The Skeptics
Encyclopedia
The Skeptics was a New Zealand
postpunk band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually graphic
music video
entitled "AFFCO".
, The Dabs and The Prime Movers. At the same time they recorded a five track EP, Pyronnists Selections which was to be released on Propeller Records
, but the master tape was stolen from the Propeller office and the EP was never released.
After the Battle of the Bands competition, Paul Rose of Furtive Records contracted with them for a contribution to the "Three Piece Pack" compilation record and an accompanying tour.
In 1983, the Skeptics released the EP Chowder Over Wisconsin on Flying Nun Records
.
From 1983-1984 they ran their own club, thanks to support from the City Council arts centre, in a former electrical warehouse in Palmerston North. They named the club Snailclamps after a chalk inscription they found in the warehouse, "C164 Snail Clamps". Initially the venue ran as an underage hangout but became a fully licensed venue not long after, until the band decided to pack up and relocate to Wellington
.
A cassette named Skeptics Said was released on the now defunct Industrial Tapes label in 1984. In 1985, the band released an LP, Ponds.
(and later of Bailter Space
), joined in his stead.
called "AFFCO" in a South Auckland freezing works (AFFCO New Zealand Ltd is a "Meat company processing and exporting more than 150,000 tonnes of beef and lamb products every year"). The video, which graphically depicts the slaughter of real sheep, has been screened a few times on TV — once on the last show of Radio With Pictures and also on SPACE. It has also been screened at various art exhibitions in NZ and film archive screenings in Wellington.In 2006 It came # 2 on New Zealand show U choose 40 - Most Shocking Videos Of All Time and earlier this year it appeared on the Top 10 : shocking videos at #4.On 24 August 2007 on the C4's top 10 - That's Shocking! at #2. The video appeared on C4's UChoose40 again on Saturday 21 February 2009 on another countdown of the Most Shocking Videos Of All Time, this time being named as the number one most shocking video of all time.
David D'Ath died on Tuesday, 4 September 1990. The band ceased immediately after.
"Amalgam" was finally released in November 1990. In the following years to come, the Skeptics' unreleased material began to surface as documents of their existence. The 10" single, "Sensible" which featured studio tracks created back in 1985, was launched in 1991. A full album version soon followed which featured further recordings from 1985 to 1990.
In 1992, a boxed-set of the Skeptics recordings was produced which contained 'Skeptics III', 'Amalgam', 'Sensible' and a live three song recording EP 'If I Will I Can' taken from the last Skeptics gig in 1990 at the Gluepot in Auckland. Also accompanying the boxset was a 12-page booklet of lyrics and artwork by, and in memory of David D'Ath.
John Halvorsen and Nick Roughan both now live in Auckland, Brent McLaughlin in New York
, Don White in Melbourne and Robin Gauld in Dunedin
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
postpunk band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually graphic
Graphic violence
Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
entitled "AFFCO".
Early recordings
The Skeptics' first recording appeared in 1982 on Last Orders, a compilation album which featured pop groups like The BongosThe Bongos
The Bongos were a rock band from Hoboken, New Jersey, primarily active in the 1980s. With a unique blend of British Invasion-flavored power pop, jangly guitars, and dance beats they made the leap to national recognition with the advent of MTV.-Biography:...
, The Dabs and The Prime Movers. At the same time they recorded a five track EP, Pyronnists Selections which was to be released on Propeller Records
Propeller Records
Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
, but the master tape was stolen from the Propeller office and the EP was never released.
After the Battle of the Bands competition, Paul Rose of Furtive Records contracted with them for a contribution to the "Three Piece Pack" compilation record and an accompanying tour.
In 1983, the Skeptics released the EP Chowder Over Wisconsin on Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
.
From 1983-1984 they ran their own club, thanks to support from the City Council arts centre, in a former electrical warehouse in Palmerston North. They named the club Snailclamps after a chalk inscription they found in the warehouse, "C164 Snail Clamps". Initially the venue ran as an underage hangout but became a fully licensed venue not long after, until the band decided to pack up and relocate to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
A cassette named Skeptics Said was released on the now defunct Industrial Tapes label in 1984. In 1985, the band released an LP, Ponds.
