CIVIL DISSIDENT

Formed in Melbourne in the early 80's, Civil Dissident and their friends Mad Flowers and Society's Victim started jamming around 1982, and after line-up changes between the three bands (Tracey Skepper and Dave Ross leaving Mad Flowers for Civil Dissident and Grant and Andrew leaving Civil Dissident for Mad Flowers), the Civil Dissident line-up was finalised with: Tracey Skepper on bass, Wayne Mosdall on guitar, Dave Ross on drums and Mat Bisset on vocals. This line-up would last until they played their final gig on the 20th of April 1985 at the Animal Liberation Benefit in Glen Iris. The band were regulars at The Seaview Ballroom and The Prince of Wales hotel in St. Kilda.

Their influences, from Discharge to Terveet Kädet, from Depression to Raw Power, from Minor Threat to The Stalin and so forth, came through on all their releases. While the above bands were an influence, Civil Dissident still retained a distinct Australian flavour, from their first demo in 1984, up to their tracks on USA label Pusmort's 'Cleanse the Bacteria' compilation. After a self-financed record and two tapes (Stone the Flamin' Crows was put out by the drummer), plus a string of cuts on international compilations, Civil Dissident called it a day. Every song was to the point, energetic, hardcore punk rock with a straightforward personal/political approach. Civil Dissident were a prime example of how Australian bands could very much hold their own in the world of hardcore.

Members

Mat Bisset (vocals), Tracey Skepper (bass), Wayne Mosdall (guitar), Dave Ross (drums)

EPs
'First Blood' 1985 No Masters Voice

'Is This Australia' 1991 Revolation

ALBUMS
'Fourth Rate American Thrash' 1984