Hard-Ons
The Hard-Ons are an Australian punk rock band which formed in 1981. Founding members included Keish de Silva on guitar, vocals and Peter "Blackie" Black on guitar, Ray Ahn soon joined on bass guitar with de Silva switching to drums. The group issued eight studio albums before disbanding in 1994. They reformed in 1997 to release further material. In 2002 de Silva was replaced on drums by Peter Kostic, who was replaced in turn by Murray Ruse in 2011. De Silva returned as a guest vocalist in 2014 and permanently rejoined the band in 2016. During their first 12 years, the group issued 17 consecutive number-one hits on the Australian alternative charts. During that time they became Australia's most commercially successful independent band, with over 250,000 total record sales.
Hard-Ons | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Dead Rats, Plebs, The Three Sinners |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Punk rock, power pop, hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1981–1994, 1997–present |
| Labels | ViNil, Chatterbox, Bad Taste, Waterfront, Alternative Tentacles |
| Associated acts | Feed the Horse, Blackie, WOG, Nunchukka Superfly, Front End Loader, Regurgitator, Nazxul, Neil Hamburger, The Stalkers. |
| Members | Peter "Blackie" Black Ray Ahn Murray Ruse Keish de Silva |
| Past members | Peter Kostic |
Australian music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their music as "cheap and potent, their appeal selective. Yet never has so much been owed by so many to so few chords ... fused punk tempos, hardcore attitude, heavy metal riffs and surf-pop melodies into a seamless ball of energy".
Hard-Ons have had two singles, two EP, one studio and one greatest hits album peak within the ARIA top 100.[1]
Biography
1981 to 1994: Early days to disbandment
The Hard-Ons' origins are traced to Western Sydney's Punchbowl Boys High School, where three founding members were students.[2][3] In 1981 the first version of the band, then-known as Dead Rats, included Peter "Blackie" Black on guitar, Brendan Creighton on drums and Shane Keish de Silva on guitar and vocals.[2][4][5] In 1982 Creighton left to form Thrust and Raymond Dongwan Ahn joined on bass guitar with de Silva taking over on drums, the group began playing as The Plebs before being renamed as The Hard-Ons by the end of the year.[2][4][5] Initially being too young to play in pubs, the band featured at birthday parties and school dances.[3] On 20 June 1984, The Hard-Ons played their first official show at the Vulcan Hotel in Ultimo. Black later recalled "We wanted to be punk rockers ... We didn't want Keish's parents to see so we had bags full of these jackets and chains and stuff and went around the corner of the street and put all these clothes on. Keish's dad busted us".[3] Quickly gaining a considerable following, in August 1985 the band released its debut extended play, Surfin' on My Face, on ViNil Records.[2][4] This was the beginning of a series of releases for the band that netted them a run of 17 consecutive No. 1 listings on the Australian alternative music charts.[2]
The band demonstrated an independent punk spirit, with the members deliberately controlling their own careers: recording, booking and promoting themselves, creating their own artwork (mostly by Ahn), choosing support bands and even managing the merchandise stand whilst on tour.[2][5] During 1987 the group were promoted as part of the Australian skate boarding scene.[6] While maintaining a solid if underground following in Australia, The Hard-Ons were popular in Europe, scoring a Top 10 hit in Spain and a Top 5 slot in Greece with their 1989 album, Love is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts. It also reached the Top 5 on the NME chart; this made The Hard-Ons the third Australian band after Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Go Betweens to do so. In 1989 the group recorded a split EP with British band The Stupids. Two years later they teamed up with Henry Rollins and released a cover version of AC/DC's hit, "Let There Be Rock", which was released in a limited edition on 10" vinyl. In January 1992 the group performed at the inaugural Big Day Out and were joined on-stage by Rollins on four songs.[2] Following the release of 1993's album, Too Far Gone, and after recording a live album for Your Choice Records, the band announced their break up, to pursue projects outside The Hard-Ons' style of music: "after more than ten years of playing the same songs, they were just not interested in doing so any more".[2]
1997 to present: reformation and beyond
