The Meanies
Encyclopedia
The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock
band, formed in 1989. The current band members include Link Meanie (Lincoln McLennon), Ringo Meanie (Mark Hobbs) and Wally Meanie (Roderick Kempton). The Meanies had a hiatus in the mid-late 1990s, but began performing again in 1998. The band is known for its highly energetic performances, with vocalist Link often becoming injured on stage on several occasions.
Australian Rolling Stone said The Meanies songs, "will all be short, between two and three minutes every time. Each burst of savage punk/pop noise will also be a potential anthem; an unclean riff with a beating heart of pure melody."
They have been cited as influential for bands including Frenzal Rhomb
.
and Europe
with acts including Nirvana
, The Lemonheads
, Pop Will Eat Itself
, Redd Kross
, Beastie Boys
, Pearl Jam
and Bad Brains
. They played at the Australian Big Day Out
festival in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
In 2006 they released a DVD entitled The Meanies: A Seminal Australian Punk Tale, which features a documentary, Sorry 'bout the Violence, 11 video clips and a live concert filmed in 1994. The band toured the east coast of Australia in support of it in August–September 2006.
In 2008 the Meanies performed to promote the release of a series of 7” singles featuring previously unreleased tracks and cover versions of Meanies tracks performed by bands such as Cockfight Shootout, Digger and the Pussycats, The Drones
, Dan Kelly
and You Am I
.
On 14 February 2008, original member Dennis DePianto, better known as D.D. Meanie, died at St. Vincents Hospital in Melbourne. He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy
as a child, and towards the end of his life he also suffered a short battle with cancer
. He was in The Meanies from their inception until 1995.
Guitarist Tas Blizzard died 1 August 2008, as a result of a car accident. His blue Ford station wagon went out of control as he was driving along the Bellarine Peninsula in wet conditions around 3pm Friday, 1 August. The car spun into a dam alongside the road and was almost completely submerged. Blizzard was the only person in the car.
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, formed in 1989. The current band members include Link Meanie (Lincoln McLennon), Ringo Meanie (Mark Hobbs) and Wally Meanie (Roderick Kempton). The Meanies had a hiatus in the mid-late 1990s, but began performing again in 1998. The band is known for its highly energetic performances, with vocalist Link often becoming injured on stage on several occasions.
Australian Rolling Stone said The Meanies songs, "will all be short, between two and three minutes every time. Each burst of savage punk/pop noise will also be a potential anthem; an unclean riff with a beating heart of pure melody."
They have been cited as influential for bands including Frenzal Rhomb
Frenzal Rhomb
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...
.
History
In the 1990s they performed primarily in Melbourne, and toured in Australia, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with acts including Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
, Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band, originally formed in Stourbridge in 1986, with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a Grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample driven indie and industrial rock...
, Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
, Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
and Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
. They played at the Australian 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...
festival in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
In 2006 they released a DVD entitled The Meanies: A Seminal Australian Punk Tale, which features a documentary, Sorry 'bout the Violence, 11 video clips and a live concert filmed in 1994. The band toured the east coast of Australia in support of it in August–September 2006.
In 2008 the Meanies performed to promote the release of a series of 7” singles featuring previously unreleased tracks and cover versions of Meanies tracks performed by bands such as Cockfight Shootout, Digger and the Pussycats, The Drones
The Drones
The Drones are an Australian rock group who rose to prominence during the early 2000s. They are influenced by a variety of bands and soloists including Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, Bad Brains, Suicide, Green on Red, The Birthday Party, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone.- The Sound...
, Dan Kelly
Dan Kelly
Daniel, Danny or Dan Kelly may refer to:*Dan Kelly , brother of Australian Ned Kelly*Dan Kelly , American ice hockey defenceman*Dan Kelly , Australian musician...
and You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
.
On 14 February 2008, original member Dennis DePianto, better known as D.D. Meanie, died at St. Vincents Hospital in Melbourne. He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
as a child, and towards the end of his life he also suffered a short battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was in The Meanies from their inception until 1995.
Guitarist Tas Blizzard died 1 August 2008, as a result of a car accident. His blue Ford station wagon went out of control as he was driving along the Bellarine Peninsula in wet conditions around 3pm Friday, 1 August. The car spun into a dam alongside the road and was almost completely submerged. Blizzard was the only person in the car.
