Tag: STE Bulletin

Tony Suspect – STE Bulletin – 5th January 1994

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SUSPECT THOUGHTS WITH TONY

How do you react to the loss of a friend? On the evening of December 28th, I got a phone call, it was Rob. Of course, as I recognised his voice, I gave him a cheery “Hello” + expected to be told when our next practice was. As if reading my thoughts, his next words were “We won’t be practising for a few weeks”, there was a pause before the hammer blow “Steve’s dead”. I was stunned, I just couldn’t believe it. Rob was understandably, in a bit of a state + after giving me all the details he had, he rang off. I just sat there in a daze, there were no tears, no overwhelming sense of grief, nothing, except that I couldn’t get Steve out of my thoughts. For the next few days, I would suddenly find that I had been sitting just staring into space thinking of Chrissy, Amanda + Rebecca, the band + then back to Steve again. It was like I was numb. I still couldn’t accept that I wouldn’t be seeing him again.

I had known Steve for years but not all that well. I’d see him at gigs, we might say “Hi” to each other but that was it. Then we started THIRST together (with Shaun + Shane) + as the band progressed + we got to know each other better, I’m pleased to say we became quite good friends. He would often say that, above all else, the band were all good friends + that’s what kept us together when we’d have bad practices + couldn’t find a compromise. We stuck at it + things got: better + because we all got on so well, being in THIRST became cool.

Our first: demo may not be perfect but the time we spent recording + mixing it was fun, we were having a good time + achieving something with our band, it’s a happy memory I will keep forever. Like me, he was a football nut + we were talking about playing for the same team, something 1 was really looking forward to.

Steve was really into THIRST, so Jon, Rob + I have decided to keep the band going, keeping the name + recruiting someone who knew Steve + who Steve liked. Rob will move over to guitar + we have Phil of CHICKEN-BONE CHOKED, coming in to play bass. I’m not sure how permanent this will be as obviously Phil has his priorities with CBC but we hope to record a single as a tribute to Steve, featuring a couple of tracks he played on, plus some new stuff.

So, how did I react? Just shock I suppose, I still find it hard to come to terms with, it’s just so sad to lose someone you liked + respected. Writing this, along with reading the obituaries, was the hardest thing I’ve had to do since he died, it’s kind of brought it all home to me but (as l write) the funeral is still to come + that will be worse.

Now our thoughts must be with Chrissy + the kids + in that we will always remember Steve. He was one of the nicest. people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I may not have known him well for as long as a lot of others but I value the time we spent as friends. Steve, I will never forget you.

Rob Callen – STE Bulletin – 4th January 1994

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A MEMORY FOR THE MASSES WITH ROB.

Whenever I think about poetry, or friendship, I will think of things and many people I’ve met + Steve Burgess will always be amongst the first.

I want to write about friendship, about what I want friendship to be like with everyone who knows me now + everyone who may get to know me in the future. This is not just some throwaway waffle, which just says I’m revelling in my own insecure little daydream, ‘cos this column is based on a friendship given by Steve Burgess.

All the words here mean something to me + maybe you’ll agree with them but that doesn’t really matter; for what really matters (+ what I’ve found out to be so important, that it makes my eyes well with tears every time I think about it) is friendship. Friendship between people that actually means something real. You know, something which is alive, that makes us all feel that we can contribute something of value in our lives for free, to someone else, to help them realise that they’re great + that we’re inspired by them.

So, how the hell does this all get to be? I can only tell you of what I know + how I got to know Steve + just hope you might get something from it, ‘cos I’m writing this from the experience from my life and especially the experiences I’ve had over the last 16 months when I first got to know Steve really well (although I had known him for years just to say hello to through music).

First, let’s say something about friendship. Friendship, I feel starts with sharing a thought + talking things through + getting to know where other people are coming from + laughing, because of stupid things that we’ve been through together + being accepted – not because of what you wear, or of what you look like but because of who you are underneath your skin + what your dreams strive for. With these in place, in the end, you’ll respect someone for exactly the right reasons I would want somebody to respect me. I respected Steve for these reasons.

