Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre, Canberra, 10th April, 1999

VENUE: Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre, Canberra

DATE: Saturday, 10th April, 1999

TIME: 6pm

OTHER: All Ages. 

• Half-Mongrel
• Blurred Vision
• Bleeding Face
• The Upperhand
• The Blurters

Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre, Thirroul, 11th April, 1999

VENUE: Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre, Thirroul

DATE: Sunday, 11th April, 1999

TIME: 12pm

OTHER: All Ages. $7 entry. Organised by Barbwirepullthru.

• Tank-O-Piss
• Bleeding Face
• Regular Boys Haircut
• Found My Direction
• Slug 7
• AVO
• Tuskin Raiders
• The Blurters

PCYC, Hornsby, 19th June, 1999

VENUE: PCYC, Hornsby

DATE: Saturday, 19th June, 1999

TIME: 6pm

OTHER: $5 entry.

 

BANDS:

• S. Van
• Arms Reach
• Pride of None
• Murder
• The Blurters
  
• Right Idea
• Likerd
• Fistfull
  
• Navel Graveyard
• Genghis Khan
  

Iron Duke, Alexandria, 7th April, 2000

VENUE: Iron Duke, Alexandria

DATE: Friday, 7th April, 2000

TIME: 8pm

OTHER: $7 entry. Birthday Party.

BANDS:

• Bedlam Beggars
• The Blurters
• One Step Ahead
• Three Found Dead
• The Shirkers
• VBS (did not end up playing)
• Meataxe
  

ORAL HISTORY:

MITCH: We were pumped to play the Iron Duke show but never actually did. We were 16 at the time, and Iron Duke shows were strictly 18+. We used to jump the back fence by climbing a dumpster and would sneak in to watch bands like AVO and The Blurters. We somehow blagged an appearance on a lineup, but when the publican found out we were underage he dragged us up to a hotel room to decide what to do with us. We eventually got kicked out. 

Mitchell Bingemann (Vocalist of VBS), Noise Levels correspondence, 2026

A Big Day at the Pub, Green Square, Zetland, 26th January

VENUE: Green Square, Zetland

DATE: 26th January, 2002

TIME: 11am

OTHER: $18 entry. Organised by the Bands Ken West Rejects.

BANDS:

• The Onyas
• Daredevil
• Asteroid B612
• The Mystaken
• Further
• Lowderados
• The Crusaders
• Tito Riviera
• Shifter
• Cabin Fever
• The Troughmen
• The Blurters
  

Annandale Hotel, Annandale, 29th August, 2003

VENUE: Annandale Hotel, Annandale

DATE: 29th August, 2003

BANDS:

• Rose Tattoo
• Demolition Highstyle 
• The Blurters
  

Con Barcode

BANDS:

• Lowlife / Back to Back (1988-1990) - Vocals
• Barcode the World (1997) - Vocals
• The Unknown (1997-1998) - Bass
• The Blurters (1999-2003, 2019-Current) - Bass
• Impact Statement (2018-2020) - Vocals
• Milat (2019-Current) - Noise Project
• Excessive Force (2020-2021) - Vocals
  
• Ciggie Bludging Mission (2021) - Noise Project
• Assimilators (2019-Current) - Bass
• Ratlicker (2022) - Noise Project

SUMMARY: Con Barcode is probably best known for his zine and label Barcode the World, which helped to document the more DIY aspects of hardcore, punk, and noise in the '90s. Con also played in a range of bands, as seen above, and also worked as the tour manager for Toe to Toe during one of their most popular periods.

ORAL HISTORY: Collected in conversation with Con via email, 2024.

On Being in Bands:

I started in the mid-'90s... I figured I could do way more than just being a pissed punter. Plus I've always been involved in heaps of things - in my youth I played a bit but mostly put on shows, did the fanzine, distro, released stuff, etc. I'm not into wasting time. I know people that have sat on the couch smoking bongs since their early twenties and they're still there now, years later. I know talented musicians that have never recorded a CD. I've played on tons of releases and, okay, some are crap (like the noise stuff) but that's still better than doing nothing. My old partner in crime, Jay from Inner City Uprising, is in his early 50s and releasing and playing more than ever. It's only in the last several years that I've done most of my playing and recording. I've been in six bands with him after I turned 48 - I love it. 

