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{{About|New Zealand band|the scientific organization|The Skeptics Society}}
{{About|New Zealand band|the scientific organization|The Skeptics Society|other uses|The Skeptic (disambiguation)|and|Skeptic (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2010}}


'''The Skeptics''' was a [[New Zealand]] [[postpunk]] band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually [[graphic violence|graphic]] [[music video]] entitled "AFFCO".
'''Skeptics''' were a [[New Zealand]] industrial [[post-punk]] band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually [[graphic violence|graphic]] [[music video]] entitled "AFFCO".


==Early recordings==
==Early recordings==
The Skeptics' first recording appeared in 1982 on ''Last Orders,'' a compilation album which featured pop groups like [[The Bongos]], [[The Dabs]] and [[The Prime Movers (New Zealand band)|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.
Skeptics' first recording appeared in 1982 on ''The Furtive Four Three Piece Pack'' a 12" compilation EP which also featured [[The Bongos]], [[The Dabs]] and [[The Prime Movers (New Zealand band)|The Prime Movers]].


They toured New Zealand on the [[Furtive Records]] "Three Piece Pack" tour. The tour was to be followed by a five track EP, ''Pyronnists Selections'' which was to be released on [[Propeller Records]], Furtive's parent label, 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]].
In 1983, 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]].
From 1983 to 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''.
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==
==Membership changes==
By the time of the ''Ponds'' release, Robin Gauld had left the band to concentrate on his university studies. [[John Halvorsen (musician)|John Halvorsen]], formerly of [[The Gordons]] (and later of [[Bailter Space]]), joined in his stead.
By the time of the ''Ponds'' release, Robin Gauld had left the band. John Halvorsen, formerly of [[Bailter Space|The Gordons]] (and later of [[Bailter Space]]), joined in his stead.


==AFFCO video controversy==
==AFFCO video controversy==
In August 1987 Skeptics made a video for the ''Skeptics III'' track "AFFCO", named after the New Zealand meat processing company [[AFFCO Holdings|AFFCO]]. Directed by [[Stuart Page]], the video was filmed in the Westfield Freezing Company and Kellax meat packers in Auckland and included graphic footage of lambs being slaughtered and cut up, contrasted with footage of lambs in a field. Singer David d'Ath also appeared wrapped in plastic cling film and fake blood.
In August 1987, to coincide with the release of ''Skeptics III'', their second album, the Skeptics recorded a [[music video]] 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 No. 4.On 24 August 2007 on the C4's top 10 - That's Shocking! at No. 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.

Due to its graphic content, the video has rarely been broadcast on New Zealand television, but has been screened at various art exhibitions in New Zealand and at [[New Zealand Film Archive|Film Archive]] screenings and is now freely available to watch online.<ref>{{cite web|title=The truth about the Skeptics' A.F.F.C.O video|url=http://vital.org.nz/stu.html|publisher=Vital|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref>


==Breakup==
==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.
While working on yet another release,"Amalgam" in 1989, David D'Ath learned that he had [[leukaemia]].


David D'Ath died on Tuesday, 4 September 1990. The band ceased immediately after.
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.
"Amalgam" was finally released in November 1990. In the following years to come, unreleased Skeptics 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.
In 1992, a boxed-set of 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.


In 2013 the documentary film ''Sheen of Gold'', directed by Simon Ogston, was released<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/8749361/Skeptics-story-told-in-film-by-Ogston|title = Skeptics' story told in film by Ogston|date = 3 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sheen of Gold|url=http://www.nziff.co.nz/film/sheen-of-gold|accessdate=30 May 2013}}</ref> to critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/film/sheen-gold-pays-homage-skeptics|title='Sheen of Gold' pays homage to Skeptics|date=10 August 2013}}</ref> Reissues and previously unreleased recordings were released to coincide with the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two Skeptics Re-Issues To Coincide With Documentary Sheen of Gold|url=http://capturedtracks.com/news/two-skeptics-re-issues-to-coincide-with-documentary-sheen-of-gold-2/|accessdate=3 June 2013}}</ref>
John Halvorsen and Nick Roughan both now live in Auckland, Brent McLaughlin in [[New York]], Don White in Melbourne and Robin Gauld in [[Dunedin]].


==Discography==
==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 Times]] 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.


