The Scavengers
Encyclopedia
The Scavengers were a New Zealand Punk Rock band, formed in 1977. In 1979 they moved to Melbourne, Australia, and became The Marching Girls in 1980.
students, Ken Cooke, Simon Monroe, Mike Simons and Marlon Hart as "The 1B Darlings" in 1976, the band was heavily influenced by British R&B, Glam Rock
and '60s US Garage Rock
. In 1977 they renamed themselves The Scavengers, gave themselves punk stage name
s (Cooke as Johnny Volume, Monroe as Des Truction, Simons as Mike Lezbian and Hart as Mal Icious), and their style mutated in the direction of the US Punk rock
and pre-Punk Rock acts.
Through much of 1977 they were, with The Suburban Reptiles
, the only Punk bands in Auckland
. In June 1977, with The Suburban Reptiles and The Masochists, they played New Zealand's first major punk gig at Auckland University. During this time their repertoire was mostly covers
but by early 1978 they had written a set of original tunes. In late 1977 bassist Hart left to be replaced by Brendan Perry
, who performed under the stage name "Ronnie Recent". He later reappeared in The Stimulators. In March 1978 they began a residency at new Auckland Punk Club, Zwines. Soon after Simons left (inspiring their signature song "Mysterex"), and Perry moved to vocals.
Two Scavengers tracks appear on the Ripper compilation AK79
and a posthumous album was released in 2003.
In 1979 The Scavengers moved to Melbourne, Australia and in 1980 renamed themselves The Marching Girls.
and Monroe (aka Des Hefner) played briefly for The Birthday Party
during the band's final tour of Australia and New Zealand. Monroe went on to play in a series of Melbourne-based acts including The Slaughtermen
and Maurice Frawley
. Both Cooke and Monroe are still working musicians in Melbourne.
The Scavengers were hugely influential in Auckland in the late seventies, inspiring a whole generation of young bands and their importance goes far beyond their few releases. They reformed in 2004 for a one off show in Auckland without Perry, and again at the AK79
reunion in 2008.
History
Formed at Auckland Technical Institute by Graphic DesignGraphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
students, Ken Cooke, Simon Monroe, Mike Simons and Marlon Hart as "The 1B Darlings" in 1976, the band was heavily influenced by British R&B, Glam Rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
and '60s US Garage Rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
. In 1977 they renamed themselves The Scavengers, gave themselves punk stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
s (Cooke as Johnny Volume, Monroe as Des Truction, Simons as Mike Lezbian and Hart as Mal Icious), and their style mutated in the direction of the US Punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and pre-Punk Rock acts.
Through much of 1977 they were, with The Suburban Reptiles
Suburban Reptiles
The Suburban Reptiles and The Scavengers were the first punk bands to form in New Zealand.- History :The Suburban Reptiles were first conceptualised by Auckland students Simon Grigg and Brett Salter in late 1976, with some encouragement from filmmaker David Blyth...
, the only Punk bands in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. In June 1977, with The Suburban Reptiles and The Masochists, they played New Zealand's first major punk gig at Auckland University. During this time their repertoire was mostly covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
but by early 1978 they had written a set of original tunes. In late 1977 bassist Hart left to be replaced by Brendan Perry
Brendan Perry
Brendan Michael Perry is a singer and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as the male half of the duo Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerrard.-Early life:...
, who performed under the stage name "Ronnie Recent". He later reappeared in The Stimulators. In March 1978 they began a residency at new Auckland Punk Club, Zwines. Soon after Simons left (inspiring their signature song "Mysterex"), and Perry moved to vocals.
Two Scavengers tracks appear on the Ripper compilation AK79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
and a posthumous album was released in 2003.
In 1979 The Scavengers moved to Melbourne, Australia and in 1980 renamed themselves The Marching Girls.
Legacy
Perry later formed Dead Can DanceDead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
and Monroe (aka Des Hefner) played briefly for The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
during the band's final tour of Australia and New Zealand. Monroe went on to play in a series of Melbourne-based acts including The Slaughtermen
Slaughtermen (band)
The Slaughtermen are an Australian post-punk alternative southern gospel group, formed in Melbourne in 1984.-History:Founder members of The Slaughtermen were Rob Eastcott , Mark Ferrie , Jans Friedenfelds , Pierre Jaquinot , Peter Linden and Ian Stephen...
and Maurice Frawley
Maurice Frawley
Maurice Gerard Frawley was an Australian rock and country blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Biography:Maurice Gerard Frawley was born on 5 May 1954, the son of Gerard Patrick and Eileen Marie Frawley, he grew up with three siblings, Brendan, Mary and Leo on the family farm near Elmore in...
. Both Cooke and Monroe are still working musicians in Melbourne.
The Scavengers were hugely influential in Auckland in the late seventies, inspiring a whole generation of young bands and their importance goes far beyond their few releases. They reformed in 2004 for a one off show in Auckland without Perry, and again at the AK79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
reunion in 2008.
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
The Scavengers | Zerox | - | New Zealand | DZEROX 01 |