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.

"Melbourne Punk Directory"

Concept and original words By Hungry Dave (May 2004)

________________________________________________________

Part 3:  1982 to 1984  "Third Wave" (Hardcore)

This chapter focuses on the bands that existed in the 1982-1984 Melbourne scene. Basically this was a Discharge/Crass influenced scene to start off with but grew to have some U.S. hardcore influences from 1 or 2 bands, and 1 or 2 other “1977” or “Oi” bands.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Featured Bands...so far...

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

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,  New Age,   No Escape,  Non-Conformists,  Out Of Order, 

Permanent Damage,      Polit Buro,  Psychotic Maniacs,  Rotting Flowers,

 Royal Flush,  Society's Victim,  Scum,  The Mess, 

The Start,  The Tribe,  Tombstone Hands,   Vicious Circle,  Young Offender.

If anybody knows of any other punk bands that were around at this time that aren’t mentioned here, click on this and contact Regression.

Anti Climax

Short lived 1984 era band that attempted to do U.S. Hardcore type stuff.

Bodies (M16)

Geelong based band. Developed out of “No Escape”. Bodies started in about 1983 and played basic thrash. By 1984 or so they slowed down a bit and became clearer. They recorded / released a tape and had 2 tracks on the “Eat Your Head” compilation.

Dave Thomas ended up playing in the band "Bored".

Bodies were about the only Melbourne band of the day to get into a “Radio Birdman” type sound, which they mixed with their other influences – U.S. Hardcore.

In late 1984 the band changed their name to “M16” then split soon after.

Bootboys

Hilarious, offbeat Oi! Band that were around 1982. 4-piece band: Colin – vocals, Tim – guitar, Liz – bass, Geoff – drums. Played gigs at the Seaview Ballroom in St Kilda.

Big thanks to Col. He sent us the following great story and thoughts... Jan 2011

Bootboys were as you say hilarious. Fun and utterly puerile at times. The main contributor was the time and moment. It was time to take the piss. i hope we did. We wrote 'Stupid Old Biddies', 'Fight Crass', 'Poser' and the like to be obvious Love the memories and people on the way. Nice photo of G. Sick, stalwart. Plans to reform have been approached, if Smear kicking it then I know nothing's lost. Top site.

2nd gig at the Seaview Ballroom. Nigel {manager} took a liking to us. 25 min before show time I order 3 jugs of tequila and orange in jugs, also raided the free sandwiches and salami rolls I hid them behind the stage. I digress.
I'm up on the drum stage about to give it "Ba ba ba ba, ba ba bootboys... repeat x 4}.I jumped at the last "ba"... I hit the sloping monitor speakers and skied head first in to the 2nd row. Lying on the ground (microphone still in hand-you got to retain dignity). Had a kicking, stomping (intentional I'd like to think). Looking in to the maelstrom Tim decides it's action. Sways in to the audience and rescues me. 40 seconds later the night degenerated in to a sandwich and cooked meat fight and money well spent...Jeff ( Drummer) spewing tequila and orange in to the curtains. Loved the bootboys, loved the chaos and Melbourne punks are the business. "Fly the flag

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

Influences: Cockney Rejects, 4-Skins, Blitz, and Angelic Upstarts. Covers of these U.K. bands but lots of originals. One song “Fight Crass” (not wars) could be compared to Special Duties “Bullshit Crass”. Other songs in the set were a mixture of Snotty 1977 punk, Oi, and thrashy Melbourne punk. According to “Regression” fanzine the band was split by October 1982.

Around 1987/88 Geoff And Colin formed a band called the Creatures.

Brady Bunch

No info on this band.

Who was in it? Write in and tell us.

Charred Remains

1983/84 era band. Very melodic sound and were a bit too melodic for the hardcore crowd in Melbourne at the time, but were a good band.

Good muso’s with protest type lyrics. Influences S.L.F., 999, Zounds etc. The band didn’t mind Thrash/Hardcore but mainly liked the tuneful stuff with a “Think for yourself” message. 2 tracks on the “Eat Your Head” compilation.

Members of Charred Remains were Greg - drums, Glen - guitar and vocals, John - bass and vocals, Damien - Brass and vocals, Rusty - guitar.

Civil Dissident

Started off in 1981/82. Civil Dissident played mean thrash which was mainly influenced by U.S. hardcore (In particular the Minor Threat / D.C. scene, Boston bands S.S.D., Jerry’s Kids etc, MDC, Husker Du, Flipper etc). A lot of their early gigs in 1982/83 were full on slam-fests with a lot of feedback/interaction with the audience on different issues that the band was singing about.

