Frenzal Rhomb
Encyclopedia
Frenzal Rhomb are an Australian punk rock
band which formed in 1992 with mainstay Jason Whalley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. In 1996, Lindsay McDougall
joined the line-up on lead guitar and backing vocals. Two of the group's albums have peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart
, A Man's Not a Camel
(1999) and Smoko at the Pet Food Factory (2011). The group have supported tours by The Offspring
, Bad Religion
, and Blink-182
within Australia. Frenzal Rhomb have toured to the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, Israel and Taiwan.
The group have generated controversy for their profanity
on cover art, in song titles and lyrics, for their behaviour on-and-off-stage, and for their association with causes such as veganism
and radical politics. In July 2004, radio 2Day FM
hosts Jackie O
and Kyle Sandilands
threatened the band with being black-listed
from the Austereo network after a festival performance in Darwin
. The band had played over the top of Jackie O's effort to explain her late appearance to the audience – they claimed their playing time was being cut into. Whalley and McDougall have also worked as radio Triple J
hosts, Jay and the Doctor
, on the Breakfast Show. Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll
, described them, "[their] history is littered with legendary stories, perhaps true, perhaps exaggerations, but stories which fuel and match their song and album titles. Their songs are often profane, likely to poke fun at someone including themselves, hint at a social conscience, and inside all the tough talk and body jokes be hopelessly romantic."
with Alexis 'Lex' Feltham on bass guitar and Jason Whalley on vocals. Feltham and Whalley had been school mates at Sydney Grammar School
in St Ives
. Whalley had commenced a Bachelor of Arts course in philosophy at Sydney University when he formed Frenzal Rhomb as a punk rock band. The name is a reference to a band member's pet rat, which in turn was named for the Fresnel rhomb
, which is a prism-like device invented by the 19th Century French engineer, Augustin-Jean Fresnel
. By 1993, the group's line-up was Feltham, Whalley, Ben Costello on guitar and Karl Perske on drums. They played at the Sydney venue for the Big Day Out
in January.
In March 1994 the band issued a seven-track EP, Dick Sandwich
. Its cover had "a graphic drawing of the offending flaccid appendage draped over a sesame seed bun with lashings of bloody sauce." Posters with a similar image that advertised the group had them banned at some venues. National youth radio station, Triple J
, criticised the group as being immature and told them to "grow up". The EP was described as having "good songs but it sounds like it was recorded under a doona" and had the group banned from some radio stations and retail outlets. One of its tracks, "I Wish I Was as Credible as Roger Climpson" (aka "Roger"), attracted attention of its subject, Roger Climpson
– a Seven News
anchor on TV – who posed with the group for a photo. In October they released a single, "Sorry About the Ruse", on their own label, How Much Did I Fucking Pay For This Records? The group were the local support act on the Australian leg of separate tours by United States punk rockers Bad Religion
, The Offspring
and Blink-182
.
In March 1995 Frenzal Rhomb released their first studio album, Coughing Up a Storm
on Shock Records
' sub-label Shagpile Records. Perske was replaced by Nat Nykyruj on drums before the album appeared. In October 1997, it was retitled Once a Jolly Swagman Always a Jolly Swagman and issued with additional tracks by the US label, Liberation Records
. In mid-1995, the group supported NOFX
on their national tour. Fat Mike, a member of NOFX, was also the owner of Fat Wreck Chords
and he signed the band to his label, which released the 4 Litres EP in the US.
, which was produced by Tony Cohen
(Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, TISM
, Dave Graney
), Kalju Tonuma
(Nick Barker
, The Mavis's
) and Frenzal Rhomb. Just after its appearance, Costello was replaced by Lindsay McDougall
on lead guitar and backing vocals – Costello left to attend university and become an animal rights activist. In November the group issued a CD EP, Punch in the Face and, in January 1997, performed at Big Day Out. Late that year they toured the US supporting Blink-182.
In September 1997 their third LP, Meet the Family
, was released, which reached the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart
and became their first certified gold album by ARIA. It spawned two singles, "There's Your Dad" (September) and "Mum Changed the Locks" (April 1998). The latter title refers to McDougall telling his mother he was going out to a movie when leaving for an interstate tour and returning to find his key no longer opened the front door. Also in April, Gordon "Gordy" Forman replaced Nykyruj on drums, and they toured Australia with US ska band, Blue Meanies. Frenzal Rhomb were the head-liners for the Australian leg of the 1998 Vans Warped Tour
and they were recruited for the US edition, a 1998 version of Meet the Family contained a bonus disc, Mongrel, that was recorded live on this US leg.
