Punk, Punk Rock, Hardcore, Thrash, Aussie, Australia, Old School, Alternative, Independent, Regression, Regression Fanzine, Fanzine, Emo, Bastard Squad, Bloody Sods, Bombscare, Charter 77, Legless, The Worst, Distorted Truth, Dayglo Abortions, Rule 303, Slick 46, Glen and the peanut Buttermen, A-Krop, Ardent, If Need Be, Kamikaze, Macauly, Nahende Vernichtung (Belgium), Off By Heart, Seconds From finishing, Sixty Miles an Hour, Arm The Insane, Bodies, Box of Fish, Charred Remains, Civil Dissident, Condemned, Cosmic Psychos, Depression, Dick Nasty, End Result, Exploding White Mice, Extremes, Fear and Loathing, Fifth Column, GASH, Godnose, Hard Corpuscles, Hard Ons, H-Block 101, Hi-End Audio, I Spit On Your Gravy, Justified Hatred, Macauly, Mad Flowers, Meanies, Mob Vengence, Mouthguard, Murder Murder Suicide,  NFL, No Escape, Perdition, Permanent Damage, Plonker, Polit Buro, Progression Cult, Psychotic Maniacs, Psychotic Turnbuckles, Quick and the Dead, Royal Flush, Scum, Slakjaw, Society's Victim, Skunks, Standard Union,  Start, Threshold Of Pain, Toe To Toe, Vicious, Vicious Circle Where’s The Pope, World War XXIV, Corporate Body, Manslaughter, Public Nuisance, Sick Things, Spew Forth, The Virgins, White Elephants, Z Cars, Zorros, Boys Next Door, Chosen Few, JAB, La Femme, Lethal Weapons, Negatives, Noisy Boys, Proles, Squadron Leader, Teenage Radio Stars, The Babeez, The News, The Reals, Tch Tch Tch, True Wheels, TV Kids, Wattage, XRayZ, Young Charlatans, The Melbourne Punk Directory, Reactor Records, Apito, DNA, Anti Climax, Bodies, Bootboys, Brady Bunch, Charred Remains, Civil Dissident, Corpse Grinders, Criminal Youth, Death Sentence, Depression, Dogs Of War, End Result, F.B.I., Fifth Column, Genocide, I Spit On Your Gravy, Jazz Sluts, Jehovah Pogo, Justified Hatred, M16, Mad Flowers, Murder Murder Suicide, No Escape, Non-Conformists, Out Of Order, Permanent Damage, Polit Buro, Psychotic Maniacs, Royal Flush, Society's Victim, Scum, The Mess, The Start, The Tribe, Vicious Circle, Young Offender, South Australia, Western Australia, Sydney, Queensland, Victoria, Melbourne, Decline, Street Punk, Gutter punk, Melbourne, Geelong, Victoria, New South Wales, Sydney, Queensland, Brisbane, South Australia, Adelaide, Western Australia, Perth, Aqua Nuggets, Beanfeast, Bone Crusher, The Affected, Butt Ugly, Damnation, Dweebs , Forcefed, Forgotten Generation, Fridge, Growing Concern, Labotomy Scars, Mouth, Nation of Hate, No Comply, Poppin Mammas, Providence, Seaweed Gorillas, Snark, Steadfast, Subzero, Tucknot, Two Years Old, Unclean Spirits, Walsh Street Cop Killers, Zambian Goatherders, A.S.V.V., Beanflipper, Bodyjar, Buzzbomb, Caustic Soda, Cretins Puddle, Devotchka, Fallout, Farenheit 451, 4Qm, Gameover, H-Block, Headcase, Kill, Kurgan, Magnacite, Mindsnare, Mid Youth Crisis, Mutiny, Myside, Next Step, No Grace, No Idea, Nihilistic View, Oddball, One Inch Punch, Scroungers, Self Reliance, Silpheed, Smut, Sphyzein, Stand Against, Trigger, Vicious Circle, Warsore, Without A Reason, Wrongbody.