1983 Line up: Matt – vocals, Wayne – guitar, Andrew – bass, Big Cane – drums.

Recorded a demo called “Stench Increases” in mid 1983 wit 13 tracks. Also supported the “Dead Kennedys” on their 1983 Australian visit. One week after the tour bass and drummer left to be replaced by the bass and drums from another local band Mad Flowers.

Line up then became Matt – vocals, Wayne – guitar, Tracey – bass and David – drums.

This line up recorded a 12 track tape (re-released in Jan/Feb 1984) entitled “The Fourth Rate American Thrash Tape” which came with a fanzine. The band got reviews from Pushead etc at Maximum Rock and Roll magazine, which lead to further exposure for the band and subsequently got them onto some compilation albums. “Life is a Joke” (German label, Wrend System), “Cleanse The Bacteria” (Compiled by Pushead) and the Melbourne punk compilation “Eat Your Head” which came out in 1984.

Civil Dissident was one of the most influential of the era with their outspoken views on things (socio-politics type stuff, apathy within the punk scene etc) plus full on / intense music that was hammered out in a brutal form. 1985 the band released a 3 track EP “First Blood”, the title track featuring acoustic guitar. The band became a 3 piece by this stage with bass player Tracey leaving the band and Matt taking over vocals and bass duties. However by 1986 the band was officially defunct.

Corpse Grinders

Wild psychobilly band influenced by the Cramps, the Meteors, Sonics etc.

Original line-up: Tony - vocals, Arthur - guitar,  Pete - guitar; Trevor - bass, Phil - drums (ex-Zorros).

Tex Perkins made a cameo on the bands "Werewolf" track (thanks Frank).

Criminal Youth

Another band linked to the Sick Things and the Mess. Similar sound i.e. loud, distorted, blistering, tuneless thrash.

Influences: Discharge, Disorder, and mainly fast U.K. stuff. Band lasted from 1982 to 1983 or so.

1982/83 line up: Rod – vocals, Ron Murder – guitar, Geoff (Ex Sick Things) – bass, Paul Valium – drums.

Click here to link to some photos of Paul Valium and Teddy Suicide.  (Thanks Frank in advance)

Death Sentence

This band was formed in the latter part of 1984 but reached prominence in 1985 after the release of a tape (“Waldo blew his brains out”) and a 7inch EP “Ryan”.

Intense ultra fast thrash band with influences like D.R.I. and Septic Death, but even faster. Death Sentence was enthusiastic/idealistic about things like unity, equality, peace and the capital punishment issue.

Click on this to link to an excellent interview done with Gary McGillivray and the bands discography by Seanocide.

Depression

Formed in 1981 Depression were Melbourne’s premier hardcore punk band of the 1980’s. The band started off as a three piece but became a four piece in early 1982 with the arrival of singer Spike. July 1982 a second guitarist by the name of Smeer joined and the band took off playing a fast, heavy style of hardcore punk. Influences were Discharge, Disorder, GBH, Crass etc.

Late 1982 the band got a residency at the John Barleycorn Hotel in Johnston Street Collingwood which became a renowned punk pit. Depression attracted a small but dedicated following. The original guitarist John Feedback left around early 1983. It was around this time that the band had a 15 track tape “Body Dump” released as a short run with Issue 4 of Regression. The recording was said to be abysmal, so another demo was recorded some time later in a studio in 1983 featuring some of the bands early repertoire.

During 1983 the Dead Kennedys toured Australia. Jello Biafra insisted on having local punk acts as supports. Biafra heaped praise on the band by saying something like “if ever this band gets a record out, it’ll will be a killer”.

The first Depression vinyl release was a 3 track 7inch “Money Chain” . which came out in Jan 1984 on the reactor label. The single did well for the band. Depression also had the track “What A Strange World” on a compilation album “Welcome to 1984” put out by Maximum Rock and Roll in the USA. MRR had heard Depressions tape via Biafra who had taken tapes of Aussie punk bands back to the States.

During August 1984 the band went into the studio to record their debut album (26 Tracks). Some of the tracks, “Brainless Conformists” and “Big Chief” had been in the band set since 1982 and showed how fast and hardcore the band was. In Maximum Rock and Roll (MRR) Biafra compared them to U.S. hardcore bands such as “Effigies” and “MDC”. In fact singer Spike was similar to Hank Rollins in terms of physique, stage presence etc and along with the bands full on musical output (Meaty, heavy hardcore) the energy level was full on as well.

