| The Protons formed in Wellington in June 1980.
Initially a high energy three piece consisting of Tony Richards (guitar, vocals), Phil Bowering
(bass, vocals) and Lawrence Sampson (drums), the band played all original punk/new
wave material written by Tony and Phil. Although the band received a negative reaction from
some of the local punks when they first started performing, they continued gigging
as a trio, playing support for Toy Love in August 1980 and at Mainstreet in Auckland
in September 1980. On returning to Wellington they recorded five songs on the four track at Sausage
Studios while the nuclear warship the USS Truxtun was in port.
May Lloyd joined the band as vocalist in October 1980 and the band played gigs with the Mockers, Coup d'Etat and the Valentinos.
Still relatively unknown, the band secured a last minute spot on the main stage at the 1981 Nambassa Festival where the saw-edged sound of the band was well received by a crowd used to jazz, blues and folk music. Unfortunately the festival went bust and the Protons arrived in Auckland to record a single at Harlequin Studios without the money they were to have been paid for the Nambassa gig. Returning to Wellington, the band played support to Pop Mechanix at Victoria University and in March 1981 recorded more songs on the four track at Sausage Studios. By the time these recordings were made the Protons had become a snappy four piece with an extensive and diverse repertoire of original songs, incorporating quirky off-beat rhythms, elements of punk, funk, reggae and jazz and lyrics which ranged from satire to irreverence. The single Lights On/Modern Homes was released on Bunk Records and the band made a video clip of Lights On at TVNZ's Avalon Studios before disbanding.
Using the Protons recording of Wolves of Power, Phil Bowering released Wolves of Power/Mutants (as a result of nuclear fallout) as a single under in 1982 to coincide with the second visit of the USS Truxtun to Wellington. During this visit, Phil was also out on Wellington harbour in a small boat as part of the protests against the visit of nuclear warships.
In 1982/83 Phil and Tony again worked together in Atmospherics, performing more groove orientated compositions by Tony for a dance troupe which included Andrea Saunders (now of Beat Girls fame). Atmospherics with Tony Richards (guitar, tapes and effects), Phil Bowering (bass), Richard Bennett (drums), Mike Booth (trumpet), David Woodbridge (trombone), Peter Sharman (french horn) and Roger Sellers (percussion) recorded at Radio New Zealand, Wellington for the Concert Programme.
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