Biography
During the mid 90’s, no man represented the Christchurch underground rock movement more than Matt Alien (aka Matt Johnstone).
As the leader of blue-revivalists The Black Panthers and his long-surviving scuzz-rockers The Hi-Tone Destroyers Matt was the equivalent of Iggy Pop to Detroit, Jim Morrison to California or (perhaps) Chris Knox to Auckland.
He managed to combine a little bit of each into his stage-performer, a drug-fueled, leather-pant wearing masochist who would bait his audience, sing lewd lyrics and absolutely roar on the guitar – totally encapsulating rock’n’roll at its dirtiest.
The Hi-Tone Destroyers were a little less raunchy than their Black Panther brothers – despite sharing half the same members, but had the swagger of the MC5 at full-force and could deliver the goods at any moment – usually at a punishing volume.
They spent a good decade playing parties and self-releasing scuzzy, amateur recordings, until the rock’n’roll revival hit full swing in 2002, resulting in Matt’s abandonment for Auckland (and warmer shores) to chase success., forming the group Slavetrader.
Members
- Matt Johnstone (Guitar/Vocals/Drums, Black Panthers, Slavetrader, Space Dust, The Hitone Destroyers, Alien, Black Panthers, Hi-Tone Destroyers, Human, Levitating Churches, Matt Alien, Matt Alien and the Slaves of Elvis, Slavetrader, Space Dust, The Hitone Destroyers, The Lost/Found Sound, The Palace Of Wisdom, Thee Strapons)
- Ben Johnstone (Bass/Vocals, Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Black Panthers, The Incisions, The Palace of Wisdom)
- Pat Faigan (Drums, Axel Grinders, Brother Love, Cease to Exist, Constant Pain, Duane Zarakov, King Loser, National Sex Grid, Revolution 10, Rhythm Doktor, Say Yes to Apes, Semolina Island, Space Dust, The Elephant Tranquilisers, The Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Hitone Destroyers, The International Telepaths, The Picnic Boys, Thee Hellfire Club, Wolfskull)
- Don Campbell (keyboard, Eat This Grenade, Shoes This High, The Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Lost/Found Sound, The Spies, Unknown Wrecks)
- Simon Nunn (drums, Hi-Tone Destroyers, Kate in the Lemon Tree, Weaponized, Exercise Machine, Hi-Tone Destroyers, Kate In The Lemon Tree, Monsta Machine, The Hitone Destroyers, The Palace of Wisdom, The Steffan Van Soest Hit Machine, The Sweethearts, The Undercurrents, Weaponized)
- Alan Cameron (keyboard/guitar, Onanon, The Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Incisions, The Palace Of Wisdom)
- Nick Hodgson (drums, Black Albino, CM Acoustic Ensemble, CM Ensemble, Crone, Cubicle, Deface, Deplore, Hiatus, Medrum, Moider Mother, Montessouri, Shocking Pinks, Solaa, The Brunettes, The Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Palace of Wisdom, Tony Valens and the Incisions, Urinator)
Discography
- ‘Icepick’/’Motorcity Rumble’ 7″ Lathe-Cut Single [Solarphonic]
- Play The Music Of The MC5 7″ Lathe-Cut Single [Solarphonic]
- ‘I’ll Put A Spell On You’/’Sonic Reducer’/’Now I Wanna Be Your Dog’ 7″ Lathe-Cut Single [Solarphonic]
- ‘Headache Head Headache’/’No Way Son’ 7″ Single [1996, Kato Kato2]
- Born WithoutAn Off Switch [1996]
- Enter The Lair Of The Black Flame Cassette [High Tension House HTH016]
- Light Up Your Life [2001]
- Modern Rock Can Kiss Our Ass Cassette [2001 Stink Magnetic]
- Calling All Destroyers [2005 Archival Compilation, Kato]
- Burn In The Fire Of… [2011 Archival Live Release from 2008 show at Venus Cafe]
- Stay High! [2011 Archival Compilation]