MARK XAVIER
WEBMASTER / EDITOR
HI THERE ROCKERS, VISITORS. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A CHALLENGE PUTTING THIS WEBSITE TOGETHER. THE REASON I TOOK ON THIS PROJECT WAS BECAUSE I FELT IT HAD A PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AND A STORY THAT HAD TO BE TOLD. NOT ONLY FOR ALL THE BANDS FEATURED WITHIN THIS WEBSITE , BUT TO HONOR THE SMALL VICTORIES, DETERMINATION, PURE SWEAT, UNSEEN CHALLENGERS, STRUGGLES AND HEARTBREAKS OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND HEAVY METAL!!
IF YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS,FLYERS,BIO'S,MEMORABILIA,RECORDINGS,VIDEO CLIPS OR WEBSITE LINKS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD. PLEASE CONTACT ME :EMAIL [email protected] THANKS.
I also have another interesting website, on the history of my own personal musical journey from the mid 1970's up to the present day.
CLICK IMAGE
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- THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
- ANTHONY STEWART BUFTON
- PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 46
- WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
- FOR HIS GREAT MUSICAL TALENT
- AMAZING STYLISTIC DRUMMING SKILLS
- AND HIS INFECTIOUS SMILE
FORFATHERS OF NEW ZEALAND HEAVY METAL DISCLAIMER This website is still under construction. ALL THE CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE I do not own copyright or trademarks of any photo's, logo's, video's or bio material. If anyone disputes or finds any of the content offensive, or if anyone who does own any material on this site would like it removed, likewise if anyone would like to add material to this website, please feel free to contact me. Email: [email protected]
Keep in mind, at this early stage, the site is running from 1980 ish to 1993 ish. There will be consideration to widen the time line at a later date. This website refers to the new wave of British heavy metal and the effects and influences it brought to the shores of New Zealand music. Thank you, Rockers!! |
When thinking of the history of New Zealand heavy metal, many thoughts spring to mind of the dark days and epic challenges and struggles the metal bands of the early 80's faced.It was a new era for music in New Zealand with the new wave of British HM opening an avalanche of heavy, powerful, rebellious thunder that spurned a new hunger for local musicians to express a sound not yet heard on our shores. New Zealand music being aired, at that time on radio and television seemed pale ,weak and almost kindergarten like.
Local record companies (Mushroom, Flying Nun etc) appeared to be entrenched to the torturous rise of the so called "Dunedin" sound. Whether it be blasting out of the old transistor radio in our mother's kitchens or pushed in our faces on TV with early screenings of Radio With Pictures, exposure to local music came in the form of The Bats, The Gordons, Pop Mechanix , The Exponents, The Chills and The Mutton Birds etc.
"ENOUGH ALREADY"!!
But, beneath the earth was a rumbling of new sound as New Zealand was about to embark on a brutal, unforgiving, regime of punk rock and Heavy Metal. As I remember it, Wellington had the first thriving "Metal Scene". A rapid growth soon followed throughout the country with local bands
such as: -
Rose Bayonet, Strikemaster, Tokyo, Stormbringer, Knightshade, Fury, Naked Blade, Hammerack, Stonehenge, Confessor, Adrenalin, Covenant,
Lionheart, Despiser, Blue Demon, Bad Blood, Blackjack, Fat Sally, DVS, Push Push, Whiskey n Lace, Dizzy Blonde, Circus, Nine Lives, Shihad, Astaroth, Tyrant, Harlot, Gravel Monsters, Sabbotage, Malevolence, The Nod , Tempest, Lethal, Loose Unit, Wicked Sensation, Heavy Duty, The Keep, Anigma, Blitz,
Some of the first early recordings were independently released and also had the help of independent Wellington based record label, Jayrem Records.
Soon the whole country was able to buy home grown "Heavy Metal".
It wasn't long before the rise of New Zealand's metal scene produced a number of vinyl EP's, albums and compilations.
As I remember it, the 1983 release of the compilation EP GODZONE METAL featuring Rose Bayonet, Harlot, Tyrant and Astaroth, was the first of many to come. Soon after in 1984 came the release of 3 POINTS OF METAL, featuring Strikemaster, Nightshade and Tokyo.
From Wellington were Shane Joyce and Stephen Britland, who were not musicians, but without them and their trusty tape machine there would not have been a Rose Bayonet, Leather And Chains or the EP, GODZONE METAL. They not only went out of their way to record bands but paid for the release of those albums out of their own pocket. Shane Joyce was and always will be a legend of the NZ Metal Scene.
