Difference between revisions of "Mobile Stud Unit"
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[[image:MSU.jpg|right|thumb|[[Mobile Stud Unit]] in 2007. Photo by [[PetraJane]]]] | [[image:MSU.jpg|right|thumb|[[Mobile Stud Unit]] in 2007. Photo by [[PetraJane]]]] | ||
| − | The ''MSU'' | + | The ''MSU'' were, according to themselves, one of the longest lived, most popular and most controversial bands to have ever emerged from the bowels of Hamilton, New Zealand. |
| − | Formed in 1993, rumour states they got their band name from a competition held on local student radio station [[ContactFM|Contact]] 89FM. Calling their style of music 'pus rock', the band | + | Formed in 1993, rumour states they got their band name from a competition held on local student radio station [[ContactFM|Contact]] 89FM. Calling their style of music 'pus rock', the band always encouraged copious amounts of alcohol to be consumed while watching them play. |
| − | MSU's first gig was | + | MSU's first gig was a play off lunch time gig (busking competition) organised by Contact89FM for the opening slot for the Muttonbirds at Orientation. Notable other performances at that busking competition included Monster Truck RoadRunner and the Romantic Andes. They then played support for the Mutton Birds at [[The University of Waikato]] on 12 March 1993. The support slot had been given to the winner of a busking competition run by Contact 89FM, which the [[Romantic Andes]] had won. However, the Andes had been unable to play that night, so it went to second-place-getters MSU and history was made.[[image:Coverpj.jpg|right|thumb|Marxi surfs the crowd in his legendary green jumpsuit]] |
The band's set list that night included ''Fat Bum'', ''CCs parts one and two'', ''Beverly 90210'' and ''Disco Spastic''. Marxi wore a giant badge with a photo of Dylan from "Beverly Hills 90210" and handed out "90210" collector cards. | The band's set list that night included ''Fat Bum'', ''CCs parts one and two'', ''Beverly 90210'' and ''Disco Spastic''. Marxi wore a giant badge with a photo of Dylan from "Beverly Hills 90210" and handed out "90210" collector cards. | ||
| − | One of MSU was | + | One of MSU (Griff) was naked except for a sock on his penis which did *not* impress Don McGlashan of The Muttonbirds. The sock later ended up being passed amongst the front row. Another band member was dressed in toilet paper. |
The band's wild performance and Marxi's stage antics got people's attention and won them a few fans, and resulted in the band being asked to do a live-to-air performance on Contact 89FM. | The band's wild performance and Marxi's stage antics got people's attention and won them a few fans, and resulted in the band being asked to do a live-to-air performance on Contact 89FM. | ||
| − | Their debut album, ''[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]]'' was released on cassette in 1994. The followup, ''[[ | + | Their debut album, ''[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]]'' was released on cassette in 1994. The followup, ''[[Blood Spew]]'', came out in 1998 - each copy's artwork was drawn individually, and came with a lyric sheet/art foldout entitled ''Sing Along With the Mobile Stud Unit''. The album included most of their student radio hits to date, such as ''Grutsniffer'', ''We Are MSU'', ''Chin Mei Wah'', and the all-conquering ballad (which was by all accounts a true story), ''Stu's Pie Cart''. The initial release had a run of around 500 copies. |
| − | The band's third album, ''[[Flaps]]'', wasn't released till December 2001. Featuring [http://www.digitalstream.co.nz/clients/msu/images/cover_flaps.jpg artwork] that could make even the Bloodhound gang cry, the record showcased a less punky side to the group, and often bordered on disco - ''Sexual Health Clinic'' '' | + | The band's third album, ''[[Flaps]]'', wasn't released till December 2001. Featuring [http://www.digitalstream.co.nz/clients/msu/images/cover_flaps.jpg artwork] that could make even the Bloodhound gang cry, the record showcased a less punky side to the group, and often bordered on disco - ''Sexual Health Clinic'' and ''Marital Aids'' were almost danceable, and the tradition of ''Stu's Pie Cart'' was continued with ''Salesman'', perhaps the greatest song about Telecom ever written. Still, tracks like ''(the ballad of) Tony Tourettes'' and ''Shunt'' ensured the group couldn't be accused of 'selling out.' |
| − | Over the years, several otherwise highly-respected Hamilton musicians | + | Over the years, several otherwise highly-respected Hamilton musicians found refuge for their musical non-talents in the Mobile Stud Unit. Members included [[Dean Ballinger]] (drums, [[Hollow Grinders]]), [[Aaron Watkinson]] (bass, [[Schrodinger's Cat]]), [[SS Stormtrooper]] (bass), [[Jamie Stone]] (guitar, [[Trucker]], [[The Nerve]]), and [[Chris Paki]] (guitar, [[Rumpus Room]], [[The Braxton Hicks (I)|the Braxton Hicks]]). The only mainstay over the years has been [[Rohan Marx]] ([[Rohan Marx|Marxi]]), on vocals and keyboards. |