In March 1999 they released their next album, A Man's Not a Camel
, which was produced by Eddie Ashworth
and was supported by a nationwide tour. As from November 2011, it remains Frenzal Rhombs' highest charting album, reaching No. 11. It spawned their highest charting single, "You Are Not My Friend" (August), which reached No. 49. Allmusic's album reviewer, Mike DaRonco, felt "the first two songs are great in that catchy, playful pop-punk sort of way, but the rest ... fall under the trap of having all their tracks sounding like one big, long song".
According to the band's website, US gigs were dropped after Whalley suffered a heart attack in late 1999 and the group spent the first few months of 2000 inactive. Whalley later denied that he had had a heart attack with, "a lot of things on our Web site are greatly exaggerated. There was also a thing about my having trench rot, the World War I disease, but that's not true either".
in Australia, an off-shoot of Sony
. RockZone's Samuel Barker liked some tracks as "a fine template for a pop punk album" however "the majority just falls into the same formula of most punk today. It's not bad, just overplayed". The album peaked in the top 40. After six months, Sony dropped the band in mid-2001 and they signed with Epitaph Records
in Australia.
In April 2002 Feltham left the group, which provided many stories about why he left, including one that he was fired after thinking that the group should incorporate synth and keyboard
work. The last song he recorded with the band was a cover of Midnight Oil
's "The Dead Heart
" for the 2001 tribute album, Power & The Passion: A Tribute to Midnight Oil. After holding auditions in Sydney, Tom Crease was announced as the new bass guitarist.
In April 2003 the band released Sans Souci
, which appeared in the top 50. Jo-Ann Greene of Allmusic liked the group's outlook, "they're not bitter, just snotty about it all, as all good punks should be. And Rhomb are four of the best ... their latest set of frenzied, funny, pitiless attacks upon an uncaring planet." The initial version of the album included a bonus DVD of five tracks with live footage and music videos.
, a compilation album, by various Australian musicians as a protest against incumbent Prime Minister
, John Howard
's government. It was released in August 2004, before the October federal election, when Howard's coalition was re-elected.
In July 2004, radio station, 2Day FM
, presenter Jackie O
was to MC at the Bassinthegrass
festival in Darwin
. Jackie allegedly arrived late, causing Frenzal Rhomb to cut their setlist short by several songs. She attempted to speak with the audience. In protest, McDougall began playing AC/DC
's "Thunderstruck
" over her voice. Jackie was upset that she was unable to finish her announcement to the audience. Whalley later accused her and other music industry personalities of pushing original Australian bands aside to make way for short-term marketable acts such as Australian Idol
and Popstars
contestants.
Jackie and her co-presenter, Kyle Sandilands
, called Whalley on air during their next breakfast show. Whalley apologised for offending Jackie, but stood by his claims regarding the music industry. The conversation became heated as Sandilands told Whalley, "Your songs being played on this network or the Triple M network... it's just not going to happen now"; to which Whalley argued that Frenzal Rhomb were almost never played on the Austereo network anyway. During the conversation, Sandilands told Whalley that he was bitter and sad; and that Frenzal Rhomb is not played on the network "because it's pretty much shit".
Sandilands argued that Whalley should not "pick fights with people that are female in the Northern Territory". Sandilands asserted that if he himself were present, "it would have been on for young and old". Whalley argued that gender was irrelevant to the issue, and in response to Sandilands' threat of violence asked Jackie if she was aware that her security guard had threatened a band technician with violence. Sandilands said he endorsed the threat of violence. Sandilands argued to Whalley that he has to "get over it" when Whalley recommended that radio DJs should promote original Australian music. In reply, Sandilands insinuated that Frenzal Rhomb, and bands in general, suffer from a lack of support because they are not "putting [their] stuff in front of the right people".
ABC Television's Media Watch covered the exchange and presenter, David Marr
, raised concerns about the interview, "Kyle and Jackie O are also part of a new generation of radio thugs". Patrick Joyce, general manager of Austereo in Sydney responded to Sandilands' threats of black list
ing and violence, "Music content is decided by the programming directors based on research of the market... Austereo does not approve of threats being made to anyone... We have fully canvassed these issues with Kyle".
on Triple J's breakfast show from January 2005 through to November 2007. Prior to their employment at Triple J, the group's music had been banned after they had earlier criticised the station on air for playing the "same 40 songs". In 2004, they were asked to perform occasional late night shifts and request segments which developed into the breakfast show slot. Their format includes banter where they provide "quips, one-liners, slagging off each other, other bands, other breakfast announcers, listeners, Triple J, Australian Idol and St Ives. It's verbal ping pong but more discursive."
