Scab was a blackened crust punk band from Wellington, New Zealand, active from 2005 to 2009. Known for their raw, abrasive sound and themes of bodily decay and death, their song titles like “Festering Rot,” “Sewage Brainwash,” and “Parasitic Secretion” captured the dark, depressive nature of their music. The lineup featured Tony Pearson (vocals), James Quick (guitar), Sam Thurston (guitar), James Murray (bass), and Dan Fraser (drums).

Formed in 2005, Scab debuted at the Cake Shop on Cuba Street, followed by a performance at Punkfest 2005. That December, they toured Australia with Wellington band Poodles, playing in Sydney and Melbourne. In 2006, they joined Melbourne’s Schifosi for a New Zealand tour and performed at Sharkest, a festival organized by drummer Dan Fraser. Scab’s members were deeply embedded in the Wellington punk scene, with Dan, James, and Sam in Shortlived, Tony and James in Drug Problem, Tony in Malparido, and James in Gaywyre.

Scab released a five-track demo EP in August 2008, recorded with Otis Chamberlain at Black Note, followed by a split 7” EP with Melbourne’s Walrora in October 2008. Their sole album, Infected, was released in 2009 on 12” vinyl through Always Never Fun Records. Over their four-year run, Scab shared stages with international acts like Severed Head of State, Lebenden Toten, Limpwrist, Vae Victis, and Conquest for Death. The band played their final shows in April 2009 before Dan Fraser relocated to Australia. Sam, James and Tony went on to form Meth Drinker in 2010.

Origin	Wellington
Genre	crust punk
Years Active	2005 – 2009
Labels	Always Never Fun
Associated Acts	Shortlived Drug Problem Workshy Meth Drinker
Past Members	Dan Fraser (drums) James Murray (bass) Tony Pearson (lead vocals) James Quick (guitar, vocals) Sam Thurston (guitar, vocals)