During the break-up of The Hard-Ons, Ahn and Black formed another punk band, Nunchukka Superfly, with Joel Ellis on drums; while de Silva created Malibu Stacey.[2][3] Nunchukka Superfly released their debut, self-titled album in 1999.[2] Black compared Nunchukka Superfly with The Hard-Ons as "a much heavier and experimental outfit, citing psychedelic, avant-garde, progressive rock, free jazz, funk and dub among the usual inspirations of punk and post-punk".[3] In October 1997 The Hard-Ons played a reunion gig which was followed by the release of a new EP, Yesterday and Today, in 1998 and a compilation album, The Best Of, in 1999.[2] In August 2001, ABC-TV broadcast the rock music series, Long Way to the Top.[7] The Hard-Ons featured on "Episode 6: Gathering of the Tribes 1984–2000" where they were described as "an eclectic band of misfits that took up where punk had left off in the early 80s. Their challenge was to make that sound relevant and exciting in the 1990s. There was nothing left but to get downright offensive".[8]
Following This Terrible Place... in 2000, the band's first line-up change in twenty years occurred, with de Silva deciding to leave the band during 2001.[5] Black took up full-time vocals and Pete Kostic (Front End Loader, Regurgitator) was brought in on drums.[5] In 2002 The Hard-Ons and Boom Boom Kid issued a shared EP, Split!. In 2003 The Hard-Ons released Very Exciting!, their first album for Chatterbox Records. In 2005, the 21st anniversary of the band's first pub gig was celebrated by Australian and European tours as a four-piece, with Kostic drumming and de Silva on vocals. Although technically a three-piece band, de Silva maintained a close relationship with his old band. Recordings were made in 2006 with contributions from all four – though primarily Black, Ahn and Kostic – with the intention of releasing a double album. This project was eventually released as two separate albums: the 'poppier' Most People Are a Waste of Time (2006) and the 'heavier' Most People Are Nicer Than Us (2007), with subsequent tours around Australia. The band recorded with United States comedian Neil Hamburger on guest lead vocals in January 2008. In April 2011, the group announced via their website that Kostic had left. On 5 August that year Murray Ruse (Conation, Captain Cleanoff) played his first show as their new drummer.
In 2012, the band began re-issuing their early catalogue as bonus re-packagings featuring unreleased songs and live tracks. The first to be released was a new 60-track version of Smell My Finger and The Hard-Ons promoted it with a national tour. While working a shift as a taxi driver between legs of that tour on 18 May 2012, Black suffered a severely fractured skull when he was assaulted with a skateboard. Several fund-raising shows were held to raise money for his care and recovery, including special Hard-Ons shows in Sydney and Newcastle on 1 and 2 June that featured the line-up of Ahn, Kostic and de Silva on vocals and guitar. Within three months, Black had recovered sufficiently to perform a short tour in support of his solo album No Dangerous Goods in Tunnel that was followed by a Hard-Ons tour of Europe and Japan. Another Australian tour to wrap up the previously cancelled shows was completed in October, with a 51-track re-release of Dickcheese coming out around the same time.
Musical style
Early recordings by The Hard-Ons such as Smell My Finger, Dickcheese, Love Is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts and Yummy! set the blueprint for the group's sound: messy pop-punk with metal and psychedelia elements. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane described their music as "cheap and potent, their appeal selective. Yet never has so much been owed by so many to so few chords ... fused punk tempos, hardcore attitude, heavy metal riffs and surf-pop melodies into a seamless ball of energy".[2] A 1987 Beat Magazine article described their sound as "Motörhead meets the Beach Boys"; Allmusic's Jody McGregor describes it as a "mix of punk, pop, and metal" with "dashes of power pop, psychedelic rock, thrashy metal, and a healthy dose of humor".[5] Though originally inspired by punk bands such as Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, Ramones and The Saints, the band also blended pop, psychedelia and metal elements; "death-pop" as described by Ahn. The band were also noteworthy not only within punk but also within rock music for having their lead vocals handled by de Silva, the group's drummer. The physical challenge of drumming to the band's fast punk rock songs as well as singing (as opposed to shouting) made for charismatic live performances. Guitarist Black provided another original touch to the band with his distinctive guitar sound that is both melodic and messy, often making use of feedback.
Major recurring lyrical themes range from girls, love and relationships (as in: "I Do I Do I Do", "Just Being With You", "Girl in the Sweater") to toilet humour ("I Farted", "Oozin' for Pleasure") as well as other variations, particularly in the post-Keish line-up of the band.
