T.H.U.G.

In three weeks, on July 19, 2008, a gig is scheduled to take place at the East Brunswick Hotel (280 Lygon Street, East Brunswick). The headline act is Sham 69, with support from Bastard Squad, Sin City and T.H.U.G.. The tour is being organised by Faultline Records & Touring, a Melbourne-based heavy metal label, established in 1998 by DW Norton, current CEO and former member of nu metal outfit Superheist.*

Unlike Superheist (1993–2004), T.H.U.G. is a relatively-new, Sydney-based oi! band. Importantly, two of its members — Chumley, vocals, and Simon, drums — last graced the world’s stage as members of White Lightning (c.1986–1988), an Australian neo-Nazi band. White Lightning released one album, We Rule, the title track of which T.H.U.G. still performs. The opening track is ‘Australian Youth’: “Make a stand for your great nation / Against the scum who are going to die”.

The album was subsequently re-recorded and released as ‘Destiny’ on French RAC label Rebelles Européens (1987–1994) in 1990 (RE332190). Although apparently collapsing in 1994, in 1995 Rebelles Européens made a short-lived recovery assisted by an Australian label, White League. White League released a handful of CD recordings before it too dissolved. In addition, another former member of White Lightning, ‘Aussie’ Nigel Brown (No Remorse, Celtic Warrior, Raven’s Wing, Wolfseye), together with a wanker called Billy, re-recorded and re-released We Rule on Welsh label ‘Independent Voice Records’ in 1998.

T.H.U.G. is thus one of a tiny clutch of bands with roots in the neo-Nazi rock ‘n’ roll of the ’80s and ’90s; another is the UK band Tattooed Mother Fuckers (TMF), whose vocalist is Steve “Jonesy” Jones, formerly of neo-Nazi band English Rose. Numerous other ‘patriotic’ bands attempt to hide their reactionary politics behind the flag: Ross of UK oi! band Scum, for example, has recently been outed as a Hitler fetishist by Benson & Hedges. Scum is, in turn, playing a gig with TMF in October, while Australian band The Corps is touring Europe with TMF and Retaliator. Retaliator, TMF, The Corps and Scum are all available through local mail-order Deadset Music (whose proprietor was a patron at the 2006 Ian Stuart Donaldson (ISD) memorial gig). Rock-O-Rama, the German neo-Nazi label, has re-located to Belgium, and re-invented itself as Pure Impact, selling both neo-Nazi and more straightforwardly ‘conservative’ and/or ‘apolitical’ titles.

Locally, Benson & Hedges have announced the impending disaster that will be the ISD memorial gig (2007 | 2006), *ing Douglas Schott’s Viking warriors from Newcastle Blood Red Eagle, a resurrected Ravenous (not to be confused with the Kiwi metalheads), and some schmucks from one of them foreign countries. BRE is available for purchase through local ‘punk’ mailorder Snapshot, along with Skrewdriver, Bound For Glory (UK not US), Fortress (AUS), Legion of St. George (UK), Retaliator (UK) and the incomparable Southern Storm (”Niggers, Jews and Communists / Look out scum, you’re on our list!”). Snapshot is also closely associated with ‘Class War’ in Sydney… which is odd.

Old whine in new bottles has as its concomitant the disembraining and yuppification of underground DIY punk (sub-)culture. In Perth, The Homicides have gladly shared a stage with Murray Holmes (ex-Quick & The Dead, Skrewdriver). Holmes had previously traveled to Melbourne (last year) to perform at the Melbourne Croatia Social Club with a handful of other neo-Nazi bands. The Homicides are planning a split release later this year with T.H.U.G..

As for T.H.U.G., in 2000, Simon was interviewed by a Dutch neo-Nazi zine Out of Order. Simon says:

All my mates were into oi! and white pride as well. I did not know any skinheads that were into oi! and were not white and proud of it. Lefty skinheads would never dare to show their face on the street for fear of getting severely beaten. And that’s the way it should always be…

Best memory was playing a gig in Melbourne, in some pub, can’t remember which, full swing into it and about 30 Maoris drinking in the front bar… I’m sure you can picture what happened. Bedlam. We managed to protect all our gear however. Mic stands make magnificent clubs…

Old time skinheads rule!