| − | The group | + | The group were never afraid of controversy - witness their Head Like A Hole baiting ''Head Up Yr Hole'', or an infamous incident where their bass player at the time, [[SS Stormtrooper]], allegedly smashed his guitar over an audience member's head. |
| − | In 2003, the band held a 10th anniversary extravaganza, featuring pretty much every member of MSU, past and present, taking the stage at some point during the epic show, and during which [[SS Stormtrooper]] initiated a rugby game with a pig's head as the ball. MSU's first release, the cassette ''[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]]'', was re-released on CD, with bonus tracks, in celebration of the ten year anniversary. | + | In 2003, the band held a 10th anniversary extravaganza, featuring pretty much every member of MSU, past and present, taking the stage at some point during the epic show, and during which [[SS Stormtrooper]] initiated a rugby game with a pig's head as the ball. MSU's first release, the cassette ''[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]]'', was re-released on CD, with bonus tracks, in celebration of the ten year anniversary. |
| − | On November 14 2008, ''MSU'' | + | On November 14 2008, ''MSU'' played what was intended to be their final performance, again enlisting many of their past members. At the event, the band released a compilation of songs from the previous albums, called [[Roadkill]]. |
| + | [[image:Msublowout001.jpg|right|thumb|Poster for "MSU Superstar Blowout!!" gig, c.1995]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | A decade later, MSU reformed to play a [https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/hard-ons-mobile-stud-unit-illicit-wah-wahz-5girls/raglan support slot for the Hard-Ons in Raglan on May 19, 2018], and [[Circle Jerk 2018]]. | ||
==Members== | ==Members== | ||
| − | + | * [[Rohan Marx|Rohan 'Marxi' Marx]] (vocals) 1993-2008, 2018 | |
| − | * [[Rohan Marx|Rohan 'Marxi' Marx]] (vocals) 1993- | + | * [[Chris Paki]] (guitar) 1996-2008, 2018 |
| − | * [[Chris Paki]] (guitar) 1996- | + | * [[Aaron Watkinson|Aaron 'Dudley' Watkinson]] (bass) 2000-2008, 2018 |
| − | * [[Aaron 'Dudley' Watkinson]] (bass) 2000- | + | * [[Terry Edwards]] (drums) 2000-2001; 2004-2008, 2018 |
| − | * [[Terry Edwards]] (drums) 2000-2001; 2004- | + | |
<br> | <br> | ||
* [[Dean Ballinger]] (drums) 1995-2000; 2001-2004 | * [[Dean Ballinger]] (drums) 1995-2000; 2001-2004 | ||
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* [[Jude Richards]] (bass) 1993-1995 | * [[Jude Richards]] (bass) 1993-1995 | ||
* [[Gareth 'Griff' Robb]] (drums) 1993-1994 | * [[Gareth 'Griff' Robb]] (drums) 1993-1994 | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Releases== | ==Releases== | ||
| + | [[image:MSUfinal.jpg|right|thumb|Poster for MSU final show and [[Roadkill]] release, 2008]] | ||
*[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]] - 1995 (cassette) | *[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]] - 1995 (cassette) | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Blood Spew]] - 1998 |
*[[Flaps]] - 2001 | *[[Flaps]] - 2001 | ||
*[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]] - 2003 (CD) | *[[My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky]] - 2003 (CD) | ||
| + | *[[Roadkill]] - 2008 (CD) | ||
| + | |||
*''Fat Bum'' appears on the 1993 compilation [[They came to take us alive]] | *''Fat Bum'' appears on the 1993 compilation [[They came to take us alive]] | ||
*''Bob'' appears on the 1995 compilation [[The Fridge]] | *''Bob'' appears on the 1995 compilation [[The Fridge]] | ||
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*''Gunna Bash'' appears on 2003's [[The Locals soundtrack]] | *''Gunna Bash'' appears on 2003's [[The Locals soundtrack]] | ||
*''Salesman'' appears on the 2003 compilation [[Stunt Cock Records]] | *''Salesman'' appears on the 2003 compilation [[Stunt Cock Records]] | ||
| + | *''Grutsniffer'' appears on the 2020 compilation [[In Thrust We Trust]] | ||
==Published Articles== | ==Published Articles== | ||
Latest revision as of 23:41, 8 November 2020
The MSU were, according to themselves, one of the longest lived, most popular and most controversial bands to have ever emerged from the bowels of Hamilton, New Zealand.
Formed in 1993, rumour states they got their band name from a competition held on local student radio station Contact 89FM. Calling their style of music 'pus rock', the band always encouraged copious amounts of alcohol to be consumed while watching them play.