The band released Forever Malcolm Young
in October 2006 – the title is a conflated reference to the 2005 song "Forever Young" by Youth Group
and the name of AC/DC's guitarist, Malcolm Young
– which peaked in the top 40. It provided a minor radio hit with the title track. Some controversy was expressed over the profanity in the title and lyrics of "Johnny Ramone was in a Fucking Good Band, but He Was a Cunt" (see Johnny Ramone
, Ramones
). Whalley's attitude to profanity and obscenity is "I often get amazed how offended people get by language, especially in Australia when its nothing you wouldn't hear in your local office or schoolyard. But we do make a point of shaking things up". Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll
, described them, "[their] history is littered with legendary stories, perhaps true, perhaps exaggerations, but stories which fuel and match their song and album titles. Their songs are often profane, likely to poke fun at someone including themselves, hint at a social conscience, and inside all the tough talk and body jokes be hopelessly romantic."
National touring followed the album's release, along with the announcement that from November 2007 Whalley would be leaving both Frenzal Rhomb and his job at Triple J to go on a world trip with his girlfriend. Some later copies of Forever Malcolm Young contained a bonus DVD covering the band's tours from 2002 up until 2005. It is titled Sucking All Over the World. Gordy Forman plays in the Melbourne hardcore band Mindsnare
. McDougall continued as The Doctor at Triple J, initially with Robbie Buck
and Marieke Hardy
; and, from January 2010, he has hosted the afternoon show, Drive with The Doctor. By April 2009 Frenzal Rhomb were performing The Boys Are Back in Town tour with 1990s punk group, Nancy Vandal
as their support act.
which featured punk and metal bands: Megadeth
, Descendents
, NOFX
, GWAR
and Dropkick Murphys
. Frenzal Rhomb played a new song entitled "Bird Attack". In Brisbane, on the last stop of the tour, Whalley and Crease joined Descendents on-stage with other bands' singers – Al Barr
(Dropkick Murphys), Fat Mike (NOFX), Matt Skiba
and Derek Grant
(Alkaline Trio
), and Jason Allen (Descendents' road manager) – to perform "Everything Sux".
Frenzal Rhomb recorded their next album, Smoko at the Pet Food Factory, in Colorado with Bill Stevenson (drummer for Descendents) producing. It was released on 19 August on Shock Records
, which peaked at No. 14. The group toured Australia with Teenage Bottlerocket
in September in support of the album.
Former members
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band which formed in 1992 with mainstay Jason Whalley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. In 1996, Lindsay McDougall
Lindsay McDougall
Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall is an Australian radio presenter for national youth network Triple J and guitarist in Australian punk rock band Frenzal Rhomb.- Frenzal Rhomb :...
joined the line-up on lead guitar and backing vocals. Two of the group's albums have peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, A Man's Not a Camel
A Man's Not a Camel
A Man's Not a Camel is Frenzal Rhomb's fourth full length album released in March 1999. The album was arguably the band's most successful, at least in terms of mainstream music culture. Frenzal Rhomb had languished for many years, a staple of Aussie Punk, but not of Australian music...
(1999) and Smoko at the Pet Food Factory (2011). The group have supported tours by The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, and Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
within Australia. Frenzal Rhomb have toured to the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, Israel and Taiwan.
The group have generated controversy for their profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
on cover art, in song titles and lyrics, for their behaviour on-and-off-stage, and for their association with causes such as veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
and radical politics. In July 2004, radio 2Day FM
2Day FM
Not to be mixed up with Today FM in Ireland.2Day FM is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia, on a frequency of 104.1 MHz, and part of Austereo's Today Network.- Transmission :...
hosts Jackie O
Jackie O (radio host)
Jacqueline Ellen Marie Henderson, better known as Jackie O, is an Australian commercial radio host, actress and television presenter. She is best-known nationally for presenting The Hot Hits, the Hot 30 Countdown, Take 40 Australia and the Kyle & Jackie O on 2Day FM with Kyle Sandilands and for...
and Kyle Sandilands
Kyle Sandilands
Kyle Dalton Sandilands is an Australian radio and TV personality. He is currently the host with Jacqueline Henderson, better known as Jackie O, on the weekday morning radio program The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Sydney radio station 2Day FM, The Kyle and Jackie O Hour of Power which airs on...
threatened the band with being black-listed
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
from the Austereo network after a festival performance in Darwin
Darwin
Darwin may refer to:* Charles Darwin , English naturalist and writer, best known as the originator of the theory of biological evolution by natural selection* Darwin, Northern Territory, a capital city in Australia- People:...