There’s just so many people in this scene (+ outside of the ‘scene’ for that matter), whom I only half know, maybe just to say “Hi” to at a distance + I just wish I could know them better. Like I got to know Steve. For I thought I would never start writing about my own personal circumstances, or about individual people because I want to write about subjects that people can think about. + about things that inspire me. Then Steve, who was one of the most sincere + inspirational people I knew, who always went out of his way to help you out, who I used to play in a band with, who never used to hesitate to talk about what he really felt inside + who we all loved, died of a heart attack at the tragic age of 24.

What I’ve written about is friendship + about getting to know people + about giving each other strength, which Steve gave to me in more ways than he will ever know + I hope + trust I in turn, gave back to him. There’s so much more which I want to say, about what friendship could be + what Steve gave but I’m running out of space, so I’ll just finish by saying I want to dedicate this whole collection of words, paragraphs + thoughts, to the memory of Stephen Burgess, my good good friend.

After thought: – Bronwyn said about when she, Shaun, Rich + I went around to Steve + Chrissy’s place, everyone seemed so open + you just talked about how you felt to each other. I can’t think of how I could have said that myself but I’m sure Steve would have been proud of such a description of his friendship

Paul Jay – STE Bulletin – 4th January 1994

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LIFE BEGINS AT 30 WITH PAUL…

As you’ve probably already realised, this bulletin is dedicated to the memory of Steve Burgess, who sadly passed away on December 28th 1993. For those of you who weren’t fortunate enough to know him, he was one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.

From a personal level, I first met. Steve about 8 or 9 years ago, when he came to see SUICIDE PACT + then NOX MORTIS + from then on he was a regular at our gigs, always being a friendly + jovial character.

I remember the times a group of us used to go to London for gigs (from memory it seemed as though it was every other week), having to wait for the 2.45am train to Southampton on Waterloo station, completely fucked + pissed off we’d missed the midnight train, still in a weird way it was a laugh.

Steve was a person who (from what I understood + witnessed) totally devoted himself to his wife Chrissy + 2 kids (Amanda + Rebecca), whom he loved + adored, his football which I know he played several times a week + music which he was involved with + through which I got to know him. I remember seeing the bands he played in (CORPORATE GRAVE, ALL THE GLORY + THIRST) on many occasions, admittedly in a drunken haze, + lastly he was always there for his friends, a person you could talk to, he was always there to listen to problems.

He will sorely be missed by family and friends alike. R.I.P.

Lastly, there will be a collection + a raffle at the FABRIC gig at the Joiners on Saturday, January 15th + there will also be a number of benefit gigs organised in memory of Steve, with all proceeds from the gigs, going to Wessex Heart Foundation, so please give generously, as this will be greatly appreciated by those he left behind.

Cheers for taking the time to read this!!

Rich Levine – STE Bulletin 22 – 3rd January 1994

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MY HEART + THE REAL WORLD WITH RICH…

On Tuesday, December 28th 1993, Steve Burgess tragically died of a heart attack.

He was just 24 years old, married to Chrissy, with 2 daughters Amanda + Rebecca, aged 7 years + 3 months respectively.

Some of you may have known Steve from the bands THIRST, (+ earlier) ALL THE GLORY + CORPORATE GRAVE + as part of the Southampton punk/ hardcore scene over the last 8 or 9 years. To me, he was my best friend.

When I heard the news (whilst at the tranquillity of my Mum’s, in rural west Wales), I was numb. It didn’t sink in. It seemed so unreal like it was a big wind-up + suddenly Steve was going to turn up + say “Not Really!”.

Then came the tears + the pain. Tears of sadness, tears of anger at how cruel + unfair this world is, that someone with so much love, so much to live for, with so much purpose to his life, could be taken from us. My thoughts were with Chrissy + his family.

At times, I felt cheated – so many things I’d never be able to share with Steve. We all think we’re so invulnerable, take our lives for granted, that we’re going to be around for the next 40 years or so.

We never consider how fragile our existence is.

What can’t be taken away from me are my memories. I went to the

same school (Alderman Quilley in Eastleigh) as Steve + we became friends through punk rock. Going with him to his first gig (CONFLICT in Bournemouth), when he was just 15, forming our own punk rock band in his bedroom (the prototype CORPORATE GRAVE), seeing him on stage later on tape + record. Having the privilege of being the Best Man at his + Chrissy’s wedding + both of us being absolutely terrified of making our speeches! Witnessing what a proud father he was. So many scrapes + so many laughs…

Steve was a very thoughtful person. He had very firm beliefs but also liked to test these, by questioning even those which are considered sacred cows within our scene. A few weeks before he died, we had a long discussion about bands + ethics, until 3am.