EP's were fast becoming popular and also affordable to record for the now army of emerging NZ metal bands waiting for their chance to unleash this destructive, powerhouse music upon the nation. Not only as to grace their dedicated NZ Metal fans with dynamic vocals full of meaningful intelligent lyrics, thunderous drums and great world class lead guitar solos, but also to crush their old arch enemy mainstream pop music.
Suddenly young NZ metal heads were cranking up their home stereos with freshly released vinyl tracks of Strikemaster's, "Good and Ready",
Rose Bayonet's, "Leather and Chains", Confessor's, "First Sin", Stonehenge's, "Wings of Steel", Lionheart's, "Running Free", Tyrant's, "Breaking Out" and Blitz', "Key to My Heart" and more. Later releases came in the form of ATTACK FROM DOWNUNDA being sold locally and in Australia.
I also remember, in 1986, going into London's Tower Records and to my astonishment there was New Zealand heavy metal records on sale such as Attack from Downunda. "YES ROCKERS WE HAVE DONE IT"
Now metal was truly a part of the NZ music scene. "Or was it ?"
There was still no airplay on any local radio stations and no kickass metal video's being aired on NZ television. No NZ on Air grants were forthcoming for any NZ Metal bands especially with lyrics of destruction and hate. But the battle wasn't over yet, it had only just begun, the voice of NZ Metal needed to be heard across the nation. Then out of nowhere in July of 1983 came a small independent publication, KRESHINDO, New Zealand's first Heavy Metal magazine. Although short lived, with its last publication in May 1985, it certainly played a big part in those early days to spread the words of Metal Music.
There were some small attempts by other independent publications such as U235 edited by Christine Mathews then later Iron City magazine produced by Steve "Dog" Hall - Hats off to all of them as they worked hard for the metal movement for very little recognition.
Finally bands like Knightshade and Push Push, with credible record labels, started receiving video screening on local TV shows such as Radio with Pictures and airplay with their, lets say, more "radio friendly" Metal.
PHOTO BY Glen Cameron
Local record companies (Mushroom, Flying Nun etc) appeared to be entrenched to the torturous rise of the so called "Dunedin" sound. Whether it be blasting out of the old transistor radio in our mother's kitchens or pushed in our faces on TV with early screenings of Radio With Pictures, exposure to local music came in the form of The Bats, The Gordons, Pop Mechanix , The Exponents, The Chills and The Mutton Birds etc.
"ENOUGH ALREADY"!!
But, beneath the earth was a rumbling of new sound as New Zealand was about to embark on a brutal, unforgiving, regime of punk rock and Heavy Metal. As I remember it, Wellington had the first thriving "Metal Scene". A rapid growth soon followed throughout the country with local bands
such as: -
Rose Bayonet, Strikemaster, Tokyo, Stormbringer, Knightshade, Fury, Naked Blade, Hammerack, Stonehenge, Confessor, Adrenalin, Covenant,
Lionheart, Despiser, Blue Demon, Bad Blood, Blackjack, Fat Sally, DVS, Push Push, Whiskey n Lace, Dizzy Blonde, Circus, Nine Lives, Shihad, Astaroth, Tyrant, Harlot, Gravel Monsters, Sabbotage, Malevolence, The Nod , Tempest, Lethal, Loose Unit, Wicked Sensation, Heavy Duty, The Keep, Anigma, Blitz,
Some of the first early recordings were independently released and also had the help of independent Wellington based record label, Jayrem Records.
Soon the whole country was able to buy home grown "Heavy Metal".
It wasn't long before the rise of New Zealand's metal scene produced a number of vinyl EP's, albums and compilations.
As I remember it, the 1983 release of the compilation EP GODZONE METAL featuring Rose Bayonet, Harlot, Tyrant and Astaroth, was the first of many to come. Soon after in 1984 came the release of 3 POINTS OF METAL, featuring Strikemaster, Nightshade and Tokyo.
From Wellington were Shane Joyce and Stephen Britland, who were not musicians, but without them and their trusty tape machine there would not have been a Rose Bayonet, Leather And Chains or the EP, GODZONE METAL. They not only went out of their way to record bands but paid for the release of those albums out of their own pocket. Shane Joyce was and always will be a legend of the NZ Metal Scene.
EP's were fast becoming popular and also affordable to record for the now army of emerging NZ metal bands waiting for their chance to unleash this destructive, powerhouse music upon the nation. Not only as to grace their dedicated NZ Metal fans with dynamic vocals full of meaningful intelligent lyrics, thunderous drums and great world class lead guitar solos, but also to crush their old arch enemy mainstream pop music.
