Suburban Reptiles
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Simon Grigg, Brett Salter |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
| Products | Punk rock music, singles ("Megaton" / "Desert Patrol", "Saturday Night Stay At Home" / "45 Single") |
The Suburban Reptiles stood as one of New Zealand's pioneering punk groups, sharing this distinction with the Scavengers.
History
Established in late 1976 by Auckland students Simon Grigg and Brett Salter, the band initially explored jazz before pivoting to punk after Grigg encountered a review of the Sex Pistols. The founding members were Salter (saxophone), William Pendergrast (bass), Clare Elliot (vocals), Trish Scott (guitar), Brian Nicholls (guitar), Kim Smith (backing vocals), and Des Edwards (drums). Early rehearsals in Ponsonby soon saw Smith and Edwards exit the lineup. Their first live performance at the University of Auckland was abruptly ended when the power was cut after just one song.
Drummer Mark Hough, also known as Buster Stiggs, became part of the group next, solidifying the initial committed roster. Members adopted stage personas: Salter took on Jimmy Joy/Lino Clone; Elliot became Zero; Nicholls was Shaun Anfrayd; Pendergrast used Billy Planet; Scott performed as Sissy Spunk; and Hough retained Buster Stiggs. Grigg managed the band under the alias Partizan Politik.
Their debut significant public appearance occurred in June 1977 at a screening party for David Blyth's film Angel Mine, sharing the bill with the Scavengers and the Masochists. The band maintained a steady performance schedule despite personnel changes, including departures of Scott and Nicholls, replaced by Johnny Volume and Wayne "Bones Hillman" Stevens. They encountered obstacles such as prohibition from performing at a Catholic boys' school, negative press coverage, and assaults during a Wellington arts festival.
In late 1977, The Suburban Reptiles recorded New Zealand's inaugural punk double A-side single. The initial recording session yielded four tracks that went unreleased; a subsequent session produced "Megaton" and "Desert Patrol," which were issued by Vertigo Records in January 1978, achieving sales of approximately 500 copies.
Following Grigg’s exit in late 1977, Hough assumed managerial responsibilities and guided the band toward conventional touring practices. Mid-1978 saw Zero arrested for swearing onstage, resulting in a notable legal case concerning freedom of expression. During this era, bassists Tony Baldock and Rolland Killeen also contributed to the group.
The involvement of former Split Enz guitarist Phil Judd as producer and musician caused internal divisions, splitting members into factions led by Judd/Hough and Pendergrast/Salter, with Zero caught between them. Tensions escalated due to drug-related issues. Judd reworked the planned single "Mamba," substituting much of the band's original parts with his own guitar contributions. This led to Pendergrast withdrawing from active participation and effectively leaving. The final release, "Saturday Night Stay at Home," became an iconic track, selling several hundred copies and later being voted New Zealand's top single in student radio polls. Nevertheless, this period represented a lost chance for what might have become a landmark New Zealand punk album.
By October 1978’s Angel Mine premiere, two separate groups performing under The Suburban Reptiles name existed simultaneously. The faction led by Hough and Judd eventually reformed as the Swingers.
Singles
| Date | Label | Cat. Number | Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 February 1978 | Vertigo | 6036 920 | "Megaton" / "Desert Patrol" |
| August 1978 | Vertigo | 6036 924 | "Saturday Night Stay At Home" / "45 Single" |
Compilation appearances
- The track "Saturday Night Stay At Home" featured on Hits and Myths (1982)
- The songs "Saturday Night Stay At Home," "Megaton," and "Coup d'État" included in the AK79 Reissue (1992)
- "Saturday Night Stay At Home" appeared on Hate Your Neighbours Vol.1 (1997)
- The track "45 Single" was part of Move To Riot (2002)
- "Saturday Night Stay At Home" was also featured on Give It a Whirl (2003)
References
- Davey, T. & Puschmann, H. (1996) Kiwi rock. Dunedin: Kiwi Rock Publications. ISBN 0-473-03718-1
- Eggleton, D. (2003) Ready to Fly. Nelson, NZ: Craig Potton Publishing.