Posted April 10, 2006
CAN’T GET NO PSYCHO-ACTION?
HERE'S CHEERS AS COSMIC PSYCHOS
RETURN TO THE FRAY
The Cosmic Psychos are something of an institution in Australian rock and roll. Combining a nasty sound with breakneck tempos and scathing lyrics, they’ve been steamrolling audiences in their home country (and overseas) for more than a quarter of a century with a distinctive brand of fuzz-bass driven, punk rock squall.
Seeing the Psychos was a right-of-passage in Australian live music in the 1980s and early ‘90s when they were support of choice for acts as diverse as the Beasts of Bourbon and Pearl Jam. For Cosmic Psychos fans, however, it was all about the ban’s own headlining shows which more often than not degenerated in public displays of excess, drunken all-in brawls and offensive behaviour (and that was just the band). You simply weren’t a veteran of the Oz punk pub rock scene until you’d been in an audience that had been collectively mooned by the Cosmic Psychos…
The Psychos have been relatively quiet in recent year but a run of Australian shows, in tandem with a similarly revived Meanies, seemed to reinvigorate interest. Murmurs started that there was a new studio album in the wings. Lo and behold, the rumours proved to be true.
So, on the eve of an Australian tour promoting their first album in nine years - the suitably searing and angry “Off Ya Cruet” (Timberyard) - bassist-vocalist ROSS KNIGHT spoke to RICHARD SHARMAN of the I-94 Bar. What follows is the reconstructed conversation after Richard’s cassette player decided to chew the interview tape. Charge your glasses and sink a couple with Knighty…
RS: Ross, welcome to the I-94 Bar and thank you for taking the time to speak with us; it’s been a long time since you guys have done anything new, the new album Off Ya Cruet! sounds like a return to form for the Psychos.
RK: Thank you and yes we’re pretty happy with it.
RS: I love the opening track “Kill Bill”, that wouldn’t happen to be referring to your former drummer would it?
RK: (laughing) You can take it any way you want. But we think the new album sounds really good and we are really looking forward to this tour. We have a new drummer, Dean who I have been playing with for years in another band called Dung and he’s fitted in really well.
RS: So what was the deal with Bill?
RK: There was a lot of stuff, but basically it felt like we were part owners in a sports car but no one but Bill was allowed to drive it.
But now we have control of the bus, we might have a few wrecks along the way but that’s part of the fun.
It’s unfortunate that things worked out the way they did after being great friends for more than 20 years.
RS: Do you ever hear from (early guitarist) Pete “Dirty” Jones?
RK: Occasionally, I think he’s playing Professor in London these days. As far as I’m concerned he’s still a part of the band and he’s welcome to play with us any time he is available.
RS: Are you still living in the country?
RK: Yes, I’m a couple of hours out of Melbourne; I have my farm and earthmoving business.
RS: I think the first time I ever saw the Psychos was back in 1984 or 1985 at a Rock Against Work at The Hopetoun.
RK: Those were great days and great fun – there was a lot of liver damage done at those shows!
RS: Have you slowed up on the consumption and liver punishment these days?
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RK: Just a bit, the body can’t quite take it like it used to.
RS: Does the new album mean we will be seeing the Cosmic Psychos playing more regularly than you have over recent years.
RK: I think it’s fair to say we will be playing more often, probably not as much as we used to though.
We’re really looking forward to this tour.
RS: I notice you are playing with some great bands on the tour; Nunchukka Superfly in Sydney, SixFtHick in Brisbane, and a couple of Dave Thomas bands in Melbourne, Bored! and Tiger by the Tail.
RK: I wasn’t really sure who we were playing with, but they are all great bands. Blackie and Ray from Nunchukka Superfly are great mates through the Hard Ons, SixFtHick are pretty amazing and Bored! have been such a great band for a long time. It should be a fun tour.
RS: Are you thinking of doing any overseas shows?
RK: We are planning on heading to Europe for some shows later in the year and we will probably play a few shows in the States on our way home.
RS: Thanks for taking the time to speak to the I-94 Bar. I look forward to seeing you and catching up with you for a beer or two in Sydney.
RK: Thank you.
COSMIC PSYCHOS
Australian Tour
SYDNEY
Saturday 15 April
The Spectrum, Sydney
With Split Lips & Further
Sunday 16 April
The Spectrum, Sydney
With Nunchukka Superfly & Kamakazi Trio
ADELAIDE
Friday 21 April
Engima Bar, Adelaide
with Pharaohs & Meat Beaters
MELBOURNE
Saturday 22 April
Barwon Club, Geelong
with Tiger By The Tail & Double Agents
Friday 28 April
Spanish Club, Melbourne
With Bored & Split Lips
BRISBANE
Saturday 29 April
The Zoo, Brisbane
With Six Foot Hick & Dick Nasty