MSU's first gig was a play off lunch time gig (busking competition) organised by Contact89FM for the opening slot for the Muttonbirds at Orientation. Notable other performances at that busking competition included Monster Truck RoadRunner and the Romantic Andes. They then played support for the Mutton Birds at The University of Waikato on 12 March 1993. The support slot had been given to the winner of a busking competition run by Contact 89FM, which the Romantic Andes had won. However, the Andes had been unable to play that night, so it went to second-place-getters MSU and history was made.
The band's set list that night included Fat Bum, CCs parts one and two, Beverly 90210 and Disco Spastic. Marxi wore a giant badge with a photo of Dylan from "Beverly Hills 90210" and handed out "90210" collector cards.
One of MSU (Griff) was naked except for a sock on his penis which did *not* impress Don McGlashan of The Muttonbirds. The sock later ended up being passed amongst the front row. Another band member was dressed in toilet paper.
The band's wild performance and Marxi's stage antics got people's attention and won them a few fans, and resulted in the band being asked to do a live-to-air performance on Contact 89FM.
Their debut album, My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky was released on cassette in 1994. The followup, Blood Spew, came out in 1998 - each copy's artwork was drawn individually, and came with a lyric sheet/art foldout entitled Sing Along With the Mobile Stud Unit. The album included most of their student radio hits to date, such as Grutsniffer, We Are MSU, Chin Mei Wah, and the all-conquering ballad (which was by all accounts a true story), Stu's Pie Cart. The initial release had a run of around 500 copies.
The band's third album, Flaps, wasn't released till December 2001. Featuring artwork that could make even the Bloodhound gang cry, the record showcased a less punky side to the group, and often bordered on disco - Sexual Health Clinic and Marital Aids were almost danceable, and the tradition of Stu's Pie Cart was continued with Salesman, perhaps the greatest song about Telecom ever written. Still, tracks like (the ballad of) Tony Tourettes and Shunt ensured the group couldn't be accused of 'selling out.'
Over the years, several otherwise highly-respected Hamilton musicians found refuge for their musical non-talents in the Mobile Stud Unit. Members included Dean Ballinger (drums, Hollow Grinders), Aaron Watkinson (bass, Schrodinger's Cat), SS Stormtrooper (bass), Jamie Stone (guitar, Trucker, The Nerve), and Chris Paki (guitar, Rumpus Room, the Braxton Hicks). The only mainstay over the years has been Rohan Marx (Marxi), on vocals and keyboards.
The group were never afraid of controversy - witness their Head Like A Hole baiting Head Up Yr Hole, or an infamous incident where their bass player at the time, SS Stormtrooper, allegedly smashed his guitar over an audience member's head.
In 2003, the band held a 10th anniversary extravaganza, featuring pretty much every member of MSU, past and present, taking the stage at some point during the epic show, and during which SS Stormtrooper initiated a rugby game with a pig's head as the ball. MSU's first release, the cassette My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky, was re-released on CD, with bonus tracks, in celebration of the ten year anniversary.
On November 14 2008, MSU played what was intended to be their final performance, again enlisting many of their past members. At the event, the band released a compilation of songs from the previous albums, called Roadkill.
A decade later, MSU reformed to play a support slot for the Hard-Ons in Raglan on May 19, 2018, and Circle Jerk 2018.
Members
- Rohan 'Marxi' Marx (vocals) 1993-2008, 2018
- Chris Paki (guitar) 1996-2008, 2018
- Aaron 'Dudley' Watkinson (bass) 2000-2008, 2018
- Terry Edwards (drums) 2000-2001; 2004-2008, 2018
- Dean Ballinger (drums) 1995-2000; 2001-2004
- SS Stormtrooper (bass) 1996-2000
- Jamie Stone (lead guitar) 1993-1995
- Jocko Ellis (vocals, kazoo) 1993-1995
- Dave O'Shea (guitar) 1993-1996
- Jude Richards (bass) 1993-1995
- Gareth 'Griff' Robb (drums) 1993-1994
Releases
- My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky - 1995 (cassette)
- Blood Spew - 1998
- Flaps - 2001
- My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky - 2003 (CD)
- Roadkill - 2008 (CD)
- Fat Bum appears on the 1993 compilation They came to take us alive
- Bob appears on the 1995 compilation The Fridge
- Boozing appears on the 1997 compilation Green Eggs and Hamilton
- Stu's Piecart appears on the 2000 compilation NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 10
- Marital Aids appears on the 2001 compilation Year Zero
- Drugs at the Party appears on the 2002 compilation Zero.one
- Gunna Bash appears on 2003's The Locals soundtrack
- Salesman appears on the 2003 compilation Stunt Cock Records
- Grutsniffer appears on the 2020 compilation In Thrust We Trust
Published Articles
- Mobile Stud Unit Final Gig review, Nexus, 22 May 1995, P22
