In the latest edition of Great Moments In Australian Rock History, Aussie rock fan Richard O’Connor shares the story of the Baby Animals storming the London stage in the heady days of 1992. How did the show make him feel? “Like a proud Aussie for the first time in my life,” Richard told The Void. “I never felt it in The Army. Service wasn’t a big deal to people in The 90’s. I had told everybody i knew about this band in Australia, now it was London’s turn. I was so proud of them. I knew they would blow the crowd away. One woman controlled the room that night and has been inspiring others ever since.”
It was a time where the sands of rock were shifting. “Queen played The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert the month after the Baby Animals gig and it seemed hard rock and thrash metal were still alive. Metallica were riding the success of The Black Album and Guns N Roses were the biggest band in the world but Kurt changed all of that. There was a new King in town, the Queen was dead. A new heir to the throne was here, if only for a brief time.”
Christina: What is the story of this photo?
Richard: It was taken at The Marquee Club in London on the 23rd March 1992, almost 24 years to the day and on the eve of the 25 Anniversary Tour of their debut LP. At the time it had racked up over 50,000 sales in Australia and i believe over 2,000 copies on import in England.
Christina: What wouldn’t we necessarily know just looking at it?
Richard: It was one of the most insane pits I’ve ever been in. Bodies flying everywhere! Check out the film clip for “Ain’t Gonna Get.” The live portions were filmed at this show. My first ever stage dive. I think the entire front row stage dived that night! Dive after dive. It was relentless.
Christina: What happened before and after?
Richard: I arrived a few hours before the show hoping to catch a glimpse of the sound check. I even snuck into the venue using my Australian accent to full advantage but the only thing I had to do was sign a waiver as the band would be filming the gig. I had only been in London two weeks, so i had no idea where I was so i just stayed in the venue and ventured up the front. The show was nuts, it was packed to the rafters. Hot, sweaty and loud. They truly blew the audience away that night. I once mentioned to Suze that it was in my Top 5 Gigs of All Time. She said “Me too!”
+More Great Moments In Rock History:
Rock History: Ben Ely, Regurgitator On The Early Days Of Big Day Out
Rock History: Derryn Hinch Slams Death Metal & Introduces It To Australia
Rock History: Buffalo’s 1975 3 Day Orgy
Christina: How did this show make you feel?
Richard: Like a proud Aussie for the first time in my life. I never felt it in The Army. Service wasn’t a big deal to people in The 90’s. I had told everybody i knew about this band in Australia, now it was London’s turn. I was so proud of them. I knew they would blow the crowd away. One woman controlled the room that night and has been inspiring others ever since.
Christina: Did you get to meet the band? If so, what were they like?
Richard: Not at this gig but i did talk to them on the radio in 1991 when myself and a friend used to sit in on the FM104.7 radio show in Canberra before hitting the clubs with the DJ’s. (they played the debut LP track for track one night)
Christina: How did you get into the Baby Animals? What do you love most about them?
Richard: I saw the “Early Warning” film clip one night at The Private Bin nightclub in Canberra. The green shirt, oh my, i was hooked. I love that they are so accessible now and after meeting Suze and Dave a few times they’re always up for a chat or ‘another’ snap.
Christina: What do you think was their breakthrough moment? Why do you think they broke through?
Richard: Early Warning was definitely their breakthrough moment here for Baby Animals’ purest but probably the singles ‘One Word’ and ‘Rush You’ for the rest of the general population. I think they broke through because it was damn great music produced by the master Mike Chapman. Every track was killer. No filler. Hard rock, ballads, even an element of metal. Grunge was in it’s infancy in Australia and didn’t really catch on till i returned in late 1992. Probably after Nirvana played the Big Day Out that year.
“It’s definitely harder now. Record labels don’t throw ridiculous amounts of money (and drugs) at bands or sign them purely based on one A&R dude’s recommendation. Talent will always rise to the top and you would think with the internet and all the music outlets there would be money for all, but there isn’t. We only had word of mouth, radio and live gigs to judge a band back then. Oh, and Countdown!”
Christina: What was the live music scene like in the early 90s? What was the biggest difference do you think, to now?
Richard: People were damning it just like they do today. But it was vibrant. The poker machines were just coming into Melbourne clubs and you could sense the danger but if you wanted live music it was still everywhere. It was just the genres that were changing. Thrash metal was out. Grunge was in. The Punters Club played everything.
Christina: How were Australian bands seen by the world back then? Do you think it was easier or harder than it is now?
Richard: I’m probably not qualified enough to speak for the masses but as a 25 year old overseas, INXS were huge in England. We had Men at Work, LRB and Air Supply kicking America’s ass, but that could have been late 80’s. It’s definitely harder now. Record labels don’t throw ridiculous amounts of money (and drugs) at bands or sign them purely based on one A&R dude’s recommendation. Talent will always rise to the top and you would think with the internet and all the music outlets there would be money for all, but there isn’t. We only had word of mouth, radio and live gigs to judge a band back then. Oh, and Countdown!
Christina: What were the other bands around this time that the world was falling in love with? What made them different?
Richard: Nirvana and the entire grunge movement obviously. Queen played The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert the month after the Baby Animals gig and it seemed hard rock and thrash metal were still alive. Metallica were riding the success of The Black Album and Guns N Roses were the biggest band in the world but Kurt changed all of that. There was a new King in town, the Queen was dead. A new heir to the throne was here, if only for a brief time.
Baby Animals are touring this May to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They’re playing the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on Saturday 28th May and the Forum Theatre in Melbourne on 21st May. Melbourne tickets here. Sydney tickets here.
Thanks to Richard O’Connor for sharing his story with us. Got a great photo that captured a killer moment in Australian rock history? Hit us up on the Void AU Facebook page. We’d love to hear your story.
No Comments