Perhaps the dominant tale of their time was when they were accused of stealing a PA system. Rumours abounded that it was wrapped in plastic and buried in a band member's backyard. The band were subsequently blackballed in Brisbane - 4ZZZ wouldn't play their first single, shops wouldn't sell it (though Skinny's stood by them) and venues wouldn't let them play. Eventually, according to Out Of The Unknown magazine, three other blokes were charged with the theft. With everyone happy again the band was back on ZZZ. Well, no one else was going to play them. To round things off, when the ban on Azaria was finally lifted in 1986, ZZZ made a special point of playing it.
The bans fuelled the song Black Banned on the band's second record, a four track EP from 1983. The record highlights the unique sound of the band, with its complex and jazzy (without getting overly technical) structures setting them apart from other bands from the time. While such a sound would not have been out of place on SST, we need to put to rest one final rumour that has persisted - the EP never came out on Alternative Tentacles, even if the band did slip a copy to Jello when the DKs were in Brisbane. Grong Grong, Hack and The Hard-Ons remain the only Australian bands on Alt Tent.
I Don't Know You [Download]
Skull In My Cave [Download]
Black Banned [Download]
Something Mechanical [Download]
5 comments:
Thanks. A great EP.
Steve
These guys were the genuine stuff of legend, even from the outset. They musta had a regular gig in '82 at the Aussie Nash (Australian National) Hotel at the 'Gabba, and word filtered back to us in Toowong of wild going ons there with a rough mix of skins and hardcore punks owning the joint. I was too afraid to venture over! But they also created really inventive sounds that defied easy labels etc etc. And you know what? It's only just dawned on me - literally the other day - that when Azaria got banned they did another song in tribute to themselves that used the same tune, so that the chorus of 'Azar-ria-ria-ria' became "we are, we are, we are - a Mystery of Sixes!'. Brilliant. And strewth I'm slow on the uptake...
Half is correct, the other half just fits in the gaps. If you listen to the first two TUMOR CIRCUS albums particularly the chariot album, you'll get the picture of what really happened.
Jello Biafra is NOT a nice bloke, we were only kids ...we trusted him ~ Bez.
If anyone has a contact for any of these guys could you please email brisbanemusicgraveyard@gmail.com. Cheers!
I'm Bez / i'm still performing with Dreamkillers which i formed in 1991 with Terry ( Insane Hombres ) ~i'm easy to find .Azaria was not re~used for MOS the single, it's a complete different song . The real facts are we refused to filter anyone from our shows / we didn't care what colour you were / what sub culture you belonged to / what sexuality you were or your age .This eventually bit us on the arse , Brett ( guitar ) was stabbed outside the Outpost and we were held at gun point in Kuraby by a skitz disgruntled punter whom wanted to re~release Azaria . We are not satanic, never professed to be and you can come talk to me at any gig !
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