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{{Short description|New Zealand indie rock band}}
{{Other uses|Axemen (disambiguation){{!}}Axemen}}
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'''The Axemen''' is a New Zealand [[indie rock]] band formed in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE AXEMEN Sac Tap Nut Jam (LP)|url=http://flyingout.co.nz/products/the-axemen-sac-tap-nut-jam|work=Flying Out|accessdate=1 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Axemen 1983 – present : press release|url=http://theaxemen.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/axemengeneralpressrelease20112.pdf|website=Theaxemen.files.wordpress.com|accessdate=1 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Axemen One-Sheet – Album Out Next Week|url=http://www.spacecaserecords.com/news/2013/7/7/axemen-one-sheet-album-out-next-week|website=Spacecaserecords.com|date=7 July 2013 |accessdate=1 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Axemen, Lo-Liners, Dark Matter & Cranks|url=http://events.nzherald.co.nz/2011/axemen-lo-liners-dark-matter-cranks/lyttelton|accessdate=1 February 2014|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=2 December 2011}}</ref> They played at the protests for [[Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986|homosexual law reform]] in 1983, where member Little Stevie McCabe was severely beaten up in the [[Christchurch]] [[Cathedral Square, Christchurch|Cathedral Square]] toilets.
 
The Axemen's founding members, Bob Brannigan, Little Stevie McCabe, and [[Stuart Page|Stu Kawowski]], playedhad inbeen members of various bands, apart and together, Inin the [[South Island]] cities of [[Christchurch]] and [[Dunedin]]. Brannigan and McCabe played together in [[Christchurch]] under many names including The Whining Plums, Hey, We're Wolves and The Twins in the early 1980s. Kawowski played in a two-piece band at [[Cashmere High School]] called The Gorillas with Peter Rees, a classical guitarist. Kawowski joined the band The Twins at the Empire Tavern in Dunedin in 1983, when he jumped on stage to play the drums.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
 
In February 2009, US record label [[Siltbreeze]] re-released the Axemen's 1984 protest album "''Big Cheap Motel"'' <ref>[http://nlnzcat.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=6&ti=1,6&Search%5FArg=axemen&SL=None&Search%5FCode=FT%2A&CNT=25&PID=X9mU2-KVjUu8elEjXmvO8jXC6q&SEQ=20090308150741&SID=1] {{dead link|date=March 2020}}</ref> on 12-inch vinyl. Originally the album was released as a cassette packaged in a small bubble- sleeve with a straw, mimicking the milk drink "Big M". that''Big theCheap albumMotel'' wasincluded aimeda atrecording of a live performance<ref>Collett, H. The(1984). p. 34, "Adverts inspire Axemen", were''[[The invitedNew toZealand Times]]''. 4 November 1984</ref> play at Christchurch'sthe "Summertimes"Summer Times Festivalfestival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theaxemen.org/2008/10/11/dirt-game-mix/|title=DIRT GAME MIX|website=Theaxemen.org|date=11 October 2008|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> in January 1984, a public music stage set up in [[Hagley Park, Christchurch]]. The band wasobserved shockedsexism byin the large-scale sexist "Big M" advertising surrounding the main stage, and decidedsubsequently to write a suite ofwrote protest songs about howtargetting the Christchurch City Council had "sold out" to the "Big M" sexist marketing. The Axemen recorded the concert, as well as studio versions of their songs and released a 45 min cassette entitled, "Big Cheap Motel".<ref>Collett, H. (1984). p. 34, "Adverts inspire Axemen", ''[[The New Zealand Times]]''. 4 November 1984</ref> [[Siltbreeze]] later the same year re-released 'Scary! pt III', an experimental album featuring small-form collaborations with sublime Chch artist [[Lisa Bruce|Lissa Bruce]], and multiple band incarnations from the late 1980s and early 1990s.▼
Before Bob Brannigan and Steve McCabe met, Steve was playing in a two-piece band at [[Cashmere High School]] called The Gorillas with Peter Rees, evolving comix maestro and classical guitarist.
 
The Axemen toured the United States for five weeks in October and November 2009, opening for Times New Viking<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matadorrecords.com/|title=Matador Records|website=Matadorrecords.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> playing 26 shows including Sacramento (October 27), New York and Chicago (November 28).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=15LAMGfa0f_v5qOpNkn6roFT5jF8|title=Times New Viking / Axemen Tour 2009|website=Google.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref>
Brannigan and McCabe met through a mutual friend and played gigs in [[Christchurch]]. Dunedin under many names including The Whining Plums, Hey, We're Wolves and The Twins in the early '80s. At a Twins gig at the Empire Tavern in Dunedin in 1983, Stu Kawowski joined the band when he jumped on stage to play the bongos.
 
