Political Asylum was a Scottish anarcho-punk band formed in Stirling in 1982 by Ramsey Kanaan and Stephen "Cheesy" Brown. They began their musical journey as high school students, initially naming their group Distraught before changing it to Political Asylum upon the addition of drummer Chris "Spike" Low. Their debut release, the cassette album Fresh Hate (1983), was self-released and sold over 6000 copies through fanzines and gigs. Their second cassette, Valium for the Masses (1984), showcased a heavier metal-influenced sound. In 1985, they signed with the Children of the Revolution label for the first vinyl release, the EP Winter (1985). Despite lineup changes and internal tensions, they toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and America. Notable releases include Walls Have Ears (1986), Someday (1987), Window on the World (1990), and How the West Was Won (1992). They disbanded in 1993 following a tour in Germany.
