The Enemy (New Zealand band)
Encyclopedia
The Enemy were a band from Dunedin
, New Zealand
, that are often seen as the starting point of the Dunedin Sound
rock movement.
Though the band did not release any official recordings, some of their performances are available in bootleg form. They are seen as hugely influential on the development of music in New Zealand. Though the band only existed from 1977 to 1979, they created the style which led to the development of many later bands in both Dunedin and New Zealand in general.
Fronted by Chris Knox
and featuring Mick Dawson, Mike Dooley, and Alec Bathgate
, the band were strongly influenced by the punk rock
music scene overseas and acts such as Patti Smith
and Iggy Pop
(who is referred to in the song "Iggy Told Me", during the performance of which Knox would often intentionally cut himself, drawing blood). Later in 1978, former Split Enz
member Phil Judd
joined the band, prior to the formation of his band The Swingers
. Due to tensions in the lineup, The Enemy split soon after.
Upon the demise of The Enemy, several members of the band went on to form Toy Love
. Toy Love played a number of songs that The Enemy originally performed, sometimes with slight rearrangement or alteration of lyrics. Songs that began with The Enemy but were first recorded by Toy Love include "Swimming Pool", "I Don't Mind", "1978", "Squeeze", "Sheep", "Cold Meat", "I'm Not Bored" (which The Enemy introduced as "I'm Not Bored, I'm Dead"), and "Don't Catch Fire". After Toy Love broke up, Bathgate and Knox remained together as the Tall Dwarfs
.
Early supporters of The Enemy included Hamish and David Kilgour, who were to found The Clean
. Legend has it that Hamish Kilgour named The Enemy for their music style, and in response or retaliation, Knox commented that the Kilgours' own sound was "squeaky clean", hence that band's name.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, 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...
, that are often seen as the starting point of the Dunedin Sound
Dunedin Sound
The Dunedin sound was a style of indie pop music created in the southern New Zealand university city of Dunedin in the early 1980s.-Characteristics:...
rock movement.
Though the band did not release any official recordings, some of their performances are available in bootleg form. They are seen as hugely influential on the development of music in New Zealand. Though the band only existed from 1977 to 1979, they created the style which led to the development of many later bands in both Dunedin and New Zealand in general.
Fronted by Chris Knox
Chris Knox
Chris Knox is a New Zealand rock and roll musician, cartoonist, and DVD reviewer who emerged during the punk rock era with his bands The Enemy and Toy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group Tall Dwarfs with guitarist Alec Bathgate, much loved for their honest,...
and featuring Mick Dawson, Mike Dooley, and Alec Bathgate
Alec Bathgate
Alec Bathgate is a New Zealand musician who was a key member of The Enemy and Toy Love, as well as being one half of Flying Nun Records act Tall Dwarfs alongside Chris Knox. As well as playing guitar in these bands, he has released two solo albums....
, the band were strongly influenced by the punk rock
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...
music scene overseas and acts such as Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
(who is referred to in the song "Iggy Told Me", during the performance of which Knox would often intentionally cut himself, drawing blood). Later in 1978, former Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
member Phil Judd
Phil Judd
Philip Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.-Split Enz:...
joined the band, prior to the formation of his band The Swingers
The Swingers
The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...
. Due to tensions in the lineup, The Enemy split soon after.
Upon the demise of The Enemy, several members of the band went on to form 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...
. Toy Love played a number of songs that The Enemy originally performed, sometimes with slight rearrangement or alteration of lyrics. Songs that began with The Enemy but were first recorded by Toy Love include "Swimming Pool", "I Don't Mind", "1978", "Squeeze", "Sheep", "Cold Meat", "I'm Not Bored" (which The Enemy introduced as "I'm Not Bored, I'm Dead"), and "Don't Catch Fire". After Toy Love broke up, Bathgate and Knox remained together as the Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs are a New Zealand rock band formed in 1981 by Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate who, through their do-it-yourself ethic, helped pioneer the lo-fi style of rock music. The duo formed out of the ashes of Toy Love....
.
Early supporters of The Enemy included Hamish and David Kilgour, who were to found The Clean
The Clean
The Clean are an influential Indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. Led through a number of early rotating line-ups by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour, the band settled down to their well-known and current line-up with bassist Robert Scott...
. Legend has it that Hamish Kilgour named The Enemy for their music style, and in response or retaliation, Knox commented that the Kilgours' own sound was "squeaky clean", hence that band's name.