{"id":609,"date":"2025-06-19T20:41:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T08:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/?p=609"},"modified":"2026-03-15T17:49:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T04:49:30","slug":"wazzo-ghoti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/2025\/06\/wazzo-ghoti","title":{"rendered":"Wazzo Ghoti"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wazzo Ghoti (pronounced \u201cWazzo Fish\u201d) is a New Zealand punk band formed in 1984 at Wellington Polytech. The original lineup featured Chris Goodall (bass\/vocals), Mark Roxburgh (guitar\/vocals), Rex Nairn (guitar\/vocals), and Bill Morris (drums). Known for their gloomy early ’80s post-punk sound, their music tackled heavy themes like nuclear apocalypse (“Dawn’s Early Light<\/em>“), environmental toxicity (“DDT<\/em>“), and anti-US hegemony (“Squeeb USA<\/em>“).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The band debuted live on January 25, 1986, at the Cricketers Arm<\/a><\/strong>s alongside The Paras<\/strong>, self-releasing the performance as the tape Stuff What We Did, You\u2019re A Beautiful Audience<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. Through the mid-’80s, they shared stages with bands like Flesh D-Vice<\/a>, Number Nine<\/a><\/strong>, and Skank Attack<\/a><\/strong>. Tragedy struck in March 1987<\/a><\/strong> when drummer Bill Morris was brutally assaulted after a show at the Clyde Quay Tavern<\/a><\/strong>, forcing him to step away from drumming. Wazzo Ghoti persevered with replacement drummers Murray King, Pat McLaughlin, and Andrew Downes, and their song \u201cMagnet<\/em>\u201d appeared on the Wellington underground compilation When The Wind Blows<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late 1988, Dean Riley joined as drummer, and the band released their debut album, Gone Ghoting!<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, at James Cabaret on October 6, 1989. They went on hiatus soon after. In 1993, with Steve Cochrane on drums, they released the EP Coelacanth<\/a><\/strong><\/em> at Kaminsky\u2019s on May 14, before entering another hiatus. The band briefly reunited in 2014 to play with Vas Deferens<\/a><\/strong>, honoring the late Steve Andrew<\/strong>s. Members also performed in the Clash tribute band Wazzo Clash<\/strong> during this period. In 2019, Wazzo Ghoti celebrated their legacy with the CD compilation (pronounced: \u201cfish\u201d)<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, featuring tracks from 1986\u20131993, performed with past drummers, including Bill Morris, at the release gig. Their final documented show was on May 24, 2019, at Valhalla, opening for Auckland punk legends Proud Scum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin<\/strong><\/td>Wellington<\/td><\/tr>
Genre<\/strong><\/td>punk, post-punk<\/td><\/tr>
Years Active<\/strong><\/td>1984 – 1993<\/td><\/tr>
Labels<\/strong><\/td>Skank Records<\/td><\/tr>
Associated Acts<\/strong><\/td>Wazzo Clash, Flesh D-Vice<\/a>, Number Nine<\/a>,
Sub Dominants<\/a>, Manson Family<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Past Members<\/strong><\/td>Rex Nairn (guitar, vocals)
Bill Morris (drums 1)
Mark Roxburgh (guitar, vocals)
Chris Goodall (bass, vocals)
Dean Riley (drums 2 – 18 months from late 1988)
Steve Cochrane (drums 3)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Member<\/th>1985<\/th>1986<\/th>1987<\/th>1988<\/th>1989<\/th>1990<\/th>1991<\/th>1992<\/th>1993<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Mark Roxburgh<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td>G\/ vox<\/td><\/tr>
Rex Nairn<\/td>G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/td>		G\/
lead vox<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Chris Goodall<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td>bass<\/td><\/tr>
Bill Morris<\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Dean Reilly<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Steve Cochrane<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td>drums<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Releases<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Title<\/th>Date<\/th>Label<\/th>Type<\/th>Format<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Stuff What We Did,
You’re A Beautiful Audience<\/strong><\/td>		1987<\/td><\/td>live album<\/td>tape<\/td><\/tr>
When The Wind Blows<\/em><\/td>1987<\/td>Skank Records<\/td>compilation<\/td>12″<\/td><\/tr>
Gone Ghoting<\/strong>!<\/td>1989<\/td>Skank Records<\/td>album<\/td>12″, tape<\/td><\/tr>
Celebrate The Sonic Arts <\/em><\/td>1989<\/td>Ima Hitt<\/td>compilation<\/td>12″<\/td><\/tr>
Coelacanth<\/strong><\/td>1993, May 14<\/td>Skank Records<\/td>EP<\/td>tape<\/td><\/tr>
(Pronounced: “fish”)<\/strong><\/td>2019<\/td><\/td>compilation<\/td>CD<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Timeline<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
1986, January 25, Cricketers Arms<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

First gig, live recording released on Stuff What We Did, You’re A Beautiful Audience<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986, February 15, Cafe Pacifique<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
1986, August 16-17, Underground Music Studios<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Recording Magnet<\/em> for the When The Wind Blows<\/em> compilation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1987<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1987, March 20-21, Clyde Quay Tavern<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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