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The Axemen

The Rainy Days

Eclectic Auckland group with a revolving line-up based around the song-writing talents of David Graham. Their music has pushed and pulled in various different directions over the years, from punky rock’n’roll to encompass full horn sections and strings, to stripped back indie-rock line-ups. Their songs just explode with melody, crazy lyrics and noisy enthusiasm.

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The Jumblies

One of the least-known Flying Nun Records releases, ‘Stuff of Dreams’ was the 7″ debut from The Jumblies – the pop-punky Christchurch duo of Claire Timings and Peter Arnold recorded at Nightshift Studios in 1984.

Arnold would somehow manage a 2nd rare release for Flying Nun on 1986; that time performing under his own name and the with appropriate title ‘Rarer than Radium’.

#nzmusic #thejumblies #peterarnold

Brothers Gorgonzola

Christchurch, or maybe Wellington group that released a split 7″ single on Campbell McLay’s Onset/Offset records in 1986. Played with The Axemen at some point. The members would go on to form a number of Wellington-based groups.

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'Hey Creep' 7" single cover by Rob Haakman

Snort

Hugely popular Christchurch hard-rock all-girl group with a very 90’s riotgrrrl sound and a line-up that changed quite a bit over time. Members have included: Reta Le Quesne, twins Joanne and Sharon Billesdon, Lisa Preston, Fleur Walden Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau and Carla Rotta .

They recorded 2 singles, then had an album and a music video held back by Festival Records in nefarious circumstances.

#nzmusic #snort

Cease to Exist

Presumably named after a song by notorious cult leading serial killer (and Beach Boys collaborator) Charles Manson. One of Duane Zarakov, Celia Mancini and Brother Love’s many psychedelic rock acts – this time a Christchurch-based group who were around during 1991 (after the demise of The Axel Grinders, but before Space Dust and King Loser) and recorded a single cassette EP.

#nzmusic #undergroundmusic #ceasetoexist #theaxelgrinders #kingloser #spacedust

Nux Vomica

Nux Vomica were a punky underground-rock group from mid-1980’s Christchurch featuring snotty, ranting vocals from Lawrence Kennett (aka Lawrence Lens), driving bass from Phillip Hubbard, and a young Lisa Preston on her Yamaha Electone keyboard.

The group played regularly and toured with The Axemen (Lawrence was responsible for a lot of their Super 8 films), with saxophonist Alan Wright playing double-duty in both bands at the time.

#nzmusic #nuxvomica #theaxemen #theportage

The Portage

The Portage was a 2-piece group featuring Nux Vomica’s Lawrence Kennett and Lisa Preston, after the earlier groups demise in the mid 1980’s. The released a single rare EP in 1988, due to be reissued in an expanded format by Leather Jacket Records.

#nzmusic #theportage #nuxvomica #leatherjacketrecords

Little Stevie McCabe

Little Stevie McCabe has been an underground force in New Zealand music since the early 80s, playing n anarchic form of Rock’N’Roll through a variety of bands – most notably as a key member of The Axemen.

However as a solo musician McCabe was hyper-productive, and when he passed away recently (September 2023) he left behind some 300 unreleased cassette recordings.

#nzmusic #littlesteviemccabe #theaxemen

Shaft

Shaft is the long-standing vehicle of prominent song-writer Bob Cardy (aka Bob Brannigan), guitarist for the Axemen and a stalwart of the New Zealand underground scene. With a rotating cast of musicians backing him, Shaft always sounds like Shaft; a terrific band brimming with brilliant, dynamic and catchy songs.

The And Band

The And Band were an outgrowth of influential but undiscovered Wellington punk-oddities The Spies. When feed up with the limitations of the Wellington scene, the band, along with several of their friends relocated to a small Christchurch flat, sharing a recording space (and the actual 4-track) with Perfect Strangers.

Skeptics

Hugely popular and influential New Zealand industrial rock act who emerged out of Palmerston North in 1979. Known for their grinding sound (a mix of noisy, scattered and angular guitar and eclectic electronic sounds) and one particularly visual music video – the incredible and universally banned ‘Affco’.

The Vacuum

A formative group for 2 significant groups in New Zealand music – The Terminals song-writing duo of Peter Stapleton and Stephen Cogle, and Bilders duo Bill Direen and Allan Meek. Though a fairly significant group at the time, their recordings were sparse.

Bill Direen

One of the longest running mythic underground figures of New Zealand rock who has worked (and commanded) such significant figures in the New Zealand music scene as Chris Knox, Peter Stapleton, Maryrose Crook, Dave Mitchell, Malcolm Grant – the list goes on.

Above Ground

Biography One of Bill Direen‘s many groups from the early 1980’s, with a young Maryrose Crook (of the Renderers) on Bass, Stu Page (The Axemen) on Drums and Bill’s partner Carol on Keyboards. Members Bill Direen (Vocals/Guitar, 1983) Stu Page… Read More »Above Ground

The Palace Of Wisdom

Underground rock’n’roll lifers from Christchurch fronted by enigmatic and sometimes confrontational front-man (and downhill Mountain Bike enthusiast) Andrew ‘Ox’ O’Connell. A long cast of supporting characters and a handful of rough-and-ready recordings – all self-released.