10 Most Obscure Punk Bands Of All Time
2. The Victims
Whilst the UK and the US formed the vocal points for the late-'70s punk explosion, other countries across the globe were far from immune to its appeal. Enter The Victims, a fine outfit who were active in Perth, Australia, between '77 and '79. The Victims, who comprised James Baker (drums), Dave Flick (guitar, vocals) and Rudolph V (bass), released one single, Television Addict, and a sole, self-titled EP. Despite the dearth of recorded material, the band is regarded as among the most important antipodean purveyors of punk.
A 1989 compilation, All Loud On The Western Front, kept the spirit of the band alive. Baker and Flick, by this time, had reunited to form Hoodoo Gurus – a long-lived and much respected group who remain active to this day. In 2019, the pair also re-booted The Victims. With a new bass-player, Ray Ahn, they put out a new EP of original material, Horror Smash, on In The Red Records.
Television Addict is rightfully regarded as a landmark in Australian punk, and more than matches its US and UK cousins for both rawness and appeal.