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
Directed byPeter Andrikidis
StarringCallan 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 originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Des Monaghan
  • Greg Haddrick
  • Rick Maier
ProducerRoger Simpson
Running time360 minutes
Production companyScreentime
Budget$6 million
Release
Original networkNetwork Ten
Original release15 May (2012-05-15) –
19 June 2012 (2012-06-19)
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

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateAus. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Peter AndrikidisGreg Haddrick15 May 2012 (2012-05-15)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 AndrikidisJo Martino22 May 2012 (2012-05-22)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 AndrikidisJo Martino29 May 2012 (2012-05-29)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 AndrikidisRoger Simpson5 June 2012 (2012-06-05)0.928
Hostilities between the two clubs intensify with Jock declaring war on the Bandidos. Forcing the Bandidos to retaliate.
5"Episode 5"Peter AndrikidisRoger Simpson12 June 2012 (2012-06-12)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 AndrikidisRoger Simpson19 June 2012 (2012-06-19)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 dateTimeslot Overnight ratings Ref(s)
ViewersRank
1 Episode 1 15 May 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 1,261,0003 [7]
2 Episode 2 22 May 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 905,00014 [8]
3 Episode 3 29 May 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 959,00011 [9]
4 Episode 4 5 June 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 928,00013 [10]
5 Episode 5 12 June 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 1,029,00010 [11]
6 Episode 6 19 June 2012Tuesday 8:30 pm 1,026,0009 [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
  1. Harvey, S.; Simpson, L. (2001). Brothers in Arms. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781865085012.
  2. "Filming wraps on Brothers in Arms | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  3. "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.
  4. "Brothers in Arms Ep 6 Credits" (PDF). Network Ten. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013.
  5. "Brothers in Arms Ep 1 Credits" (PDF). Network Ten. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013.
  6. "New shows score with viewers | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. Knox, David (16 May 2012). "Tuesday 15 May 2012". TV Tonight.
  8. Knox, David (23 May 2012). "Tuesday 22 May 2012". TV Tonight.
  9. Knox, David (30 May 2012). "Tuesday 29 May 2012". TV Tonight.
  10. Knox, David (6 June 2012). "Tuesday 5 June 2012". TV Tonight.
  11. Knox, David (13 June 2012). "Tuesday 12 June 2012". TV Tonight.
  12. Knox, David (20 June 2012). "Tuesday 19 June 2012". TV Tonight.
  13. "Highway Mind - single". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

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