Punk, Punk Rock, Hardcore, Thrash, Aussie, Australia, Old School, Alternative, Independent, Regression, Regression Fanzine, Fanzine, Emo, Bastard Squad, Bloody Sods, Bombscare, Charter 77, Legless, The Worst, Distorted Truth, Dayglo Abortions, Rule 303, Slick 46, Glen and the peanut Buttermen, A-Krop, Ardent, If Need Be, Kamikaze, Macauly, Nahende Vernichtung (Belgium), Off By Heart, Seconds From finishing, Sixty Miles an Hour, Arm The Insane, Bodies, Box of Fish, Charred Remains, Civil Dissident, Condemned, Cosmic Psychos, Depression, Dick Nasty, End Result, Exploding White Mice, Extremes, Fear and Loathing, Fifth Column, GASH, Godnose, Hard Corpuscles, Hard Ons, H-Block 101, Hi-End Audio, I Spit On Your Gravy, Justified Hatred, Macauly, Mad Flowers, Meanies, Mob Vengence, Mouthguard, Murder Murder Suicide,  NFL, No Escape, Perdition, Permanent DamaGeoff Sick, Sick Things, Legend Killers, terrorize, ge, Plonker, Polit Buro, Progression Cult, Psychotic Maniacs, Psychotic Turnbuckles, Quick and the Dead, Royal Flush, Scum, Slakjaw, Society's Victim, Skunks, Standard Union,  Start, Threshold Of Pain, Toe To Toe, Vicious, Vicious Circle Where’s The Pope, World War XXIV, Corporate Body, Manslaughter, Public Nuisance, Sick Things, Spew Forth, The Virgins, White Elephants, Z Cars, Zorros, Boys Next Door, Chosen Few, JAB, La Femme, Lethal Weapons, Negatives, Noisy Boys, Proles, Squadron Leader, Teenage Radio Stars, The Babeez, The News, The Reals, Tch Tch Tch, True Wheels, TV Kids, Wattage, XRayZ, Young Charlatans, The Melbourne Punk Directory, Reactor Records, Apito, DNA, Anti Climax, Bodies, Bootboys, Brady Bunch, Charred Remains, Civil Dissident, Corpse Grinders, Criminal Youth, Death Sentence, Depression, Dogs Of War, End Result, F.B.I., Fifth Column, Genocide, I Spit On Your Gravy, Jazz Sluts, Jehovah Pogo, Justified Hatred, M16, Mad Flowers, Murder Murder Suicide, No Escape, Non-Conformists, Out Of Order, Permanent Damage, Polit Buro, Psychotic Maniacs, Royal Flush, Society's Victim, Scum, The Mess, The Start, The Tribe, Vicious Circle, Young Offender, South Australia, Western Australia, Sydney, Queensland, Victoria, Melbourne, Decline, Street Punk, Gutter punk, Melbourne, Geelong, Victoria, New South Wales, Sydney, Queensland, Brisbane, South Australia, Adelaide, Western Australia, Perth, Aqua Nuggets, Beanfeast, Bone Crusher, The Affected, Butt Ugly, Damnation, Dweebs , Forcefed, Forgotten Generation, Fridge, Growing Concern, Labotomy Scars, Mouth, Nation of Hate, No Comply, Poppin Mammas, Providence, Seaweed Gorillas, Snark, Steadfast, Subzero, Tucknot, Two Years Old, Unclean Spirits, Walsh Street Cop Killers, Zambian Goatherders, A.S.V.V., Beanflipper, Bodyjar, Buzzbomb, Caustic Soda, Cretins Puddle, Devotchka, Fallout, Farenheit 451, 4Qm, Gameover, H-Block, Headcase, Kill, Kurgan, Magnacite, Mindsnare, Mid Youth Crisis, Mutiny, Myside, Next Step, No Grace, No Idea, Nihilistic View, Oddball, One Inch Punch, Scroungers, Self Reliance, Silpheed, Smut, Sphyzein, Stand Against, Trigger, Vicious Circle, Warsore, Without A Reason, Wrongbody.

Home Up

 

 

 

"Melbourne Punk Directory"

Concept and original words by Hungry Dave (May 2004)

 

Part 1:  1977 to 1979   "First Wave" (In The Beginning)

 This chapter deals with bands who were either influenced by the first punk bands such as the Sex Pistols, Saints, Ramones, Clash, Damned etc.

Or bands such as the Boys Next Door, who were around a good 2 years before “Punk” was invented.

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Featured Bands...so far...

Click on the band name or scroll down for the full history.

Boys Next Door,  Chosen Few,  JAB,  La Femme,  Lethal Weapons, 

Noisy Boys,    Squadron Leader,  Teenage Radio Stars,  The Babeez,

The Negatives,  The News,  The Proles,  The Reals, The Young Savages, Tch Tch Tch, 

True Wheels,  TV Kids, Wattage, XRayZ,  Young Charlatans

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Boys Next Door

It would fill a book to document the history of this band. Formed in 1975 with Nick Cave on vocals. First release 1978 “These Boots are Made” / /”Boy Hero” single. Also had tracks on the “Lethal Weapons” compilation.

 

1980 – name change to – “Birthday Party” ………………….

