Press release:
Few bands in the world are as relevant today as they were 4 decades ago but the Cosmic Psychos are one of these rarefied acts. Having formed in 1982 in the little know town of Spring Plains, Victoria, they somehow defied the odds of isolated rural obscurity to take (almost) legendary status as one of Australia's most influential and infamous punk bands.
With 10 albums under their belts and super fans including Eddie Vedder, Kurt Cobain, Mudhoney, L7, The Melvins, Prodigy, and many more they have the distinct honour of not only influencing the early 90’s Grunge/Alternative sound but the current Australian music scene with present-day punks like Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats, Dune Rats sampling and styling aspects of the Psychos sound.
With their raucous and demented Ramones covering Motorhead rock n’ roll sound and subject matter spanning the likes of dead Kangaroos, drinking too much and the resulting hangovers, life on the farm, spending a really nice day at the pub, ripping and digging through the bush and cities full of undesirables - The Psychos greatest strength is perhaps their ability to relate to the every-man/woman with their simplified take on life and music (well maybe not Whip Me).
This connection developed through the honesty of their music is what has helped the Cosmic Psychos to enter one of their most popular periods as a band. Winning new fans through the 2013 documentary ‘Blokes You Can Trust’, the Psychos have and continue to travel Australia and the world (most recently opening for Guns N’ Roses). Now in November of 2023, they bring their 40-year back catalogue to New Zealand for 4 headline shows across the North Island. Make sure to catch them in between sampling local beers and checking out Farmlands stores and tractor dealerships.
Valhalla, Wellington
Thursday, November 16th, 2023
(With Dick Move)
Totara St, Tauranga
Friday, November 17th, 2023
(With Dick Move and Grown Downz)
Yot Club, Raglan
Saturday, November 18th, 2023
(With Dick Move and Grown Downz)
The Mothership, Auckland
Sunday, November 19th, 2023
(With Dick Move and Grown Downz)
Tickets available from Undertheradar.co.nz (except Totara Street - https://totara.flicket.co.nz/) or at http://www.cosmicpsychos.com.au/.
Cosmic Psychos Biography:
ROSS KNIGHT – BASS AND VOCALS
DEAN MULLER – DRUMS
JOHN MCKEERING – GUITAR
“Here’s three ugly looking blokes, touring the world, playing at all these wonderful cities, dining
at all these wonderful restaurants, meeting all these famous people. In the back of ya head I’m
thinking to myself ‘Im a fuckin’ farmer!’” – Ross Knight
“Even though the Cosmic Psychos never had the commercial impact or success that Nirvana and
Pearl Jam had, they were still a major influence on them, and I think a lot of it had to do with the
spirit and the sound of their music.” – Butch Vig, Record Producer.
The Cosmic Psychos are (almost) an Australian punk rock institution who formed in Spring Plains, Victoria in 1982, spearheaded by founding member and bass player Ross Knight.
To date, the band have released 10 studio albums since their self-titled debut (1987) and their influence has been global, with UK band The Prodigy sampling their music on 1997’s ‘The Fat of the Land’ LP and Nirvana producer Butch Vig proclaiming them an influence on both Nirvana and the Seattle grunge scene of the 1990’s.
In 2009, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam spoke candidly of the effect the band had on him growing up in Seattle. The band’s repetitive lyrics, fuzzed out guitar and wah wah bass sound has remained unchanged over their 30 plus year career and continues to win over new audiences. A documentary by film maker Matt Weston, released in 2013, titled ‘Blokes You Can Trust’ featured a whose who of global indie tastemakers and music makers espousing the Cosmic Psycho’s legacy in Australian musical history. The documentary has given the band new life and they currently find themselves fielding touring and interview requests as far flung as Spain, Germany and Costa Rica.
It’s been a wild ride for the Psycho’s mainstay Ross Knight who originally formed the band in 1982 for ‘shits and giggles’. He’s been trying to balance the demands of fronting one of Australia’s defining punk bands and managing his vast third generation farm ever since; which includes running cattle, tending a vineyard and volunteering his time and tractor to the local fire service. Rounding out the Psycho’s line-up since 2005 is Melbourne born Dean Muller on drums and John ‘Mad Macka’ McKeering on guitar. Macka (formerly of Brisbane stalwarts The Onyas), has spent time as a lawyer, pizza delivery driver, carpet factory worker, bartender and swim coach. These days, when not hanging with the Psycho’s he teaches punk rock chords to guitar students and regales beginners with stories about the time he once beat Olympian swimmer Kieran Perkins in a medley race.
The Cosmic Psycho’s have survived the passing decades, musical trends and fashions with ease. Most fans will tell you they’re simple blokes (you can trust),just making straight-ahead, good-fun, Australian influenced punk rock. In 2019, the Cosmic Psychos celebrate 30 years since the release of their second album ‘Go the Hack’ – which perfectly sums up the career trajectory of one of Australia’s most loved bands.
“They’re our ambassadors, have a listen to their lyrics, they sing about dead kangaroos.” Ray
Ahn – HardOns
Discography:
• Cosmic Psychos (1987)
• Go The Hack (1989)
• Blokes You Can Trust (1991)
• Self Totalled (1995)
• Oh What a Lovely Pie (1997)
• Off Ya Cruet! (2006)
• Dung Australia (2007)
• Glorius Barsteds (2011)
• Cum the Raw Prawn (2015)
• Loudmouth Soup (2018)
•Mountain of Piss (2021)
Live Albums:
• Slave To The Crave: Live At The Palace, Melbourne (1990)
• I Love My Tractor: Live At The Tote Hotel, Melbourne (2013)
Current Members:
• Ross Knight — lead vocals, bass guitar (1982–present)
• John McKeering — lead guitar (2006–present)
• Dean Muller — drums, backing vocals (2005–present)
Past Members:
• Peter Jones — lead guitar, backing vocals (1982-1990)
• Steve Morrow — lead vocals (1982)
• Neal Turton-Lane — bass guitar (1982)
• Bill Walsh — drums, backing vocals (1982-2005)
• Robbie Watts — lead guitar, backing vocals (1990-2006) (deceased)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmicpsychos/
Website : https://www.cosmicpsychos.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmicpsychos/?hl=en
Blokes You Can Trust Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CbDQ2ZryA