For these and other reasons, I thought it might be a good idea to contact the band and ask them a few questions. Here’s the first message:

Date:18 Jun 2008, 11:08 AM
Subject: upcoming gig in melbs / nazi schmazi

g’day thug,

yr playing a gig in melb on july 19, and i’d like to know if the band supports the kinda views white lightning did.

ie, neo-nazism.

if not, it’d be helpful if you said so, esp as yr still playing white lightning songs.

cheers,

andy.

======

Simon, Out of Order (Dutch RAC zine), 2000:

What is your best memory of White Lightning?

Best memory was playing a gig in Melbourne, in some pub, can’t remember which, full swing into it and about 30 Maoris drinking in the front bar… I’m sure you can picture what happened. Bedlam. We managed to protect all our gear however. Mic stands make magnificent clubs.

Chumley, The Stormtroop (Australian RAC zine), 1988:

Do you have any opinion on the current crisis in the West Bank between the Jews and the Palestinians?

As everyone can see the ever troublesome Jews are up to their old tricks by causing mass disorder. So we think that the Palestinians should wipe the Jews out and take back Palestine, then we should go in and wipe the Arabs off the face of the Earth.

What do you think of the Australian Nationalists Movement?

It makes a lot of sense.

======

And here’s the second:

Date: 28 Jun 2008, 11:37 AM
Subject: nazi schmazi

g’day t.h.u.g.,

it’s been well over a week since i wrote you, and no reply. i’m therefore assuming that the band is happy for chumley and simon’s previous views and affiliations to remain in force, and will continue to do so until such time as they (and t.h.u.g.) makes a public statement disavowing racism and fascism.

cheers,

andy.

Hopefully, the band will declare some of its members support for neo-Nazism an unhappy memory.

In the meantime, some not-so-nu metal:

    *”Our goal today is the same as when we started,” states Superheist founder/guitarist/producer DW Norton firmly. “To be one of the biggest bands in the world.” Given that Superheist formed in Melbourne in 1993 as a brutal grindcore outfit, their plans for world domination could, back then at least, have been placed safely in the file marked “wishful thinking”. After all, Top 40 success rarely follows bands with vocalists who sound like they gargle acid for kicks. But then Superheist have never been a band afraid to aim high. “We wanted to play extreme, fast and heavy, scary music, and we did that,” continues DW of the band’s early intentions. “All we want to do now is play good, solid, heavy rock with great songs. We’ve decided that it’s not playing fast and aggressive that counts, it’s getting the right songs and making us happy and satisfied and accomplished as songwriters.”

About @ndy

I live in Melbourne, Australia. I like anarchy. I don't like nazis. I enjoy eating pizza and drinking beer. I barrack for the greatest football team on Earth: Collingwood Magpies. The 2024 premiership's a cakewalk for the good old Collingwood.
This entry was posted in Anti-fascism, History, Music and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

29 Responses to T.H.U.G.

  1. Dean T says:

    Ahh, grindcore & blast beats from the crew that recorded Scum… it’s gold!

  2. Kadet says:

    i wonder if Sham 69 know who they’re playing with?
    one of their last gigs (in the early 80’s i believe) was trashed by nazi scum so you’d think they wouldn’t be too excited knowing they’re playing with a group of (presumably ex-)nazis.

    and for all the punks reading this entry (and anarchists that want to be mildly amused) here we have anarchism for drunk punks! distribute and hand out at all your local punk gigs.

  3. Dave says:

    THUG – Give up you no hoper, fat old farts your views are outdated.
    If Sham knew who they were playing with, you’d have been kicked off the show!!

  4. @ndy says:

    If Sham 69 had played with Jimmy Pursey — yeah, maybe. But really, it’s the responsibility of the tour organiser what other bands are on the bill when an overseas act tours, and like most promoters, Faultline didn’t and doesn’t give a fuck about such matters.

    And there’s no business like punk business.

  5. Johnny Ajax says:

    Ok fuckers… As a member of the homicides, i would just like to clarify that we are not racist, anti-semetic, or a political band in anyway what so ever. If there is any idea that we would even let someone “share” a stage with us is laughable. THATS OUR MOTHERFUCKIN STAGE.

    Of course if one delves into another’s background you will find debatable or questionable situations, affiliations or beliefs. I am sure if you were faced with the same scrutiny or convenient compilation of ambiguous facts then I could paint you not to look so “clean”.

