VOLT 2023: A Volition Archive

There has been some very sad news in the Australian music community and extended Volition Records family this week with the passing away of Scattered Order’s Michael Coffey (aka Michael Tee), ‘peacefully with his family by his side’, on the morning of Wednesday 15 May 2024.

Michael and Scattered Order frontman Mitch Jones formed the group in 1979, both previously having been musical collaborators with The Barons.

Together they founded record label M Squared, home to the band’s early releases prior to their first release on Volition, the 1984 12″ vinyl EP “A Dancing Foot And A Praying Knee Don’t Belong On The Same Leg” (VOLT 1), also the Volition label’s first release.

Michael had also been a member of bands Ya Ya Choral, A Volatile T Shirt, and Pleasant Peasants.

Scattered Order bandmate Shane Fahey wrote a beautiful tribute to Michael on social media, and with his permission I share it here:

‘Bon Voyage dear Michael T

mercurial thinker ideas guy

multi talented musical artist

wicked beats/rhythm meister

ephemeral forward looking

hard to impress sonic danger lover

messing with the ‘1’ deleting the ‘and’ after the ‘4’

or is it before messer uperer

high fidelity lover & romantic

gamester pop-culture indulger

education brainiac & fighter for the homeless

cool as a cu-cumber

gently spoken insistent questioner

lovable pop lighter than light

smooth talker M squared punk

DIY show biz hustler

gave the rock band trip his best shot

we will miss your sweet engaging hellos

and running board convos

this density has lost a warrior

multi dimensions of love await you’

Vale Michael Coffey (Tee), 9 December 1958 – 15 May 2024