In 1984, St. Kilda 5-piece
Fishdrink played their first show at the St.
Kilda Inn. By 1985, this frenetic and
loose trashcore outfit, after dozens of shows, had hit the wall. Weeks
later, most of the main operators had reconvened to form
The
Breaknecks.
With a new, more gutsy and tight garage sound,
The
Breaknecks launched
in to a busy schedule, clocking up over 150 shows in three states. They
were banned from The Punter's Club in Malbourne for causing fights in the
crowd, were pursued with a baseball bat backstage at The Barwon Club in
Geelong. and were robbed in Adelaide whilst they played downstairs at the
New Century Hotel. They recorded one vinyl LP (
Steal
The Truth) and a 7-inch
(
Bad Boat) in 1988, had songs on the soundtracks of the
Aussie films
The
Big Steal and
Holidays on The River Yarra in
1990, and released a post-breakup single
(Tuscanny Bells)
on their own label Tripper's Advocate Records in 1991. The band folded
in 1991.
The Breaknecks
1991: (left to right) Nick Long, Duncan Graham, Tony Bennett, Bruce Armstrong.
(photo: Vanessa Martin)
In its apotheosis, the band comprised:
Bruce
Armstrong: bass, backing vocals
Tony Bennett: drums
Duncan Graham: rhythm guitar, backing vocals, chief songwriter
Nick Long: lead vocals
Mark Stafford: lead guitar, backing vocals, songwriter
This line-up cut all the records but one. For the final single cut, Spin
Me Out, Maestro, the band (minus Stafford) added Jason Kain (from Sydney band The Wet Taxis) on
lead guitar, Richard Armstrong on harmonica and Melbourne poet Brendan
Ryan on spoken interludes.
The Breaknecks 1988: (left to right) Nick Long, Mark Stafford, Tony
Bennett, Bruce Armstrong, Duncan Graham. (photo: Peter Milne)
DISCOGRAPHY:
Bad
Boat backed with God Of Love
7" vinyl single - Released November 1988
Au Go Go Records - Catalogue No. ANDA 82
This single reached No. 22 on the JUKE MAGAZINE
Independent Music Chart and No. 7 on the New Zealand independent chart
Steal The Truth
12" vinyl album - Released July 1989
Au Go Go Records - Catalogue No. ANDA 83
This album reached No. 25 on the JUKE MAGAZINE Independent Music Chart
Tuscanny Bells backed with Spin Me Out, Maestro
7" vinyl single - Released January 1991
Tripper's Advocate Records - Catalogue No. TRP 001
NO LONGER AVAILABLE
SELECTIONS FROM REVIEWS:
"Thoughtful and inventive guitar rock from Melbourne that attempts
to do more than dash its listener's brains against the nearest wall" NEW
MUSICAL EXPRESS, London, 1989
"This quintet from Melbourne combines melodic pop, virile guitar
work, and readable lyrics into catchy post-punk rock. Rhythm guitarist
Duncan Graham is the dominant songwriter here,
crafting tough yet accessible melodies, teaming up with lead axeman Mark
Stafford to sculpt hard yet fluid backdrops to lead singer Nick Long. This
is a tight, less-than-predictable band that commands attention by virtue
of their finely honed chops, well-written songs, and sheer energy" OPTION
MAGAZINE, Los Angeles, 1989
"Marauding drums, bass and double axe accompaniment incubate a lurching
monster with its spleen in overdrive. Music with menace" RAM MAGAZINE,
Sydney, 1989
"Make no mistake about it, these guys have got guitars and they know
where to plug them in. The Breaknecks have sound bigger than the Carpet
Call warehouse and I can think of seven good reasons for you to have a
listen to this record. Eight if you count I told you so." Ned Macdonald,
INPRESS MAGAZINE, Melbourne, 1989