    At the end of the day no one has contacted or spoken directly to these bands, nor have people gone and checked things out for themselves. So all we have is rumors and innuendo…

    Anyhow the homicides have a clear stance on the whole population/politics situation… “THE ONLY GOOD HUMAN IS A DEAD HUMAN”.

    Take it sleazy motherfuckers, stay outta jail and see u at the show…

    Love hate and tears

    Gentle Johnny Ajax The Artfull Dodger

  6. @ndy says:

    Johnny,

    “…any idea that we would even let someone “share” a stage with us is laughable.”

    Odd. Very odd. A normally reliable source says otherwise. Oh well. I’ll double-check. If not, I guess that means the fridge repair guy is just a fan. (And I’ll apologise and remove the above reference.)

    A few questions:

    Can you confirm that a former drummer was ANM? (Or is this also untrue?)
    Have fans ever sieg heiled at your gigs? Say, at the Hydey? In, say, October 2006?
    When the band sieg heils… is it just for fun?

    Is hating “poofters” really “apolitical”?
    Of course, being homophobic is not the same as being racist. Or anti-Semitic…

    “At the end of the day no one has contacted or spoken directly to these bands, nor have people gone and checked things out for themselves. So all we have is rumors and innuendo…”

    I’m not sure who you’re referring to Johnny. I wrote T.H.U.G. directly — they never replied.

    Thanks for the reply,

    @ndy.

  7. iminlovewithdavidsuzuki says:

    Oh my fucking god. Andy,you fucking retarded manipulative spineless little cunt. I cannot believe that you have such a little amount of dirt on ppl that you have to put photos of ppl with their arms up and claim they are fucking sieg heiling. How dare you you little maggot! Elvis,the singer from the homocides that you have a photo of, is as far from a filthy bonehead as you can get.They are a dirty punk rock band you nob head. You can get a photo from any band with their arm up like that and claim they are sieg heiling. Maybe you have never left your little sperm soaked bedroom but at real live shows,with real live bands and real live singers,they generally do alot of moving around and swinging their fucking arms around. I would love you to contact me directly with your details so I could take you to court for defamation you little maggot. You string together snippets of information with random names to attempt to create some conspiracy,what are you hiding about yourself for you to be so involved in all these ppl’s lame ass business eh? Like the story goes,its usually the homophobic red neck pricks who go out gay bashing that have homosexual tendencies that they are ashamed of. What,are you trying to make amends for your parents being white middle class racist fuckwits? You need to get your fucking info straight before you go spreading your school yard bitchy bullshit on the internet. FUCK i would love to get my hands around your skinny,white,ready to get my inheritance neck,you little cunt. FIGHT THE WAR AGAINST BULLSHIT ARTISTS!

  8. @ndy says:

    G’day iminlovewithdavidsuzuki,

    Briefly: I’ve never claimed Elvis is a bonehead. As far as I know, he isn’t. Nor is any other member of the band. But I’ve been in contact with a number of people who’ve attended Homicides gigs in Perth, and they claim that, on more than one occasion, a large number of boneheads have rocked up (from a handful to a group of 20 or 30), have done their usual thing of sieg heiling the band, and on at least one occasion, the band has joined in. I don’t know whether the photo above was taken at that particular gig or if, as you suggest, it’s just Elvis doing his thing.

    The Homicides are doing a split release with T.H.U.G.. T.H.U.G., as I’ve indicated, includes two members of the band White Lightning, a straight-up bonehead band. I wrote to T.H.U.G. asking for comment, but received no reply. I dunno if they still hate gooks, niggers, pooftas et al — hopefully not. Whatever T.H.U.G. thinks, Johnny Ajax reckons The Homicides aren’t racist, and I’m glad he’s stated that.

    Cheers,

    @ndy.

    PS. Swearing is neither big nor clever.

  9. iminlovewithdavidsuzuki says:

    ‘PS. Swearing is neither big nor clever.’
    Andy, neither is fabricating Hollywood style gossip columns.
    You say ‘I’ve never claimed Elvis is a bonehead’ but by you putting a photo of him with his hand in the air under the question ‘When the band sieg heils, is it just for fun’ you are manipulating the truth for your gossip column so it appears you have some dirt on ppl.
    You have obviously never met these boys or you would retract all of your weasely little comments as they are, as the cliche says, Punk as Fuck. (nb.the saying does NOT say nazi as fuck you might notice)
    You CAN NOT control which retards come to your shows and behave like the scum they are, in fact, at a show this year at maggotsville (anarchistville) in Sydney, the members of Blood Red Eagle (aka Inbred Beagle), the only actual functioning nazi band in Australia, turned up and did the same thing, that does not mean that the left as fuck bands that played that night have right wing nazi ties now does it? It just means that some small cocked, insecure, inbred fucking retards thought they would venture out of there piss stained worlds, albeit for a fleeting moment, and behave like the turds we know they are.
    You might like to consider doing the same thing (venturing out of your piss stained world that is) as it seems to myself and many other left wingers who have conversed about you and your fabrication of information and loose ties of association (regarding multiple bands you have mentioned), that the poison that you are spitting is doing nothing to help unite against the scum, but deflecting from the real targets and creating doubt where doubt need not lay. TIME TO PULL UP SON!

  10. @ndy says:
      You say ‘I’ve never claimed Elvis is a bonehead’ but by you putting a photo of him with his hand in the air under the question ‘When the band sieg heils, is it just for fun’ you are manipulating the truth for your gossip column so it appears you have some dirt on ppl.

    I’m not manipulating the truth, I’m posing some questions.

    1) Elvis appear to be giving the Roman salute.
    2) I’ve been in contact with a number of people who’ve attended Homicides gigs in Perth, and they claim that, on more than one occasion, a large number of boneheads have rocked up (from a handful to a group of 20 or 30), have done their usual thing of sieg heiling the band, and on at least one occasion, the band has joined in.
    NB. It’s not just a matter of boneheads rocking up, but the band — allegedly — pandering to them.
    3) The Homicides are releasing a split with T.H.U.G., which includes two members of the band White Lightning, a straight-up bonehead band.
    4) The ‘dirt’ I have on ‘people’ is the above.

    The question is: what are the Homicides on about? If it’s just playing punk rock — fine.

    5) Anyone can comment on my blog, and all kindsa people do, including people who say they want to shoot me, strangle me, beat me up, stomp on my head, rip off my head, rape my children, fillet me, throw thinners on me, slash my throat and so on and so on and so on. All of which leads me to conclude that some people — especially nutzis — are very sensitive to criticism.

      You have obviously never met these boys or you would retract all of your weasely little comments as they are, as the cliche says, Punk as Fuck. (nb. the saying does NOT say nazi as fuck you might notice).

    Uh-huh…

    I dunno anything about what goes on at Maggotsville. I agree that boneheads go to punk shows. Whether or not their presence is challenged depends on who’s there, and who’s willing to risk getting the shit kicked out of them while everyone else stands and watches, and then blames them for being uppity and provoking a beating. As I said: depends on the crowd, and the venue. Most don’t give two shits.

    I’ve got no idea who you are, what makes you a left-winger, or who your left-wing mates are.

    Anyone is free to read my blog, to comment if they want, and to draw their own conclusions.

    I’ve given up expecting any support from others, especially punks.

  11. @ndy says:

    Simon was interviewed by a Dutch neo-Nazi zine Out of Order in 2000. Simon says:

    All my mates were into oi! and white pride as well. I did not know any skinheads that were into oi! and were not white and proud of it. Lefty skinheads would never dare to show their face on the street for fear of getting severely beaten. And that’s the way it should always be…

    Best memory was playing a gig in Melbourne, in some pub, can’t remember which, full swing into it and about 30 Maoris drinking in the front bar… I’m sure you can picture what happened. Bedlam. We managed to protect all our gear however. Mic stands make magnificent clubs…

    Old time skinheads rule!

  12. @ndy says:

    ‘Poofter’s Paradise’ by The Homicides:

  13. johnny ajax says:

    Ok Ok I dont know why im responding to this drivel but, meh whatever. “PUNKS NOT DEAD IT JUST DESERVES TO DIE” hahaha

    “If the music’s gotten boring
    It’s because of the people
    Who want everyone to sound the same”

    Fuck you cunt, up your stupid fucking arsehole.

    The thing is I only see one fascist here, so my fellow ana[r]chists, free-thinkers, low-brow intellec[tu]als, fuck-ups, drug addicts, perverts and bruisers heed my warning of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

    FUCK YOU CUNT CUM TO PERTH

  14. @ndy says:

    Your shout johnny ajax?

  15. johnny ajax says:

    Gladly I’d love to share a brew and have a laugh with you, I judge no one. I’m a good little catholic punk rocker.