Suddenly young NZ metal heads were cranking up their home stereos with freshly released vinyl tracks of Strikemaster's, "Good and Ready",
Rose Bayonet's, "Leather and Chains", Confessor's, "First Sin", Stonehenge's, "Wings of Steel", Lionheart's, "Running Free", Tyrant's, "Breaking Out" and Blitz', "Key to My Heart" and more. Later releases came in the form of ATTACK FROM DOWNUNDA being sold locally and in Australia.
I also remember, in 1986, going into London's Tower Records and to my astonishment there was New Zealand heavy metal records on sale such as Attack from Downunda. "YES ROCKERS WE HAVE DONE IT"
Now metal was truly a part of the NZ music scene. "Or was it ?"
There was still no airplay on any local radio stations and no kickass metal video's being aired on NZ television. No NZ on Air grants were forthcoming for any NZ Metal bands especially with lyrics of destruction and hate. But the battle wasn't over yet, it had only just begun, the voice of NZ Metal needed to be heard across the nation. Then out of nowhere in July of 1983 came a small independent publication, KRESHINDO, New Zealand's first Heavy Metal magazine. Although short lived, with its last publication in May 1985, it certainly played a big part in those early days to spread the words of Metal Music.
There were some small attempts by other independent publications such as U235 edited by Christine Mathews then later Iron City magazine produced by Steve "Dog" Hall - Hats off to all of them as they worked hard for the metal movement for very little recognition.
Finally bands like Knightshade and Push Push, with credible record labels, started receiving video screening on local TV shows such as Radio with Pictures and airplay with their, lets say, more "radio friendly" Metal.
PHOTO BY Glen Cameron
3 POINTS OF METAL RELEASED 1984 JAYREM RECORDS ON VINYL AND CASSETTE
3 POINTS OF METAL FORSALE 0N TRADEME NZ 19/11/2020 RARE CASSETTE COPY
GODZONE METAL RELEAESED 1984 JAYREM RECORDS ON VINYL
ATTACK FROM DOWN UNDA RELEASED 1986 RECIEVER RECORDS ON VINYL
NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED RELEASED 2011 JAYREM RECORDS ON CD
The Axe Attack With The Axeman Paul Martin
MOLTEN METAL SHOW WITH THE ROADIE
AUCKLAND CITY STREETS.
"METAL MERCHANT"
"METAL MERCHANT"
"DIZZY STRANGE"
Go check out this great site "THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND EXTREME METAL" Very cool
HEAVY METAL LINKS
LOUD. ONLINE MAGAZINE METAL OBSESSION HEAVY. ONLINE & HARD COPY MAGAZINE
METAL DOWN UNDER PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN HEAVY METAL
OFFICIAL UTUBE TRAILER
OFFICIAL UTUBE TRAILER
HISTORY OF HEAVY METAL (THE WORLD)
DOCUMENTARY
DOCUMENTARY
HARD ROCK HEAVY METAL CROSSWORD
SOLVE THE BAND NAME CROSSWORD
NO GAPS BETWEEN WORDS I.E MOTLEYCREW
HAVE FUN!!
ADRENALIN ANIGMA ALARUM ASTAROTH BAD BLOOD BLACKJACK BLUE DEMOM BLITZ CIRCUS CONFESSOR
COVENANT DESPISER DIZZY BLONDE DVS FAT SALLY FURY GRAVEL MONSTERS HAMMERACK
HEAVY DUTY HARLOT KNIGHTSHADE LIONHEART MALEVOLENCE NAKED BLADE NINE LIVEZ PUSH PUSH PHOBIA
ROSE BAYONET SABBATH SACRAMENT SHIHAD STONEHENGE STORMBRINGER TEMPEST
THE NOD TOKYO TYRANT STRIKEMASTER SUICIDE SUITE WHISKEY N LACE
COVENANT DESPISER DIZZY BLONDE DVS FAT SALLY FURY GRAVEL MONSTERS HAMMERACK
HEAVY DUTY HARLOT KNIGHTSHADE LIONHEART MALEVOLENCE NAKED BLADE NINE LIVEZ PUSH PUSH PHOBIA
ROSE BAYONET SABBATH SACRAMENT SHIHAD STONEHENGE STORMBRINGER TEMPEST
THE NOD TOKYO TYRANT STRIKEMASTER SUICIDE SUITE WHISKEY N LACE