Tag: STE Collective

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.

*Chicken-Bone Choked, Older Than Dirt – Joiners, Southampton, Hampshire, UK – 18th December 1993

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Rich Levine: “THIRST! were due to play but had to pull out late on as Steve was ill……Initially, it was thought that Steve’s illness meant THIRST! couldn’t play the gig was pleurisy. Tragically & suddenly on the morning of December 28 1993, Steve died from a heart attack resulting from an undetected congenital condition. He was 24 years & left behind his wife Chrissy & daughters Amanda & Bex who was only 3 months old. Steve’s death left a big hole in the local scene.”

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.