The Axemen's debut 2xLPdouble "LP ''Three Virgins :: Three Versions:: Three Visions"'' was re-issued and released on June 7, 2011 by [[Siltbreeze]]. This album was originally released on New Zealand label [[Flying Nun Records]] in 1985. The first pressing was 667 copies made at the now closed EMI pressing plant in Lower Hutt, NZ. A mint copy of the 1985 vinyl was "needle drop" transferred to digital files at Shadoks Music Studio, [[Amrum]], Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.psychedelic-music.com/studio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513034043/http://www.psychedelic-music.com/studio.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2011|title=Welcome Shadoks Music Studio|date=13 May 2011|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> Then it was mastered at Fir International, [[Zaandam]], Netherlands, and lacquers cut at Prairie Cat Mastering, [[Belvidere, Illinois]], U.S. The vinyl was pressed at Record Technology Inc., in [[Camarillo, California]], U.S.▼
Art School Photography graduate, photography guru, filmmaker, artist,<ref name="shustak">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuartpage.com/SHUSTAK_MOVIE/Home.html|title=home.html|website=Stuartpage.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> promotional maverick and explosives expert Kawowski was playing drums with [[Above Ground]], [[Bill Direen]]'s band at the time he met the other members of the Axemen and joined the Axemen permanently.
 
AThe four-piece AXEMEN incarnationAxemen featuring McCabe, Kawowski, Stojanovic and newcomer William Daymond toured Australia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1lSotRuDnIIsod6RnQqZ2Re7hHvA|title=Axemen Australian Tour|website=Google.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> in December 2011, a new line up that added. William Daymond onplayed bass guitar, allowing Dragan Stojanovic to resume hisplay lead guitar duties. Bob Brannigan declined an invitation to join the band on this tour, due to irreconcilable differences with Steve McCabe. Originally the band was to headline a festival in Wandella, South NSW, but due to bureaucratic red tape, this festival was cancelled. The organiser Samuel Miers then proceeded to book the Axemen intoplayed 10 datesshows starting in Brisbane, and ending in Adelaide on December 23.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://axementour2011.wordpress.com/|title=Axemen Tour Diary 2011|website=Axementour2011.wordpress.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> Midway during the Australian tour Steve McCabe's shoulder was fractured after he was attacked by a wild Australian punter.▼
While Brannigan, McCabe and Kawowski remained the core of the Axemen throughout the 20th century, many other New Zealand musicians played with them over the years in various roles, sharing ideas and making the band an important influence in Kiwi music circles.
 
The 'Class of 2011' Axemen (McCabe, Kawowski, Stojanovic, Daymond) recorded a new vinyl album ''Sac Tap Nut Jam'' in Wellington in 2013, which was released through Spacecase Records, California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacecaserecords.com/|title=Spacecase Records|website=Spacecaserecords.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref>▼
▲In February 2009, US record label [[Siltbreeze]] re-released the Axemen's 1984 protest album "Big Cheap Motel" <ref>[http://nlnzcat.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=6&ti=1,6&Search%5FArg=axemen&SL=None&Search%5FCode=FT%2A&CNT=25&PID=X9mU2-KVjUu8elEjXmvO8jXC6q&SEQ=20090308150741&SID=1] {{dead link|date=March 2020}}</ref> on 12 vinyl. Originally the album was released as a cassette packaged in a small bubble-sleeve with a straw, mimicking the milk drink "Big M" that the album was aimed at. The Axemen were invited to play at Christchurch's "Summertimes" Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theaxemen.org/2008/10/11/dirt-game-mix/|title=DIRT GAME MIX|website=Theaxemen.org|date=11 October 2008|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> in January 1984, a public music stage set up in [[Hagley Park, Christchurch]]. The band was shocked by the large-scale sexist "Big M" advertising surrounding the main stage, and decided to write a suite of protest songs about how the Christchurch City Council had "sold out" to the "Big M" sexist marketing. The Axemen recorded the concert, as well as studio versions of their songs and released a 45 min cassette entitled, "Big Cheap Motel".<ref>Collett, H. (1984). p. 34, "Adverts inspire Axemen", ''[[The New Zealand Times]]''. 4 November 1984</ref> [[Siltbreeze]] later the same year re-released 'Scary! pt III', an experimental album featuring small-form collaborations with sublime Chch artist [[Lisa Bruce|Lissa Bruce]], and multiple band incarnations from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
 
A2014 four piece Axemen (McCabe, Brannigan, Kawowski & Stojanovic) touredsaw the United States for five weeks in October and November 2009, openingre-release forof Times1989's New''Derry VikingLegend''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matadorrecordswww.discogs.com/Axemen-Derry-Legend/release/5504136|title=MatadorAxemen Records– Derry Legend|website=MatadorrecordsDiscogs.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> Starting out on thevinyl Westby CoastLuxury in Sacramento October 27, travelling down the West Coast, across the South, up the east to New York then heading west and ending in Chicago on November 28.The band played 26 shows and covered approx 7,000 miles on theProducts tourUSA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=httpshttp://www.googleluxuryproductsusa.com/mapsaxemen-derry-legend/d/viewer?mid=15LAMGfa0f_v5qOpNkn6roFT5jF8|title=TimesLuxury NewProducts Viking&#124; /Axemen Axemen– TourDerry 2009Legend|website=GoogleLuxuryproductsusa.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref>
 