We were both exhausted but as he dropped me home, we both agreed how much we’d enjoyed the debate. Steve loved life + had a wicked sense of humour (as witnessed in his occasional ‘Danny Zuko’ column for this bulletin).

Like all of us, Steve wasn’t perfect, he was a human being but it was impossible to dislike Steve – the number of people who attended his funeral is a testament to just how popular + well-liked he was. He loved + cared about his family + friends + was there when I was down + needed him.

For a time, I was thinking what’s the point in carrying on with the S.T.E. + this whole music thing. It all seemed so trivial. If that’s all it was (just music), then yes, that would be the case.

However, the friendships, feelings + sense of community spirit, that’s there in our scene, far, far outweighs mere notes + guitar sounds. At our regular Sunday night ‘Scrabble’ sessions, the day after a gig, Steve would often talk more about: the conversations he’d had with such + such rather than the bands who’d played.

If anything positive can come out of Steve’s death, it’s that you have to cherish + appreciate your friends. What we have in Southampton + the people who come to S.T.E. gigs are special – don’t take it for granted.

Right now, I’m listening to JAWBOX’s ‘Novelty’ album.  Their song ‘Dreamless’ (+ the other 2 songs played at his funeral, NICK DRAKE’s ‘Pink Moon’ + ‘Texarkana’ by R.E.M.) will always remind me of Steve. I’ll miss that laugh, I’ll miss making him tapes + him making me cups of tea + vegetable pate sandwiches + above all, I’ll miss him. Right now, I still feel the pain of his loss – time heals all wounds they say but the memory will always remain.

So long Steve, your friend Rich.

12th Jan 2024 – Rich was the first person that I really connected with in Southampton from attending and playing shows at the West Indian Club. Even though Steve and I had toured together in our bands I didn’t really connect with him until later. Rich, Paul, Rob, and Steve, along with Johnny, Chrissy and Selina became the group of folks that I was closest to and despite living quite removed from them I always had a feeling of kinship and warmth. For those closer to Steve in location, the impact of his passing must have felt even crueller.

40,000 Reasons For Living – STE Bulletin 22 – 2nd January 1994

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Welcome to the first S.T.E. Bulletin of 1994. We hope you had a pleasant Christmas + have a Happy New Year. There’s been something of a cloud over us in the last few weeks, following the death of our close friend + THIRST guitarist Steve Burgess, between Christmas + New Year.

Suffice it to say all the columns this time are devoted to Steve + this + all future bulletins, are respectfully dedicated with love to Steve’s memory.

There are several benefit gigs being arranged, as a memorial + on behalf of the Wessex Heart Foundation. Watch these bulletins for details.

As always, we actively encourage people to get involved with the S.T.E. (in any capacity), so please get in touch. If anyone wishes to receive these bulletins on a regular basis then ask to be put on our mailing list. The Christmas gig raised £53 for Southampton Anti-Fascist Action, so thanks to everybody who contributed to that.

Cheers also to ONE BY ONE, KITCHENER, CHICKEN BONE-CHOKED, OLDER THAN DIRT, Chris, Mint, the Joiners staff, Tony, Pete Osmond + everyone who has supported us, we really do appreciate it

love + greetings.
Rich/Rob/Paul…the S.T.E. Collective.

12th Jan 2024 – See the next few entries for other’s thoughts and recollections about Steve in this month’s STE Bulletin.

Coarse and gutteral one syllable Anglo-Saxon with Mr Cynical- 1st September 1993

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Hmph! You lucky bastards haven’t heard from me recently, ‘cos I’ve been sunning myself on the Costa Del Sol. Now it’s totally different out there to the pigshit situation here. I mean you’ve got sun + late-night bars + women coming out: of your ears. What’s this place got to offer? THE LURKERS once in a blue moon + a load of whinging vegetarians taking up too much time + space at my favourite pub – The Joiners.

That place has gone to ruin since those T.S.E. guys started putting on gigs there. Just look at how many landlords they’ve been through recently + you know I used to prefer it before it was done up too. Just hasn’t got the same atmosphere these days.

