DEE MINOR AND THE DISCHORDS

Formed in 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 four musos, Craig ''Wacca'' Wachholtz on guitar, Ray ''Baby Arms'' Thurlow on drums, Ray ''Spole'' Scott on bass, and Neal ''Nell'' McDonald on 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, John ''Dee Minor'' Stuart they 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 “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 40 years on, in 2023, the main line-up is still going.

Members

John Stuart [Dee Minor] (vocals), Neil MacDonald (saxophone), Craig Wachholtz (guitar),

Ray Scott (bass), Ray Thurlow (drums)

References

http://www.musicoz.org/media/bios/633-513d21d9-0592-4dd2-9bbe-8b87d659a53f.pdf