Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms

Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms
Genre	drama, miniseries
Written by	Greg Haddrick Roger Simpson Jo Martino
Directed by	Peter Andrikidis
Starring	Callan Mulvey Matthew Nable Maeve Dermody Susie Porter Damian Walshe-Howling Richard Cawthorne Anthony Hayes Jeremy Lindsay Taylor Luke Hemsworth Luke Ford Fletcher Humphrys Nathaniel Dean Sam Parsonson Todd Lasance Aaron Fa'aoso Manu Bennett
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	6
Production
Running time	360 minutes
Budget	A$6,000,000
Release
Original network	Network Ten
Original release	15 May – 19 June 2012
External links
Website

Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms is a six-part Australian drama miniseries about bikie gang violence, screened on Network Ten on 15 May 2012. Bikie Wars is based on the book Brothers in Arms by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey.^[1] The screenplay was written by Greg Haddrick, Roger Simpson and Jo Martino. It is directed by Peter Andrikidis.^[2] Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms cost A$6,000,000 to make.

Premise

The six-episode series dramatises the story of the Milperra massacre, when the Bandidos and the Comanchero motorcycle clubs went to war on Father's Day, Sunday 2 September 1984. The massacre had its beginnings after a group of Comancheros broke away and formed the first Bandidos Motorcycle Club chapter in Australia. This resulted in intense rivalry between the two chapters. At a public swap meet at the Viking Tavern at Milperra, New South Wales, a brief but violent battle ensued with seven people shot dead, including a 14-year-old innocent female bystander. A further 28 people were wounded with 20 requiring hospitalisation.^[3]

Each episode starts with a quote stated by Justice Adrian Roden when the clubs went before the New South Wales Supreme Court; "As patriotism can lead to jingoism and mateship can lead to cronyism, so bikie club loyalty can lead to bikie club war."

Cast

Bandidos ^[4]

Callan Mulvey as Anthony "Snoddy" Spencer (President of the Bandidos)
Maeve Dermody as Lee Denholm (Snoddy's girlfriend)
Damian Walshe-Howling as Mario "Chopper" Cianter (Vice President of the Bandidos)
Anthony Hayes as Colin "Caesar" Campbell (Sgt-at-Arms of the Bandidos)
Luke Hemsworth as Gregory "Shadow" Campbell
Fletcher Humphrys as Phillip "Bull" Campbell
Sam Parsonson as Mark "Junior" Shorthall
Aaron Fa'aoso as Rua "Roo" Rophia
Richard Sutherland as William "Davo" Littlewood
Peter Flaherty as Tony "Lard" Melville

Comanchero ^[4]

Matthew Nable as William "Jock" Ross (President and self-proclaimed 'Supreme Commander' of the Comancheros)
Susie Porter as Vanessa Ross (Jock's wife)
Richard Cawthorne as Robert "Foggy" Lane (Vice President of the Comancheros)
Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Phillip "Leroy" Jeschke (Sgt-at-Arms of the Comancheros)
Luke Ford as Ian "Snow" White
Nathaniel Dean as Kevork "Kraut" Tomasian
Todd Lasance as Glen "Kiddo" Eaves
Manu Bennett as Raymond "Sunshine" Kucler
Trent Baines as Ivan "Sparra" Romcek
Pier Carthew as Tony "Dog" McCoy

Reception

Ratings

The premiere episode won its timeslot with 1.26 million viewers based on the overnight numbers, peaking at 1.43 million viewers.^[5]

Episodes

Episode One

Alone and adrift after his discharge from the Navy, Anthony Spencer discovers the seductive world of the outlaw bikie and the formidable force that is William "Jock" Ross – Supreme Commander of the Comancheros.

Episode Two

Now a fully-fledged member, Anthony "Snoddy" Spencer does his best to calm bristling egos when Mario "Chopper" Cianter, Colin "Caesar" Campbell and his brothers Gregory ("Shadow") and Phillip ("Bull") threaten to become a club within a club.

