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“The Black Assassins
are undoubtedly the ugliest, vilest and most loathsome four
“musicians” to ever scar the stage with their presence. ….
the lyrics and stage show were hilarious … “– RICHARD CONRAD, The Courier Mail, 20 July 1981 on The Black Assassins first gig. Here's the full review: QIT Campus Club
“ …. Few people survive an entire show. The Black Assassins are horrific. They are hideous to the eye. They are the incarnation of everything the Birthday Party dreamed of. One of them, singer Mohammet el Jackal, even crawled onto the stage and bit Nick Cave on the arm when the Birthday Party played at the New York Hotel. Despite numerous attempts I was unable to trace them to get an interview.”
– IAN GREY, XChange Fanzine, early 1982.
"They lay claim to the title, Brisbane’s ‘Ugliest Band’ and anyone who has seen them in concert will attest to this fact. …. Not only do The Black Assassins give the audience an earful they give them an eyeful as well. Their shows are not for those with weak stomachs. With such things as hacking stuffed dummies to bits …. fake blood, and on stage crucifixions, they not only sound ugly, they look ugly as well. Their show, noise levels and language was the reason they were banned the first time they ever played, … last year at QIT."
– JENNY MAY, The Planet (QIT Student Newspaper), May 1982
“This was more than just a night of good music, it was an event. … Musical comparisons might variously include PiL, the Dead Kennedys and Surfside Six. But the overall effect – theatrics, humour, politics, singing (in the very loosest sense of the term) – was totally unique. …The crowd loved it, the participants loved it, but as for any club officials present, I’m not so sure. …. The memory of that night will linger long with all the witnesses.”
– PETER MUDD, RAM (Rock Australia Magazine), July 1982 on the Black Assassins Last Stand.
“ … this town’s most notorious exponents of anarcho-punk … I over heard someone say the Black Assassins made the Dead Kennedys sound like Pink Floyd. … Who cares that they couldn’t play or sing, they were still stars, still killers. …. Such is the stuff legends are made of.”
– BILL HOLDSWORTH, JUKE , July 1982 on The Black Assassins Last Stand. Here's the full review: Last Stand
“Posters designed by bands such as The Skeletones or the Black Assassins were threatening in both style and subject matter. The Black Assassins’ music was deliberately unacceptable to traditional audiences and was distinguished by an anger and anarchistic defiance which appealed to the political subculture. .… The group defines itself as ‘Brisbane’s ugliest band’ and the poster warns fans to ‘Leave your dogs and babies at home’. ”
– CLARE WILLIAMSON, ‘Sign Of The Times’ Exhibition Catalogue, QLD Art Gallery, May 1991.