The debut LP came out in early 1985 it was reviewed in MRR by Pushead: “Finally an LP’s worth of mayhem from this Aussie band. 26 songs pack this platter full of straight driving power punches with shouted vocals and whining guitars. Political lyrics…raw ferocious music in the true hardcore attack. Some variety, mostly medium paced with a few fast throbbers. A classic like the BGK LP”. Following the release of the album the band recorded the “Australia Australia” 9 track 12inch, which was said to be their best. By this stage the band had developed a thrash/metal sound which was akin to U.S. bands like “Slayer”. Late 1985 Spike left the band and they became a 3 piece with Smear on vocals and guitar. The band lasted up until 1987 or so and did another few releases most notably the “Ultra heavy punk metal thrash album” which was recorded live. Further more the band would have run rings around a lot of the big name U.K. punk bands of the day. Overseas equivalents would have been Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies etc.

October 2008

Make sure you get yourself a copy of the newly released Depression CD.

This is a collection of the Reactor releases remastered to CD with a great booklet of rare shots of the band

RR22 - September 2008 - Depression - The Reactor Years 40 Tracks

Available from

"Missing Link" - www.missinglink.net.au

or from

"Reactor Records" - P.O. Box 623 Camberwell Vic 3124

E-Mail:  reactorecords@gmail.com

Dogs Of War

The Dogs of War line-up was Spit (vocals), Chunda (guitar), Jayco (bass), and  Paul Vallium (drums).

1982/83 era band. Members of Dogs of War went on to The Mess, Criminal Youth etc.

End Result

Anarchist band that was formed in early 1983 by 4 people: Paul – vocals, Macka – Guitar, David – bass, Rodney – drums. Some months later the line up expanded to include another vocalist Vicki and a 2^nd guitarist John Feedback. The band was into singing/expressing their views on things (Nukes, racism etc) rather than mellowing out.  End Result was quite productive, i.e. released a fanzine, put out a 9 track tape titled “Eeeeeeeee”. The lead singer Paul compiled an 11-band compilation called “Eat Your Head”.

February 1984 the band played their last gig. Musically a full on fast, wall of sound type affair, with influences like Crass, Dirt, The Dicks etc

.

There was a second formation of End Result which included Russell Hopkinson (Vicious Circle and You Am I fame), Nigel Pusey (Murder Murder Suicide) and  Andrew "Macka" taking on Bass duties.

F.B.I.

No info on this band.

Could someone inform Regression.

Genocide

1982 era band.  Had a song called “drink the urine of Christ”. Recorded a demo and split up early 1983.

Members were Steve Wearmouth (singer and chief songsmith), Vicktor (Guitar), Liz (Bass) and Danny (Drums).

I Spit On Your Gravy

It’s hard to know what to say about this band! Appeared on the scene late 1983 / early 1984. The band combined different influences which resulted in a semi-original and interesting sound. Beer drinking yobbo punk, 1977 punk, rockabilly (or Psychobilly), Cramps, Butthole Surfers, B Grade horror films all rolled into one. Crazy band, became a spectacle on the Melbourne live scene. Stories of “Chickens” and Vice Squad raids are all true.

I Spit On Your Gravy put out a 6 track 12inch EP in 1984 “St Kilda’s Alright” which was banned due to a pornographic lyric book. Also had two tracks on the “Eat Your Head”.

Original line-up: Fred Negro -vocals and drums, Jason `The Big J' Banner - guitar, Mark `Sausage Fingers' Carson - bass, Scotti `Stix' Simpson - vocals and drums.

Jazz Sluts

Also short lived, early 1984 or so. Pistols or post punk influences. Not much know about them.

Jehovah Pogo

1982 era band. No info known. Please contact us if you have any details.

Justified Hatred

Full on Skin / Oi band that was active in 1983. According to “Regression” fanzine then band was in action from Jan 1983 until September 1983 or so.

Line up: Tony – vocals. Victor – guitar (Ex Genocide). Buddha – bass. Colin – drums (Ex Young Offender).

The lead singer Tony was a Skin who came down from Sydney to Melbourne and recruited a new line up. Justified Hatred played mean/raucous Oi! Covers. (4 Skins, Blitz, Last Resort) as well as originals. Not political or racist, just pure Oi!

Mad Flowers

After Society’s Victim split Ricky, Harry and others got together to form the “Mad Flowers” with a chick on bass, Tracey, who had previously played with “Human Crash” from Adelaide (Noisy American punk type band).

Like Civil Dissident, Mad Flowers roots was also in U.S. hardcore. Bands like S.S. Decontrol, The Fartz, M.D.C., etc and were affiliated with the “Straight Edge” idea, skateboarding etc. Just basically playing flat out, high-energy hardcore punk, when a lot of Punks were still into the English stuff.