 

The Blurters

 

Back in the '80s when I was 19 I was in Lowlife (which became Back to Back). Was pretty bad but we did play with legends like Massappeal, Mortal Sin, Splatterheads... we did six Black Flag covers, Minor Threat, Weasals, Gov. Issue, Samhain covers, as well as some crap originals. It was the best fun. Sometimes we'd have up to 15 people watching us rehearse and they'd be taking drugs and then we'd go out. The times were loose. We once went to a pool party and I got naked and stayed that way all night. The girl's parents were. I was having a joint in the driveway and through the open kitchen window the girl's mum asked, "Who's the naked boy in the backyard?" The girl answered, "Mum, that's Con. Come meet him, he's nice". Then my mate let a girl drive his car - she'd never driven before. The guitarist from Lowlife and I were on the roof racks and they snapped off when she skidded. We hit the road hard and walked the rest of the way to my mates' place. On my head I carried a lounge chair that I'd found on the side of the road. People had pissed on it and we didn't notice 'til the next day. It was just shit like that every weekend plus fights, hospitals, mad gigs, etc. 

 

My poor Greek parents were putting up with me coming home obliterated. I can't believe any of us survived. I don't even know why I did half the shit I did. Peer pressure and personal demons came into play - you gotta walk that line between partying, brain damage, and death. How much is too much? When do you slow down or stop? Life's changed now - I try to do anything healthy to reverse damage done but a lot of could be in vain. Doing more with musical projects helps a lot. 

 

The Lowlife guitarist Ashley later joined Massappeal and when they supported bands like Sepultura he always put me on the door. Rest in peace my friend.  

 

Zines

Looking back at my zine Barcode the World... I'm open-minded and positive but sometimes too open-minded crosses into offensive territory. You gotta understand there was a chasm of difference from the '80s and '90s to today's climate. Overall there was a lot of positivity as the zine also became a mail order / distro and everything else. 

I got the name from an old Christian poster depicting the end of the world with barcodes on everything. I've had it since the age of 12. I was influenced by zines such as Shitfest, which was a funny one. Psychosis and Betty Paginated were great too. There tons of zines back then. The zine Sick Puppy was insane.

 

The poster mentioned by Con

Making Barcode the World involved a lot of running around to friends' workplaces on weekends when their boss was out so I could print hundreds of issues - this meant that the first few issues were free. Same as stickers. I gave mates' designs and they used to deliver a shoebox of vinyl stickers and charge me only ten bucks. I flooded Australia with Barcode the World stickers. And having a van I returned favours by helping out anyone that needed anything moved. Great era!

I took a break from the zine after 2003 because of the time factor. I started playing more plus I was touring with Toe to Toe as their tour manager, doing art, was in a demanding relationship, etc. Plus those 23 issues took a lot to put together.

Con (on the right, on bass) in The Blurters

Shows

All Ages shows weren't that big back in the '80s. You just went to gigs. From 15 onward, no bottleshop, venue, or bar hassled us. Different times. No rules really, which was good in one way but totally irresponsible in other ways. Back then St James Tavern was the best Thursday night venue. Every night you could see everything from The Hard-Ons to Mortal Sin. The St James Tavern was also the first place the Rollins Band played in Australia. Tons of overseas bands payed there, plus there was a good mixed variety of different shit like Southern Fried Kidneys, Psychotic Turnbuckles, etc. I saw hundreds of bands there. Other great venues back then were the Lansdowne, the Sando, the Trade Union Club (with its two levels of bands), the Journos Club, the Teachers Club. The Hills Inn catered for metal stuff. Every venue was good back then.