. The band had played over the top of Jackie O's effort to explain her late appearance to the audience – they claimed their playing time was being cut into. Whalley and McDougall have also worked as radio Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
hosts, Jay and the Doctor
Jay and the Doctor
Jay and the Doctor are the on-air names of Australian radio duo Jason Whalley and Lindsay McDougall, on radio station Triple J.Best known as members of punk band Frenzal Rhomb, they performed occasional late-night shifts on Triple J until 2004...
, on the Breakfast Show. Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll
Ed Nimmervoll
Edward Francis "Ed" Nimmervoll is an Australian rock music journalist, author and historian. He worked on rock magazines Go-Set and Juke both as a journalist and as an editor...
, described them, "[their] history is littered with legendary stories, perhaps true, perhaps exaggerations, but stories which fuel and match their song and album titles. Their songs are often profane, likely to poke fun at someone including themselves, hint at a social conscience, and inside all the tough talk and body jokes be hopelessly romantic."
1992–1995: Formation to Coughing Up a Storm
Frenzal Rhomb formed in 1992 in the Sydney suburb of NewtownNewtown, New South Wales
Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west is located approximately four kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, straddling the local government areas of the City of Sydney and Marrickville Council in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
with Alexis 'Lex' Feltham on bass guitar and Jason Whalley on vocals. Feltham and Whalley had been school mates at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in St Ives
St Ives, New South Wales
St Ives is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. St Ives is located 18 kilometres north of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council...
. Whalley had commenced a Bachelor of Arts course in philosophy at Sydney University when he formed Frenzal Rhomb as a punk rock band. The name is a reference to a band member's pet rat, which in turn was named for the Fresnel rhomb
Fresnel rhomb
A Fresnel rhomb is a prism-like device designed in 1817 by Augustin-Jean Fresnel for changing the polarization of light waves to be circularly polarized. Though the result is similar to that of using a wave plate, the rhomb does not depend on birefringent properties of the material...
, which is a prism-like device invented by the 19th Century French engineer, Augustin-Jean Fresnel
Augustin-Jean Fresnel
Augustin-Jean Fresnel , was a French engineer who contributed significantly to the establishment of the theory of wave optics. Fresnel studied the behaviour of light both theoretically and experimentally....
. By 1993, the group's line-up was Feltham, Whalley, Ben Costello on guitar and Karl Perske on drums. They played at the Sydney venue for the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
in January.
In March 1994 the band issued a seven-track EP, Dick Sandwich
Dick Sandwich
Dick Sandwich is a seven-track EP released by Frenzal Rhomb in 1994. The EP is no longer available, but all of the tracks appeared in a remastered state on the compilation CD For the Term of Their Unnatural Lives.Frenzal Rhomb folklore had the band...
. Its cover had "a graphic drawing of the offending flaccid appendage draped over a sesame seed bun with lashings of bloody sauce." Posters with a similar image that advertised the group had them banned at some venues. National youth radio station, Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, criticised the group as being immature and told them to "grow up". The EP was described as having "good songs but it sounds like it was recorded under a doona" and had the group banned from some radio stations and retail outlets. One of its tracks, "I Wish I Was as Credible as Roger Climpson" (aka "Roger"), attracted attention of its subject, Roger Climpson
Roger Climpson
Roger Climpson OAM MBE is a British-born Australian newsreader, best known for his time at Seven News in the 1980s and 1990s and for his hosting duties on various shows from 1977 until 1998.- Early life :...
– a Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
anchor on TV – who posed with the group for a photo. In October they released a single, "Sorry About the Ruse", on their own label, How Much Did I Fucking Pay For This Records? The group were the local support act on the Australian leg of separate tours by United States punk rockers Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
and Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
.
In March 1995 Frenzal Rhomb released their first studio album, Coughing Up a Storm
Coughing Up a Storm
Coughing Up a Storm was the 1995 debut album from Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was re-titled Once a Jolly Swagman Always a Jolly Swagman for its 1997 U.S...
on Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
' sub-label Shagpile Records. Perske was replaced by Nat Nykyruj on drums before the album appeared. In October 1997, it was retitled Once a Jolly Swagman Always a Jolly Swagman and issued with additional tracks by the US label, Liberation Records
Liberation Records
Liberation Records is a Southern California record company. It was formed by 16-year-old David Taba in 1994. The label notably discovered and released the debut album of Home Grown and, in 1994, released the classic Punk Sucks compilation...
. In mid-1995, the group supported NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
on their national tour. Fat Mike, a member of NOFX, was also the owner of Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
and he signed the band to his label, which released the 4 Litres EP in the US.
