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Desperate Measures circa 1982
Eugene Butcher (Vocals), Shayne O'Neill (Guitar), Eric Van Den Hoven (Bass), Greg Hussey (Drums)
Desperate Measures formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 - a violent city, and a violent time, but the city was home to a thriving music scene and the group quickly found a following with their punk sound influenced by the likes of the Stooges and Killing Joke. With the advent of the year 1982, the band had established a stable line-up featuring Eugene Butcher (Vocals), Erik Van Den Hoven (Bass), Greg Hussey (Drums), Shayne O'Neill (Guitar). They played the after party for The Clash’s Christchurch gig, and began working the local circuit which took in The Gladstone, The Star and Garter, PJ's Nightclub and the Student Union Ballroom. Highlights for the band in their brief existence down under were playing the after-show party for The Clash where Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon met the band, and playing New Zealand’s most famous punk festival, Gerald Dwyer's Golden Showers in Wellington.
They released one sought after 7 inch, the 1984 E.P. in a run of 300 copies on their own Desperate Times label (it now sells for upwards of $100) and a live album, before splitting in 1983, when singer Eugene Butcher moved to the U.K. After a couple of well received reformation shows back home in New Zealand supporting the U.K Subs and Peter and the Test Tube Babies in 2009 and 2010, fast forward, and 40 years after they formed, a new line-up featuring sole original member, Eugene Butcher, have been fully active on the UK music scene, sharing stages with the likes of U.K. Subs, The Pack, Cockney Rejects, Subhumans, Nashville Pussy, alongside appearances at festivals such as Rebellion, Camden Rocks and HRH Punk.
Eugene Butcher left New Zealand in 1984 and is now the publisher and editor of respected UK rock magazine, Vive Le Rock. |
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