Weddings Parties Anything

Interviewed May 1987.

Mick Thomas rejects the notion that WPA are the ‘Australian Pogues’, preferring to place their blend of punk, rock, and folk in a wider context that includes Los Lobos the Long Ryders.

I prefer to look back into our heritage for something that is more Australian, that feels somehow warmer.

The Warumpi Band

Interviewed April 1987.

Neil Murray talks about the band’s outback tour with Midnight Oil, the clash between the Western and the Aboriginal, and how the Warumpis play a small part in helping overcome cultural differences.

I went north looking for adventure and excitement. I went to art school, so while my peers were planning to go to Europe, i wanted something different.

Painters & Dockers

Interviewed December 1986.

Phil Nelson attempts to play down the popular impression of Painters & Dockers as a bunch of ‘goodtime jerks’. Though their new single, ‘Nude School’ does little to support his effort.

Oh, I’d like to strongly disagree with that. Go on, name a song with genitals in it.

The Residents

Interviewed August 1986.

Hardy Fox from the Cryptic Corporation, the Residents’ shadow organisation of ‘friends and fans’, discusses the 13th Anniversary Tour, which visited Australia well into the band’s fourteenth year. Wondering what all that means? Welcome to the world of the Residents.

They take an intellectual approach, but they never deny the music its essentially emotional sense. They find a lot of contemporary American pop music uninteresting, although they did recently buy a Michael Jackson record.

Stevie Wright

Interviewed July 1986.

Stevie Wright spent a long time on the hard road of addiction and recovery. For years, many music fans wondered if he was still alive or just missing in action.

All the bad things went away. i just flick ‘em when I come across them now.

The Triffids

Interviewed February 1986.

The Triffid’s may have been named the NME band of the year for 1985, but Dave McComb was having none of it. Hoping everyone in Australia might have forgotten about the accolade, he preferred discussing the band’s latest record Born Sandy Devotional and why most of the album was not meant to be played live.

It was enjoyable, especially in the midst of this so-called resurgence of guitar bands – another load of meaningless hype.

Hunters & Collectors

Interviewed between January and July 1986.

Mark Seymour and Mike Waters discuss the band’s unfortunate foray into the UK market that culminated in the ‘famous curried chicken incident’, why opportunities for young musicians are drying up, and Australian ugliness.

A great Hunters & Collectors gig is something few people forget, including the band.

In a pub, you can hold someone, you can laugh, you can fall in love. You can’t do that in a club.

Official band website.

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