Singles
- Darkside Of My Mind / Meanie Way / You're Pathetic (1990, Au Go GoAu Go Go RecordsAu Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label.It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon....
) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy and The Meanies - The Reason Why / Groovie Meanies / Don't Smile (1990, Au Go Go) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy and The Meanies
- Lyin' / The Meanie Twist / I'm Amazed (1991, Au Go Go) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy
- Paranoid / What Am I To Do? / Welcome Back To Me (1991, Au Go Go) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy and The Meanies
- Never / Steve Sex God / Sorry 'Bout The Violence (1991, Au Go Go) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy
- Probe TV / Record Sale / Macho Wankers (1991, Au Go Go)- Produced by A.O'B and The Meanies
- Scum / The Meanie Way / Groovie Meanies (1991, Sympathy For The Record Industry) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy
- Inside / Steve Sex God / Record Sale (1992, Lance Records)
- Them / Mantra / Goodbye Man (1993, Jukkim)
- Dead Stuff / Cruelty's Fun / Emulator / Lay Your Body Down (1993, Au Go Go) - Produced by A.O'B and The Meanies
- Just What You Need / Best Feel Good Movie / Play The Slay Bells (1993, Hip Records) - Produced by A.O'B and The Meanies
- One right To Grieve / Monolith / Song For Suzy (1993, Munster Records)
- Rhyming Logic / Operator / Darkside Of My Mind (1993, Merge Records)
- Conan / Laymans Guide To Heaven / Hologram / Hat Of The Gods (1994, Au Go Go) - Produced by Conrad UnoConrad UnoConrad Uno is an American record producer and founder of the independent record label PopLlama Records. Uno began his career making his own music as a teenager in his makeshift basement studio. At the request of his friends, the Young Fresh Fellows, Uno produced their debut album The Fabulous...
and The Meanies - 10% Weird / Hollywood Dreamin' / Family Tree / Aim In Straight Lines (1994, Au Go Go) - Produced by Conrad Uno and The Meanies
- Ton Of Bricks1) / One right to Grieve2) / Rhyming Logic3) / Homonculous4) / Monopoly Money4) (1994, Au Go Go) - 1) Produced by Conrad Uno and The Meanies, 2) Produced by A.O'B and Link, 3) Produced by Chris Thompson, 4) Produced by Lindsey and Link
- It's A Long Way To The Top - (AC/DCAC/DCAC/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"...
tribute, split with Boots) - Battle of Wax (2007)
- If I Say Uncle (2008)
EPs
- Gangrenous (1991, Au Go GoAu Go Go RecordsAu Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label.It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon....
) - Produced by A.O'B and The Meanies - In Search Of... (1992, Au Go Go) - Produced by A.O'B and The Meanies
- Six Suitable Tracks (2000, Full Toss Records)
- Secrets Of The Ancients Revealed (2001, Munster Records)
Albums
- Come 'n' See (1992, Au Go GoAu Go Go RecordsAu Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label.It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon....
) - Produced by Michael 'Ded' Kennedy and The Meanies - The Meanie Of Life (1992, Au Go Go)
- Televolution (1994, Empty Records)
- 10% Weird (1994, Au Go Go/Munster Records)
Compilations
Compilations that The Meanies have appeared on.- Boogie Wonderland (1990)
- Oh God Pt 3 / How 'Bout It Baby (1990)
- Lemon #12 (1991)
- From Babylon to Brunswick (1991)
- Teeth (1991)
- Wally's Wild Weekend (1992)'
- Crack in the Sun or Fade in the Shade' (1992)
- Self Mutilation - One, Two, Three, and more (1993)
- 3RRR Live in Your Lounge Room (1993)
- Fuse Box - An Alternative Tribute
- eMpTy Records Sampler (1994)
- Just Because We Love You (1995)
- La 1a Internacional (1995)
- Ox-Compilation #20 "Pogo Tribe Detector" (1995)
- Vulgar Tongue compilation (1996)
- eMpTy Sampler II (1997)
- Survival from out of Nowhere 2
- Happenin' Chick Fanzine Issue #3 (1998)
- Punk You! compilation
- Bigger Than Tina (soundtrack)
- Fuck the Millennium (2001)
- Richie Ramone's Army of Rockers (2002)