Savage Cabbage

Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994

ORIGINS: Pennant Hills, NSW

GENRE: Hardcore, Skate punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 1992-1995

 

MEMBERS:

• Andrew Epthorpe - Vocals
• Paul Meaney - Bass
• Matthew Oates - Guitar
• Nathan Summers - Drums (1993-1996)
  
• Unknown - Drums (1992)
• Spacey - Guest Vocals (1994-1995)

RELEASES:

• Demo (1994) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Intro
• 2. Locked
• 3. Square
• 4. Suck Ya
• 5. Tetris
• 6. Bored
• 7. Tug O War
• 8. Mr Men
• 9. Angry For Fun
• 10. Dog Log
• 11. Grindorama

• Compilation-only Tracks - Download Here.
  
• Tension (1993) - on Circle Storm (No Deal compilation)

• Unreleased Recordings
• Toss On (Ska version) - Recorded live at the Lansdowne Hotel (December, 1993)
• You're a Dick - Recorded live at the Lansdowne Hotel (December, 1993)
  
• Toss On (Grind version) - Recorded at Zen in 1994
• Wise Up (cover - originally recorded by Bald) - Recorded at Zen in 1994
  

SUMMARY: Savage Cabbage was a hardcore band out of the Hills area who were active in the early to mid-90s. They were loosely involved with the Cosmic Snail collective who put shows on at the Hornsby PCYC, and also played a lot of shows with fellow Dural/Pennant Hills band Melancholy. Savage Cabbage toured interstate to Melbourne with Subversion in 1994, played supports lots for DOA, No Means No, Propagandhi, and All You Can Eat, and eventually broke up in 1995. 

They were known to cover the following songs in their live sets: 'Snap' (DRI), Crucified (Agnostic Front), Toxic Shock (Agnostic Front), Last Warning (Agnostic Front), Salad Days (Minor Threat), New Start (Gorilla Biscuits), Wise Up (Bald), The Deal (Sick of It All), Johnny Got His Gun (Nausea)

 

SHOWS: 

• Jellyhedz, Chippendale - unknown date, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 27th February, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 25th April, 1993 
• Vic on the Park, Marrickville - 22nd May, 1993
• Vulcan Hotel, Sydney - 26th June, 1993 
• Petersham Inn, Petersham - 26th June, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 31st July, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 25th September, 1993
• Max's, Petersham - 25th September, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 16th October, 1993 
• GB Richmond, Melbourne (VIC) - 29th October 1993
• Royal Artillery, Melbourne (VIC) - 30th October 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 11th December, 1993
• Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney - unknown, December, 1993
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 19th February, 1994
• The Bowlo, Sydney - 4th March, 1994
• Vulcan Hotel, Sydney - 18th March, 1994
• Vulcan Hotel, Sydney - 23rd April, 1994
• Vulcan Hotel, Sydney - 26th November, 1994 
• Vulcan Hotel, Sydney - 3rd December, 1994
• Feedback, Newtown - 4th February, 1995
• Journo's Club, Sydney - 17th March, 1995
  
• PCYC, Hornsby - 19th March, 1995
• Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 7th May, 1995

Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994

ORAL HISTORY:

NATHAN: The music was very influenced by New York hardcore bands, and also thrash bands such as DRI, and powerviolence bands such as No Comment. It was generally pretty fast skater type music with light-hearted lyrics. We also did covers from Agnostic Front, DRI, Sick of It All, Minor Threat, Gorilla Biscuits, and Bold.

Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MATTHEW: It was a rainy day and we met at Paul's place... about 18 months ago. We had another drummer and we just stuffed around. Then we got Nathan drumming with us and it all became a bit more serious. And because Nathan had something to do with Jellyheads we played there a few times.

Matthew Oates (Guitar), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

NATHAN: Our first show was at the Jellyhedz warehouse, an anarchist collective warehouse venue in Chippendale that ran for a couple of years. This show was in 1993 with Melancholy and a heavy metal band called Mayhem. We gigged quite a bit between 1993 and 1995, playing a lot with bands like Subversion, Blitz Babies, Toe to Toe, Stalin's Organ, Drawback, Injured Head, TUBbH, Spilt Milk, Lentil Soup, Melancholy, Minute Minder, Downtime, and many others. One of our more memorable gigs at Hornsby PCYC was supporting DOA and No Means No, which I had interviewed on 2RRR as well. I do remember also a big gig there one evening with Nancy Vandal, which had a jumping castle as part of the action. 

Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

BIO: The music was influenced by a lot of East Coast American Hardcore (New York, Boston, often from the straight edge genre). As a band, the music was mainly for skating, surfing and having a good time, and was usually particularly fast! Most of the lyrics are generally lighthearted and often quite silly. 

Unknown Author, retrospective biography, c. 1996

 

PAUL: Sean from Toe to Toe, he's really into promoting bands, and giving young bands a start. He's doing a couple of shows under the name of No Deal Productions that we're playing. Sean's also organising a recording on Punchdrunk Records. He's putting a lot of work into that. 

Paul Meaney (Bass), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

 

Cosmic Snail Productions bio for Savage Cabbage

 

MATTHEW: After we broke out of Jellyheads, we did a band comp at the Vic on the Park and we somehow made the grand final. Then Alan (Vic on the Park), he was booking bands, he asked us back there again and then a couple more times. And then we just met bands that were doing a bit better, and they saw us play and then they invited us along to play with them and stuff. 

Matthew Oates (Guitar), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

NATHAN: There seems to be a need for all ages shows because all the under ages gigs we've had so far, there's been a really good turnout. Firstly, the audiences are enthusiastic, probably more enthusiastic than a pub gig, and the bands seem to get paid more than a pub gig too... I guess a lot of gigs tend to get organised around the inner city because that's where a lot of alternative bands get to. In this part of Sydney the Hornsby Police Boys has so far filled the niche that needed to be filled.

Nathan Summers (Drums), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

RELATED BANDS: Dieback, 12 Day Fixx, Cooking with Gas, Stalin's Organ, SMUT, Groovinator, Anarchists Anonymous, Magnet, Mad Cowboy Disease, Burn 'Em Down, Red Planet Repairs, Metal Ace

 

Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994

With Spacey (Tutti Parze, Tofu Terror) on guest vocals.

Nathan Summers

Nathan Summers

• Dieback (1986) - Bass
• Theatre Plays (1988) - Bass
  
• No Justification / 12 Day Fixx (1990-1991) - Drums
• Cooking with Gas (1992) - Drums
• Savage Cabbage (1993-1995) - Drums
• Stalin's Organ (1995) - Bass
  
• SMUT (1994-1997) - Drums
• Groovinator (2004-2014) - Drums
  
• Anarchists Anonymous (2006-2017) - Drums
  
• Magnet (2008) - Drums
• Mad Cowboy Disease (2010) - Drums
  
• Burn Em Down (2010-2011) - Drums
• Red Planet Repairs (2021-Current) - Drums
• Metal Ace (2023-Current) - Drums
  

OTHER:

• The Punk Show - 2RRR Radio Show (1993-2015) [also known as Urbanised Neurosis at one point]
  

12 Day Fixx

ORIGINS: Hornsby, NSW

GENRE: Punk / Metal

YEARS ACTIVE: 1991-1992

 

MEMBERS:

• Brenda (Vocals)
• Julian (Vocals)
• Nik Tropiano (Guitar)
• Paul Mort (Bass)
  
• Nathan Summers (Drums)
  

RELEASES:

• Demo (1991)
  

SUMMARY: Originally known as 'No Justification', 12 Day Fixx was a shortlived punk band based in the Inner West. The band played around the Newtown area for about a year before members moved on to other projects.

 

SHOWS: 

• Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Newtown - unknown date, 1991
  

ORAL HISTORY:

NATHAN: It was kind of hard rock / metal / punk, some songs having a Danzig feel, and some being faster with a little thrash. We even did a GBH cover, 'Freak', and mucked around with a Massappeal song, 'Balance'.  

Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

NATHAN: We did our first gig at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre with a new band, You Am I, who obviously ended up being very popular. We also play with SUX and Persecution. The main person behind the band was a fellow named Nik Tropiano, who organised other music stuff at the time, and may have even done a fanzine.

Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Stalin's Organ, Sugar Kane, 10% Slut, Dieback, Cooking with Gas, Savage Cabbage, SMUT, Groovinator, Anarchists Anonymous, Magnet, Mad Cowboy Disease, Burn 'Em Down, Red Planet Repairs, Metal Ace

Stalin's Organ

ORIGINS: Mount Colah, NSW

GENRE: Punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 1992-1998

 

MEMBERS:

• Christie (Vocals)
• Claire (Vocals) [1992-1993]
  
• Fran Toller (Drums)
  
• Stuey [1992-1993]
  
• Simon (Bass) [1992-1994]
  
• Derek Martin (Guitar) [1994-1998]
• Muzza (Bass) [1995-1998]
• Nathan Summers (Bass) [1995]
  

RELEASES: 

 

 

• Scratch and Bite (1994) [Split with Feral Dreams] - Download Here.
• 1. Sex Girls
• 2. Brainless Bimbos
• 3. Puppet Factory
• 4. Stalin's Song
• 5. Executives Wife

 

• Keep On Babble On (1995) [Oxford Babylon Radio Skid Row Compilation] - Download Here.
  
• 1. Judge Me
• 2. Fried Brains and Veins to Go
  

•  The Core Sessions (1995) [Trans Alien Recordings Compilation] - Download Here.
  
• 1. Death by Vomit
• 2. Woy Woy Blues
• 3. Aussie Wonder Camp
• 4. Mental Anguish

• 6079 (1997) [Red Rag Records Compilation] - Download Here.
  
• 1. Syndrome
• 2. Hammered Opinion
• 3. Liposuctions for the Fat & Insecure
• 4. Knives

• Transplant Clinic (1996?) [Lost Demo] - Download Here.
• 1. Domestication Obliteration
• 2. Sex Lashings
• 3. Butthole Circus 
• 4. Murray's Song
• 5. Liposuction 
• 6. The Bold and Beautiful
• 7. Period Boy
• 8. Sweet Child 
• 9. Hole in the Wall
• 10. Hammered Opinion
• 11. Sesame Street Scandal
• 12. Organ Anthem 
• 13. Pick It Lick It Flick It Roll It
• 14. Grandma
• 15. Boredom
• 16. Braindead

SUMMARY: When the band Bullwinkles Revenge finished around 1991, some band members (Fran, Simon, Stuey) decided to continue as a new band with dual female vocalists (Christie, Claire). The band was considered to be part of the Cosmic Snail collective. Also playing under the name Bullwinkles Revenge at first, the band soon became Stalin's Organ, and eventually the lineup reshuffled to settle as a four piece with Christie and Fran as the only original members. The band was very active throughout the mid-90s, often playing multiple shows in Sydney each weekend. They finished up around 1998 with a final show at the Kings Cross Hotel.

 

SHOWS: 

• PCYC, Hornsby - unknown date, 1993 
• Not So Big Day Out, Hornsby Youth Club, Hornsby - 11th December, 1993
  
• Vic on the Park, Marrickville - 5th March, 1994
• Glebe Rower's Club, Glebe - 7th March, 1994
• Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters - 3rd April, 1994
  
• Dancing Fools All Ages Show, Newtown Neighburhood Centre - 14th May, 1994
  
• Vulcan Hotel, Ultimo - 21st May, 1994 
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 2nd September, 1994
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 9th December, 1994
• The Tivoli, Brisbane - 14th January, 1995 [QLD]
• Lewisham Hotel, Sydney - 11th March, 1995
• The Golden Ox, Redfern - 18th March, 1995
• Pembroke Street, Epping - 25th March, 1995
• Thunderfest '95, Eastwood Masonic Temple, Eastwood - 1st April, 1995
• Feedback, Newtown - 2nd April, 1995
• Feedback, Newtown - 16th April, 1995
• Hardcore Nation, The Phoenician Club, Sydney - 13th May, 1995
  
• Punk and Disorderly Chapter 13, Street Level, Blacktown - 17th November, 1995
• Waterloo Tavern, Sydney - 9th December, 1995
• Rainforest Benefit, 1A James Lane, Sydney - 17th December, 1995
• Lewisham Hotel, Sydney - 27th January, 1996
• Iron Duke, Alexandria - 2nd May, 1996
  
