Proud Scum
Encyclopedia
Proud Scum was a notable punk
band in New Zealand
punk's second wave. Proud Scum were formed in Auckland in 1979 and attracted a hardcore punk and bootboy
following.
Formed from members of punk bands Rooter and The Atrocities, Proud Scum were: Jonathan Jamrag (Griffiths) (vocals), John Atrocity (Jenkins) (guitar), Alastair Rabbit (Duguid) (bass), and Bruce Diode (Hoffman) (drums). Atrocity left in June 1979 (replaced by Sid Scum).
Atrocity's departure was inspiration for one of the band's best known tracks, Suicide 2, which encourages him to "...jump off Grafton Bridge
". They are also known for the tracks I am a Rabbit (covered by The Lemonheads
in 1987), and Suicide. All of which are on the defining New Zealand punk compilation album AK-79
. Proud Scum also released a shared 7" single with The Terrorways in 1980.
The band (without Rabbit) relocated to Sydney in 1980 before disbanding in 1981. Proud Scum had a reunion in the early 1980s, and reformed for the AK-79
reunion show in Auckland, November 2008. According to the band's official MySpace page they are currently located in Sydney, Australia and were recording for a Toy Love
tribute album, Stitched Up, (as of 2010).
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
punk's second wave. Proud Scum were formed in Auckland in 1979 and attracted a hardcore punk and bootboy
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
following.
Formed from members of punk bands Rooter and The Atrocities, Proud Scum were: Jonathan Jamrag (Griffiths) (vocals), John Atrocity (Jenkins) (guitar), Alastair Rabbit (Duguid) (bass), and Bruce Diode (Hoffman) (drums). Atrocity left in June 1979 (replaced by Sid Scum).
Atrocity's departure was inspiration for one of the band's best known tracks, Suicide 2, which encourages him to "...jump off Grafton Bridge
Grafton Bridge
Grafton Bridge is a road bridge spanning Grafton Gully in Auckland City, New Zealand. Built of reinforced concrete in 1910, it connects the Auckland CBD with the Grafton suburb...
". They are also known for the tracks I am a Rabbit (covered by The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
in 1987), and Suicide. All of which are on the defining New Zealand punk compilation album AK-79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
. Proud Scum also released a shared 7" single with The Terrorways in 1980.
The band (without Rabbit) relocated to Sydney in 1980 before disbanding in 1981. Proud Scum had a reunion in the early 1980s, and reformed for the AK-79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
reunion show in Auckland, November 2008. According to the band's official MySpace page they are currently located in Sydney, Australia and were recording for a Toy Love
Toy Love
Toy Love was a New Zealand New Wave/punk rock band fronted by Chris Knox. Other members were guitarist Alec Bathgate, bass player Paul Kean, drummer Mike Dooley, and keyboard player Jane Walker...
tribute album, Stitched Up, (as of 2010).