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Monday, August 21, 2017

Obituary: Cleary West 1972 - 2017




Friday 18 August 2017, sadly saw the sudden passing of Cleary West, "Warfare Pulse Controller"of the Invercargill death metal band 'Hatred', of which he'd been bashing the drums for since it's formation in 1992.

I've had quite a bit to do with Cleary and his bandmates over the last 20 or so years. Particularly when I was bringing bands to tour NZ and would get Hatred open on the Invercargill or Dunedin dates. These included Brutal Truth, Pungent Stench (twice), Atomizer, Sticky Filth and numerous local bands.

Hatred in Wellington on their 2014 'Hikoi of Hatred' tour.   L to R Robbie, Cleary, Brady and Sam (RIP)

I, as well as the many who knew him, will miss him for his hardcase personality and hilarious grasp of Southland self-depreciating humour.
My fondest memory of Cleary though, was not so much a funny one, but a more of a heart warming moment.    Pungent Stench were playing the first night of their 2003 New Zealand tour in Invercargill at Tillermans. The show was packed with an enthusiastic audience who were stoked that an international underground metal band like them would come to play their town.  So much so was the disbelief, that the bar had been receiving calls to ask if it was the real Pungent Stench and not just a tribute band using the same name.  Stench blew the roof off that night and after about their second encore, I recall seeing Cleary jump up on the stage, grab the microphone and announce something along the lines of  "Hey everyone, these guys have come all the way from the other side of the world to play this kick ass show for us.  Let show them a big Invercargill round of appreciation!!!".  Which of course it was followed by, leading on to yet another encore and one of the longest (and best) sets Pungent Stench played on that tour.   I know that Martin, Alex & Mario from that line up of Pungent Stench, also felt this show to be a special stand out from all their years of touring and will be ensuring they get to read this.  

At the time of writing, the remaining members of Hatred, Robbie and Brady (Sadly bass player Sam also passed away from cancer in 2016), are feeling pretty broken up at the loss of their mate and have agreed that yours truly should write the initial version  of Cleary's obituary for the New Zealand metal community.   As I'm sure many of you who knew Cleary will have lots entertaining stories to tell to about him, I'd like to make this post a live document that can be added to over time as his friends and whanau remember or feel ready to share.  If you have something you'd like to add, leave it in the comments or pass it onto me via Brady or Robbie.  

Haere ra e hoa, kua haere ki tua o te ārai - Farewell to my friend, he's gone to the other side of the veil

Chris Rigby

Following is Cleary's death notice as it appeared in the 19 August 2017 edition of the Southland Times:
WEST, Cleary James:
2.3.1972 - 17.8.2017
"Warfare Pulse Controller". It is with a broken heart and a touch of anger that we have to announce the sudden passing of Cleary. Loved son of Westy, brother of Bert, Rhondda, Nikki, Mary, Paul, and Darren. Father of Araya and birth father of Khellsey-Anna, Kaytlin and Shayla Rose, step dad of Zhan'e, Annekea, and Jacob. "A Hatred Mate" of Rob Dog, Brady, and Sam. Loved uncle of Crofty, dear friend of Keita, a lover of all things music and our heart and a laugh for any and all. Funeral arrangements to be announced.
\../ BRUTAL HAILS \../No flowers please but Araya likes chocolate! Messages to 64 Price Street, Invercargill.
Avenal Park Funeral Home, Invercargill
03 2189021
F.D.A.N.Z.

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Monday, August 7, 2017

Lock Up vocalist, Kevin Sharp passes brutal-as-fuck kidney stone!



In 1998, around the time details of Bill Clinton's cigar escapades were coming out, I found myself promoting a New Zealand tour for Brutal Truth.  It was the first time I'd ever done anything like that, so although the tour went pretty well, I didn't really know what I was doing and there were a few minor fuck ups along the way.   One said fuck up involved not properly organising accommodation in Palmerston North, resulting in us all having to sleep on the floor of the venue (The Stomach).   The next morning I recall looking over to see drummer, Rich Hoak waking up from under a bed he'd made from tour shirts he'd got out of the merch. Then becoming uncomfortably aware that, as some perverse form of punishment, Kevin Sharp's bare ass and balls were squatted, hovering less than two inches above my head from where I was lying!  
This morning I checked facebook to see his over night birth announcement (see above).
Being once so horribly close to the origin of the offending giblet, I pulled no punches in asking the hard questions in the post comments.

Subcide Webzine: Congratulations. Did that come out through the eye of your dick?

Kevin Sharp: It sure did... wonderful feeling

Subcide: How big? (The stone)

Kevin Sharp: 3/8"

Subcide: What does it smell like?

Kevin Sharp: to be honest - you've asked some pretty fucked up questions... but sort of that new stone smell

Subcide: Was there blood when you pissed it out?

Kevin Sharp: no.. when these things bang around on the inside... you bleed a little bit every time... I was half asleep when it launched... barely noticed... just heard it bounce in the bowl... stuck to the side... didn't even have to dig it out... got any more questions asshat?

Subcide: why yes I do, scrotum face. When it stuck to the side of the bowl, did you have to put your hand in with all your piss or did it stick above the waterline?

Kevin Sharp: above waterline

Subcide: what do you think it stuck to? How heavy is it?

Kevin Sharp: fuk my life you're annoying... no idea.. not heavy... sorta like coral

Subcide: Thank you. That will be all.

Kevin Sharp: you sure... I'm here all night wise guy

Subcide: Can I publish this as an interview on my blog?

Kevin Sharp: Chris Rigby, you really don't give up - tenacious twat

Subcide: I take that as a yes?

Kevin Sharp: of course... now fuck off...

Subcide: Good night and Thank you.

Kevin is currently lead vocalist for 'Lock Up', who will be touring Australia and New Zealand with Napalm Death and Brujeria this October.  You can find details for the Auckland show, Listen to the new Lock Up album 'Demonization' and see a close up of Quasimodo, all below. 




Quasimodo - close up