs across various online radio streams and independent music radio stations, keeping their influential sound alive for new generations of listeners.

You can hear the pioneering drum & bass sound of Strike on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover or enjoy the music of this iconic UK act through a variety of electronic and dance radio stations available on onairium.com.