The Screaming Meemees were one of the biggest post-punk

Post-punk

Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...

 new-wave pop

Pop music

Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...

 bands

Band (music)

In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover 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...

 in the early 1980s. The band formed in Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

 in 1979, composed of vocalist Tony Drumm, guitarist

Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

 Michael O'Neill, keyboard

Keyboard instrument

A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

 and bass

Bass guitar

The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

 player Peter van der Fluit and drummer "Laurence "Yoh" Landwer-Johan. The band was propelled into the limelight, in part, by the inclusion of their single All Dressed Up in the compilation album Class of 81 produced by Simon Grigg

Simon Grigg

Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, radio host, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.-Punk rock:...

’s Propeller Records

Propeller Records

Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...

. By late 1980, the band was at the forefront of what was called the "North Shore Invasion". The Screaming Meemees were named "Most Promising Group" at the 1981 New Zealand Music Awards

New Zealand Music Awards

The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....

.

In early 1981, The Screaming Meemees released the single, Can’t Take It, with The Newmatics’ Judas on the flip side. The single sold about 2000 copies and entered the top 40 in New Zealand. This was followed by the “Screaming Blamatic Roadshow", which included label-mates Blam Blam Blam

Blam Blam Blam

Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon and Mark Bell had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids...

 and The Newmatics.

The follow-up single was See Me Go, released as a limited release 12” edition, and a 7". Despite being unavailable after the initial week of release, the song was briefly the number one single on the New Zealand charts. This accomplishment was achieved with little airplay outside of student radio. The single was the first New Zealand single to enter the charts at number one. This was followed by Sunday Boys in December, 1981, which was also a Top 20 single (without airplay).

The band’s final single was Stars in My Eyes, released in 1982. By 1983, the band were making their last performances, including billing as the headlining act at the 1983 Sweetwaters Festival. Their last public performance occurred in April, 1983.

Releases

{| class="wikitable"|width=100%
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!align="left" valign="bottom"|Year
!align="left" valign="bottom" width="225"|Singles
!align="left" valign="bottom" width="130"|Album
!align="center" valign="top"|Charted (NZ)
!align="center" valign="bottom" width="50"|Certification
|-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|align="left" valign="top"|1981
|align="left" valign="top"| Can’t Take It
|align="left" valign="top"|
|align="center" valign="top"| 32
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
|- bgcolor="#F0F8FF"
|align="left" valign="top"|1981
|align="left" valign="top"|See Me Go
|align="left" valign="top"|
|align="center" valign="top"| 1
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|align="left" valign="top"|1981
|align="left" valign="top"|Sunday Boys
|align="left" valign="top"| If this is Paradise, I'll Take the Bag
|align="center" valign="top"| 11
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
|- bgcolor="#F0F8FF"
|align="left" valign="top"|1982
|align="left" valign="top"|'F' is For Fear
|align="left" valign="top"| If this is Paradise, I'll Take the Bag
|align="center" valign="top"| 45
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|align="left" valign="top"|1982
|align="left" valign="top"|Stars In My Eyes
|align="left" valign="top"|
|align="center" valign="top"| 18
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-

{| class="wikitable"|width=100%
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!align="left" valign="bottom"|Year
!align="left" valign="bottom" width="225"|Albums
!align="center" valign="top"|Charted (NZ)
!align="center" valign="bottom" width="50"|Certification
|-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|align="left" valign="top"|1982
|align="left" valign="top"| If this is Paradise, I'll Take the Bag

|align="center" valign="top"|16
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
|-
|- bgcolor="#F0F8FF"
|align="left" valign="top"|1992
|align="left" valign="top"| Stars in My Eyes

|align="center" valign="top"| 15
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|align="left" valign="top"|2009
|align="left" valign="top"| If this is Paradise, I'll Take the Bag (Digital Reissue)
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|align="center" valign="top"| -
|-
|}

External links

• Propeller Records The Screaming Meemees biography