Showing posts with label Chris Duckworth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Duckworth. Show all posts

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Scratch Habbit

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW
GENRE: Punk, Alternative
YEARS ACTIVE: 1996-1999
 
MEMBERS:
Photos supplied by Brad 'Bomber' Moore

RELEASES:

  • Gee Um I Don't Know / You've Been Habbit Struck!! (1997) - Download Here.
    • 1. Disarm the Alarm
    • 2. Grug
    • 3. Enough Said
    • 4. Insane
    • 5. Tinitis
  • Self-Titled (1998)
    • 1. Doomed But Hey
    • 2. Insane
    • 3. Pyjama Girl
    • 4. Adolf Hitler is My Dad
    • 5. Splendid Afternoon Tea
    • 6. Lower
  • Insane / Keeping Time (1999) [as Detox Unit]
    • 1. Fridays (Drinking on My Mind)
    • 2. Insane
    • 3. Keeping Time
    • 4. Brainless
    • 5. Breakdown
  • Compilation-only Tracks
    • Insane (1998, different version to demo recording) - on Grow Your Own Volume 4 compilation.
SUMMARY: Beginning as a three piece started by Adam Check, Laura Kelly, and Craig McVea after the demise of the earlier band Carnage Flail, the band grew to add a second guitarist with Dean Connell shortly after in 1997. Swanny joined on bass after the band parted ways with McVea and he in turn was replaced by Cassie Walker. Scratch Habbit broke up in 1998 and Check joined Spilt Milk. The band reformed in October 1998 and Check eventually moved to bass in 1999 as the band returned to a three piece and renamed themselves as Detox Unit. After a run of shows in 1999, Check left to join One Dollar Short. Detox Unit enlisted Chris Duckworth on bass for a few practices, with Connell moving to vocals duties, before then calling it a day.
 
SHOWS: 


ORAL HISTORY:
CRAIG: Adam and I wanted to start something different after we finished school. He loved Bodyjar, Millencolin... I was loving One Inch Punch and Regurgitator. We'd stopped doing Carnage Flail and started a new 3 piece band with Laura, who Checky knew. We cut a demo quickly. It's original artwork was of a skateboarder mooning a crowd and was by a really talented great artist. It was banned in some mountains school, which helped us pack out Melrose Hall.
Craig McVea (Bass, Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
DEAN: I think my first show with Scratch Habbit was at Richmond Royal Hotel. We were only 17 going on 18 so there weren't heaps of pub shows, just battle of the bands and shows around Western Sydney with The Hassle Brigade and Fatboy, and parties after. We played at Blaxland Tavern and Melrose Hall a lot.
Dean Connell (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024


CRAIG: Dean came in as our second guitarist and we cut a second demo and I was kicked out of the band shortly after, haha. I remember watching after, thinking... I wrote those lyrics.
Craig McVea (Bass, Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024


LUKE: I used to hang around the guys a fair bit, in and out of school. Checky asked me if I wanted to play bass in the band, and obviously I was stoked to. The guys had to hold my hand a fair bit though. I remember my first show with the band - it was a band comp at Sydney Park, St Peters. It went really well and it was so much fun - felt awesome to be a part of it. I think we came second, maybe third, behind Irrelevant. 
Luke 'Swanny' Swannell (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CASSIE: It was a band formed by people in my year at McCarthy High. I was Dean's girlfriend, I think  Dean got into the band because Adam cut his finger badly with a stanley knife and needed surgery, so they asked Dean to fill in and then he stayed. I guess hanging around with them a lot is what led to me playing bass. I filled in for a bit but you know how it goes with having a 'couple' in the same band, haha, never ends well. 
Cassie Camilleri (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

LUKE: We mostly played Western Sydney and Blue Mountains shows. A few in the city too - we played in Newtown a couple of times. 
Luke 'Swanny' Swannell (Bass), Nosie Levels correspondence, 2024


CASSIE: We recorded a song that went on a compilation. I remember playing at Blaxland Tavern and Melrose Hall, and on a stage in a park. 
Cassie Camilleri (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

NEWSPAPER: The Western Sydney-based band Scratch Habbit has recently got back together and will be seen in Penrith in the coming weeks. The band is made up of four local members aged 18 and 19 years old. They will launch a compilation CD, Grow Your Own IV, showcasing Sydney's best upcoming artists. The band's manager Brad Moore said Scratch Habbit was the only band from outside the city on the compilation CD... "They play a mix of ska, punk and power pop that is radio friendly", he said.
Penrith Press, November 1998

Penrith Press, November 17th, 1998

NEWSPAPER: They call themselves Penrith's premier punks. "Well, we try", says Detox Unit, whose antics at Blaxland Tavern last week pleased everyone. And never ones to disappoint, Detox Unit promises "more ska punk is on the platter" when they perform at the new Parkview Hotel at St Marys. It's all part of their July tour. Hear the band on Thursday, July 8, and help bass player Adam celebrate his birthday.
Penrith Star, June 1999


