Depression formed some time in 1982 in Melbourne. Smeer (Stephen Lazaros), who had been playing in the early Australian punk band The Desert Rats, met up with two locals called Liddy and Spike. Adding Danny on drums they started to play regular shows at The Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood. After about a year of playing there, Depression began playing at The Seaview Ballroom, a venue which became a mainstay of the Melbourne punk/hardcore scene. Around this time, the Dead Kennedys toured Australia, and talks between the band and Jello Biafra resulted in Depression being part of the legendary 'Welcome to 1984' compilation with the track ''What A Strange World'' on Maximum Rock'n'Roll Records.
1985 saw the release of the band's self titled album. Recorded on Phil MacDougall's Reactor Records, this album received good reviews in the US and UK. Things were looking up for the Depression/Reactor partnership. However, in 1986, Phil's reluctance to finance an overseas tour for the band ended the relationship and Depression and Reactor parted company. However in 1988, Depression appeared on the famous 'Not So Lucky Country' compilation double LP on Reactor Records. In the meantime, Depression became a trio with Smeer on vocals and they headed in a more metallic direction. Signing with Cleopatra they released the 'Ultra Hardcore, Mega Heavy, Punk, Metal, Thrash' live album, the 'Thrash Till Death' album and finally in 1989, the 'Hardcore History' album which was made up of demos and early cuts. In 1989, Depression called it a day after mixed reactions to their later work and differences within the band. Depression were one of the most successful Australian punk/hardcore acts from the era.
Members
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