DESPERATE MEASURES

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DESPERATE MEASURES (AUG 1981 - APRIL 1983) Christchurch in 1981 was a violent city, but it had a thriving local music scene. Bands like the Andriodss and the Gordons were our local heroes and pubs like the Gladstone, Hillsborough and Star and Garter were our stomping grounds. I was playing Dead Kennedys and Stiff Little Fingers songs with a couple of future Dance Exponents in a cover band called Channel Four. When the need arose to play something heavier I teamed up with local punks System X and the first version of Desperate Measures was formed. System X's Floyd was soon replaced by Erik Van Denhoven (Kango) on bass and Greg Hussey came in to replace Brat on drums, and with Shane O'Neill on guitar our gang was complete. We played our first gig at the Gladstone supporting the Playthings and played over 30 shows around Christchurch before our final gig at Wellingtons' Newtown Community Centre on April 2nd 1983 as part of the Golden Showers Punk Festival with the likes of Flesh Device (featuring my namesake Eugene Pope) and Riot III. Highlights include playing a party on the Tug Lyttelton as it sailed around Godley Head, and the Nile River Festival on the West Coast where we played with ska punks The Instigators on a stage made out of timber from the forest. Man, we got wasted that weekend! Our greatest honour was playing at the aftershow party for the Clash when they hit town. Of course it ended in chaos when some of our friends were attacked by the bouncer with nunchukkas and he decided we couldn't play. However when the Clash arrived within minutes they'd arranged for us to play and pretty soon we were firing out Borstal Breakout to an audience that included the greatest punk band on earth. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonen were real nice and when I met Joe years later he would always say he remembered the show - but of course he didn't. He was a true gentleman. We had a set comprising of 13 originals plus some great covers like the U.K Subs 'Warhead' and the Stooges 'Wanna Be Your Dog.' We once played Rolleston Prison and did a great version of 'Borstal Breakout' while the inmates lay in the courtyard drinking orange juice and nodding their heads. That was our most 'captive audience'! (Cheers to Jim Wilson for organizing that one!). Through good times and bad, sometimes sad, and always mad, it really did seem like we lived life at breakneck speed. Punk rock wasn't a fashion back then. Being a punk could literally cost you your life - or at least a few front teeth. For quite a few months there was a major gang war between us punks and the Rasta Street Kids and you always had to watch your back walking the streets and through the square. The cops hated us, followed us and hounded us wherever we went cos back then punk rockers were public enemy number one. We wrote songs like 'You're So Straight' and 'Generation Gap' because we really did feel like a different breed - and the old folks just didn't understand us. We sang about the Gladstone, a place where we saw some of NZ's greatest bands like Toy Love, the Screaming Mee Mees, the Features, the Androidss and Pop Mechanix. A pub where 500 students, surfers, skinheads, hippies and punks all hung out - usually peacefully, but I witnessed more than a few rucks. Through police raids for underage drinking and fights with rastas across the road at Pete's burger bar, sometimes it was pretty ugly, downright scary and more than a few people didn't survive it, but it was always such a rush. Because, we were part of something special. A very unique time in New Zealand's musical and youth culture history. If you were there I hope something on this CD takes you back to relive some high times and good rockin' from the garden city. 1,2,3,4! Eugene Butcher, 2006. Desperate Measures were - Shane O'Neill - Guitar Eugene Butcher - Vocals Erik Van Denhoven - Bass Greg Hussey - Drums Special thanks to Rob Mayes and Failsafe for believing in New Zealand music and keeping the flame alive.Failsafe records will relaese the Desperate Measures compilation c.d Broken Bottles in Japan, U.K and New Zealand in May 2007.
The Clown Princes of punk return to New Zealand for 3 exclusive shows only!! ‘‘KICK OFF 2009 WITH A BANG… AND A PINT OR TWO WITH THE LADS’’After repeated requests to come back, and due to the lack of NZ beer in brighton, the boys have decided to return to sample as many different brands of Beer as they can…and play some stunning shows while they’re at it…“F%en Awesome” Simon ThirstyAUCKLAND, KINGS ARMS, 7pm DECEMBER 31ST WITH The Bludgers, Garage Fodder, Badtown, Vicious Rumour & Last OrdersNEW PLYMOUTH, BASEMENT BAR, 7pm FRIDAY JANUARY 2ND WITH The Bludgers, Badtown, Vicious Rumour & Shut The Hell up!CHRISTCHURCH, AL’S BAR, 8pm SATURDAY JANUARY 3RD WITH The Bludgers, Badtown, Gripper, Desperate Measures & Oi’s II MenEARLYBIRD TICKETS $40 + BOOKING FEE Exclusively from REAL GROOVY RECORDS and TICKETEK
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