The Protons were a short-lived but sharply defined presence in Wellington’s early-1980s post-punk underground. Formed in June 1980, the band began as a high-energy three-piece featuring Tony Richards (guitar, vocals), Phil Bowering (bass, vocals) and Lawrence Sampson (drums), before expanding later that year with the addition of lead vocalist May Lloyd.
Writing all their own material, Richards and Bowering steered the band through a spiky, saw-edged sound rooted in punk and new wave but already pushing beyond strict genre lines. Despite a sometimes hostile reception from local punks and their outsider status within Wellington’s Terrace Scene, the Protons were active giggers, supporting Toy Love in August 1980 and sharing bills with The Mockers, Coup d’État and the Valentinos at the Last Resort on Courtenay Place .
In October 1980 the band appeared at the controversial Battle of the Sounds contest, and in early 1981 landed a last-minute main-stage slot at the Nambassa Festival. Their abrasive, angular sound proved a surprise hit with an audience more accustomed to jazz, blues and folk. Although the festival collapsed financially, leaving the band unpaid, the Protons travelled on to Auckland, played at Mainstreet, and recorded at Harlequin Studios before returning to Wellington .
By March 1981, recordings at Sausage Studios in Thorndon captured the Protons as a tight four-piece with an increasingly diverse repertoire. Their songs blended punk urgency with elements of funk, reggae and jazz, paired with lyrics that ranged from satire to outright irreverence. The single “Lights On / Modern Homes” was released on Bunk Records in early 1981, accompanied by a video shot at TVNZ’s Avalon Studios. Shortly afterwards, The Protons disbanded.
After the Protons, Phil Bowering repurposed the track “Wolves of Power” for a 1982 solo single, released to coincide with the second visit of the USS Truxtun to Wellington. Tony Richards went on to form Carnival Din, continuing his involvement in Wellington’s alternative music scene.
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | post-punk, new wave |
| Years Active | 1980 |
| Associated Acts | Condemned Sector |
| Past Members | Phil Bowering (bass, vocals) May Lloyd (vocals) Tony Richards (guitar, vocals) Lawrence Sampson (drums) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lights On/ Modern Homes | 1981, Jan 31 | Bunk Records BUNK 003 | single | 7″ |
| Wolves Of Power |
Timeline
1980, August, venue?
Toy Love, Protons
1980, September 21, Last Resort
1980, October 24-25, Battle Of The Sounds
1981
1981, January 22-26, Nambassa Festival
1981, January 31: Lights On/ Modern Homes
released later in year?
1981, February, Mainstreet AKL
1981, March?, Sausage Studio
1981, March, Victoria University
Pop Mechanix, Protons