Chosen Few

This band were a 4 piece that came from the Mornington Peninsula. The band were more into a Detroit / Stooges / MC5 / Radio Birdman style of rock when most Melbourne bands from the era were more English / Bowie influenced. The band released a 6 track 7inch EP in 1978called “The Jokes On Us”.

The Chosen Few  The Chosen Few The Chosen Few

The Au Go Go label re-released some of the bands material on a CD in the late 1990’s.

Don’t know much about band personnel, but the band started out in 1976 as a “Heavy Metal” band called “Death Wish”.

JAB

Jab originated from Adelaide. A 3 piece featuring Bodhan – Guitar/Vocals, Ash Wednesday – Bass / Tapes, Johnny Crash – Drums, (Bobby Stoppa – Guitar/Vocals). They had 2 tracks on the renowned “Lethal Weapons” LP.

Influences: Lou Reed, David Bowie. Around 1977 / 1978.

La Femme

1970’s Glam / Metal / Rock influenced punk band. Put out a single in 1979 the catchy “Chelsea Kids” / “I Wanna Be Your Man”. La Femme also had a released a great Self Titled Album.

The band appeared on Countdown and Sounds Unlimited.

Original line-up: Chane Chane - vocals, Brett - guitar, Graham - bass, Peter Kidd - drums. (Graham and Peter had previously been members of Teenage Radio Stars).

Lethal Weapons (Compilation)

Not a band but a compilation LP put out in 1978 on the “Mushroom: label. Featured punk / new music bands such as Boys Next Door, XrayZ, Wasted Daze, Survivors (Brisbane), TRS, Negatives, JAB etc.

Lethal Weapons Cover

Aparently Mushroom Records was trying to “Cash In” on the punk craze. Still a cool record but.

Noisy Boys

The first “Noise Band” in Australia? Formed Jan / Feb 1977 using symbols, out of control electric congo machine and other odd instruments. Played on the same bill as the Babeez. Early gigs were met with frowns and abuse from the audience.

Squadron Leader

Ron / Vocals, Carl / Guitar, Alky / Bass, Danny / Drums (Ex – Wattage).

The band was around in 1978 and lasted until late 1979. It was suggested that Ron was a full on Hitler worshipper and the others couldn’t stand his views so the band split. (Reference DNA Fanzine).

Teenage Radio Stars

Teenage Radio Stars also had 2 songs on the “Lethal Weapons” compilation, as well as their own single.

The band featured Sean Kelly and James Freud, later of the models. Teenage Radio Stars played a glam/punk style with influences such as the Vibrators and David Bowie. The bands single “Wanna Be Your Baby” is actually a re-make of the Vibrators “Baby Baby”.

Teenage Radio Stars were on Countdown (Mainstream Aussie Music show at the time) – So What!! The single was released in 1978.

Original line-up: James Freud - vocals and guitar, Sean Kelly guitar and vocals, Graeme Schiavello - bass, Peter Kidd - drums.

The Babeez

The Babeez started in 1975 as “Fallen Angel” influenced by bands like New York Dolls and MC5.

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That picture of Adam Five from Babeez being told off by the Park copper.
Was that Melbourne temporary city square 1977? I was there! They were performing a dirty rough version of "Hate" and I think the Parky took exception to the line about not giving a fuck. How he picked it through the noise I still don't know. It was a great moment in early, raw punk history.
 

Paul
Queensland (these days)

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The first Melbourne punk band to get a record out was the Babeez (Later to be renamed “The News”). The record was a 3-track e.p. Financed by the band, a real D.I.Y. effort. The 3 tracks: Nobody Wants Me, Hate and Dowanna Love were recorded in the band loungeroom on cheap equipment. The record was housed in a brown paper bag with the tracks titles typed on it. (Also had lyrics) The records release date was 1977.

“The Babeez were one of Melbourne’s first punkesque outfits”

     

The Negatives

1 track on the “Lethal Weapons” compilation – “Planet On The Prowl”. Slow grungy type sound. Stooges influenced.

Featured Gary Grey (later of “Sacred Cowboys”) - vocals, Chris Walsh (Later in Moodists) - bass, Mick Holmes (Later in Zimmermen) - guitar and  Peter Cave (Later "2 Clever and a Half) - drums.

The News

By 1978 The Babeez had changed their name to The News. A second single was released “Chop Chop Chop / Dirty Lies”. The News were apparently “Melbourne’s answer to the Ramones with a political conscience”. It has been suggested (and confirmed) that the band at the time spray painted “NEWS” all over Melbourne. Sound familiar?

1979 the band released  e.p. featuring tracks from their above 2 releases plus other songs.