Membership changes
By the time of the Ponds release, Robin Gauld had left the band to concentrate on his university studies. John Halvorsen, formerly of The GordonsThe Gordons
The Gordons may refer to:*The Gordons - Folk/bluegrass duo consisting of Gary Gordon and Roberta Gordon.*Bailter Space - At one time, called "The Gordons".*The Gordons...
(and later of Bailter Space
Bailter Space
Bailter Space is an atmospheric noise rock band that formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space; they had previously recorded as The Gordons. Its members are Alister Parker , John Halvorsen , Brent McLachlan...
), joined in his stead.
AFFCO video controversy
In August 1987, to coincide with the release of Skeptics III, their second album, the Skeptics recorded a music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
called "AFFCO" in a South Auckland freezing works (AFFCO New Zealand Ltd is a "Meat company processing and exporting more than 150,000 tonnes of beef and lamb products every year"). The video, which graphically depicts the slaughter of real sheep, has been screened a few times on TV — once on the last show of Radio With Pictures and also on SPACE. It has also been screened at various art exhibitions in NZ and film archive screenings in Wellington.In 2006 It came # 2 on New Zealand show U choose 40 - Most Shocking Videos Of All Time and earlier this year it appeared on the Top 10 : shocking videos at #4.On 24 August 2007 on the C4's top 10 - That's Shocking! at #2. The video appeared on C4's UChoose40 again on Saturday 21 February 2009 on another countdown of the Most Shocking Videos Of All Time, this time being named as the number one most shocking video of all time.
Breakup
While working on yet another release,"Amalgam" in 1989, David D'Ath learned that he had leukaemia. D'Ath never got to see the finished product which, due to many unforeseen problems and delays, could not be finished in time as a farewell to this legendary performer.David D'Ath died on Tuesday, 4 September 1990. The band ceased immediately after.
"Amalgam" was finally released in November 1990. In the following years to come, the Skeptics' unreleased material began to surface as documents of their existence. The 10" single, "Sensible" which featured studio tracks created back in 1985, was launched in 1991. A full album version soon followed which featured further recordings from 1985 to 1990.
In 1992, a boxed-set of the Skeptics recordings was produced which contained 'Skeptics III', 'Amalgam', 'Sensible' and a live three song recording EP 'If I Will I Can' taken from the last Skeptics gig in 1990 at the Gluepot in Auckland. Also accompanying the boxset was a 12-page booklet of lyrics and artwork by, and in memory of David D'Ath.
John Halvorsen and Nick Roughan both now live in Auckland, Brent McLaughlin in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Don White in Melbourne and Robin Gauld in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
.
Discography
- Various Artists, "Three Piece Pack", Furtive (1982). Submitted track, "Last Orders".
- "Chowder Over Wisconsin", EP, Flying Nun (1983)
- "Skeptics Said", cassette. Industrial Tapes (1984)
- "Ponds", LP, Flying Nun / Ulp (1985)
- "Skeptics III", LP and CD, Flying Nun (1987)
- "AFFCO", video, Brilliant Film Company (1988)
- In Love With These TimesIn Love with These TimesIn Love With These Times is a compilation of previously released songs by artists on New Zealand based Flying Nun Records. It was released by Flying Nun in 1990 and re-released in a 2CD package with the 1991 compilation Pink Flying Saucers Over the Southern Alps...
compilation with 'A.F.F.C.O.' (1988) - "Amalgam", LP and CD, Flying Nun (1990)
- "Sensible Shoes", 10", Flying Nun (1991)
- "Sensible", LP and CD, Flying Nun (1990)
- Various artists compilation 'Pink Flying Saucers Over The Southern Alps'. Submitted track 'Sheen Of Gold'. Flying Nun (1991)
- Boxed Set: Skeptics III (remastered), Amalgam (remastered), Sensible and If I Will I Can and also a 12-page booklet of lyrics and artwork by David D'Ath (1992)
- "If I Will I Can", CD EP, Flying Nun (1992). There are also some 'hidden' live tracks at the end of this CD.
Sources
- A Skeptics biography
- The story behind the AFFCO video, as told by the director.
- Retrieved 28 April 2009-episode archives updated often