No Idea was an Oi! punk band formed in Levin, New Zealand, in 1983 by brothers James Ingle (bass, vocals) and Red Ingle (drums), joined by Nigel Cairns on guitar. The trio quickly developed a fast, melodic sound with sharp, politically charged lyrics that set them apart in the early New Zealand punk landscape.

In early 1984, the band relocated to Christchurch, becoming part of the vibrant scene centred around the Alternative Entertainment Bureau (A.E.B.), an activist collective that promoted underground music, art, and social causes. Their involvement in this community cemented No Idea’s blend of political awareness and humour that would characterise their music.

Their debut release, the 11-song cassette “Wotsoever”, was recorded at Nightshift Studio and released in August 1984. The tape earned strong underground praise, with Rip It Up calling it “fast and catchy and topped off with intelligent, convincing lyrics.”

The band followed up in October 1985 with the Class War EP, recorded in one night at Broadcasting House in Wellington with engineer Neil Maddiver. Released as a 12-inch EP on the A.E.B. label (and distributed through Jayrem Records), Class War captured the raw energy of their live sound and featured standout tracks like “Rugger Buggers.” Reviewers noted their semi-anarchist politics and “refreshing” difference from typical punk bands of the era.

In July 1987, No Idea contributed two songs “Criticise Yourself” and “Yank Me Doodle” to the compilation The Harder The Edge… The Rocka The Roll, produced by Flesh D-Vice singer Gerald Dwyer. By that time the band had moved to Melbourne, Australia, playing several gigs at venues such as the Duke of Edinburgh in St Kilda alongside acts like S.T.P (Strength Through Pain), Bastard Squad, Chaotic Firing Squad, and Death Sentence, before splitting up later that year.

Origin	Levin, Palmerston North
Genre	Oi punk
Years Active	1983 – 1987
Labels	Twisted Tapes Jayrem Records
Associated Acts	Filthy Business The Ga-Nomes
Past Members	James Ingle (bass, vocals) Red Ingle (drums) Nigel Cairns (guitar)

Releases

Title	Date	Label	Type	Format
Wotsoever	1984, August 6	Twisted Tapes/ AEB	EP	tape
Class War	1985, Oct 21	AEB	EP	12″
Package To Sell	1985, Nov	Jayrem TC-Burt-6	compilation	tape
The Harder The Edge, The Rocka The Roll	1987, July/ Aug	Hardedge Records	compilation	12″

Timeline

1983, April, Levin

No Idea forms

1983, October 22, Force 6

1984

1984, February

No Idea moves to Christchurch

1984, August 6, Wotsoever

1984, September, Star & Garter

3 gig weekend organised by the AEB featuring Southern Front, White Boys, Crane, No Idea, Legless Brownies, All Fall Down

1984, October 20, Dunedin

mentioned in RIU April 1986

1985

1985, April 26-27, British Hotel

*best guess on date

1985, March/ April, Gladstone

AEB Dole Day Rage: Horizin, No Idea +

1985, May 16, Windsor Castle

Totally Clueless tour

1985, May 30, The Pulse

Totally Clueless tour

1985, September 7, Zetland

1985, October 3, Radio With Pictures

1985, October 21, Class War

1985, November 22-23, Windsor Castle

1985, December 1, Auckland

No Idea, Flesh D-Vice

1986

1986, February 14-15, Victoria University

Eyetime Entertainment presents 2 nights of genuine music! 1986 local music awards. Student Union Hall, Victoria University. Friday 14 – Saturday 15. Friday line-up: Primates, Putty in her hands, Go Go Yetis, For Crying Out Loud, Jungle Mice, No Idea, Flesh D Vice, Purple Siren, Fiona Mackenzie, Bros Gorgonzola, Ourselves Alone, Skeptics, Axemen, Otis Mace & The Psychic Pet Healers.

1986, May, Anti-System #4

1986, May 24-25, British Hotel, Lyttleton, CHCH

?Fog, No Idea

1986, June 6-7, Napier

?Fog, No Idea, 5 Year Mission

1986, June 12, Rising Sun

?Fog, No Idea

No Idea

Releases