Nunbait
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Shaun Butcher, Jay Doherty, Ian Fraser, Mark Guthrie |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Punk rock music |
Nunbait was an Australian punk rock ensemble established in 1989, active throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside contemporaries such as The Cosmic Psychos, Frenzal Rhomb, Tumbleweed, and The Meanies. They played a significant role in the second wave of punk, drawing influence from earlier acts like Thug and Lubricated Goat.
History
Originating in Sydney in 1989, Nunbait's founding members were Shaun Butcher on guitar, Jay Doherty on drums, Ian Fraser as vocalist, and Mark Guthrie handling bass and vocals. Butcher and Guthrie brought experience from Townsville bands, with Guthrie also having performed in Fraser’s Brisbane-based proto-grunge band Dementia 13 (1984–1988). After moving independently from Queensland to Sydney’s Newtown district, they formed Nunbait with Doherty, who had minimal prior drumming experience. The band’s name was a play on the term jailbait, and their musical style was characterized as "noise rock." After Doherty passed away in 1990, Mathew Fante took over drumming duties.
Their debut release was a self-produced single titled "Track Trauma" (June 1990), limited to 500 copies. Following a victory at a battle of the bands event held at Sydney's Lansdowne Hotel, Nunbait secured a deal with the underground label Waterfront Records. That same year, they released the EP The Hub, produced by Stu Spasm. This six-track EP included original songs such as "The Melting Hour," which had its origins in Dementia 13. Critics praised the EP for its aggressive rock energy.
Nunbait opened for both prominent international and Australian groups including Butthole Surfers, Mudhoney, Einstürzende Neubauten, The Beasts of Bourbon, Nirvana, Helmet, and Fugazi. They also shared stages with underground Australian outfits like Tumbleweed, Cosmic Psychos, and Celibate Rifles. Their sound was noted for being loud, intense, and confrontational.
In 1991, they released the single "Nowhere Fast," which was mixed by Jack Endino of Sub Pop and Mark Arm from Mudhoney; it reached number three on independent music charts. The four-track EP Spinout came out in 1992 under Survival Records. Their final album, Busted, was released through Melbourne’s Hippy Knight label; however, the band was dissatisfied with its rushed production. Nunbait disbanded soon after but reunited briefly in 2010 for a tour with The Hard Ons.
Personnel
- Ian (Ivan) Fraser – Vocals (1989–1993)
- Shaun Butcher – Guitar (1989–1993)
- Mark Guthrie – Bass, Vocals (1989–1993)
- Jay Doherty – Drums (1989–1990)
- Mathew Fante – Drums (1990–1993)
Discography
45s
- Track Trauma / Blow Me Away (1990), Masterbait Records; recorded at Sound Barrier, co-produced by Nunbait and Amr Zaid (of Ratcat)
- Nowhere Fast / Head In The Jam (1991), Waterfront Records; recorded at Electric Ave., mixed by Mark Arm (Mudhoney) and Jack Endino (Sub Pop)
Mini LP
- The Hub (1990), Waterfront; produced by Stu Spasm (Lubricated Goat). Tracks include The Melting Hour, Rattler, Erotic Auto Accident, Super Charged, Creepy Crawl, The Hub
Mini CD
- Spinout (1992), Survival; tracks: Bladder Mouth, Crack in Her Eye, Kill Kylie, Spinout
CD
- Busted (1993), Hippy Knight; tracks: 7.30PM, Busted, Cease to Squirm, Cut it Out, Metal Gibber, Monoblaster, Point of no Return, Poor Henry, Track Trauma, Young Bloke Blues
Compilations
- Fresh from the Womb (1992), Magnet (10" mini LP); includes Crack in Her Eye
- Various - Self Mutilation Volume Three (1993), Hippy Knight Records (USA); features "Shit for Brains," recorded late 1992 at Troy Studios
Bibliography
- Spencer, Chris; Nowarra, Zbig; McHenry, Paul: The Who's Who of Australian Rock, The Five Mile Press, 5th Edition, 2002.