The band recorded an excellent 14 track demo (Mid 1982), supported the Dead Kennedy, but by the end of 1983 / start of 1984 the band had split.

Murder Murder Suicide

5 piece band that started late 1983 / early 1984. Slower paced, melodic sound but still angry with things to shout about. Released a 5-track tape in early 1984 around the time of their initial live shows. Also had 2 tracks on the “Eat Your Head” compilation. Influences: Crass, Zounds. Basically anarchist UK punk.

Band members noted on "Eat Your Head" - Jim "Boots" Higney - bass/backing vocals, Nigel B. Puney - vocals, Alan Coyle - guitar, Vincent Kramer - drums, Rusty - guitar/melodica. Of note is that Andrew "Macka" (End Result, The Mess) joined and played in the band.

New Age

New Age was formed in 1982. Carey from Wattage joined forces with Graeme Schiavello and Peter Kidd ex Teenage Radio Stars.

No Escape

Geelong punk band from around 1982. They evolved into “Bodies”.

Out Of Order

Short lived band that was around early 1984. Out of Order played 1977 punk influenced by the Clash, 999.

No other info know. Drop us a line if you can add anything.

Permanent Damage

Formed late 1983 by Manny – vocals, Matt Daveson – guitar, Izey – bass and Jenk – drums. Matt Daveson had previously played with a hardcore band in Detroit U.S.A., “Disorderly Conduct” but migrated to Australia sometime in 1983. Drummer Jenk was the brother of Spike, singer of Depression. Permanent Damage appeared on the Melbourne scene in early 1984.

Musically the band were a well executed hardcore thrash group, similar to Depression, with some U.S. HC influences due to the fact that guitarist Matt had been in a US HC band. (Also admitted that they had some Heavy Metal influences i.e. Ozzy Osbourne). The band was well liked in Adelaide, were represented on the “Eat Your Head” compilation with two tracks and released a 3 track EP. 

Review of the EP from Maximum Rock and Roll: “A 3 song effort that’s really impressive. Really tight, assured Hardcore with lots of tempo changes, which doesn’t detract from the impact. Even the guitar solo is okay. Driving stuff, great thrash from Australia”.

Politburo

U.K. influenced band that was around 1982/83. Put out a tape, “Urban Hell” (Originals and covers). Influences: early Clash, Anti-Pasti, Chelsea, and UK Subs.

Band members: Alby – vocals, Alex – guitar, Les – bass, Steve D (Mr T) – drums.

Politburo split and turned into the very short-lived band “Life After Birth”. In late 1983 Alby and Les then formed Vicious Circle. Steve and Alex went on to form the band Arctic Circle”

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

Some words from Alex the guitarist from Polit Buro. (2006)

My name is Alex Plegt, i was the guitarist in Melbourne punk band Politburo.

It was a great thrill seeing something about Politburo up there! It brought back all sorts of memories.

We had some good originals, shame they never got recorded properly in a studio. I remember the whole scene with a great deal of fondness, and of course a lot the people in the photos too.

After Politburo I eventually got together with a bunch of guys and formed The Arctic Circles, Steve (Istvan) Danko the drummer from Politburo joined up with us about 6 months later.

That lasted from 84 to 87, released about 5 records all up. I was in a band called Fiendish Glee for about a year after that, then Forbidden Planet with Steve Agar from the Shindiggers and Michael (Kaos) Glenn (he was later in Hoss and about 5 million other bands). That takes me up to about 1991.

Didn't do anything after that until last year. I am now living in Canberra and playing in a Surf Instrumental band called the Astro-Sonics, hoping to release a CD next year.

Incidentally, when Les and Alby formed Vicious Circle out of Politburo, we stayed friendly and our paths would occasionally cross, we even did some gigs at the Prince of Wales with the Arctic Circles supporting Vicious Circle I recall.

Anyway, thanks for your site, it brought back a flood of happy memories, found myself humming loads of old Politburo tunes last night!
 

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

Psychotic Maniacs

Formed late 1983 and broke up late 1984. Line up Ron –vocals, Victor – guitar, Liz –bass and Scotti – drums. Not really a serious band, more funny punk, played fast though. An EP was released on reactor.

Royal Flush

Formed in 1981. The youngest punk band in the Melbourne scene with an average age of 12. Played loud, messy, chaotic punk. 2 tracks on the “Eat Your Head” compilation released in 1984.

Members: Tim Hemmensley – vocals and bass, Roman T – guitar and vocals, Frog – drums.  

