Future Stupid

Murray Cammick

28 May 2014

Future Stupid got started in mid 1993 in Christchurch. The original line-up was Tony Hallum (guitar, vocals), Mykel Cole (bass) and Dave Toland (drums). They moved to Auckland in early 1995 after the song 'Shovel' was playlisted by 95bFM.

The band released their debut six track self-titled CD EP in 1996 on the Felix Records label, an offshoot of Wildside Records. They recorded the EP at Ground Zero Studio, Newton, Auckland with Shane O'Neill engineering.

Future Stupid shot a video for 'Big Dumb Future' with guest rapper Slave (Mark Williams aka Rhythm Slave) from Joint Force. The video was directed by Matt Palmer.

They played the Big Day Out in January 1996 and opened for Primus at the Powerstation.

They played the Big Day Out in January 1996 and opened for Primus at the Powerstation on Wednesday February 7, 1996. Russell Baillie reviewed the latter gig in the NZ Herald (February 9, 1996), writing, "The energy level was primed by the opening slot from Auckland trio Future Stupid, who hugely impressed with their taut, aggressive, riff-based sound with its hip-hop influence extending to have Joint Force's Slave come on as a guest."

Before recording their debut album in 1996, the original drummer Dave Toland left the band early 1996 to join Evilis. The band were briefly a four-piece with new drummer Deryck Hunt (Semi Lemon Kola) joining April 1996 and guitarist Gavin Downie (Hallelujah Picassos) playing live with Future Stupid for a couple of months in the winter of 1996. Downie did not play on any recordings.

Prior to the band recording Cannon Fodder, Hallum and Cole had a “massive falling out,” says Cole. “I did not want to record with a fresh drummer. Most of the songs on Cannon Fodder were written by the original line-up – Tony Hallum, Dave Toland and myself.”

Tony Hallum was flatting at the time in Customs St with Jason Young who drummed in Loves Ugly Children, who were imploding. “I replaced Mike with Jason as I was really having trouble writing Cannon Fodder with Mike, so Jason got the job.”

Cannon Fodder was recorded at Ground Zero studio and was released on January 31, 1997. The band played the 1997 95bFM Summer Series in Albert Park but they were unable to get funding to make a new video and the project faltered.

Hallum moved back to Christchurch to be with his girlfriend. In June 1997 the band played the Audio Overload concert at the late, great Caledonian Hall in Christchurch with Salmonella Dub, HLAH etc. Hallum recorded an 8-track demo for a second album but was unable to get record company interest, so the band folded.

As Deryck Hunt and Jason Young now live in Melbourne, the only Future Stupid reunion was a 2006 gig at the infamous Pony Bar in Little Collins St.

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Jason Young's diary