S. Van

ORIGINS: Hornsby, NSW

GENRE: Hardcore

YEARS ACTIVE: 1998-2000

 

MEMBERS:

• Chris Seet - Vocals
• David Ward - Guitar
  
• Chris Shields - Bass
• David 'Mong' Mangnall - Drums (1999-2000)
  
• Dave Seet - Drums (1998)
  

RELEASES: 

• Demo (1998) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Hardcore Westie
• 2. G...
• 3. Wolfpack (dys)
• 4. Blind Pressure
• 5. Useless Krew
• 6. S. Van

• Violent Hornsby Straightedge (2000) [Compilation]
• 1. Hardcore Westie
• 2. Bad Skate Unit
• 3. S. Van 

SUMMARY: S. Van were a hardcore band who formed as part of the early days of the late '90s/early '00s Hornsby hardcore scene. Due to their age, they predominantly played All Ages shows at PCYCs and the like. The band's last show in 2000 was played without Chris Shields, who had sadly passed away prior to this. The Violent Hornsby Straightedge compilation is dedicated to his memory.

 

SHOWS: 

• PCYC, Hornsby - 6th May, 2000
  
• Pennant Hills Community Centre, Pennant Hills - 8th July, 2000
  

ORAL HISTORY:

CHRIS: Me, David Ward, and Chris Shields were close so we just started the band. Ward thought up the name - purely just to shit-stir people. We played an instore at the original Resist Records on King Street; Scott Mac from Toe to Toe gave us that spot. We also played shows at Newtown PCYC and Hornsby PCYC. 

Chris Seet (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CHRIS: Those early days we made a lot of 'enemies' in the Sydney hardcore scene. Once, Wardo did something to one of the chicks from Skulker's guitar cases or amplifier and their manager Nik Tropiano wanted to kill us, haha. We were always looking to fuck shit up. There were also things happening in the scene we didn't like... a lot of insular PC rubbish and on the opposite end, fake tough guy personas we could see through and didn't like. Really, we just wanted to offend people. Something happened with Craig Edge - had an argument with him at a Newtown PCYC show; he backed off after that... was a long time ago. Who knows, Craig is probably an alright bloke. Never got an opportunity to get to know him. Anyway - what's more punk than being an outcast in the punk/hardcore scene, if you get what I mean, haha. We were just kids. We weren't fucking with heaps older dudes like Toe to Toe or Access Step Correct or Straight to a Tomb; all those SHC guys. Those guys were big and scary to us back then, haha. Actually, Ernie from Straight to a Tomb, I still talk to him to this day. Bloody legend.  

Chris Seet (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

CHRIS: Eventually we also made a lot of friends who I still respect to this day. I'd also like to pay respect to both Ward and Shields, who have both passed away. I'm pretty much the only member of S. Van left. Our last show had Damo (Meataxe) on bass because it was a tribute show after Shields had passed.

Chris Seet (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Bad Skate Unit, King Kong, Dark Matter, Boom Bap Fam, Nintendo Police, Headless Horsemen, Baltic, Coward, Arkanoid, Meataxe