Episode Three

After splitting into two chapters, tensions with Jock's western chapter make a mockery of club loyalty. Snoddy and the city chapter reject their Comanchero colours and join the Bandidos forming the first ever chapter in Australia.

Episode Four

Hostilities between the two clubs intensify with Jock declaring war on the Bandidos. Forcing the Bandidos to retaliate.

Episode Five

Father’s Day, 1984. A swap meet at the Viking Tavern in Milperra becomes the moment of truth for both clubs as they square off in preparation of a bloody battle.

Episode Six

The confrontation at Milperra leaves six bikers and one innocent bystander dead ("Chopper" & "Shadow" of the Bandidos. "Foggy", "Leroy", "Sparra" & "Dog" of the Comanchero and 14-year-old girl Leanne Walters).

Many of the members from both clubs are imprisoned as they await trial. The stresses and guilt are too much to bare for Snoddy, he relinquishes his Presidency to "Bull" Campbell before hanging himself in his prison cell.

57 Bandidos & Comancheros are handed lengthy sentences for various convictions. Due to serious misdirections to the jury by trial judge Justice Roden, the Court of Appeal quashed the 'murder' convictions and the majority of bikers were released immediately.

Jock served a total of five years and three months for his part in the massacre. His time served was the most of anyone involved.

Music "Highway Mind"

Australian musician recorded and released the track "Highway Mind" for the soundtrack. It was released as a single on 16 May 2012. ^[6]

References

↑ Harvey, S.; Simpson, L. (2001). Brothers in Arms. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781865085012. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
↑ "Filming wraps on Brothers in Arms | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
↑ "Cast for Ten’s bikie drama Brothers in Arms announced | The Spy Report". web.archive.org. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
1 2 "The Milperra Massacre | Aussie Criminals and Crooks". aussiecriminals.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
↑ "New shows score with viewers | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
↑ "Highway Mind - single". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

External links

Official website

Diesel (musician)

Studio albums	Johnny Diesel and The Injectors (1989) Hepfidelity (1992) The Lobbyist (1993) Solid State Rhyme (1994) Short Cool Ones (with Chris Wilson) (1996) Soul Lost Companion (as Mark Lizotte) (1999) Hear (2002) Coathanger Antennae (2006) Days Like These (2008) Project Blues: Saturday Suffering Fools (2009) Under the Influence (2011) Let It Fly (2013) Americana (2016)

Live albums	Singled Out (2004) Greatest Hits Live (2011)

Compilations	Rewind – The Best Of (1996) The Essential Diesel (2009) You Get There From Here (2012)

Extended Plays	Live in London (1989) iTunes Live From Sydney: Aussie Legends EP (2009) 7 Axes (2011) Last Shower (with Tim Chaisson) (2013)

Video Albums	Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (1989) Hepfidelity and More (1993) The First Fifteen '89–'04 Live (2004) Diesel + Strings: Live at the Vanguard (2006) Song Companion (2007) The 4 Corners Live (2009)

Singles	"Don't Need Love" "Soul Revival" "Cry In Shame" "Lookin' for Love" "Since I Fell for You" "Please Send Me Someone to Love" "Love Junk" "Come to Me" "Tip of My Tongue" "Man Alive" "One More Time" "Never Miss Your Water" "Masterplan" "I've Been Loving You Too Long" "Still Got a Long Way to Go" (with Jimmy Barnes) "All Come Together" "15 Feet of Snow" "Get It On" "I Can't Stand the Rain" (with Chris Wilson) "Strange Love" (with Chris Wilson) "Dig" "Satellite" "Getta Kick" "Faith & Gasoline" "Postcards from the Moon" "Crazytown" "Saviour" "Battleworm" "Steal My Sunshine" "Angel Face" "Days Like These" "Have Love, Will Travel" "Highway Mind"

Related articles	Discography Innocent Bystanders Jimmy Barnes ARIA Award for Best Male Artist ARIA Award for Album of the Year

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