In a new regular feature on The Void, Australian rock musicians and industry pros share the story of the six gigs that blew their minds, changed the game, left a lasting impression. In the first instalment Richard, the singer from Brisbane band HITS, shares some of his life-changing shows, one of which was so good he threw up and went home.
1. Iggy Pop on the “Raw Fucking Power” tour
I’d just finished school and I was at this party. It was lame and I was trying to convince anyone I could find to come see Iggy. No one would do it so I eventually said “fuck it” and went by myself. It was 1988 I believe. And it changed my life forever. The show was at the Easts League’s Club – Raw Fucking Power tour. The place was jam-packed and to tell you the truth I was fucking scared. It was mental. I remember standing on a table up the back and watching this seething mass of violent out of control debauchery. Afterwards it was like urban warfare outside. Bottles being thrown everywhere. I’ve still seen nothing like it ever. Iggy even wrote about how nuts that show was in his book. I fucking loved it. I fucking LOVED it. Pretty sure this video is the same lineup and era. Hanoi Rocks guitarist and UK Subs dude on bass.
2. Butthole Surfers
Pretty sure I went to every single Livid Festival. The weirdest one without a doubt was in 2001 when the Butthole Surfers headlined. 9/11 had happened and there was anthrax postal fear everywhere. Some of the overseas bands on the bill pulled out. I was supposed to play a show with The Hives the night before but they were too scared to get on the plane apparently. Anyways the festival didn’t sell very well that year. Maybe half sold out tops.
So my acid kicks in and on a half empty field the Butthole Surfers served up some apocalyptic shit. Giant video screens showing medical procedure films, car accidents, amputations and blood blood blood. Gibby’s voice running through fuck knows what effects. It was Satanic. It felt like I was in that Birthday Party ‘Nick The Stripper’ video. Fuckin’ wild. I fuckin’ loved it.
3. Einstürzende Neubauten
These fucking weirdos played so fucking loud and were so intense that at the beginning of the show I was standing right at the front revelling in all the super abrasive sounds. After a few ‘songs’ of playing industrial springs with metal poles and shit I had to move away from the stage. I tried the middle of the room, I tried the back of the room. I eventually vomited all over myself and had to leave completely. They made me vomit!! How awesome. I fucking loved it.
4. Mudhoney
I was lucky enough to see Mudhoney the first time they toured Australia. Supported by the wonderful Proton Energy Pills who turned into Tumbleweed and Asteroid B612. Anyways. Mudhoney only had the Superfuzz Bigmuff EP and I ready about them in the trusty Time Off magazine (Brisbane street press). Both bands knocked me for six. The bass player from Mudhoney kept gobbing in the air and catching it with his mouth. The crowd started pelting them with beer cans so they just stood behind their amps and kept playing, laughing at us and dodging missiles. Mark Arm did a stage dive whilst playing a lead break and disappeared. When he eventually fought his way back to the stage his guitar was gone and he looked a little frazzled. He just continued guitar-less doing frontman stuff. It was awesome. They are still a great live band. My pick of all the grunge era stuff. I fucking loved it.
5. Died Pretty
I used to go see every Aussie band that came to town. I bloody loved them all to tell the truth. Beasts of Bourbon, Exploding White Mice, Painters and Dockers, New Christs, Celibate Rifles, Triffids, Stems, etc etc. But I bloody loved seeing Died Pretty and became quite religious about it. Great songs and Ron is a great front man. They were wild to see when they were young. I used to love watching Ron so out of it tying himself up in his mic lead and having to get unwrapped by a roadie only to do it again the very next song. I saw him tie the mic stand to himself once. You can see the way he used to dance in this video. I tried to find some live footage but there’s hardly any of them in the early days. I spied on him talking to himself in the mirror for about ten minutes once. He’s a strange dude. I fucking loved it.
The Ramones
I saw the Ramones twice. I fucking loved it.
Interview: Christina Rowatt
Words: Richard “Bloody Legend” Hunt.
Band: HITS. Check them out on Facebook. Check them out on Bandcamp.
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