|
|
Post by andyloneshark on Apr 20, 2022 15:03:30 GMT
REALLY enjoyed reading this large feature on the birth of Punk/Post-Punk in New Zealand in the current issue of Vive Le Rock. The first Kiwi band i was aware of were the Marching Girls, back in the 80s... then much later i heard the classic AK-79 Compilation which was my 'gateway' to checking out: The Scavengers, Suburban Reptiles, Spelling Mistakes, Toy Love and many more world class bands, whose gigs were often a fully fledged battlezone. This feature is their story.  |
|
|
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 20, 2022 15:18:17 GMT
Ain't life grand?
Kiwi punk eh?
Vive le Rock. I never knew there was so much in it
Thanks Andy
Another rabbit hole to jump down
|
|
|
|
Post by jsm on Apr 20, 2022 23:05:28 GMT
Sounds good, Andy. The Kiwis have always punched far above their weight in everything to do with rock/n/roll since the late 1950s. I've got AK79 and remember a lot of the bands that appeared on the great Flying Nun label, but, to my shame, don't actually own any of it. In fact, a quick check revealed that the only remotely new wave 7 inch I have from a Kiwi band is by Mi-Sex. I imagine most of the AK79-era punks would have despised them, and I didn't think too highly of them at the time. Nevertheless, 'Computer Games' was a catchy tune and I was able to pick it up a few years ago for about $2, so why not?
The name, of course, is taken from Ultravox
|
|
|
|
Post by andyloneshark on Apr 21, 2022 15:33:08 GMT
...i think you'd find the feature really interesting, JSM - there's alot of history, candid interviews and detail in there. Yes, i have that first album by Mi-Sex ...i think they, along with Split Enz were two of the first Kiwi bands from that era, to make the successful move from New Zealand to Australia and beyond. A buddie of mine in Sydney alerted me to this massive compilation of Kiwi bands...  |
|
|
|
Post by jsm on Apr 21, 2022 22:16:15 GMT
That comp looks good. The Chills and Tall Dwarfs are two of the bands there that were definitely on my radar back in the 80s, but so were The Swingers, and that reminds that I also have this 7 inch by them. Catchy as ...
'Counting The Beat'
The other Kiwi band that made it real big in Australia at the time was Dragon. They had a huge hit with 'April Sun In Cuba' and I think they had some degree of success beyond these shores as well. To me, they were not even remotely New Wave, but I always liked this 1976 song from them, which I also have on vinyl. It came out shortly before they hit The Big Time. It's a great tune and might even own a place in the glam thread? The clip itself is a fascinating snap shot of sleazy 1970s Kings Cross in Sydney.
'This Time'
|
|
|
|
Post by jsm on Apr 21, 2022 22:56:26 GMT
There's another NZ comped called Get A Haircut that is a bit of an odd fish. It combines 10 tracks from the 60s with 21 tracks from the 70s-80s. Lots of great stuff on it. I have way more records by the 60s NZ bands: Max Merritt and The Meteors, Ray Columbus and The Invaders, Chants R&B, La De Das, Blue Stars. One of my favourites, which is isn't on the comp, is the fantastically named Hi Revving Tongues. Meanwhile, The Datsuns is another one I remember from the 80s.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2022 7:32:02 GMT
I read that article last week. Very good for VLR.
Read like a good scene report in MRRf rom the mid 80's.
Very comprehensive and as someone who has only a rudimentary knowledge about punk from New Zealand definitely a scene to check out.
|
|
|
|
Post by andyloneshark on Apr 22, 2022 14:33:16 GMT
The Punk Police like to diss Vive Le Rock... without ever bothering to read it, i suspect.
It's actually quite a broadchurch, worth a skim through even if you don't buy it.
I think the Swingers includes ex-members of The Suburban Reptiles, right JSM?
That comp you posted the link to includes another great Kiwi band i recently discovered...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2022 17:07:50 GMT
I think that article was a bit of a departure in some ways as it was a bit different from what can become a merry-go-round of the same bands etc.
There's always something to interest me. I read the Southern Death Cult article which was also really good.
Not really my cup of tea at all but I remember their evolution from SDC to Cult which in some ways is more interesting than the music.
|
|
|
|
Post by andyloneshark on Apr 22, 2022 17:50:49 GMT
...yes, there are certain bands/artists e.g. The Damned, that seem to crop up as cover features, in something of a cycle, (maybe that helps the circulation figures) but they also feature a plethora of new bands. Kris Needs contributions are always worthy of attention too.
I like that they cast their musical net wide... from CRASS to Marc Almond to Mud ...that's pretty Anarchic!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2022 18:00:39 GMT
I suppose they have to as I reckon there's no appetite for a mainstream punk magazine to be honest.
I had a read of 'Down for Life' and it awful. Just came across as a hipster metal mag.
A lot of the journalist's as you probably have guessed are from Sounds, NME from the 70's/80's but don't seem to be as opinionated and pretentious as they once were.
Good also to see my old mucka Sean McGhee getting a turn too👍
A good mix but also a good introduction to bands and music both old and new.
|
|
|
|
Post by jsm on Apr 26, 2022 5:25:25 GMT
I think the Swingers includes ex-members of The Suburban Reptiles, right JSM? I'm no expert, but that's what I've read. Guitarist Phil Judd was also in the first rendition of Split Enz |
|
