Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms
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.
| Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Written by |
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| 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 | English |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Roger Simpson |
| Running time | 360 minutes |
| Production company | Screentime |
| Budget | $6 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | Network Ten |
| Original release | 15 May – 19 June 2012 |
| External links | |
| http://ten.com.au/bikie-wars.htm Archived 11 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Website | |
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
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Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Aus. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Peter Andrikidis | Greg Haddrick | 15 May 2012 | 1.261 | |
| 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. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Peter Andrikidis | Jo Martino | 22 May 2012 | 0.905 | |
| 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. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Peter Andrikidis | Jo Martino | 29 May 2012 | 0.959 | |
| 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. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Peter Andrikidis | Roger Simpson | 5 June 2012 | 0.928 | |
| Hostilities between the two clubs intensify with Jock declaring war on the Bandidos. Forcing the Bandidos to retaliate. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Peter Andrikidis | Roger Simpson | 12 June 2012 | 1.029 | |
|
A young girl, Leanne, encourages Shifty, the Sergeant at Arms for the Rebels and a friend of her sister's, to take her to the swap meet. It is going to be a great day. Though neither of the two warring clubs expect more than a show of force at such a public event, motives are misunderstood when a number of Bandidos ride by Kiddo's house. As the women prepare family barbeques, the two clubs assemble at their respective clubhouses. The Comancheros are the first to arrive at Milperra and think the Bandidos are a no-show. Then the Bandidos suddenly arrive in force catching the Comancheros unprepared and clearly outnumbered. | ||||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Peter Andrikidis | Roger Simpson | 19 June 2012 | 1.026 | |
|
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. | ||||||
Reception
Ratings
The premiere episode won its timeslot with 1.26 million viewers based on the overnight numbers, peaking at 1.43 million viewers.[6]
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | Episode 1 | 15 May 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 1,261,000 | 3 | [7] |
| 2 | Episode 2 | 22 May 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 905,000 | 14 | [8] |
| 3 | Episode 3 | 29 May 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 959,000 | 11 | [9] |
| 4 | Episode 4 | 5 June 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 928,000 | 13 | [10] |
| 5 | Episode 5 | 12 June 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 1,029,000 | 10 | [11] |
| 6 | Episode 6 | 19 June 2012 | Tuesday 8:30 pm | 1,026,000 | 9 | [12] |
Music "Highway Mind"
Australian musician Diesel recorded and released the track "Highway Mind" for the soundtrack. It was released as a single on 16 May 2012.[13]
References
- Harvey, S.; Simpson, L. (2001). Brothers in Arms. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781865085012.
- "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". Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Brothers in Arms Ep 6 Credits" (PDF). Network Ten. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013.
- "Brothers in Arms Ep 1 Credits" (PDF). Network Ten. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013.
- "New shows score with viewers | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- Knox, David (16 May 2012). "Tuesday 15 May 2012". TV Tonight.
- Knox, David (23 May 2012). "Tuesday 22 May 2012". TV Tonight.
- Knox, David (30 May 2012). "Tuesday 29 May 2012". TV Tonight.
- Knox, David (6 June 2012). "Tuesday 5 June 2012". TV Tonight.
- Knox, David (13 June 2012). "Tuesday 12 June 2012". TV Tonight.
- Knox, David (20 June 2012). "Tuesday 19 June 2012". TV Tonight.
- "Highway Mind - single". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2016.