Neoteric Tribesmen were a three-piece post-punk band formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1981 by James Gilberd (drums), Nigel Elder (guitar, vocals), and Richard Watts (bass, vocals). Emerging from the ashes of their earlier punk outfit, Condemned Sector, the trio shifted gears after the departure of Condemned Sector’s bassist Jenny Whyte in April 1981. Seeking a darker, more sophisticated sound, they adopted the name Neoteric Tribesmen – ‘Neoteric’ meaning new-thinking, though occasionally misspelled as ‘Neurotic’ in gig guides and embraced influences from post-punk pioneers like Gang of Four, Joy Division, The Cure, and The Birthday Party, alongside local acts such as Shoes This High, Toy Love, and The Gordons.
The band’s aesthetic was marked by their unique ‘Three Tribesmen’ symbol, comprising a circle (James), square (Nigel), and triangle (Richard), representing faith, knowledge, and wisdom. Their first gig took place on July 3, 1981, at Wellington Polytech alongside The Mockers, a band with shared punk roots. That August, their Clyde Quay school practice room hosted a notable jam session with The Cure, who were in town for two performances. Neoteric Tribesmen recorded nine tracks at Sausage Studios in 1981, self-releasing them ontape that December. They followed this with a 7” single, featuring “Safely Get Away With It” and “Apathy,” recorded at the more upscale Crescendo Studio in early 1982.
Despite their musical evolution, the band faced challenges due to the growing violence at gigs, exacerbated by Richard’s association with the local boot-boy scene, which strained their relationship with venue organizers and caused friction within the band, particularly with Nigel. A particularly chaotic performance at the Last Resort on Courtenay Place, marked by a street fight between skinheads and the Mongrel Mob, underscored these tensions. The band’s final show was on August 14, 1982, at The Clyde Quay Tavern, where a half-full pint glass thrown at Nigel during a cover of The Clash’s “White Riot” prompted them to stop playing for good.
After the split, Richard joined Flesh D-Vice in late 1982, contributing bass to their EP 12 Inches of Hard Flesh. In late 1983, James, Nigel, and Richard reunited briefly as The Resurrectionists, exploring a punk-funk style. Today, James and Nigel continue to perform together in Condenser, a band covering early 1980s post-punk, occasionally revisiting songs from Condemned Sector and Neoteric Tribesmen.
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | punk, post-punk |
| Years Active | 1981 – 1982 |
| Associated Acts | Condemned Sector |
| Past Members | Nigel Elder (guitar, vocals) James Gilberd (drums) Richard Watts (bass, vocals) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neoteric Tribesmen | 1981, Dec | EP | tape | |
| Safely Get Away With It/ Apathy | 1982 | NT 001 | single | 7″ |
Timeline
1981, July 3, Wellington Polytech
1981, July 29, Beware House
Neoteric Tribesmen, Naked Spots Dance, Smelly Feet, Knives of West Eleven
This was the night of Charles & Diana’s wedding, shown on the big screen at the venue, and also the night of the police baton attack on anti-tour protestors in Molesworth St. Some of the wounded turned up at the gig with their reports.
Richard Watts
1981, August 4, Clyde Quay School
*The Cure jam session
1981, September 25-26, Studio 7
1981, October 2-3, Rawa House
1981, November, Rip It Up
1981, December 12, Masterton Community Hall
“The incident with the Masterton Black Power was when we played at a community hall in Masterton. We had borrowed The Mockers tour bus, an old ambulance, and I think Andrew Fagan was acting as our roadie. We also had our usual group of fans following us up from Wellington. There had been some incident in town and the local Black Power turned up in force at the hall. I don’t think we have ever packed up our band gear after a gig so quickly”
Richard Watts
1981, December 13, Masterton Showgrounds
1981, December 23, Aro Valley Hall
*Skeptics replaced Cumulus Haemorrage
1982
1982, February 10-11, The Terminus
1982, March, Massey University
with Riot 111. “We stayed on campus and at one point I remember walking back to our accommodation and being caught by a large group of students wearing togas (they had been to a toga party). I think they would have lynched us if they hadn’t recognised the student we were with.”
Richard Watts
1982, April 5-6, The Terminus
Neoteric Tribesmen, Organised Chaos
1982, August 14, Clyde Quay Tavern
2013
2013, December 27, SFBH
In December, 2013, members of Condemned Sector and Neoteric Tribesmen reformed for a one-off gig in Wellington.
