Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms
| Company type | Miniseries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television drama |
| Founded | May 15, 2012 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television miniseries |
Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms is an Australian drama miniseries consisting of six episodes, focusing on the violent conflicts within biker gangs. It premiered on Network Ten on 15 May 2012. The narrative is adapted from the book Brothers in Arms authored by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey. The script was developed by Greg Haddrick, Roger Simpson, and Jo Martino, with direction by Peter Andrikidis. The production's estimated budget stood at around A$6 million.
Premise
This series portrays the 1984 Milperra massacre, a deadly confrontation between the Bandidos and Comanchero motorcycle clubs. The rivalry ignited when a group of Comancheros established Australia's inaugural Bandidos chapter, intensifying tensions between the gangs. The violent encounter occurred during a swap meet in Milperra, resulting in seven deaths—including a 14-year-old innocent bystander—and causing injuries to 28 people, with 20 requiring hospitalization.
Each installment begins with a statement from Justice Adrian Roden during the clubs’ Supreme Court trial: "As patriotism can lead to jingoism and mateship can lead to cronyism, so bikie club loyalty can lead to bikie club war."
Bandidos
- Callan Mulvey portraying Snoddy
- Maeve Dermody as Lee (Snoddy's partner)
- Damian Walshe-Howling in the role of Chopper (Vice President)
- Anthony Hayes playing Colin "Caesar" Campbell (Sgt-at-Arms)
- Luke Hemsworth as Shadow
- Fletcher Humphrys as Bull
- Sam Parsonson as Junior
- Aaron Fa'aoso portraying Roo
- Richard Sutherland as Davo
- Peter Flaherty as Lard
Comancheros
- Matt Nable as Jock Ross, President and self-styled 'Supreme Commander'
- Susie Porter playing Vanessa (Jock’s spouse)
- Richard Cawthorne as Foggy (Vice President)
- Jeremy Lindsay Taylor portraying Leroy (Sgt-at-Arms)
- Luke Ford as Snow
- Nathaniel Dean in the role of Kraut
- Todd Lasance as Kiddo
- Manu Bennett as Sunshine
- Trent Baines playing Sparra
- Pier Carthew as Dog
Ratings
The debut episode secured first place in its timeslot, attracting 1.26 million viewers and reaching a peak audience of 1.43 million.
Reviews
Craig Nicholson, a critic from New Zealand, described Brothers In Arms as a "chilling" miniseries comparable to the Underbelly franchise, emphasizing its depiction of an actual conflict. Australian reviewer Steve Molk praised the series for its acting, soundtrack, and authenticity, highlighting outstanding performances by leads Mulvey and Nable alongside strong supporting roles from Susie Porter and Maeve Dermody. Molk noted that although the concluding episode featured a somewhat procedural and slower pace, it effectively provided closure to the gripping storyline.
Music "Highway Mind"
The soundtrack includes "Highway Mind," recorded and released by Australian artist Diesel. This track was issued as a single on 16 May 2012.
Home media
In June 2012, Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms became available on DVD and Blu-Ray formats; however, these editions have been out of print since March 2022.
| DVD title | Format | Number of Episodes | Discs | Release Date Region 4 (Australia) | Special Features | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms | DVD | 6 | 2 | 21 June 2012 | Behind-the-scenes featurette, insights into hair & makeup, armoury, design elements, motorcycles, wardrobe, plus an extended trailer | Roadshow Entertainment |