[1][2][3][4] They played at the protests for homosexual law reform in 1983, where member Little Stevie McCabe was severely beaten up in the Christchurch Cathedral Square toilets.

Kawowski played in a two-piece band at Cashmere High School called The Gorillas with Peter Rees, a classical guitarist.

[citation needed] In February 2009, US record label Siltbreeze re-released the Axemen's 1984 protest album Big Cheap Motel [5] on 12-inch vinyl.

Originally the album was released as a cassette packaged in a small bubble sleeve with a straw, mimicking the milk drink Big M. Big Cheap Motel included a recording of a live performance[6] at the Summer Times festival[7] in January 1984, a public music stage set up in Hagley Park, Christchurch.

The band observed sexism in the Big M advertising surrounding the main stage, and subsequently wrote protest songs targetting the Christchurch City Council.