Welcome to Chancres WWW Central, by Jane Evans
In my role as a band supporter of over four decades, photographer of many early shots on this site, Chief Chancrette and fan club president, I am pleased to write these few words noting the launch of The Chancres fine punk heritage website.
It’s funny how friendships form. What chemistry or elements come together to enable friendships to endure?
My earliest memory of Chancres drummer Mark Jarratt was the time we spent a few hours in the back of my brother’s orange VW Beetle on our way to Goulburn Gaol. Okay, so now you’re interested! The social psychology department at Stirling College, the alma mater of all Chancres, took all year 11 and year 12 students on an excursion to Goulburn Gaol. I still can’t figure out what knowledge we were expected to gain from the experience, other than to keep nice and be upstanding.
The following year (1979), Mark, Chancres guitarist Greg Powell, the late Anna Warden, RIP, soon to be bassist Chris Paxman and others were together in Year 12 English class. We became friends from our term together in that class, and the broader Chancres friendships became apparent and developed.
I first saw the Chancres perform in a lunchtime concert in the Stirling College auditorium. Acknowledging that the line-up of college talent was mostly heavy rock/stadium rock genre, playing known classics – which was popular – Mark and Greg had to negotiate hard to get a slot in the line-up. I recall Mark played on the kit of fellow drummer Brian Carey, and borrowed drumsticks after shredding and snapping his, as he and Greg throttled their way through a handful of classic Chancres songs – much to the horror of drumset owner Brian!
The Chancres tribe grew from then on – some musically involved, others idealistically aligned, and others fascinated, amused, entertained, while recognising that The Chancres stood for something other than mindless thrash, shown by their thoughtful literary lyrics. They had something to say! Chancres “songs of complaint” were, in fact, considered observations of society – or poetry – put to music mostly by Greg although the Chancres creative process was always shared and cooperative. No punk bad ‘tude.
Over 40 years has passed, and I am pleased and proud to acknowledge our enduring friendships. I count Mark, Greg, Guy, Chris and Clive as other brothers, not forgetting birth brother Brian, former Chancres manager. These guys were never punk ratbags; they were a notable part of the Canberra Punk movement in the late 70’s to early 80’s, a time when there was little else for young Ken Behrens as entertainment. Getting together in the Weston Creek community centre and other venues on a Saturday afternoon to write songs and play music with their close friends was as good a use of time as anything else, followed by energetic performances continuing to this day.
Enjoy this site and I hope you too join the global legions of Chancres fans.
