Desperate Measures

New Zealand punk band

Desperate Measures are a New Zealand punk band from Christchurch. They emerge in the period after the Sex Pistols era and develop a following in their hometown. The band is associated with punk and straight edge-related scenes, including youth crew, hardcore, hardcore punk and straight edge hardcore.

Line-up

The band features Eugene Butcher on vocals, Eric Vandenhoven on bass guitar, Shane on guitar, and Greg on drums. Butcher later works in multimedia in London. Vandenhoven later plays in Evasive Action, Southern Front, Iceland and Champion Beat, and also moves into chef work in Auckland. Shane later runs an Auckland recording studio.

Recordings

Desperate Measures self-release a four-track EP in 1984. They also record a live-to-multitrack set that becomes the first Failsafe Records release, Wasted Again, issued as a split with Unauthorised. Their catalogue also includes a demo and the It’s On Your Hands 7-inch and MCD.

Style and influence

The band is described as a New Zealand answer to pop punk, with songs that sit within rough punk. Eric Vandenhoven’s bass playing goes on to influence other local musicians.