Fan reaction
Although not as widely known as some classic punk and independent bands, the Hard-Ons have carved a niche in the world of punk rock and have assembled a cult following of fans worldwide. They are Australia's most successful independent band, with over 250,000 records sold worldwide and 17 consecutive No. 1 hits on the Australian alternative charts. Their popularity far outreaches Australia, with large cult followings in Spain and Greece. At one time there was a Hard-Ons cover band in the UK known as Suck n Swallow.
Band members
Current members
- Ray Ahn – bass guitar, vocals (1982–1993, 1998–present)
- Peter "Blackie" Black – guitar, vocals (1982–1993, 1998–present)
- Keish de Silva – drums (1982–1993, 1998–2001), vocals (1982–1993, 1998–2001, 2016-present)
- Murray Ruse – drums (2011–present)
Former members
- Pete Kostic – drums (2002–2011)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Smell My Finger |
|
| Dickcheese |
|
| Love Is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts |
|
| Yummy! |
|
| Too Far Gone |
|
| This Terrible Place... |
|
| Very Exciting! |
|
| Most People Are a Waste of Time |
|
| Most People Are Nicer Than Us |
|
| Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform or Die |
|
| Peel me like a Egg. |
|
| So I Could Have Them Destroyed |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Hard-Ons |
|
| Hot for Your Love, Baby |
|
| The Worst of... |
|
| Junk 1984–1987 |
|
| Rarities |
|
| Singles |
|
| A Decade of Rock |
|
| The Best of... |
|
| Suck and Swallow: 25 Years 25 Songs |
|
| Eat Shit Listen to Horrible Music |
|
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Your Choice Live Series |
|
| Live at the Annandale |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Surfin' on My Face |
|
| No Cheese (The High-Way to Hell Tour Souvenir) |
|
| Sick of Being Sick |
|
| Where the Wild Things Are... |
|
| Dateless Dudes' Club! |
|
| Test |
|
| Yesterday and Today |
|
| Split! |
|
| Pay Attention Collector Scum |
|
| American Exports (with Neil Hamburger) |
|
| Split |
|
| Shit-Pants-Shit-Pants |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Girl in the Sweater" | 'Non-album single' |
| "By My Side" / "I'll Come Again" | ||
| 1987 | "All Set to Go" | |
| "Busted" / "Suck 'n' Swallow" | ||
| 1988 | "Just Being with You" | |
| 1989 | "Sick of Being Sick" | |
| "Been Had Before (Demo)" | European magazine giveaway | |
| 1990 | "Where Did She Come From?" | Yummy! |
| 1991 | "Dull" | |
| "Let There be Rock" (with Henry Rollins) | 'Non-album single' | |
| 1992 | "Love Hurts" | |
| "She's a Dish[9]" | ||
| 1993 | "Crazy Crazy Eyes" | Too Far Gone |
| 1999 | "You Disappointed Me" | 'Non-album single' |
| "Shark's Head" | This Terrible Place | |
| 2003 | "Sunny" / "Scared of It All" | Very Exciting! |
| 2005 | "There Goes One of the Creeps That Hassled My Girlfriend" | Most People Are a Waste of Time |
- Note "Let There Be Rock" peaked at number 65 on the ARIA Charts in July 1991. "She's a Dish" peaked at number 64 on the ARIA Charts in August 1992.[1]
DVDs
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| The Hard-Ons vs. Europe 2007 | 2008 |
Reissues
| Volume | Title | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1984–1987) | Smell My Finger | 60 track double C.D. featuring every release from the period, demos, live tracks and rarities | 2012 |
| 2 (1987–1988) | Dickcheese | 51 track double C.D. featuring every release from the period, demos, live tracks and rarities | 2013 |
References
- General
- McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
- Specific
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- McFarlane, 'The Hard-Ons' entry. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "Band: Hard Ons – Stories and Highlights from 1982". Long Way to the Top. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 22 November 2002. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- Holmgren, Magnus. "The Hard-Ons". Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- McGregor, Jody. "Hard-ons". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- Barrett, Peter (27 October 2012). "Rock of Ages". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "ABC Online – Long Way to the Top". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 22 November 2002. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "Episode6: Gathering of the Tribes 1984–2000". Long Way to the Top. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 27/07/92 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 130)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 20 April 2017.