  16. T Fries USA says:

    T.H.U.G is a fantastic band , I could give two shits about their political beliefs , if any.

    Listen to the new T.H.U.G CD , this is punk at it’s [sic] finest , not that shitty hippygrindcore crap.

    Punk always was non-pc above anything else “nobody likes us and we don’t care”.

    Kudos to T.H.U.G , TMF , Retaliator , Scum and all OI! bands for carrying on the muscial [sic] fight and not giving into political [sic] correct shit.

    Todd Fries – U.S.A.

  17. @ndy says:

    Pretty much, yeah. That said:

    1. Punk is as punk does.
    2. What T.H.U.G, TMF, Retaliator and Scum have in common is their close relationship, either now or in the past (and sometimes disguised) to groups which advocate racism and fascism.
    3. T.H.U.G. has received Angry Anderson’s blessing, so it doesn’t matter that Chumley and Simon played in a neo-Nazi band or think leftists should be bashed or expressed any other opinion for that matter.
    4. There’s oi and then there’s oi.

  18. troi!88 says:

    for fuck sake,
    what is your problem,thug is a great band,you go and dig into peoples pasts and slander them with your bullshit,who the fuck are you to go around judging people you are nothing but a cocksmoker!,
    cheers big ears.

  19. @ndy says:

    troi!88,

    It didn’t take much effort to discover that Chumley and Simon used to be neo-Nazi skinheads or played in White Lightning . When I read that Simon’s fondest memory of touring Melbourne was hitting Maoris over the head with microphone stands — something he apparently said in 2000 in an interview with a European neo-Nazi zine — I concluded that maybe his ideas haven’t changed that much over the years.

    Whether you think that’s a problem or not depends on your perspective I guess.

    People who’ve seen T.H.U.G. play have told me there’s none of that kind of funny business so, y’know, as far as I know, whatever the individual band member’s views are now, Chumley and Simon are no longer urging their fans to rise up against the Jewish threat to the White race — which is a good thing. They still play ‘We Rule’, but I’m not sure if Chumley still sings the line about kicking Commie scum in.

    *shrugs*

    Finally, I dunno if anyone really cares much about this stuff but if they do, they’re free to comment (although abusive comments get very boring very quick).

    I asked the band for a response but they never replied so, like, whatever.

    88! 1 2 3 4! 666! Hutt!

  20. Eric says:

    Hey! Those bands don’t rule at all.
    The Wee Papa Girl Rappers rule, OK.

  21. Pingback: A Brief History Of Neo-Nazi Music In Australia | slackbastard

  22. Pingback: T.H.U.G. rules East Brunswick | slackbastard

  23. Bigfoot says:

    “Ok fuckers… As a member of the homicides, i would just like to clarify that we are not racist, anti-semetic [sic]”

    A politically correct “bad boy”…what a faggot.

  24. darren says:

    The Homicides. What a fucken tragic band. Don is the biggest fucking tryhard. Ajax is a useless racist cunt. You’ll probably get HepC if you get a tattoo from him.

  25. LOL I remember when Chumley used to sell speed at Paddington markets in the mid 80s with his 5ft blonde girlfriend. He was also at Bluebeat Allstars and the Hangovers new years in 85. These were days when Chrissie would wear a Skrewdriver t-shirt whilst dating black Pete from Gordon. I think then as today a heap of confused and mixed up teenagers trying to find themselves. Now that every minority group has latched onto the skinhead scene left right gay what else is there now it is harder and harder for young people to do so. It funny some of the same leftys bagging Nazis will go and beat the shit out of someone for eating a McDonalds burger but only [if] they are not black lol. Attacking a black man eating a cheese burger would just be flat out fascism now lol. I think the Mods were the smart ones no right gay or lefty mods or is there??? Gary Blurred Vision

  26. @ndy says:

    Paul Weller was a lefty … !

    The Movement (Denmark) …

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUvkt4_g26g

    This book looks interesting: Stark Raving Mod.

  27. Todd says:

    …and remember folks , you heard it here last , the most fanatical fascist’s are the anti-fascist’s !
    Actually Andy , I suppose I’m pleased to see your still alive , what with the ebola and Isis kicking off… you know.

    Molon Labe! , Death to globalist bankers , all others must pay cash. ( backed up by gold and silver , of course… )

    Skinhead regards… T Fries

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