JOSHO: The idea of Ska Man came from The Porkers, where I'd seen The Porkman rev up the crowd. I remember chatting to Checky one time when we saw The Porkers and, at the time being a massive follower of Scratch Habbit, I put an idea to him about Scratch Habbit having a similar person to get the crowd going. Obviously at the time we were both heavily influenced by and listening to a lot of Operation Ivy - the cover of their iconic self-titled album with the 'ska man' breaking out through the album cover us the idea for the look of our Ska Man. I would sing to the songs, get the crowd energetic, and a lot of the time create skanking circles and join the crowd.
Josho Matheson (Ska Man), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

REVIEW: Detox Unit hail from out Penrith way and their 3-way ska-tinged energy pill kicked off the night all tight and jumpy like their song Keeping Time, kinda like Gidget on acid, a frenzied anthemic thrash that's loaded with just the right balance of catchy melody. With the likes of The Living End high on their influence list, Detox Unit keep it fresh and raw and sweaty to the core. An crankfire opener to the evening and a fine crowd pleaser to boot.
Review of Sandpit Band Comp by Mark Fraser, Drum Media, June 1999

LUKE: When Checky started getting on the One Dollar Short scene, I think that was when the band ended.  
Luke 'Swanny' Swannell (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CHRIS: When Checky left, I joined the band and we had a few practices. I learnt a bunch of the songs. There was another practice I didn't know about and didn't turn up for and it fizzled after that point. A loss of communication I think - it wasn't as easy those days, mobile phones weren't really a thing for everyone. It was a shame.  I liked the band the people in it. I never played live with them. 
Chris 'Goonie' Duckworth (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RELATED BANDS: Badanga, Clobassi, Fat Slinky, Carnage Flail, The Shirkers, Charchie Ink, Spankin' Brothers, Lucy and the Pheromones, Jugular Cuts, Moonbombs, Struck 70, Spilt Milk, One Dollar Short, Columbia's Pain, Insult to Injury, Horrible Men, Toe to Toe, The Hassle Brigade, Dipstick Holiday, Unpaid Debt, Strength Within, Speckled Foam, Staunch








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Sunday, July 7, 2024

Chris Duckworth


Chris 'Goonie/Goonboy' Duckworth 

OTHER:

  • Sound West 2CCR 90.5 - Radio Show (1997-2000)
  • Skaleidescope - Radio Show (2000-2001)
  • RocknRoll Smorgasbord - Radio Show (2001-2010)
REGION: Western Sydney, NSW
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Friday, May 17, 2024

Staunch

ORIGINS: Western Sydney, NSW
GENRE: Punk
YEARS ACTIVE: 1999
 
MEMBERS:
RELEASES: 
 
  • Self-Titled (1999) - Download Here.
    • 1. Right
    • 2. Your Balls Hang Low
    • 3. No, Nah
    • 4. Short One
SUMMARY: Staunch was a short-lived old school punk band consisting of members from Speckled Foam, Spilt Milk, and Drut, whose previous bands had all finished around the same time. The band practiced a few times, recorded the live demo, and played one show under the name 'special guests'. Matty and Tim started Unpaid Debt a few weeks later, which then became their focus.  
 
SHOWS: 
  • Wastelands, PCYC, Blacktown - unknown date, 1999
ORAL HISTORY:
TIM: Staunch was a couple of rehearsals and then that was it. The cassette tape should have a warning label on it. The songs don't really have real names.
Tim Walter (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CHRIS: It was a fun short-lived band. We did one show at Wastelands/Blacktown PCYC of just 4 songs. Simon, the drummer of Drut, was on vocals with his awesome lisp. Matty Albert wanted to have a go on drums. I tagged along with Tim everywhere so found myself on bass. We had a few practices ad then the one show and I think that was it. It was a fun exercise... it was always going to be a bit crappy, but fun. 
Chris Duckworth (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Speckled Foam, Drut, Unpaid Debt, Hippycrits, My Name is John, Mystro, Lestat, Sinus, Spilt Milk, Hatetrip, Groin, Beaver, The Last Hemeroids, Columbia's Pain, Pandora's Theory, Toe to Toe, Headbutt, Two-Faced
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Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Speckled Foam

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW
GENRE: Ska-punk
YEARS ACTIVE: 1996-1999
 
MEMBERS:
RELEASES: 