1996–2000: Not So Tough Now to A Man's Not a Camel
In July 1996 Frenzal Rhomb released their second album, Not So Tough NowNot So Tough Now
Not So Tough Now was released in July 1996 and is the follow-up to Frenzal Rhomb's debut album Coughing up a Storm. This was the last album to feature Ben Costello on guitar, who was replaced by Lindsay McDougall not long after the release of this album...
, which was produced by Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
(Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
, TISM
TISM
TISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
, Dave Graney
Dave Graney
David John "Dave" Graney is an Australian rock musician and singer-songwriter from Mount Gambier, South Australia. Since 1979, Graney is generally accompanied by drummer, Clare Moore...
), Kalju Tonuma
Kalju Tonuma
Kalju Tonuma is a music producer, engineer, mixer, and occasional performer based in Melbourne, Australia. He played guitar as a member of Deadstar in 1998...
(Nick Barker
Nick Barker
Nicholas "Nick" Paul Barker is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist who formed a Melbourne-based rock, power pop band Nick Barker & the Reptiles in March 1988. Their cover version of Cockney Rebel's "Make Me Smile " reached the top 30 on the Australian Recording Industry Association ...
, The Mavis's
The Mavis's
The Mavis's were an Australian pop band from Ballarat, Victoria. The band was composed of Matt Thomas , his sister Becky Thomas , Nick Gill , Andrea Vendy , and Josh Alexander . They are best known for their 1998 synth-driven single "Cry", which appeared on the Triple J Hottest 100 for 1998...
) and Frenzal Rhomb. Just after its appearance, Costello was replaced by Lindsay McDougall
Lindsay McDougall
Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall is an Australian radio presenter for national youth network Triple J and guitarist in Australian punk rock band Frenzal Rhomb.- Frenzal Rhomb :...
on lead guitar and backing vocals – Costello left to attend university and become an animal rights activist. In November the group issued a CD EP, Punch in the Face and, in January 1997, performed at Big Day Out. Late that year they toured the US supporting Blink-182.
In September 1997 their third LP, Meet the Family
Meet the Family
Meet the Family is Frenzal Rhomb's third studio album. It was released in September 1997. The album was the first to feature Lindsay McDougall on guitar, and the last to feature Nat Nykruj on drums.-Track listing:# "Mum Changed The Locks" – 1:57# "Mr...
, was released, which reached the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and became their first certified gold album by ARIA. It spawned two singles, "There's Your Dad" (September) and "Mum Changed the Locks" (April 1998). The latter title refers to McDougall telling his mother he was going out to a movie when leaving for an interstate tour and returning to find his key no longer opened the front door. Also in April, Gordon "Gordy" Forman replaced Nykyruj on drums, and they toured Australia with US ska band, Blue Meanies. Frenzal Rhomb were the head-liners for the Australian leg of the 1998 Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
and they were recruited for the US edition, a 1998 version of Meet the Family contained a bonus disc, Mongrel, that was recorded live on this US leg.
In March 1999 they released their next album, A Man's Not a Camel
A Man's Not a Camel
A Man's Not a Camel is Frenzal Rhomb's fourth full length album released in March 1999. The album was arguably the band's most successful, at least in terms of mainstream music culture. Frenzal Rhomb had languished for many years, a staple of Aussie Punk, but not of Australian music...
, which was produced by Eddie Ashworth
Eddie Ashworth
- Career :Eddie Ashworth is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician, university professor, entrepreneur and writer, best known for his work in the alternative rock and indie rock genres. His primary instrument is mandolin, and also plays guitar and assorted keyboards...
and was supported by a nationwide tour. As from November 2011, it remains Frenzal Rhombs' highest charting album, reaching No. 11. It spawned their highest charting single, "You Are Not My Friend" (August), which reached No. 49. Allmusic's album reviewer, Mike DaRonco, felt "the first two songs are great in that catchy, playful pop-punk sort of way, but the rest ... fall under the trap of having all their tracks sounding like one big, long song".
According to the band's website, US gigs were dropped after Whalley suffered a heart attack in late 1999 and the group spent the first few months of 2000 inactive. Whalley later denied that he had had a heart attack with, "a lot of things on our Web site are greatly exaggerated. There was also a thing about my having trench rot, the World War I disease, but that's not true either".
2000–2003: Shut Your Mouth to Sans Souci
In November 2000 Frenzal Rhomb returned with the album, Shut Your Mouth, released on Epic RecordsEpic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in Australia, an off-shoot of Sony
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
. RockZone's Samuel Barker liked some tracks as "a fine template for a pop punk album" however "the majority just falls into the same formula of most punk today. It's not bad, just overplayed". The album peaked in the top 40. After six months, Sony dropped the band in mid-2001 and they signed with Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
in Australia.
