The band shared a basement practice room at Clyde Quay Primary School with Rongotai College punks Ambitious Vegetables, rehearsing new songs during what was a watershed year for the local punk scene.  By August 1980 they’d recorded a first demo tape at Sausage Studios and played their debut gig at Victoria University Hall alongside The Mockers, a new wave band featuring ex-members of the Ambitious Vegetables.

In the spring/summer of 1980, Condemned Sector performed regularly at Last Resort on Courtney Place. Located within walking distance of their Clyde Quay School bunker they’d often just carry their gear down to the all ages cafe venue and ask if they could jump on the bill. That October they entered the “infamous” Battle Of The Sounds competition. Held at the Electric Ballroom over Labour Weekend the event showcased a clash of styles/generations, pitting the emerging punk acts against established pub rock bands. Tensions arose within the punk contingent over competition judge Phil O’Brien, a Radio Windy DJ, and what was perceived as his open disdain for the new punk bands. Condemned Sector later took an oblique jab at Phil on the track “Sounds O.B”, recorded at a return Sausage session in January 1981.

A second demo tape was released in the new year and Condemned Sector played a few more gigs at the Last Resort including with The Androidss from Christchurch. However, by April, the band faced a turning point when Jenny White split. The remaining members – Richard Watts, James Gilberd, and Nigel Elder – opted to rebrand as Neoteric Tribesmen, shifting toward a more post-punk sound.

Richard Watts later joined the first lineup of Flesh D-Vice on bass and post-Neoteric Tribesmen all three members also played in the Resurrectionists. James Gilberd and Nigel Elder have continued playing into the present day as Condenser; keeping the spirit of Condemned Sector, Neoteric Tribesmen and the memory of Wellington’s first punk wave alive over 40 years later.