{| class="wikitable"
==Sources==
|-
* [http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/article/UAID/2/The-Skeptics-Story.utr A Skeptics biography]
!Date of Release
* [http://vital.org.nz/stu.html The story behind the AFFCO video], as told by the director.
!Title
* [http://www.c4tv.co.nz/Top-10-lists/tabid/683/articleID/4409/cat/592/Default.aspx Retrieved 28 April 2009-episode archives updated often]
!Format
!Label
|-
|1983
|''Chowder Over Wisconsin''
|EP
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1984
|''Skeptics Said'' (Said See Say)
|Cassette
|Industrial Tapes
|-
|1985
|''Ponds''
|LP
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]] / Ulp
|-
|1987
|''Skeptics III''
|LP and CD
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1988
|"AFFCO"
|Music video
|Brilliant Film Company
|-
|1990
|''Amalgam''
|LP and CD
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1991
|"Sensible Shoes"
|10"
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1992
|Box Set
*''Skeptics III'' (remastered)
*''Amalgam'' (remastered)
*''Sensible''
*''If I Will I Can''
*Lyrics and artwork by David D'Ath
|CD
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1992
|''Sensible''
|CD
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1992
|''I Will If I Can''
|CD EP
|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|}

=== Various Artists ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date of Release
!Title
!Track
!Label
|-
|1982
|''Three Piece Pack''
|"Last Orders"
|Furtive
|-
|1988
|''[[In Love with These Times]]''
|"A.F.F.C.O."
|rowspan="2"|[[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
|-
|1991
|''Pink Flying Saucers Over The Southern Alps''
|"Sheen of Gold"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.flyingnun.co.nz/collections/skeptics Official Skeptics Flying Nun artist page]
* [http://spiritgum.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/skeptics.html The Spirit Gum Skeptics Archive]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Skeptics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skeptics}}
[[Category:New Zealand musical groups]]
[[Category:New Zealand post-punk music groups]]
[[Category:Post-punk music groups]]
[[Category:Flying Nun Records artists]]
[[Category:Flying Nun Records artists]]

Latest revision as of 22:59, 8 November 2023

This article is about New Zealand band. For the scientific organization, see The Skeptics Society. For other uses, see The Skeptic (disambiguation) and Skeptic (disambiguation).

Skeptics were a New Zealand industrial post-punk band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually graphic music video entitled "AFFCO".

Early recordings

[edit]

Skeptics' first recording appeared in 1982 on The Furtive Four Three Piece Pack a 12" compilation EP which also featured The Bongos, The Dabs and The Prime Movers.

They toured New Zealand on the Furtive Records "Three Piece Pack" tour. The tour was to be followed by a five track EP, Pyronnists Selections which was to be released on Propeller Records, Furtive's parent label, but the master tape was stolen from the Propeller office and the EP was never released.

In 1983, Skeptics released the EP Chowder Over Wisconsin on Flying Nun Records.

From 1983 to 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.

Membership changes

[edit]

By the time of the Ponds release, Robin Gauld had left the band. John Halvorsen, formerly of The Gordons (and later of Bailter Space), joined in his stead.

AFFCO video controversy

[edit]

In August 1987 Skeptics made a video for the Skeptics III track "AFFCO", named after the New Zealand meat processing company AFFCO. Directed by Stuart Page, the video was filmed in the Westfield Freezing Company and Kellax meat packers in Auckland and included graphic footage of lambs being slaughtered and cut up, contrasted with footage of lambs in a field. Singer David d'Ath also appeared wrapped in plastic cling film and fake blood.

Due to its graphic content, the video has rarely been broadcast on New Zealand television, but has been screened at various art exhibitions in New Zealand and at Film Archive screenings and is now freely available to watch online.[1]

Breakup

[edit]

While working on yet another release,"Amalgam" in 1989, David D'Ath learned that he had leukaemia.

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, unreleased Skeptics 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 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.

In 2013 the documentary film Sheen of Gold, directed by Simon Ogston, was released[2][3] to critical acclaim.[4] Reissues and previously unreleased recordings were released to coincide with the film.[5]

Discography

[edit]
Date of Release Title Format Label
1983 Chowder Over Wisconsin EP Flying Nun
1984 Skeptics Said (Said See Say) Cassette Industrial Tapes
1985 Ponds LP Flying Nun / Ulp
1987 Skeptics III LP and CD Flying Nun
1988 "AFFCO" Music video Brilliant Film Company
1990 Amalgam LP and CD Flying Nun
1991 "Sensible Shoes" 10" Flying Nun
1992 Box Set
  • Skeptics III (remastered)
  • Amalgam (remastered)
  • Sensible
  • If I Will I Can
  • Lyrics and artwork by David D'Ath
 CD Flying Nun
1992 Sensible CD Flying Nun
1992 I Will If I Can CD EP Flying Nun

Various Artists

[edit]
Date of Release Title Track Label
1982 Three Piece Pack "Last Orders" Furtive
1988 In Love with These Times "A.F.F.C.O." Flying Nun
1991 Pink Flying Saucers Over The Southern Alps "Sheen of Gold"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The truth about the Skeptics' A.F.F.C.O video". Vital. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Skeptics' story told in film by Ogston". 3 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Sheen of Gold". Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  4. ^ "'Sheen of Gold' pays homage to Skeptics". 10 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Two Skeptics Re-Issues To Coincide With Documentary Sheen of Gold". Retrieved 3 June 2013.
[edit]
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