  • Drink Drunk Punk (1997) - Download Here.
    • 1. They're Onto Me Now
    • 2. Teenage Sex
    • 3. CCFM
  • Everyone is Entitled to My Opinion (1998) - Download Here.
    • 1. Loser
    • 2. The One That Got Away
    • 3. Job Application
    • 4. Drive Through Romance
    • 5. Genital Warts
    • 6. High Impact Fairytale
  •  Silly People Never Die (1999) - Download Here.
    • Beer
    • Reason for Your Smile
    • Tease
    • What You Say
    • Getaway
  • Untitled Album (1998) - Download Here. 
    • 1. Somewhere in Nowhere
    • 2. Teenage Sex
    • 3. Cola Girl
    • 4. Beer
    • 5. Stranded
    • 6. This Vehicle is Fitted with 4WD
    • 7. Club Chix
    • 8. Getaway
    • 9. Tease
    • 10. Smile


SUMMARY: Named the night before their first house party gig (which lasted for three days in what turned out to be a backyard baptism of fire) Speckled Foam regrettably took inspiration for their name from the DIY sound insulation in drummer Martin Birrell's garage. To be fair, the insulation was undeniably both speckled and foam-like. Concerned they might confuse their early (five person) fanbase, they never changed the band name.

Speckled Foam largely owes its creation to Martin Koen, who pulled the people together, realised he wanted to play metal instead, and promptly went his own way. The band's first bass player also left the outfit after allegedly chasing another member of the group with a pointy uprooted 'For Sale' sign, one rather messy night. Werrington kids Joel 'Cool' Catanzaro and Martin 'The Biz' Birrell crossed to the wrong side of Dunheved Road and enlisted their mate and secondary axe man from Cambridge Park, Michael 'Tommo' Thompson (RIP). Joey then brought in Tim Walter (who would later go on to be a founding member of Unpaid Debt) who in addition to a Mohawk and Seven Hills punk cred, brought with him bass player 'Goonboy'. This lineup cemented the band's ska punk sound. 

Their first two releases were cassette tape demos which were self-recorded on a Tascam four track, the beginnings of Tim's many exploits as a sound engineer and producer. Their third release, Silly People Never Die, was a cassette recorded at some studio (no one remembers the name) using time the band won at a competition. Their album, which was being made for release in the era of the compact disc, never saw the light of day. 

The band secured a third place win at Youth Rock, which incidentally helped some absconding members get the extracurricular credits they needed to not fail high school. Their tech that day was a young Luke Shirker, who Joey would later live next door to on Unwins Bridge Road in St. Peters. Members of Bagster, Five Knuckle Shuffle, Unpaid Debt and more lived in the dilapidated row of town houses on Unwins Bridge Road, made famous and preserved from demolition because of the pub adjoining them, the Town and Country, which in better times had hosted a down on his luck country singer named Slim Dusty. It was there that he wrote a tune called 'The Pub with No Beer'. A short walk from the then-legendary Zen Studios, Unwins Bridge Road became a staging point for bands breaking out of the West, into the Inner West. 

The members of Speckled Foam went on to found and join bands including Unpaid Debt and Little More Than You. Tommo, who parted ways with the band early on, went on to join Barkode. His tragic passing at 19 prompted a brief Speckled Foam reunion and an acknowledgement among the surviving members that it was the best of times, regardless of the quality of the music (or lack thereof).  

Text supplied by someone who was there, 2024.

 SHOWS: 

 
ORAL HISTORY:
TIM: Joe and some of his mates started the band. Not sure how long they were jamming before I came along. We used to jam in Tommo's lounge room, then in Biz's Dad's factory unit with a stereo/PA that my Dad had. He still has it in the garage.
Tim Walter, Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
CHRIS: I played nothing before Speckled Foam. Played a tiny bit of bass with some guys from school, but none of us could play... at all. Tim walked into the Wastelands shop and we figured out we went to the same Sex Pistols show and we hit it off. It wasn't long after that Tim asked me to try out for Speckled Foam and I learn bass from there"
Chris 'Goonie' Duckworth, Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
TIM: First gig I remember was a house party in Werrington. We got noise complaints and everyone from the party grabbed a piece of gear and we walked it through the neighbourhood to another house and continued.
Tim Walter, Noise Levels discussion, 2024
 
CHRIS: Playing Youthrock was pretty good. My introverted self playing out to something like 1000 people. Penrith High School was also fun. Somehow Tim managed to get the whole high school doing the Chicken Dance to one of our songs.
Chris 'Goonie' Duckworth, Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 
 
TIM: I took the school's 4-track home and just smashed the demos away. Then we won about 48 hours studio time from various band comps. We would turn up and always know a judge or two. Once we played a real shit one and Izzy (who sang in Cult 45) came up and said we were shit but we could still go through to the next round. We used to run out tapes off over the top of the cheapest cassettes we could find. Often old shitty bands that you'd pick up for 50 cents a pop. I think Biz's dad found a whole bunch of them for next to nothing. We would erase them then put a sticker on them, print a dodgy cover, and charge $5. We used to sell so many of them.
Tim Walter, Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 
RELATED BANDS: Barkode, Little More Than You, Unpaid Debt, Hippycrits, My Name is John, Staunch, Paper Tigers, Staunch
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