Mobile Stud Unit (MSU) are a long-lived satirical punk band formed in Hamilton, New Zealand in 1993 by a group of students at the University of Waikato. They were renowned for their unpredictable on-stage antics and the offensive lyrical content of their songs.
Mobile Stud Unit MSU | |
|---|---|
 MSU, Waikato 'O' week, 2000 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Hamilton, New Zealand |
| Genres | Punk |
| Years active | 1993–2008 |
| Labels | Pus |
| Members | Rohan "Marxi" Marx Terry Edwards Chris "Sven Tainui" Paki Aaron "Leroy Brown" Watkinson |
| Past members | Griff "Grifta" Robb Jocko Jamie Stone Jude Richards Dave O'Shea Dean "Deano Ballswinger" Ballinger SS Stormtrooper |
While the band has had at least 10 members, outrageous frontman Rohan "Marxi" Marx has been the one constant.
Mobile Stud Unit were originators of self-described 'pus-rock' – a sound heavily influenced by early New Zealand punk bands such as those that featured on the AK79 compilation of late seventies Auckland punk bands, mixed with outwardly offensive "fart jokey" lyrics. Song titles include "Stroke Victim", "Grut Sniffer" and "Wheel of Clitoris".
The early years
editThe Mobile Stud Unit was formed, by chance, when they entered a busking competition in 1993. The winners of the competition would go on to open for renowned New Zealand band The Mutton Birds. Winning band the Romantic Andes were unable to perform the support gig, so it went to second-place-getters Mobile Stud Unit. This posed a problem for MSU – having only one song, they were then required to write enough material to last a whole set. According to folklore the band nearly jeopardised their first official gig when they decided to get drunk and start tackling Mutton Birds frontman Don McGlashan.
"Stu's Pie Cart"
edit"Stu's Pie Cart", off MSU's 1997 CD Blood Spew is a lament on the closing of Stu's Rivercity Diner, a popular pie cart in Hamilton East's Grey Street. The song was featured on Radio New Zealand National's Sounds Historical programme and mentioned in the 2008 book The Great New Zealand Pie Cart.
10th anniversary
editMSU held their 10th anniversary in 2004 (11 years after they were formed). The line-up for the night included current and previous members who performed all MSU songs in chronological order to a full house at Diggers Bar, Hamilton. Hamilton ska band Bwa Da Riddum reunited to play support for MSU.
15th anniversary and break-up
editMSU celebrated their 15th anniversary by calling it quits. The band played their final gig at Altitude Bar, Hamilton. Support was provided by Th' Shrugs and TV's Wayne Anderson. MSU played two sets of their greatest hits. The most recent line-up was joined by former members Jocko, Jamie Stone, Dave O'Shea, Deano Ballswinger and SS Stormtrooper. The band also released their final album, Road Kill, a best-of compilation.
While MSU have broken up before, Marxi stated on the band's Facebook page that this time the band has broken up for good.
2018 reunion
editDespite Marxi's statement that the 15th anniversary was the end for MSU, the band reformed to support The Hard-Ons (with 5 Girls and the Illicit Wah-Wahz) at the Yot Club in Raglan on 19 May 2018. Joining Marxi in the line-up was Sven Tainui, Leroy Brown and an unidentified drummer. SS Stormtrooper appeared as a guest vocalist on Gunna Bash. Two new songs were included in the set; Weather Bomb and Dog.
Soundtracks
editThe track "Gunna Bash" from their 2002 album Flaps is also featured on the soundtrack of the feature film The Locals and can be heard in the car chase scene.
Discography
editMSU have released four albums. Most notably, their 2002 album Flaps was engineered by The Datsuns's guitarist Christian Livingstone.
Albums
edit| Year | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | My Pyjamas Smell Acidicky |
|
| 1997 | Blood Spew |
|
| 2002 | Flaps |
|
| 2003 | My Pyjamas Smell Acidicky |
|
| 2008 | Road Kill: The Best and Worst of the Mobile Stud Unit 1993 – 2008 |
|
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Green Eggs and Hamilton |
|
| 2001 | Zero Point One |
|
| 2003 | Remedial Class |
|
| The Locals original soundtrack |
|