DEE MINOR AND THE DISCHORDS

DEE MINOR AND THE DISCHORDS
BAND BIOGRAPHY
www.dminor.com.au
During 1979 the band started to play the Sydney pub circuit with
a lead singer who wanted to shock audiences; to have them
stand at a bar with a beer in their hand, turn their attention to
the stage and say “What the?” Good, bad or indifferent, he just
wanted a reaction.
By 1981, the line-up had changed to include extraordinary
members that were to take the band to heights rarely achieved
by unrecorded acts. These 4 musos, Craig “Wacca” (Guitar), “Baby
Arms Ray” (Drums), “Spole” (Bass), and Neal “Lill Nell” (Sax and
Vocals) made up the most successful and revered Dischords lineup ever to grace the stage. As the very backbone of the band,
they formed a unique team of musicians. Along with their lead
vocalist, Dee Minor and the Dischords together slogged hard in
Sydney pubs and clubs from 1981 – 1984. Crowds grew
dramatically at many venues during this period, responding well
to the band’s rock sound and wild stage show.
Dee Minor and the Dischords became a “minor” legend in
Australian rock and roll, often outdrawing major artists with top
ten records at the time. At the end of 1982, a “minor” EP was
released through RCA records, but even without radio airplay, the
band continued to grow in stature and draw unequalled crowds
through their unique and wild on stage antics. Their show drew a
wide range of audiences – no actually that’s horseshit; in fact it
was pretty much raging males and wild chicks in the 18-25 age
group. A totally wild bunch!
By 1983, there was nothing “minor” about this band. From
booking agents to venue promoters, they all stood up and took
notice. Pubs filled across Sydney and the booze flowed wherever
they played. Some publicans claimed they had the highest beer
sales per head of any act. (circa: 1983-Sefton Hotel quoted 2nd
highest figures). Crowds rocked at their live shows, drank
copious quantities of beer … but also had a bit of a laugh at
some of the on-stage antics the band got up to. During this
time, Dee Minor could often be found hanging upside down like a
bat off the front lighting rig. In fact, any venue that had a pole
indoors generally found Dee Minor climbing it. Taking the mickey
out of himself and others, the show was at times full on, and at
other times rather comical.
Craig “Wacca” Wachholz, often described as one of Australia’s
wildest guitarists, could occasionally be found punching the neck
of his guitar up through the ceiling of any venue that had one
low enough to reach. He would twist the guitar and leave it
hanging, its feedback screaming through the Marshall amp as the
crowd went wild for an encore!
Dee Minor and the Dischords shows are wild times! Times when
all members of the band (except ‘Baby Arms’ Ray on drums)
found themselves “aerial” during a show, so much so, that
carpenters constructing new stages for venues had to be mindful
of not using chipboard. Neal “Lil’ Nell” MacDonald, in particular,
along with his strong vocals and punchy sax lines, developed an
additional reputation of crashing through stages. Looking after
his Sax become worrisome at times, (it dented, while Wacca’s
guitar neck bent), for busting through chipboard stages in some
Sydney pubs became the band’s calling card. Some stages often
had to be re-built the next day following a Dee Minor and the
Dischords show.
Now, more than twenty years on, in 2007, the main line-up has
reformed for a few limited and selected shows, and they promise
that none of the magic and energy will be lost!