▲The Axemen's debut 2xLP "Three Virgins :: Three Versions:: Three Visions" was re-issued and released on June 7, 2011 by [[Siltbreeze]]. This album was originally released on New Zealand label [[Flying Nun Records]] in 1985. The first pressing was 667 copies made at the now closed EMI pressing plant in Lower Hutt, NZ. A mint copy of the 1985 vinyl was "needle drop" transferred to digital files at Shadoks Music Studio, [[Amrum]], Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.psychedelic-music.com/studio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513034043/http://www.psychedelic-music.com/studio.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2011|title=Welcome Shadoks Music Studio|date=13 May 2011|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> Then it was mastered at Fir International, [[Zaandam]], Netherlands, and lacquers cut at Prairie Cat Mastering, [[Belvidere, Illinois]], U.S. The vinyl was pressed at Record Technology Inc., in [[Camarillo, California]], U.S.
 
▲A four-piece AXEMEN incarnation featuring McCabe, Kawowski, Stojanovic and newcomer William Daymond toured Australia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1lSotRuDnIIsod6RnQqZ2Re7hHvA|title=Axemen Australian Tour|website=Google.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> in December 2011, a new line up that added William Daymond on bass guitar, allowing Dragan Stojanovic to resume his lead guitar duties. Bob Brannigan declined an invitation to join the band on this tour, due to irreconcilable differences with Steve McCabe. Originally the band was to headline a festival in Wandella, South NSW, but due to bureaucratic red tape, this festival was cancelled. The organiser Samuel Miers then proceeded to book the Axemen into 10 dates starting in Brisbane, and ending in Adelaide on December 23.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://axementour2011.wordpress.com/|title=Axemen Tour Diary 2011|website=Axementour2011.wordpress.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> Midway during the Australian tour Steve McCabe's shoulder was fractured after he was attacked by a wild Australian punter.
 
In 2012, the Axemen headlined a Christchurch 1980s reunion concert at the Dux Live venue in Christchurch, and also did a mid-winter pair of shows at Mighty Mighty in Wellington June 22, and Wunderbar Lyttleton on June 22.
 
▲The 'Class of 2011' Axemen (McCabe, Kawowski, Stojanovic, Daymond) recorded a new vinyl album ''Sac Tap Nut Jam'' in Wellington in 2013, which was released through Spacecase Records, California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacecaserecords.com/|title=Spacecase Records|website=Spacecaserecords.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref>
 
2014 saw the re-release of 1989's ''Derry Legend''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Axemen-Derry-Legend/release/5504136|title=Axemen – Derry Legend|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> on vinyl by Luxury Products USA<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://luxuryproductsusa.com/axemen-derry-legend/|title=Luxury Products &#124; Axemen – Derry Legend|website=Luxuryproductsusa.com|accessdate=2020-03-29}}</ref> after 100% analogue re-mastering by Angus McNaughton of Auralax Mastering in Auckland. The re-release package contained a newsprint poster and single sheet fold-out newsprint collection of media reviews and photos from the Axemen archives. The re-issue was also available as an audio CD, and as a compact cassette.
 
==Members==
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* [[Gaylene]] – percussion, of [[Gaylene and the Undertakers]]
* [[Rich Mixture]] – Drums, supplementary guitar, bass, of Gestalt, The Rainy Days, Marty Sauce and the Source, [[The D4]]
* [[Larence Shustak]](1926–2003) – recording engineer [[3 Virgins]], School of Fine Arts (Univ of Canty) Photography professor, musicologist, Stu's muse, subject of Stu's multi-award-winning documentary 'Shustak'<ref name="shustak">{{Cite web |title=home.html |url=http://www.stuartpage.com/SHUSTAK_MOVIE/Home.html |accessdate=2020-03-29 |website=Stuartpage.com}}</ref>
* [[Nick Roughan]] – recording engineer, producer [[Derry Legend]], [[The Skeptics]]
* [[Jed Town]] – producer, 3 Virgins, [[Peter Wang Pud]], [[Fetus Productions]], [[JedEye]], The Invisible Man, Ghost Town, ICU, [[Sawtooth Recordings]], The Features
Line 99 ⟶ 90:
* William Daymond – Bass, Guitar, keyboard, drums, other duties as required under employment contracts act [[Terror of the Deep]], [[The Pickups]], [[Green Eyed Owl]]
 
Bob Brannigan currently plays in [[Shaft (New Zealand band)|Shaft]], the band he formed with Stu Kawowski, Johnny Segovia and Danny Mañeto in [[Auckland]] 1992. (Kawowski, Segovia and Mañeto are no longer in the lineup, which is ever-changing but is currently made up of members of [[The Situations]]).{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
 
==Notes==
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[[Category:New Zealand indie rock groups]]
[[Category:Flying Nun Records artists|Axemen, The]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Dunedin]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Christchurch]]
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