For the first time since 1979, this November seminal UK new wave post punk reggae band THE MEMBERS, make a long-awaited return visit to New Zealand. Playing Christchurch’s Dux Live on November 7th, Bodega in Wellington on the 8th and finishing up at Auckland’s Kings Arms on the 9th November, one of the best punk bands to come out of the UK are bringing the original Sound of the Suburbs to New Zealand.
The Members formed in Surrey, England in the incendiary heat of summer 1977. They were one of the first UK punk bands to successfully blend reggaes offbeat rhythm with punk’s rebellious aggression. The touring band consists of original Members JC CARROLL and CHRIS PAYNE together with punk rock legend RAT SCABIES on drums. A founding member of one of punk’s most influential bands The Damned and having played on the first ever UK punk record “New Rose”, Rat brings his renowned mix of punk aggression and stylishly destructive flamboyance to the party.
Their first record, “Solitary Confinement” was released in 1978 on Stiff Records and is now a much sought after collector’s item. Their first single on Virgin Records “Sound of the Suburbs” has sold over a million copies since first being released in 1979, and is still featured on countless punk & new wave compilations over 30 years later.
The Members were also noteworthy as one of the first British guitar bands to fully incorporate reggae into their music. Just as blues had been a key influence on white rock in the Sixties, reggae was the alternative genre of choice for the punk generation.And while the late Seventies contained plenty of shining examples of the punky-reggae party such as The Clash covering Junior Murvin’s “Police And Thieves”, The Special AKA launching 2-Tone, The Members were one of the prime movers in the era’s cross-cultural interplay. As Neil Spencer, writing in NME, said of them in 1978: ‘Of the many rock bands co-opting reggae into their act, few do so with as much love and style as The Members.’
After taking a break in the nineties, The Members reformed in 2008 and played a multitude of shows around London and the U.K. before entering the studio in 2009 to record a new version of their 80’s U.K. hit “Offshore Banking Business” under the revised title “International Financial Crisis”. With a renewed vigour they hit the road again, playing shows across the U.K. and Europe, including the Isle of Wight Festival, Glastonbury Festival and many others. 2010 then saw the fabled Rat Scabies join the band on drums and they have continued to tour since, playing for both old and new audiences the world over. Don’t miss your chance to experience the original legends of new wave, post punk and reggae!
THE MEMBERS FEATURING THE LEGEND OF THE DAMNED - RAT SCABIES
NZ TOUR NOVEMBER 2013
THU 7TH CHRISTCHURCH DUX LIVE
FRI 8TH WELLINGTON BODEGA
SAT 9TH AUCKLAND KINGS ARMS
Support bands to be announced October
Tickets on sale Monday 9th September at 9am from:
www.undertheradar.co.nz; Real Groovy Records, Auckland;
Slow Boat Records and Rough Peel Music, Wellington; Cosmic, Christchurch