Last time I was there, I could hardly get in the fuckin’ door for people accosting me with left-wing political newsletters + rags. The funny thing is there was no one on the dance floor to see the band. In fact, I’d guess everyone there was running a stall.

What is this shit? It’s supposed to be a gig not a fuckin’ market! It’s like the music isn’t important: anymore. Mind you, judging by the bands they have who cares anyway? I don’t know how they can call themselves punk rock.
Why don’t they put on something confrontational like MANIC STREET PREACHERS or something like that?


Even when people do get on the dancefloor, it’s all so polite, isn’t it? “Oh excuse me, did I knock your elbow? I’m so sorry”.
Where’s the violence? Where’s the craziness? Where’s the spirit + energy of youth? The T.S.E. twats are all over 24. Take my advice, don’t bother going to another one of their gigs, unless you want to be bored shitless, by clueless part-time intellectual so-called punk rockers, who wouldn’t even shake a stick at one of the Queen’s corgis if it bit him on the arse. Twats! Long live. G.G. (I think ‘Mr Cynical’ must be referring to G.G. ALLIN – the self-proclaimed “wildman of rock + roll”, who died of a drug overdose a few months ago. What with this + POISON IDEA splitting, I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Mr Cynical’ turns into a SINEAD O’CONNOR fan! – The Ed)

26th Jan 2024 – This last quip from Rich (The Ed) was about the one-page fanzine that I would distribute at shows called Fuck Around. It was put together without much thought by cutting out newspaper pictures and other bits and pieces. I ended up dedicating one corner of the work-photocopied sheet to Sinead because I thought she looked cool with her skinhead haircut.

Coarse and gutteral one syllable Anglo-Saxon with Mr Cynical – 25th December 1992

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I picked up that excuse for toilet paper S.T.E. Bulletin, the other day + was so fuckin’ furious that I wrote to the bastards and they, being the nice boys that they are (P-fucking-C + you know what that stands for don’t you, Pig Conspiracy), wanted me to contribute a column. Guess I must’ve impressed with my charm.

First off, that fucking Danny Zuko, get a fuckin’ life you miserable fuckin’ fuckwit. The last place you want to go to meet or make friends is at a fuckin’ gig. They’re all nicey-nicey boys these days. Not like the good old days of ’82, when punks knew what punk meant + that was Anarchy, Chaos + Fags. Those fuckers these days spike their hair with hair gel – we used to just grab hold of some live wires, ‘cos it was cheaper + not supporting some fascist company like Boots.

I hope Danny, for your sake, you’re not one of these long hair types, ‘cos if you are + I see you at the next gig, I’m gonna cut all your fuckin’ hair off + set light to it, like that fuckin’ hippie Hendrix set light to his guitar. I fuckin’ cannot stand all this rehashed 60’s hippie shit. about peace + love. I bet you take drugs too? We just used to bang our heads on the pavement ’til we were senseless. It was cheaper + we knew we weren’t contributing to the destruction of the rainforests.

In fact, I don’t think you should bother going to any gigs at all, you’re such a sad bastard, that it would be a good idea if we all just forgot about you altogether, whoever you are:

The gigs I’ve been to lately have been so shit. Badly organised + badly run but I come to them more + more, ‘cos I like to laugh at those so-called ‘scenesters’, who think everything’s great + just wonderful in their own little world. Fuck that.

The only good thing that came out at one gig, was the shit I had in the toilets there before I went home. Who is that Selina thing? Jeez, another long-haired type I notice. Typical.

I bet both Rich + Rob (from their articles) have long hair too (or know someone with long hair). Judging by what they wrote, they sound like a bunch of hippy girls, who’ve never had a decent shag in their lives (unlike some of us).

That Rob was nearly right with some of the things he said but then said that things weren’t gloomy in the future! Oh yes, they fuckin’ are mate + I’m probably the most optimistic person you’re ever likely to meet. Things are so shit that I’m not going to even bother writing anything else but like my favourite actor said – I’LL BE BACK!

25th Jan 2024 – Reading this today cracks me up. Danny Zuko was Steve Burgess’ pseudonym and of course, I loved dearly everyone I mentioned here. Mr Cynical was an easily exploitable stereotype that I don’t think I could quite capture again these days.