Well, who would have conceived of this ever happening' Three decades have surged by since the release of the superlative AK 79 album; and on Saturday 22nd November at the Monte Cristo Room, five bands from that culturally-important release are re-forming to take part in AK 79 live. Celebrating both the music that was created then and the undeniable social and cultural resonance it still carries, this show is a timely reminder that attitude, inspiration and fun doesn’t diminish with the passing of time.
The bands performing are Proud Scum, The Spelling Mistakes,the X Features, The Terrorways, and the Scavengers. Each one of these bands played a vital part in Auckland's exuberant and oh-so-crazy punk scene; and the AK79 show will be a unique night of hardcore rock n' roll, fuelled by an uncompromised old school punk attitude. This is not just a “revival show”, but a dose of authenticity -- punk as it was, punk as it is.
THE TERRORWAYS
Originally known as Rooter and first of the second-wave bands inspired by the Scavengers. State house kids from the suburbs, the Terrorways were savants of punks DIY street ideology. Key tracks: the anthemic ‘Short Haired Rock n Roll’; the tribute to getting away with bad behaviour of ‘Never Been to Borstal’, and the storming cover of Ray Columbuss ‘Shes a Mod’.
PROUD SCUM
Fronted by the engaging Jonathan Jamrag (ex-Rooter) who pretty much encapsulated
the mad spirit of the times. Proud Scum’s spray-painted graffiti may have caused them to be mistaken for a gang, but they were a consistently- great live band with fine songs in ‘I Am a Rabbit’ and ‘Suicide’.
THE SPELLING MISTAKES
Formed in May 1979 from the ashes of two Zwines bands, Get Smart and The Aliens. Lead singer Nick Hanson was always hyperactive fun, and guitarist Warwick Fowler added a strong musical backbone (despite his
politically-questionable clothes sense). Plenty of humour and smart song-writing in tracks like ‘Reena’ and ‘Feel So Good’.
X-FEATURES
An example of post-punk exploration formed in 1980 with the enigmatic Jed Town and his medically inspired graphics pushing boundaries. The band also had ex-Terrorway Chris Orange on bass. Well-known tracks
include ‘City Scenes’ and ‘Victim’. They still sound like the future.