• Hardcore Nation, The Phoenician Club, Sydney - 6th May, 1996
• Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville - 29th June, 1996
• Punk Files, Annandale Hotel, Annandale - 27th November, 1996
  
• Kings Cross Hotel, Sydney - unknown date, 1998
  
• Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters - 1st July, 2000 [Reunion show]

ORAL HISTORY:

FRAN: Dave and Pat (from Bullwinkles Revenge) didn't want to continue so just me, Simon and Stuey were jamming... we got together a set list and then convinced my then-girlfriend Christie and Simon's girlfriend Claire to do duel vocals.

Francesco Fran (Drums), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

DEREK: I saw Stalin's Organ in '93 at Hornsby PCYC. They were played a Crass cover, 'Shaved Women'. I loved them straight away. Got to known Fran at that show and he asked me to come and have a jam with them. Fran and I became really close and ended up living together for years. Claire had stopped singing at that point. 

Derek Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

 

SIMON: We would like to establish ourselves as an entertaining energetic live act, not just music, but a good live show, and just have a good time really... We're more of a social band than a polished, political shock tactic band. 

Simon (Bass), Loaded to the Gills Issue 5, July/August 1994

 

CLAIRE: Christie and I write the lyrics, except the obviously simple ones... Money's not important, but having a good time is. We do it because we enjoy it. Whatever messages we are trying to get across we always try to make it witty.

Claire (Vocals), Loaded to the Gills Issue 5, July/August 1994 

 

 

DEREK: We played a shit ton, a couple of times a week for a while there. We did a tour of Adelaide at the end of '94 and when we got back Justin left the band... We were always super busy doing shows. The Phoenician Club Show for Hardcore Nation was epic. It was the biggest crowd Stalin's Organ played to. That was rad.

Derek Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

NATHAN: I played bass in Stalin's Organ for only a few months as I was playing drums in SMUT and Savage Cabbage at the same time and was fairly occupied with several bands. Stalin's Organ's first bass player Simon had left and another bass player ended up joining them more permanently after me; a fellow called Murray who was originally from Coffs Harbour. I did a few gigs with Stalin's Organ, including a big one at the Phoenician Club and an all ages show at a Church Hall in Epping. It was fun playing bass in the band ideally it would have been good to have played longer as I have always been friends with the Stalin's Organ people, but I had a bit much on my plate. We all used to play together as bands a fair bit. In particular, I remember SMUT and Stalin's Organ doing a tour of Canberra in 1994. 

Nathan Summers (Bass), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

DEREK: We were all so young. Nothing was hard. We just had a fucking ball. They were really good times. So many shows. I loved those days. Fran was fucking hilarious... he always had some off the wall shit going on. The Adelaide trip sticks out to me because I'd grown up there and to go back with mates in a band was so good. We had a great time.

Derek Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

 

 

DEREK: They were good times. Some of the stuff off Transplant Clinic was great... 'Domestication Obliteration' was the first song I wrote for Stalin's Organ. We had the intention to release Transplant Clinic but other than a few tapes it got neglected. There was a picture of a cartoon punk with his heart nailed to his head on the cover - with 'Stalin's Organ - Transplant Clinic' written above and below. It was the first tattoo I ever got, hahaha. I guess I thought it was funny... we were kids. It was funny. 

Derek Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

 

DEREK: In the end it naturally fizzed out. We all decided we needed to do something new. We'd got better at what we were doing and our tastes and direction changed. 

 Derek Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels Correspondence, 2024

NOTE: Photos supplied by Sim Shame.

RELATED BANDS: Bullwinkles Revenge, Groin, Bastardos, The Last Hemeroids, Beertruck, Poospoon, 12 Day Fixx / No Justification, Savage Cabbage, World on Welfare, Dead by Dawn, Hippycrits, Vae Victis, Dark Horse, Cream Soda, Cooking with Gas, SMUT, Groovinator, Anarchists Anonymous, Magnet, Mad Cowboy Disease, Burn Em Down, Red Planet Repairs, Metal Ace, Dropzone