Society’s Victim (Non-Conformists)

This band came from the outer Eastern suburbs of Mooroolbark, Croydon and started off in early 1982 playing hardcore punk influenced by Exploited, GBH, Discharge etc. Around this time they were known as “Non – Conformists”. The band’s first gig as “Non-Conformists was at a local roller rink battle of the bands type show. The band was too full on for the teenybopper audience and thus the band changed its name to Society’s Victim in late 1982. The band got some gigs with Depression at the Barleycorn. They recorded a 2-track tape then split by early 1983.

Band line up: Andrew – vocals, Harry – guitar, Shaun – guitar, Ricky – bass, Various – drums.

Some band members went on to join Civil Dissident and others formed a new band “Mad Flowers”.

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

Some words from Shaun (The guitarist of Societys Victim) .....2006.....

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

Scum

Snotty chaotic 1977 style punk band that was around between 1981 to 1983. Started off as a Sex Pistols cover band playing all of “Never Mind The Bullocks” plus Belsen was a gas etc. By 1983 had a few originals which were recorded in a studio and two of the tracks were released on “Eat Your Head”

Band members: Jim Filth - vocals, Dick Destruction - guitar, Nick Off - bass, Brett Straight - drums, Fuckhead Ferrett - guitar late 1982.

The Mess

Legendary Melbourne punk band that started in 1981 or so, playing a fast, thrash style similar to Discharge and the Sick Things. Played their first gig without a bass player supporting the Sick Things in mid 1981. Early 1982 got a new line up Spit –vocals, Macca – guitar (Later of End Result); Frazer –bass and Paul Valium – drums. Band lasted up until mid 1984. A tragedy struck the band. Singer Spit committed suicide - August 1986. The band did no official recordings.

The Start / Fifth Column

Short-lived “Clash” influenced band. Played gigs late 1982. The band changed their name to “Fifth Column and split soon after.

Members: Paul - Vocals, Jim - guitar, Spiz - bass, Colin - drums.

The Tribe

Geelong band influenced mainly by hardcore bands like Rudimentary Peni and the like but played flat out fast, like early grindcore. Don’t know of any recordings. Anarchist lyrics and ideals.

Tombstone Hands

Vicious Circle

Les and Alby formed Vicious Circle late 1983 after Politburo split. First line up was Paul – vocals, Les – guitar, Alby –bass and Michael – drums, whom Russell soon replaced ex Perth band “Mob Vengeance”, a hardcore Discharge/ GBH influenced band.

First show March 1984 at the Seaview Ballroom in St Kilda. Recorded a number of demos the first being a 3 track “Circle Of The Doomed”. Two tracks were released on the “Eat Your Head” compilation.

Vicious Circle played loads of gigs, did more recordings and interstate shows (Adelaide and Sydney) to a mixed response. The Sydney punk audience never seen/heard thrash before and VC broke ground up there for hardcore bands. September 1984 the band recorded 5 tracks for the EP “Search For A Solution”, on Reactor. The EP got mixed reviews. A visiting American at the time compared the band to M.D.C. Vicious Circles first LP came out in 1985, “The Price Of Progress” an awesome powerful album with a beefy sound.

Influences on the band: Discharge / U.K. bands, U.S. Hardcore, Finnish punk/HC such as Riistetyt, Traveet Kadet etc. Vicious Circle lasted up until 1990 then split. Paul and Les teamed up with Danny one of Depression’s original drummers under the band “Rue Morgue” and released two albums. 

VC reformed in 1995 with only Les and Paul being the original members. The bands most recent release was “Switched On” September 2003.

Of interest is that the band did a self financed U.S. tour in 1986. A first for the local HC punk scene. (It should be noted that the Lipstick Killers had lived/played gigs in L.A. in 1981). Russell the drummer was replaced for the tour with David from Civil Dissident.

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

Some words from Russell (The original drummer for Vicious Circle)...Thanks in advance for letting me use the words....

I had that Regression tape of Depression, it was recorded too fast but sounded killer, really compressed tape recording that had been dubbed wrong but just sounded deadly in a portable cassette recorder in a punk squat in Perth, made me travel all the way east to join in the fun, Melbourne was rad at that time...

So glad I did, still proud of VC we taught hardcore to Sydney punks for a couple of years. Bodies were killer too, as were the twin guitar End result with Rodney on drums (best drummer I've ever seen) and Civil D...Wayne left to be a cop ...still makes me laugh. Thanks for putting this shit up.

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

Young Offender

1982/83 era band. Played basic 1980’s English Punk, i.e. Anti Pasti, A.N.W.L., Adicts. Covers and originals.

No more info known. Please let us know if you can add to this.

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

"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

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

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Send mail to info@australianpunk.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Regression Music - Punk Fanzine
Last modified: 19 April 2009