bio
MEMBERS : (CURRENT) Matthew MIddleton : guitar, vocals, sax/shawm, keyboards Eddie Stevens: Bass, vocals , sax . Malcolm Deans : Drums.
(PAST) :J-mz Robinson, Jason Barrett : Bass , Rustle Coveney: Drums. Shaun Jury: Bass. Graheme Fyfe: Bass. Chris Livingston : Drums. Stefan Neville : Drums. Pat Krausss - Drums. Morgan Oliver -Bass. Alex MacKinnon - Bass.
BIO 2010
Harrods. Marx. Capital. Strum. Scrape. Beato. ISBN. Neu. Las Vegas. Prime. Premium. Paradox. Female. Expect the Unexpected.
BIO 2007:
Our mission : to keep the moronic in vogue, in focus. To apply our kollective learnings to the infantile and primitive ritual/release that is punk rock, to render the stupid the highest peak of aesthetic life, of life itself. To strip back the layers of self-deception and self-betrayal that is the everyday, the brattish hubub of late modern capitalism and , assisted by all types of poisons, brandish our musical weapons with ugly, stupid, turbulent simplicity. We , the Aesthetics : obviously boys, stupid men, drunk, in trance, yelping and stuffing down food offerings, pissing profits away, we activate a new, deep subconcious stream and , through our group ritual, keep new zealand on it's feet. For if these artists, these madmen, were to be denied their right to performance, the cancer that is 'straight' new zealand society would metastasize exponentally. 'Real men', all hair-product and credit, would wake up one gray morning, pick up a knife, and murder with android indifference. We keep this country on it's feet. We realize and heal these repressed subconcious collective evils bursting at the seams of the 'real world' through our music/ritual. All for no reward. Perhaps a strained, guilty half-smile from a city counsellor. WE ROCK. WE ROCK ON. WE ROCK ON . ONWARD - INTO OUR 30S. OUR 4OS.
BIO 2001:
It was the winter of 1995 that The Aesthetics began. Matthew Middleton, J-mz Robinson [bass] and Russle Coveney [drums] were the first incarnation. At first the band was a practise room project, but as the chemistry proved, things were to be taken a little more seriously. The band gelled like a petrie-dish and the first few recordings were designed. These in part contributed to the now classic 'College Rock' cassette - a series of practise room outings and live parties, and what parties they were. Romance prevailed. Goth/industrialist J-mz brought a savage yet beautiful flavour to the band - perhaps never to be repeated. But of course, each Bass player has his/her effect. As the bassist filtered away a new line-up emerged. 'Twas the Shaun Jury - local noise merchant and career student. Shaun brought professionalism to the band and a sharp edge to the sound. From this line up many songs from the 'My Right to Riches' album germinated. Russel was expelled for growing a beard and Stefan Neville - world-famous folkster/cartoonist joined on the tin cans. What a line up. By this time it was 1997. Romance flowered. Hearts were broken. Classic shows ensued. Palmerston North - unforgettable. My Right to Riches was released in 1998. Shaun and Stefan migrated to Auckland city and the Aesthetics was left in financial/philosophical tatters. Eventually the OFF! generation line-up came together. And this line-up is how it remains... Anticipate 'OFF!' like a shot in the arm or a bungee jump. Cherio!!!!!! - Matt Middleton March 21, 2001
Crits:
"Grinding-swirl-noise that goes far beyond the usual hardcore dribble and lands somewhere between Flipper and Chrome. Rough, raw, and recommended." -- Midheaven/Revolver USA
"Crude's Matt Middleton has erupted from the shackles of noise to stomp the grounds of sonic punkdom. Following his forefathers in bands like the Pin Group, Hentchmen, and La De Da's, Monsieur Middleton has carved a new sound." -- Forced Exposure