 

One show that stands out... this overseas grind band had issues with venues fucking up their bookings and I pulled a few strings and got 'em a Friday and Saturday night at the Iron Duke with solid supports. The drummer met me and was being rude when someone informed him that I was responsible for saving their asses. Poor guy felt so bad but they went on and killed it - some world class thrash/grind. 

 

I met Scott (Toe to Toe) before he played in bands. We were 15 and met at a gig. He was then in the bands Death Mission and Under the Influence, both top bands, and I followed them religiously. He formed Toeys after that. I also knew Nick the Wog, their manager and the maddest ethnic ever, and that's how I became the Tour Manager for Toe to Toe. Nick played in a straight edge band before anyone knew what that was. He later became as straight edge as Iggy Pop. He was by '80s and '90s standards. Love the guy. I used to drive, lug gear, sell merchandise, and - most importantly - take care of all the cash because before me they'd spend their money on Bolivian export and would party like mad. I got 'em back on a diet of just whiskey, beer and cigarettes because I cared about 'em. It was a very busy period in my life. I got to see Public Enemy, Hellacopters, and others, as well as Toeys all the time. It was the best period for me doing Barcode the World, Toe to Toe, playing in The Blurters, and going out with a goddess. It was non-stop everything.

 

Con in Milat

Record Label

I put out compilations and as far as bands were concerned, it was first-in, best-dressed. Anything DIY, I have 'em a go - so some hip-hop, electronica, and all kinds of genres made it onto those comps. It's great that decades later I meet people that appreciate how I helped their band and so on, it was such a great era and the last one before social media came along and turned people into sickeningly vain idiots. 

I released 7 videos, 3 of which were later released on a DVD. I still have hundreds of hours of unreleased stuff. 

 

ZINES: Read more about Bar Code the World here.

The Blurters

Impact Statement

Impact Statement

Hardcore Superbowl, Green Square, Zetland, 9th March, 2002

VENUE: Green Square, Zetland

DATE: Saturday, 9th March, 2002

TIME: 2pm

OTHER: Hardcore Superbowl. Organised by No Deal.

BANDS:

• World War XXIV
• Deadstare
• The Kill
• AVO
• Frontside
• Fuck... I'm Dead
• The Blurters
• Toe to Toe
• Creeping Jesus
• Bulldog Spirit
• Loyal
• Three Found Dead
  

Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters, 20th January, 2001

VENUE: Sydney Park, St Peters

DATE: Saturday, 20th January, 2001

TIME: 12pm

OTHER: Punx Picnic

BANDS:

• Deconsume (BELGIUM)
• Dayglo Abortions (CANADA)
• The Howlin' Moondoggies 
• Dystempa
• Sewer Cider
• Mallet
• The Bigots
• The Blurters
• Deadstare
  

Green Square, Zetland, 20th October, 2000

VENUE: Green Square, Zetland

DATE: Friday, 20th October, 2000

OTHER: Organised by No Deal.

BANDS:

• The Kill
• Deadstare
• The Blurters
• The Rats
• Sewer Cider
• Three Found Dead
  

Hardcore Superbowl, Green Square, Zetland, 31st March, 2001

VENUE: Green Square, Zetland

DATE: Saturday, 31st March, 2001

TIME: 3pm

OTHER: Hardcore Superbowl. $12 entry. Organised by No Deal Records.

• Last Hemeroids
• Within Blood
• Rocks
• Deadstare
• World War 24
• Irrelevant
• Babyshakers
• The Blurters
• Creeping Jesus
• Sewer Cider
  

Empire Hotel, Annandale, 16th September, 2006

VENUE: Empire Hotel, Annandale

DATE: Saturday, 16th September, 2006

 

BANDS:

• Fast Times
• The Blurters
• Demolition High Style
• The Corps
• Frank Rizzo
  

Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills, 23rd October, 1999

VENUE: Excelsior Hotel, Sydney

DATE: Saturday, 23rd October, 1999

TIME: 8pm

OTHER: $8 entry.