In April 2002 Feltham left the group, which provided many stories about why he left, including one that he was fired after thinking that the group should incorporate synth and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
work. The last song he recorded with the band was a cover of Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
's "The Dead Heart
The Dead Heart
"The Dead Heart" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. It was first released as a single in Australia in 1986 and in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1988 after it had been included on the 1987 album, Diesel and Dust. It peaked at number four on the Australian singles chart...
" for the 2001 tribute album, Power & The Passion: A Tribute to Midnight Oil. After holding auditions in Sydney, Tom Crease was announced as the new bass guitarist.
In April 2003 the band released Sans Souci
Sans Souci (album)
Sans Souci is a 2003 album by Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was released by Epitaph Records in Australia and Fat Wreck Chords elsewhere around the world.-Track listing:#"Stand Up & Be Cunted" – 0:52#"Russell Crowe's Band" – 1:12...
, which appeared in the top 50. Jo-Ann Greene of Allmusic liked the group's outlook, "they're not bitter, just snotty about it all, as all good punks should be. And Rhomb are four of the best ... their latest set of frenzied, funny, pitiless attacks upon an uncaring planet." The initial version of the album included a bonus DVD of five tracks with live footage and music videos.
2004: Political protest, Jackie O
During 2003 Frenzal Rhomb's McDougall organised Rock Against HowardRock Against Howard
Rock Against Howard is an Australian compilation CD featuring anti-Coalition musicians, released in 2004. The project hoped to inspire young voters to turn out in federal elections that year to vote against then-Prime Minister John Howard, but Howard's party prevailed all the same.Rock Against...
, a compilation album, by various Australian musicians as a protest against incumbent Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's government. It was released in August 2004, before the October federal election, when Howard's coalition was re-elected.
In July 2004, radio station, 2Day FM
2Day FM
Not to be mixed up with Today FM in Ireland.2Day FM is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia, on a frequency of 104.1 MHz, and part of Austereo's Today Network.- Transmission :...
, presenter Jackie O
Jackie O (radio host)
Jacqueline Ellen Marie Henderson, better known as Jackie O, is an Australian commercial radio host, actress and television presenter. She is best-known nationally for presenting The Hot Hits, the Hot 30 Countdown, Take 40 Australia and the Kyle & Jackie O on 2Day FM with Kyle Sandilands and for...
was to MC at the Bassinthegrass
Bassinthegrass
Bassinthegrass is an Australian music festival. It is the largest music festival in the Northern Territory, and has been held annually since 2003 at the Darwin Amphitheatre in the territory capital...
festival in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
. Jackie allegedly arrived late, causing Frenzal Rhomb to cut their setlist short by several songs. She attempted to speak with the audience. In protest, McDougall began playing AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's "Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck (song)
"Thunderstruck" is the first song on the 1990 AC/DC album The Razors Edge.The song peaked at No. 5 on U.S. the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was released as a single in Germany, Australia, and Japan. The song is said to be inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's hair-raising experience...
" over her voice. Jackie was upset that she was unable to finish her announcement to the audience. Whalley later accused her and other music industry personalities of pushing original Australian bands aside to make way for short-term marketable acts such as Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
and Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
contestants.
Jackie and her co-presenter, Kyle Sandilands
Kyle Sandilands
Kyle Dalton Sandilands is an Australian radio and TV personality. He is currently the host with Jacqueline Henderson, better known as Jackie O, on the weekday morning radio program The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Sydney radio station 2Day FM, The Kyle and Jackie O Hour of Power which airs on...
, called Whalley on air during their next breakfast show. Whalley apologised for offending Jackie, but stood by his claims regarding the music industry. The conversation became heated as Sandilands told Whalley, "Your songs being played on this network or the Triple M network... it's just not going to happen now"; to which Whalley argued that Frenzal Rhomb were almost never played on the Austereo network anyway. During the conversation, Sandilands told Whalley that he was bitter and sad; and that Frenzal Rhomb is not played on the network "because it's pretty much shit".
Sandilands argued that Whalley should not "pick fights with people that are female in the Northern Territory". Sandilands asserted that if he himself were present, "it would have been on for young and old". Whalley argued that gender was irrelevant to the issue, and in response to Sandilands' threat of violence asked Jackie if she was aware that her security guard had threatened a band technician with violence. Sandilands said he endorsed the threat of violence. Sandilands argued to Whalley that he has to "get over it" when Whalley recommended that radio DJs should promote original Australian music. In reply, Sandilands insinuated that Frenzal Rhomb, and bands in general, suffer from a lack of support because they are not "putting [their] stuff in front of the right people".
ABC Television's Media Watch covered the exchange and presenter, David Marr
David Marr (journalist)
David Ewan Marr is an Australian journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts...
