Starving Millions are a four-piece hardcore punk band hailing from Wellington, New Zealand. Formed in 2013, the band’s original lineup featured Pete Harrow (guitar and vocals), Tim Posta (bass), Dave McDonald (drums), and Glen Oakes (lead guitar). Pete and Tim had previously played together in the punk outfit The Dead Scene (2008–2012), and later in the ska-punk band Dimestore Skanks. When The Dead Scene disbanded, they joined forces with Dave, formerly of Outsiders, and soon brought in Glen to round out the lineup.
Starving Millions hit the ground running, releasing their first EP before even playing their debut show supporting Aussie punks Disparo and Auckland’s Shitripper at Valhalla. From 2013 to 2015, they gigged relentlessly across New Zealand, sharing stages with both local acts and international bands like Hailgun, Ringworm, Revellers, and Diploid. The band also played a role in Wellington’s punk scene by organising shows under the “Wellington City Punk Rock Presents” banner.
This prolific period saw the release of three EPs: Starving Millions (2013), II (2014), and III (2015). However, at the end of 2015, Glen and Tim departed the band, making way for new blood—Cam Lee Brennan-Belworthy (bass) and Sam Blyth (guitar)—who joined in early 2016.
With renewed energy, Starving Millions dropped a fourth EP and embarked on an Australian tour in 2016. That same year, Pete also joined local powerviolence trio Stress Ghetto.
The band maintained momentum, releasing a split EP with Churlington in late 2016, a live EP in April 2017, and V in September 2017, which came out via Australian label Good Times. That month, they toured Australia with German hardcore band Sick Times. A sixth EP followed in 2018, alongside another Australian tour in November.
Though gigging slowed down in 2019 as members juggled other bands and family life, Starving Millions still managed performances at Full Noise and Dankfest. The COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 forced a hiatus, but the band roared back in 2023 with their seventh release, VII, a blistering, genre-blurring record that pushed their sound into heavier, more chaotic territory showcasing elements of metal, mathcore, and post-metal layered atop a hardcore punk foundation. Tracks like “Burnt to the End,” “To Dwell Is to Lose,” and “Aggression Unchecked” deliver gut-punch drumming, scouring riffs, atmospheric interludes, and savage dual vocals. The record was praised for its raw production, unrelenting pace, and willingness to teeter on the edge of sonic collapse—all while maintaining emotional resonance and urgency.
Since VII, the band has been relatively quiet, releasing the track “Killing Fields” for a Punks for Palestine compilation and making a return appearance at Full Noise in 2025.
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | hardcore |
| Years Active | 2013 – now |
| Associated Acts | The Outsiders Dead Scene Dimestore Skanks Black Lick |
| Current Members | Cam Lee Brennan-Belworthy (bass 2016-) Sam Blyth (guitar 2016-) Dave McDonald (drums 2013-) Pete Harrow (guitar, vocals 2013-) |
| Past Members | Tim Posta (bass 2013-2015) Glen Oakes (guitar 2013-2015) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starving Millions | 2013, Aug 22 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| Starving Millions II | 2014, Feb 5 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| III | 2015, July 18 | EP | tape/ DL | |
| Murray Chris-tmas | 2015, Dec 8 | compilation | DL | |
| IV | 2016, June 15 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| Starving Millions/ Churlington | 2016, Nov 7 | split | tape/ CD/ DL | |
| Live @ Valhalla | 2017, April 30 | live EP | DL | |
| V | 2017, Sept 1 | Good Times | EP | tape/ CD/ DL |
| Live at Paisley Stage | 2018, May 10 | live album | DL | |
| VI | 2018, Oct 29 | EP | tape/ CD/ DL | |
| VII | 2023, Oct 13 | EP | 12″, tape, DL | |
| Killing Fields | 2024, July 3 | single | DL |
Timeline
2013, August 22, Starving Millions
2013, October 11, Bar Medusa
*First gig
2013, October 16, SFBH
2013, November 1, Medusa
2013, November 7, Bar Medusa
2013, December 12, Medusa
2013, December 14, Whammy
2014
2014, January 31, The Homestead Bar
2014, February 5, Starving Millions II
2014, February 6-8, Waitangi Wastefest
2014, May 2, Valhalla
2014, May 17, Zeal
2014, June 7, Valhalla
2014, June 13, Zeal
2014, June 14, Valhalla
2014, August 21, Valhalla
2014, August 22, Valhalla
2014, August 23, Zeal
2014, September 6, Bar Eden
2014, September 27, Valhalla
2014, October 7, Zeal
2014, October 23, Valhalla
2014, November 28, Valhalla
2015
2015, January 10, Valhalla
2015, February 6, Valhalla
2015, April 11, Zeal
2015, May 2, Lucha Lounge
2015, June 5, Valhalla
2015, June 26, Valhalla
2015, July 18, III
2015, July 18, Valhalla
Disparo (AUS), Starving Millions, Cephalopod, Ripfacer, Kept Out
2015, August 1, Moon Bar
2015, August 5, SFBH
Good Riddance (USA), Versus The World (USA), Starving Millions
2015, August 29, Valhalla
2015, September 5, Zeal
2015, September 18, Whammy
2015, October 16, Valhalla
2015, December 3, Mall Santa
2015, December 12, Valhalla
From Me To You presents “Murray Chris-mass”: Starving Millions, T.A.B., Andy & The Assholes, Nailgun, GCSB
2016
2016, January 8, Valhalla
2016, February 13, Ellen Melville Hall
2016, March 5, Zeal
Cam’s (bass) first gig with Starving Millions.
2016, May 7, Valhalla
2016, May 27, Newtown Bowling Club
2016, June 3, Zeal
2016, June 15, IV
2016, June 15 – 25, Australian Tour
2016, July 8, Caroline
2016, October 1, With His Knife Drawn
2016, October, Toi Poneke
Starving Millions recording tracks for split EP with Churlington.
2016, October 13, Caroline Bar
2016, October 23, Bar Bodega
2016, November 7, Starving Millions/ Churlington
2016, November 25-26, Speedball tour
2016, December 8-10, Scrotal Vice – Humanimal Tour
2016, December 16, Bar Bodega
2017
2017, January 27, The Pitt
2017, January 28, Whammy
2017, March 31, Whammy/ Wine Cellar
2017, April 2, Snails
2017, April 28, Valhalla
2017, April 30, Live @ Valhalla
2017, June 23, Valhalla
2017, July, Toi Poneke
Starving Millions recording the “V” EP
2017, September 1, V
2017, September 14-24, Australia tour
2017, September 28, Valhalla
2017, September 29, Levin
Starving Millions, Churlington
2017, October 7, Moon Bar
2017, Dec 8, The Crown Hotel
2017, December 9, Darkroom
2018
2018, January 12, Whammy Bar
2018, May 10, Live At Paisley Stage
2018, June 8, Lucky Bar (Whanganui)
2018, August 11, Valhalla
2018, August 17, Hataitai Homewrecker
2018, October 6, The Vault
2018, October 29, VI
2018, November, Australia
2018, November 17, Valhalla
2019
2019, March 8-9, Full Noise
2019, April 27, Dankfest
2020
2020, January 15, Valhalla
2023
2023, February 18, The Vault
Starving Millions: VII
2023, October 19, Boneface Tavern
2025
2025, April 18-19, Full Noise
2026
2026, April 25, Thistle Hall
