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The Skeptics

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This article is about New Zealand band. For the scientific organization, see The Skeptics Society.

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".

Performances

The band began to gain a solid and enthusiastic following as their reputation grew. They increased their exposure by playing support slots for bigger, better-known acts on the local pub circuit, like The Newmatics and The Red. In 1981, they convinced the Palmerston North venue El Clubbo to give them their own gig, at which they proceeded to break all door take records.

In 1983, after the master tape for a five-track EP was stolen from the office of Propeller Records, the band entered the NZ Battle of the Bands competition held at Mainstreet in Auckland, where they were judged second out of thirty acts.

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. 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.

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 Gordons (and later of Bailter Space), 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 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 #4.On August 24, 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, Don White in Melbourne and Robin Gauld in Dunedin.

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.

Sources

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