Announcing their (allegedly) final tour, the Australian band look back on a career that inspired Midnight Oil and the Hoodoo Gurus – and provoked some ‘extreme reactions’
[Photos via Spotify]
“Detroit is the capital of Australia.” That phrase got thrown around a lot in ’80s American fanzines as our underground discovered Australian punk’s loud-and-aggressive charms. The basic sound: U.S. protopunk, especially of the
MC5 variety, mixed with ’60s garage, played with thermonuclear energy through modern heavy metal amplification. There was also an especial appreciation for the
New York Dolls’ rowdy glam. It was as stripped-down and unpretentious as rock ’n’ roll gets, even more so than other punk scenes. The national motto seemed to be: Forget fashion, let’s rock!
Oz enjoyed a particularly vibrant garage scene in the ’60s, well documented on the