The Beginnings of ?FOG CITY ENTERPRISES: 1984

In 1984 Roger (Fogorelli), ex-drummer of Wellington's 'anarcho-political punk band' RIOT 111, emigrated to Auckland.  The scene there was, on the face of it, much more pretentious: it seemed anyone could form a band and mimic the "Flying Nun sound", spend a fortune on black side-buckled winkle pickers, buy drain-pipe bollock hugging trousers to accentuate the town jesters feet, and plaster layer after layer of hair lacquer on their head to make it look like they had had their heads dragged through a hedge backwards (calling it 'designer').  Striving to look like Robert Smith of The Cure, Andrew Fagan of The Mockers, or one of the Screaming MeeMees was the in thing.  Why spend all that money and valuable time on your appearance when all that much needed cash could be invested in alcohol or drugs...?  Looking like you lived in the backward hedge came naturally (with time), and second hand clothes shops became a treasure trove of fashion and valuable way of saving money.

On arrival in Auckland, he hooked up with Sam - a friend from Wellington with impressive credential's - she was the front woman for LIFE IN THE FRIDGE EXISTS, and sister of a former band member.  Another  miscreant to enter this wonderful and weird world was Lindsey, bass player from Henderson punk band "THE LAUGHING CRIPPLES".

Soon to fall under their spell was a deviant from Auckland.  He had been a boarder at Whangarei Boys High, where he had been suspended for stealing a flagon of chloroform, and then having the temerity to wear a pair of jeans which permitted the Head Master a sneak preview of his genitals while being interviewed regarding his 'suitability in character reformation' to permit his return - which resulted in his expulsion.  This was David, and he played guitar - his previous musical convictions are unclear, as is at what point he entered the melee, but he was certainly present during the mutations of 'FOG' era.

A FOG (1984)

THE FOG (late 1984)

A FOG IN THE THROAT (early 1985)

THE FOG (1985)

David was later to write (?May, 2005) in student rag "ENTROPY":

During this time (?1984), another gang of social and like-minded musical lepers (including Roger on drums, Paul on Bass, Blaize (Blaise) on guitar and Stuart(?) on vocals) unleashed themselves upon the country - this band were universally unpopular with most others - the 'unacceptable side of New Zealand punk rock'; they were offensive (deliberately) and notoriously unpredictable on stage - they were also hilarious.  If you took them seriously, you got what you deserved.  This band released a cassette of demo tracks sunk into a 'modified' bible, and put on sale at [rare] gigs or Real Groovy records (when it was really groovy and operational) - they were known to the nation as  MAGGOTY ANNE & THE COT DEATH BABIES.  After their demise, dissolvement, disintegration, destruction...call it what you will, this group of musicians (with those involved in the FOG mutations) began to operate as a fluid conglomerate or corporation: a core of musicians that were to drift in and out of the amalgam of:

In 1985, members of THE FOG entered a recording studio and started laying down some tracks.  In the meantime, David left to become (initially)their sound man at gigs, then the group chauffeur.  He was replaced by Peter (also referred to as Pyotr, originally the bassist from "NOT REALLY ANYTHING"), and the group changed their name: ?FOG.

The 7" 4 track single (above) was released by Jayrem Records under the name "FATMAN WITH A BIG DORK", and was introduced on Radio With Pictures by Karen Hay as "?FOG's single 'seven inch black wobbly thing'."  Could it    have been that ?FOG were having fun with her or RWP? Or was it that she / RWP were conscious of the possible    connotations of using a word like "DORK" on New Zealand television, and the effect it may have with their       futures? Or was it that ?FOG really had called the single "seven inch black wobbly thing"?                         Maybe we'll never know...
                                                                                                                                    

It was as ?FOG that Sam had her face accidentally set fire to at the FLESH D-VICE Saturday night gig of their   "SUMMER-TIME BLUES" tour, when ?FOG had support slot at the Windsor Castle, Parnell(see above "ENTROPY" ARTICLE).                            

By the middle of 1986, there was another change in line up - or, perhaps more precisely, others were invited into the ?FOG CITY ENTERPRISES fold:

The core of ?FOG CITY ENTERPRISES

This motley crew started recording, but....

Lindsey claimed "...[☣☠☢] (of Jayrem records) will release anything we're associated with - [☣☠☢] sees a future in what we're doing...marketing potential in the U.S."

Roger says "ROBEЯT will never be an instant hit because the songs are a bit too obscure for the average person intrigued by the logo, but they're quite jolly - like Fatman With A Big Dork."

Peter expected a limited market appeal as ROBEЯT did not adhere to conventional methods of producing material, of "...not following a definite song construction.  A lot of people hate us because we don't have 'rounded off edges'.  We don't go for cliched dynamics in songwriting: key chord changes, blah blah..."

David (Eggleton) on being asked if he incorporated any of his poetry into the recorded material (being well established in the 'alternative poet' world of New Zealand) answered, "It's different.  I just contribute sound textures - verbal sound textures - overall ambiance...I wrote some things especially for ROBEЯT to perform...[but] there's only a few of them, and they're very short, and they keep changing all the time."

By the end of 1986 ROBEЯT (as a name) had fulfilled its requirements, and was briefly replaced by BRIAN, though still operating under ?FOG CITY ENTERPRISES.

Then mysteriously everything went quiet.....

In mid 1989 95BFM started to play a demo by a band calling themselves SPERMBANK FIVE. It was a track introduced as "CALL ME BUB".

By 1991 SPERMBANK FIVE had released a demo tape "SLAVE TO MOMBA":

And with that, ?FOG CITY ENTERPRISES, all mutations of its work etc seem to have vanished.  Some of the 'team' are still active in one or more ways in Auckland, others have have disappeared into obscurity (anyone knowing the whereabouts of Blaize, or other not-mentioned members, please make contact), and others, sadly, are deceased (Samantha Swan & David Appleton)...

                                                 ? R.I.P.

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