1980 a fourth record “That Girl /I’m So Confused” was released on the Missing Link Label.

      

Line up: Adam Five – Vocals, Jaryl Circus – Guitar, Joy Relentless – Bass, John Smith from the Suburbs –Drums

.

The News was considered one of the more genuine punk bans of the day as they did their own records/gigs.

The Proles

The Proles released a single “Police” / “Underground” produced and recorded by the band (D.I.Y.). Apparently a fairly political band but short lived. Used to play with the News. The single was recorded in 1978.

Band members were Wayne Smith - Drums, Darren Smith - Guitar (went on to The Zorros.), Mark Chrisfield and Chris Bela.

...........................................................................

Thanks very much to Wayne Smith for these words. (April 2011)

We had a punk band back in the early punk days - THE PROLES - we would support the likes of BABEEZ soon to become NEWS and YOUNG CHARLATANS would play after us.

We cut a single in 1977, I was 15 and Darren was 17, we had to do something to fight the disco duck.

The members of the original PROLES were Mark Chrisfield-vocals, Darren Smith- Guitar and backing vocals, Chris Bela-bass and backing vocals and myself Wayne Smith on drums.

We had a temporary bass player named Ian Woff and finished with a bloke named Paul Greuders on bass.

It was great to play gigs such as Punk Gunk 1977 and various other gigs,

Regards Wayne Smith (April 2011)

R.I.P. Darren Smith. Sadly Darren passed away 13th Feb 2009.

The Reals    (Not the same as the pop band)

Very early Melbourne punk featuring  Gary Grey (Pre Negatives) - vocals, Chris Walsh (Later in the Moodists) - bass, Ollie Olsen (Sacred Cowboys fame) - guitar and Peter Cave (Later "2 Clever and a Half) - drums. Evolved into the Negatives.

The Young Savages

Mark Ivey's first band. Formed in 1978. Would have been one of the first local bands to do Sex Pistols covers and Radio Birdman style music. Went on to become "The Virgins".

R.I.P. Mark Ivey - 26 July 2007   Click this to go to the "Mark Ivey Page"

Tch Tch Tch   

4 piece band. It is believed they were around in 1975.

The band name was written up using arrows. It was an art band - their slogan was "Fuck Dance Lets Art".

In 1977 they performed covers of punk roots material (Gloria, Louie Louie and other 1960’s r"n"b tunes, this was the roots of punk after all). Organised “Punkgunk” gigs.

Tch Tch Tch was primarily made up of Philip Brophy - filmmaker ;his girlfriend artist Maria Kozic and a couple of other people whose names escape me.

Thanks heaps Nic for the info...

True Wheels

Don’t know if they were punk or not. Anybody got any info?

TV Kids

1960’s or Ramones influenced band. No other info.

Wattage

Wattage was around from 1977 to 1978. They played on the same bill as JAB and Boys Next Door.

Band members were Carey Hesketh - Lead Vocals and Bass, Alky (From Squadron Leader) - Guitar, Danny (Ex - Squadron Leader) on drums. Carey went on to form New Age in 1982 with Graeme Schiavello and Peter Kidd from Teenage Radio Stars.

Thanks to Carey for the info.

XrayZ

Cool band who contributed the great tracks “3 more glorious years” (+ valium) to the Lethal Weapons Compilation. Originally from Adelaide (Originally known as Rufus Red) moved to Melbourne and released a 3 track e.p. on the mushroom label in 1977(Tracks: Pour Image, Hammer Hit and Citizen John). The band distributed the singles to the shops themselves. A fourth track “Kodak Moments” was also recorded but not released on the e.p. XrayZ supported Lou Reed on his 1977 tour.

Original line up: Peter Rich - vocals and sax, Mike D'Art - guitar and keyboards, James Wave - bass, Jon Ray - drums.

By 1979 the band was still going under the name of “Popgun Men”. In the late 1980’s a compilation LP of bands material was released.

Before the band had gone “punk” they were apparently into “Skyhooks” type stuff.

Young Charlatans

This was Rowland Howard's first band. (Thanks again Nic)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Melbourne Punk Directory"

1977 - 1997

Concept and original words by Hungry Dave (May 2004 - March 2005)

"Melbourne Punk Directory" Main Index Page

Part 1:  1977 to 1979   "In The Begining"

Part 2:  1980 to 1981  "Second Wave"

Part 3:  1982 to 1984  "Hardcore"

Part 4:  1985 to 1987

Part 5:  1988 to 1991

Part 6: 1991 to 1994

Part 7: 1995 to 1997

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Last modified: 19 June 2011