, raised concerns about the interview, "Kyle and Jackie O are also part of a new generation of radio thugs". Patrick Joyce, general manager of Austereo in Sydney responded to Sandilands' threats of black list
Black List
Black List is the second of two L.A. Guns compilation albums featuring their third singer Paul Black.-Track listing:#"Stranded in L.A."#"L.A.P.D."#"Show No Mercy"#"One More Reason to Die"#"Looking Over My Shoulder"#"Love & Hate"#"On And On"...
ing and violence, "Music content is decided by the programming directors based on research of the market... Austereo does not approve of threats being made to anyone... We have fully canvassed these issues with Kyle".
2005-2009: Jay and the Doctor
Frenzal Rhomb's Whalley and McDougall worked as Jay and the DoctorJay and the Doctor
Jay and the Doctor are the on-air names of Australian radio duo Jason Whalley and Lindsay McDougall, on radio station Triple J.Best known as members of punk band Frenzal Rhomb, they performed occasional late-night shifts on Triple J until 2004...
on Triple J's breakfast show from January 2005 through to November 2007. Prior to their employment at Triple J, the group's music had been banned after they had earlier criticised the station on air for playing the "same 40 songs". In 2004, they were asked to perform occasional late night shifts and request segments which developed into the breakfast show slot. Their format includes banter where they provide "quips, one-liners, slagging off each other, other bands, other breakfast announcers, listeners, Triple J, Australian Idol and St Ives. It's verbal ping pong but more discursive."
The band released Forever Malcolm Young
Forever Malcolm Young
Forever Malcolm Young is the title of the 2006 album from Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was released in Australia on 14 October 2006, and features 20 of the 27 songs recorded for it....
in October 2006 – the title is a conflated reference to the 2005 song "Forever Young" by Youth Group
Youth Group
Youth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
and the name of AC/DC's guitarist, Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
– which peaked in the top 40. It provided a minor radio hit with the title track. Some controversy was expressed over the profanity in the title and lyrics of "Johnny Ramone was in a Fucking Good Band, but He Was a Cunt" (see Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
). Whalley's attitude to profanity and obscenity is "I often get amazed how offended people get by language, especially in Australia when its nothing you wouldn't hear in your local office or schoolyard. But we do make a point of shaking things up". Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll
Ed Nimmervoll
Edward Francis "Ed" Nimmervoll is an Australian rock music journalist, author and historian. He worked on rock magazines Go-Set and Juke both as a journalist and as an editor...
, described them, "[their] history is littered with legendary stories, perhaps true, perhaps exaggerations, but stories which fuel and match their song and album titles. Their songs are often profane, likely to poke fun at someone including themselves, hint at a social conscience, and inside all the tough talk and body jokes be hopelessly romantic."
National touring followed the album's release, along with the announcement that from November 2007 Whalley would be leaving both Frenzal Rhomb and his job at Triple J to go on a world trip with his girlfriend. Some later copies of Forever Malcolm Young contained a bonus DVD covering the band's tours from 2002 up until 2005. It is titled Sucking All Over the World. Gordy Forman plays in the Melbourne hardcore band Mindsnare
Mindsnare
Mindsnare are an Australian hardcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 1993 under the name Mad Circle, their music is a blend of traditional "old school" hardcore punk and crossover metal, and as such has seen them play alongside metal bands like Kreator and Ringworm, as well as more...
. McDougall continued as The Doctor at Triple J, initially with Robbie Buck
Robbie Buck
Robbie Buck is an Australian radio announcer best known for his work at the national youth broadcaster, Triple J...
and Marieke Hardy
Marieke Hardy
Marieke Josephine Hardy is an Australian writer, broadcaster, television producer and former television actress.-Early life and family:...
; and, from January 2010, he has hosted the afternoon show, Drive with The Doctor. By April 2009 Frenzal Rhomb were performing The Boys Are Back in Town tour with 1990s punk group, Nancy Vandal
Nancy Vandal
Nancy Vandal is a Punk band from Sydney, Australia that performed from 1993 to 2001 and had a reunion performance in 2003 and have, as of December 2008, planned a reunion and new EP for 2009...
as their support act.
2010–present: Smoko at the Pet Food Factory
In December 2010, Frenzal Rhomb embarked on the No Sleep Til FestivalNo Sleep Til Festival
The No Sleep Til Festival was a music festival that was held across Australia and New Zealand in December 2010. The Festival was headlined by Megadeth, who played their album Rust in Peace in its entirety. Other bands included were NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, and Parkway Drive...
which featured punk and metal bands: Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Descendents
Descendents
The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
, GWAR
GWAR
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
and Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
. Frenzal Rhomb played a new song entitled "Bird Attack". In Brisbane, on the last stop of the tour, Whalley and Crease joined Descendents on-stage with other bands' singers – Al Barr
Al Barr
Alexander Martin "Al" Barr is the lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys. He was also a founder and lead singer for The Bruisers, which he helped form in 1988 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His first band circa 1984, was called D.V.A....
