{"id":540,"date":"2025-06-15T14:08:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T02:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/?p=540"},"modified":"2026-04-21T15:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T03:00:41","slug":"the-normals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/2025\/06\/the-normals","title":{"rendered":"The Normals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">The Normals, Wellington\u2019s pioneering punk band, formed in 1978 with Graham Hood on bass, Dazee Day on vocals, Mike Lawry on guitar, and Andy on drums. Based out of Graham\u2019s Oriental Bay flat, that he shared with Paul Champion and Kevin Hawkins, the band embodied the raw, rebellious spirit of early punk. Initially known as The Stainz or The Same, they solidified their lineup when Dazee took over vocals, crafting original lyrics with Graham. Dazee\u2019s punk stall, <strong>Not Nice New Wave Gear<\/strong>, at Vic Markets became a hub for Wellington\u2019s growing punk community, attracting like-minded youth and leading to Michael Lawry (later of <strong>Headless Chickens<\/strong>) joining after a drunken jam session in the Hutt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-1&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" id=\"accordion-item-1\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-1\" data-wp-bind--hidden=\"state.isHidden\" data-wp-on--beforematch=\"actions.handleBeforeMatch\" id=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">The Normals debuted at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/1978\/11\/1978-nov-8-late-dec-chez-paree\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12148\">Chez Paree<\/a><\/strong>, a bohemian cafe rebranded as <strong>The Mind Shaft<\/strong> to embrace the punk wave, in November 1978. As a resident band, they mixed covers with originals, fermenting a nascent punk scene in a venue typically hosting folk acts. After The Mind Shaft closed that year, the band went on hiatus while Graham and Dazee traveled overseas. Reforming in mid-1979 with Karl Scutt on drums, they recorded four songs at <strong>Broadcasting House<\/strong> in July, including \u201c<em>Suburbanite<\/em>,\u201d a raw take on suburban alienation, \u201c<em>Bananas<\/em>,\u201d a deliberately simplistic punk anthem, and \u201c<em>Anorexia Nervosa<\/em>,\u201d reflecting Dazee\u2019s socially conscious lyricism.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">The Normals shared stages with touring bands like <strong>The Vauxhalls, Sheerlux, The Swingers<\/strong>, and <strong>Toy Love<\/strong>, as well as local act <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/2022\/06\/steroids\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"485\">The Steroids<\/a><\/strong>. By late 1979, they relocated to Auckland, where the punk scene was overshadowed by violence between boots, punks and gangs like the King Cobras. This hostile environment, coupled with internal dynamics, led to their breakup soon after.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">Graham Hood relocated to Australia and where he joined Sydney ska band the <strong>Allniters<\/strong>. Their single \u201c<em>She Made A Monkey Out Of Me<\/em>\u201d has its basis in The Normals song \u201c<em>Bananas<\/em>\u201d. Hoody later went on to play in cowpunk band <strong>The Johnnys<\/strong> and pub rock band <strong>Beasts of Bourbon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u0086<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter is-style-rectangular\" data-effect=\"slide\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:calc(1200 \/ 953)\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"953\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-8682\" data-id=\"8682\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1200 \/ 953\" src=\"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03-1024x813.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03-768x610.jpg 768w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_03-1170x929.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Bob Sutton and Graham Hood, Thorndon, 1979<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"676\" height=\"960\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-8676\" data-id=\"8676\" data-aspect-ratio=\"676 \/ 960\" src=\"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_01.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_01.jpg 676w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_01-211x300.jpg 211w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Dazee Day, Oriental Bay, June 17, 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-8680\" data-id=\"8680\" data-aspect-ratio=\"615 \/ 900\" src=\"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_05.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_05.jpg 615w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/thenormals_05-205x300.jpg 205w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u0086<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\" style=\"font-size:16px\"><table><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Origin<\/strong><\/td><td>Wellington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Genre<\/strong><\/td><td>punk<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Years Active<\/strong><\/td><td>1978 &#8211; 1979<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Associated Acts<\/strong><\/td><td>The Amps, The Spies, <br>Domestic Blitz<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Past Members<\/strong><\/td><td>Dazee Day (vocals)<br>Graham Hood (bass)<br>Michael Lawry (guitar)<br>Karl Scutt (drums 1979)<br>Andy (drums 1978)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Lpgf1UQgsWE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Timeline<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1978, November 8, Chez Paree<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"831\" src=\"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft-1024x831.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft-1024x831.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft-768x623.jpg 768w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft-1170x950.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1978_11_08_mindshaft.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1979<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1979, July 4, RNZ Studios<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">The Normals record three tracks (Bananas, Anorexia Nervosa, Suburbanite) with Tony Burns as engineer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1979, July 13-14, Rock Theatre<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">w\/ The Swingers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"947\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/1997_07_12_eveningpost.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/1997_07_12_eveningpost.jpg 947w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/1997_07_12_eveningpost-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/1997_07_12_eveningpost-768x811.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 947px) 100vw, 947px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Normals, Wellington\u2019s pioneering punk band, formed in 1978 with Graham Hood on bass, Dazee Day on vocals, Mike Lawry on guitar, and Andy on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":541,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[81,79,82,80],"class_list":["post-540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bands","tag-dazee-day","tag-graham-hood","tag-karl-scutt","tag-michael-lawry","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe2JUk-8I","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/thenormals_05.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23898,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540\/revisions\/23898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}