• Vicious
• The Blurters
• Unemployed Supervillains
• Run for Cover
  

Bat and Ball, Surry Hills, 16th July, 1999

 

VENUE: Bat and Ball, Surry Hills

DATE: Friday, 16th July, 1999

TIME: 7pm

OTHER: $5 entry.

BANDS:

• Crankcase
  
• Bleeding Face
  
• Murder
• The Blurters
  
• Chokeslam

 

shX, Surry Hills, 10th September, 2002

VENUE: shX, Surry Hills

DATE: Tuesday, 10th September, 2002

BANDS:

• U.S. Bombs (USA)
• Demolition High Style
  
• The Blurters
  

Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters, 13th July, 2002

VENUE: Sydney Park, St Peters

DATE: Saturday, 13th July, 2002

TIME: Midday

OTHER: Punx Picnic

BANDS:

• The Blurters
• AVO
• Farce
• Change Over
• The Derailed
• Sydney Guns
• Run for Cover
• The Shambles
  

Superbowl, Iron Duke, Alexandria, 26th February, 2000

VENUE: Iron Duke Hotel, Alexandria

DATE: Saturday, 26th February, 2000

TIME: 3pm

OTHER: 5th Annual Hardcore Superbowl. Organised by No Deal.

BANDS:

• Shank (UK)
• Rocks
• FMD
• Frontside
• AVO
• The Blurters
• Murder
• The Kill
• Damage Control
• One Step Ahead

ORAL HISTORY:

NEIL: This was my first trip to Sydney as an adult. There was also a Friday evening show at Hornsby with a few of the Violent Hornsby Straight Edge bands and a couple of out-of-towners, and a Sunday boat cruise in Sydney. We didn't get to the boat cruise but it looked awesome. My impressions of the weekend, as a highly interested outsider who bought all the records and read the impressive volume of zines that were coming out of the scene in the late '90s, was that NSW hardcore had recently fractured. For example, there were almost no crusties at these Shank shows, possibly due to being made to feel unwelcome by the swatches of Blood For Blood T-shirts and the overpowering musk of Brut 33 in the air, which I thought to be a shame given how much the crusties I knew (from NSW) would've been blown away by Shank. Also - the absence of a very stylistically-complementary-to-Shank band, Arm's Reach, and the lack of Newcastle representation altogether, seemed notable. Given that Arm's Reach had recently broken up, and based on the fairly well-documented schism at the time, Arm's Reach probably wouldn't have been asked to play. Overall, it felt like less people travelled for the gigs, but Sydney hardcore was pumping locally, albeit with a totally different mood to the 'NSW Network of Friends' vibe that the scene projected only a year beforehand. Despite feeling like I'd missed an important time to witness NSW hardcore, it was still a ripper weekend for a wide-eyed 19 year-old from the then-starved-for-hardcore QLD. Shank were incredible, AVO were abrupt and intense, The Kill and Three Found Dead were two sides of a menacing coin retrieved from the gutter, and it was great to witness One Step Ahead, the earlier incarnation of the soon-to-be-life-altering Deadstare.

Neil Bramley, punter, 2024

Green Square Hotel, Zetland, 21st July, 2002

VENUE: Green Square Hotel, Zetland

DATE: Sunday, 21st July, 2002

TIME: 4pm

OTHER: $5 entry.

BANDS:

• Charter 77
• Bulldog Spirit
• The Blurters
• Run for Cover
  

Iron Duke, Alexandria, 28th April, 2000

 

VENUE: The Iron Duke Hotel, Alexandria

DATE: Friday, 28th April, 2000

OTHER: Presented by Badtown.

BANDS:

• The Bedlam Beggars
• The Last Hemeroids
• The Blurters
• Yoink
• Community Cervix
• Three Found Dead
• Kamikaze Harry
  

Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters, 14th May, 2000

VENUE: Sydney Park, St Peters

DATE: Sunday, May 14th, 2000

OTHER: Punx Picnic 

BANDS:

• The Last Hemeroids
• World War XXIV
• The Blurters
• World on Welfare
• Rukus
• Sewer Cider
• Change Over
• Sydney Guns