(Dropkick Murphys), Fat Mike (NOFX), Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
and Derek Grant
Derek Grant
Derek Grant is the drummer for punk band Alkaline Trio, where he replaced Mike Felumlee. He was previously a member of The Suicide Machines, Telegraph, Gyga, Thoughts of Ionesco, Remainder, Walls of Jericho, The Exceptions and Broken Spoke, a side band with Royce Nunley and Jay Navarro...
(Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
), and Jason Allen (Descendents' road manager) – to perform "Everything Sux".
Frenzal Rhomb recorded their next album, Smoko at the Pet Food Factory, in Colorado with Bill Stevenson (drummer for Descendents) producing. It was released on 19 August on Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
, which peaked at No. 14. The group toured Australia with Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket
Teenage Bottlerocket is a punk rock band formed in Laramie, Wyoming in 2001.The band was formed by twin brothers Ray and Brandon Carlisle, following the dissolution of their previous band, Homeless Wonders, in 2000...
in September in support of the album.
Band members
Current members- Jason Whalley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1992–present)
- Lindsay McDougallLindsay McDougallLindsay "The Doctor" McDougall is an Australian radio presenter for national youth network Triple J and guitarist in Australian punk rock band Frenzal Rhomb.- Frenzal Rhomb :...
– lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–present) - Gordon 'Gordy' Forman – drums (1998–present)
- Tom Crease – bass guitar (2002–present)
Former members
- Alexis 'Lex' Feltham – bass guitar (1992–2002)
- Ben Costello – guitar (1993–1996)
- Bruce Braybrooke – drums (1993)
- Karl Perske – drums (1993–1995)
- Nat Nykyruj – drums (1995–1998)
Discography
- Coughing up a StormCoughing Up a StormCoughing Up a Storm was the 1995 debut album from Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was re-titled Once a Jolly Swagman Always a Jolly Swagman for its 1997 U.S...
(1995) - Not So Tough NowNot So Tough NowNot So Tough Now was released in July 1996 and is the follow-up to Frenzal Rhomb's debut album Coughing up a Storm. This was the last album to feature Ben Costello on guitar, who was replaced by Lindsay McDougall not long after the release of this album...
(1996) - Meet the FamilyMeet the FamilyMeet the Family is Frenzal Rhomb's third studio album. It was released in September 1997. The album was the first to feature Lindsay McDougall on guitar, and the last to feature Nat Nykruj on drums.-Track listing:# "Mum Changed The Locks" – 1:57# "Mr...
(1997) - A Man's Not a CamelA Man's Not a CamelA Man's Not a Camel is Frenzal Rhomb's fourth full length album released in March 1999. The album was arguably the band's most successful, at least in terms of mainstream music culture. Frenzal Rhomb had languished for many years, a staple of Aussie Punk, but not of Australian music...
(1999) - Shut Your MouthShut Your Mouth (Frenzal Rhomb album)Shut Your Mouth is an album by Frenzal Rhomb released on 20 November 2000. Originally slated to be released on 6 November, it was also the first and last Frenzal Rhomb album to be issued in Australia on the Epic label which dropped the band less than 6 months later...
(2000) - Sans SouciSans Souci (album)Sans Souci is a 2003 album by Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was released by Epitaph Records in Australia and Fat Wreck Chords elsewhere around the world.-Track listing:#"Stand Up & Be Cunted" – 0:52#"Russell Crowe's Band" – 1:12...
(2003) - Forever Malcolm YoungForever Malcolm YoungForever Malcolm Young is the title of the 2006 album from Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb. It was released in Australia on 14 October 2006, and features 20 of the 27 songs recorded for it....
(2006) - Smoko at the Pet Food Factory (2011)
External links
- Fat Wreck Chords
- Official website, 2001 archived by PANDORAPandora ArchivePANDORA - Australia's Web Archive is the national web archive for the preservation of Australia's online publications. It was established by the National Library of Australia in 1996, and is now built in collaboration with a number of other Australian state libraries and cultural collecting...
on 29 August 2001. - Frenzal Rhomb's singer Jason Whalley and guitarist Lindsay McDougall perform at Big Day Out, Melbourne, Victoria, 2005. A photo by Martin Philbey at Digital Collections by National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
.