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 2:  1980 to 1981  "Second Wave"

This chapter deals with the second wave of Melbourne punk bands.

Most of these bands were influenced by U.K. late 1970’s punk and in some cases (the Sick Things) were more cutting edge playing a tougher, distorted hardcore thrash sound, which was in line with U.K. and  U.S. Hardcore / Noise scenes.

The first punk wave had been and gone (according to some) but these bands kept playing, none the less, even though it wasn’t popular.

 Thanks to Noel F. for the photo.  Thanks to Noel F. for the photo  Thanks to Noel F. for the photo Thanks to Noel F. for the photo  Thanks to Noel F. for the photo

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Featured Bands...so far...

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

Corporate Body,  Manslaughter,  Public Nuisance,  Sick Things,  Spew Forth, 

The Editions,   The Virgins,  White Elephants,  Z Cars,  Zorros

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Corporate Body

Corporate Body Thanks To Noel F. for the photo.

Clash / Stiff Little Fingers influenced band that were around 1981/82. Similar sound to the above two bands. Melodic English late 1970’s punk. No vinyl releases but put out a tape, sort of a Clash / Jam sound. Singer guitarist Paul Clarke went onto then band “Fifth Column / The Start”.

Thanks to Noel F. for the photo.

Manslaughter

Geelong band. Around 1980-81. Into basic UK punk. No other info known.

Wanted: Photos, info, tapes, stories, anything about the above bands.

Also anybody who was in a Punk Band in Melbourne (or Australia) at this time and isn’t mentioned here get in contact with Regression.

Public Nuisance

Band line up: Rocky – vocals, John – guitar, Raymond McAuliffe – bass, Reville Scott – drums (Revel played the drum for Depression's first gig) .

The bands lyrics were penned by Raymond with the assistance of Rocky. The music for the original songs was written by John and had significant input by Raymond as well.

Public Nuisance Tape Cover

Public Nuisance released a tape in 1982 featuring some and a couple of originals. A full on harsh snarling punk sound. Also did some obscure covers: “IZXU” (Wire),  “Kill” (Albertos Los Trios Paranois).

Sick Things / Spew Forth

This Legendary Melbourne punk band were formed around 1980. Members: Dugald McKenzie – vocals, Mick Turner – Guitar, Geoff Sick – Bass, Gary – Drums. Mick Turner had previously played in the “Melb SS” in 1979 with Dugald.

   

The Sick Things came from around the Caulfield area and played an intense, noisy, dirty style of hardcore thrash punk. They were pretty much equal to UK Hardcore bands like Discharge / Disorder and US merchants like Black Flag / Flipper as far as sheer intensity, pain, noise etc goes. For this reason the band are the pioneers of Hardcore punk in Australia. They were also the first band to display Hardcore influences such as Discharge / Circle Jerks  / Exploited (They covered these bands songs as well as their own killer tunes).

Sick Things - The Sound Of Silence Cover  Sick Things - MY Lifes A Mess Cover

The band did a whole heap of recordings in 1981/82 and was released as a cassette called “Dark”. 1985 a 7inch was released “Commited Suicide / Police” from the same sessions. 1989 a whole albums worth of the “Dark” demo was put out on the “Sounds of Silence” LP.  In the mid 1990’s

They were also the first band to display HC influences such as Discharge, Circle Jerks, Exploited (they covered these bands songs as well as their own killer tunes). /the band did a whole heap of recordings in 1981/82and was released as a cassette called “Dark”. 1985 a 7inch single was released “Committed Suicide / Police” demo was put out as “Sounds Of Silence” album. Then in the mid 1990’s a CD compilation featuring more stuff (13 Tracks) entitled “My Life’s A Mess” came out. Apparently the Sick Things first Major live show was in July 1981. The band became quite popular but also got banned from some venues. By February 1982 the band got bogged down with problems (Drugs, Mental and Physical Illness). The Sick Things played their last gig in July 1982 under the name “Spew Forth” at a hall gig in Clifton Park (Melbourne) with 8 bands (Also on the bill was the original Depression line up pre-Smeer and Wank)

Spew Forth line up Dugald – Vocals, Mick – Guitar, Geoff Marty – Bass and Simon Sleigh – Drums.

Spew Forth played the same intense, distorted Hardcore that the Sick Things played but with a Birthday Party influence creeping in on some songs.

Mick Turner and Geoff Marks then went on to Fungus Brains, (Birthday Party influenced band) and Venom P. Stinger (Dugald and Mick), The Moodist (Mick), The Dirty 3 (Mick). Apparently “The Virgins” were a major influence on the band and played some Virgins songs in their set, “When you’re a Wog”

Anyone who was in or saw the “Sick Things” please write to Regression. Photos, Stories, info etc wanted. 

R.I.P. - "Dugald" (Sick Things/Venom P. Stinger) - October 2004.

R.I.P. - "Geoff Sick" - 05 May 2007    Click This to go to the "Geoff Sick Page"

The Editions

The Editions were around 1981-1982 and released three cassettes “Aggression”, “Obsession” and “Recession” during the period. The band featured Fred Negro on drums who went on to play in “I Spit On your Gravy” and a heap of other bands. He currently is plays in the excellent band “The Twits”. Other members went on to other bands such as Top 40 Oz rock and Blues bands.

The Virgins / White Elephants

This band was believed to have had quite an influence on the scene in their day. The Virgins were a major influence on the “Sick Things”. The band got going in about 1978 out of the remnants of “The Young Savages” who after kicking out some members and replacing them changed their name. According to reports they were quite a full on band and therefore had trouble with venue owners who wanted them to soften their approach, which the band refused to do. The Virgins split in 1979, but according to Regression Fanzine (and other underground writings) the band were still around into the early 1980’s playing on the same bill as Sick Things, Depression etc. Some of the band members ended up in the “White Elephants” in 1983/84 who were more of a grungy, garage punk, rock band that released a tape (Hey Hypocrite? Got a knife?)

The Virgins influences: Sex Pistols, Alternative TV, Radio Birdman, Saints.

White Elephants - Het Hypocrite Cover

White Elephants influences: Stooges, Saints etc.

Memebrs of White Elephant: Mark - vocals, Geoff - bass, Jim - drums, Mike - guitar

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

 

Z Cars

Z Cars were a 1977’s style punk band who put out a single “Is There Someone Out There?” on the Au Go Go label in 1980. The band had a power pop sound. Influences – Buzzcocks, Undertones, Saints. The band reformed in `982 for a one off gig.

Zorros

Thanks to Noel F. for the photo. Thanks to Noel F. for the photo.

Quite a popular band on the Melbourne pub scene during 1981 – 1982. Fast, power pop sound similar to the 1st LP of Generation X, Undertones, Ramones, Buzzcocks. Lyrics boy / girl type stuff and other subjects. Toe tapping punk and later on got more of a 1960’s influence (mods?). Did a single on the Au Go Go label in 1981 “Too Young”. Music similar to the Z-Cars, power pop, not anywhere near hardcore punks.

Phil the drummer ended up playing in the "Corpse Grinders"

Make sure you check this link out. Excellent music downloads.   

download some Zorros live tracks (click this to get to the site).

Thanks heaps to Darren Smith for organising this June 2005.

Zorros 1982  Zorros 1982   Zorros 1982 

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"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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Send mail to chelton21@optusnet.com.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Regression Music - Punk Fanzine
Last modified: 30 December 2009