1.Growing Up
After seeing the Sex Pistols in ’76 on Countdown my path to rock was set. I mucked around with punk music and played bass in a band with my brother Simon Knuckey, Wet Taxis. This and my interest in early blues and hillbilly music led to my experimenting with tea chest bass and then forming my first hillbilly band the Troglodyte Hillbilly Cannibals in Sydney.
2.Inspirations
Sun Records looms large on my radar, so many great acts – Hank Williams of course. I can remember listening to ‘Lonesome Whistle’ on a car radio late at night and ‘Little Red Wagon’ by Sonny Fisher on the Saturday morning radio request show, and being inspired by the twangy guitar, haunting steel, thumping rhythm section and Hank’s mournful lyrics.
3.Your Band
I play with some veteran musicians who have played in country, punk and funk bands. Paul Hayward (Baddies, Young Docteurs) joined by osmosis – as did our double bass player Smithy, who thumps the doghouse. Peter ‘The Professor’/crime writer Doyle plays the wild steel. And we pilfered our drummer Rob Souter from the Slim Dusty Band. What brings us together is our love of vintage music and equipment, cowboy shirts and honky-tonkin’!
4.The Music You Make
We play classic and original hillbilly tunes И la Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Wayne Hancock. We have recorded three CDs – the first, Hail Bop, references the demise of the Heavenly Gate cult, while the revved up ‘Beetles Miss You Johnny’ recalls Marlon Brando in The Wild One, the American outlaw biker film from 1953. From our live shows you can expect ’50s-influenced Hawaiian steel guitar, rockin’ rhythms, and a band hell-bent on rockabilly mayhem.
5.Music, Right Here,Right Now
We like the new cosy bars and clubs that have recently opened around Sydney. They remind us of how good Melbourne has been for live music. We’re hoping Sydney punters latch on! See y’all at Shady Pines Saloon on Sunday.
Catch them at Shady Pines Saloon onSunday December 14.
