Force Fed was a teenage punk band from Wellington, New Zealand, formed in late 1998.
The band featured Eddie Stanley on guitar and vocals, Gwynn Compton on bass, and Sarah on drums. They initially came together for a school music performance, starting out by playing Nirvana covers, including “Aneurysm.”
By 1999, the group had written enough original material to compete in the Smokefree Rockquest under the name Tacit, advancing to the regional finals. In 2000, they entered the competition again, this time as Scarface Claw, though they did not progress beyond the heats.
Their sound drew strong influences from melodic punk and pop-punk acts such as Lagwagon, Nirvana, The Hippos, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Ataris. Eddie Stanley served as the primary songwriter, crafting songs that delved into classic emo-punk themes of teenage life. Tracks like “Sorry Again” explored relationship struggles, while “My Friend, The Bottle” tackled alcoholism.
Force Fed was part of a new wave of teenage bands that re-energised the Wellington scene at the turn of the millennium, sharing stages with bands including Duffeysome, The Perpetrators, The Minimals, Losing Face, Sheriff Lobo, and Dirk Drent. They performed at notable DIY and youth venues such as the punk flat The Frying Pan (at 3C Eva Street in central Te Aro), Valve Bar, and the youth venue Zeal.
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | punk |
| Years Active | 1998 – 2000 |
| Associated Acts | Duffeysome The Perpetrators The Minimals |
| Past Members | Eddie Stanley (guitar, vocals) Gwynn Compton (bass) Sarah (drums) |
Timeline
1999
1999, Smokefree Rockquest
2000
2000, Smokefree Rockquest
2001
2001, date, Karori Youth Centre
2001, December 21, The Frying Pan
The Perpetrators, Captain Smirk, Fishin’ 4 Nuffin’, 5 Sizes Too Big, Force Fed
2002
2002, January 11, The Frying Pan
Duffeysome, The Perpetrators, The Minimals, Sheriff Lobo, Dirk Drent, Force Fed
2002, February 22, Valve
The Rod Johnson Experience, Losing Face, Sheriff Lobo, State of It, Force Fed
