AAA Backstage Archive

Bogan-tastic Aussie Bands

In true Australian style, the latest news from the Australian political circuit is that an internal Palmer United Party email has been leaked that describes Tasmanian Senator-Elect Jacqui Lambie, and her constituents, as bogans.

Continuing in true Australian style, Clive Palmer has dismissed this email, throwing in the following statement:

“We love bogans and we love all Australians. All I can say is, I like chips. I regularly eat at McDonalds but I’m eating more salads now. I wear Ugg boots and I go four-wheel driving. [The PUP] have got an alliance with the Motoring Enthusiasts. He throws kangaroo poo; what’s so insulting about that? It’s a lot of fun.”

Oh Clive. It’s ok. I like chips too.

There’s no denying that that Australia is the land of the bogan. Sometimes an insult, sometimes a term people stand proud by, ‘boganism’ has seeped its way into the Australian culture; Kath and Kim are some of our favourite TV characters after all. As a nation that has produced (and continues to produce) some pretty fantastic musical acts, it’s only logical some of these artists/bands embody the Australian bogan spirit, flannys and all. We picked out some of our favourites.

*Disclaimer: Yes, we’re playing to stereotypes a little here, but the term bogan is applied to these artists in the most loving way possible. It’s a compliment. Promise.

Drunk Mums

Drunk Mum’s Facebook page describes the band as ‘Melbourne via Cairns rock n roll yobos’ and their music as ‘ball-busting rock’. But I feel as the bogan claim can be summed up easily in this simple photo: VB and a mullet, classic bogan.

AC/DC

Having sold over 200 million albums worldwide, hard rockers AC/DC are arguably Australia’s biggest high-voltage bogan export. During the course of their career, AC/DC rock and rolled the long way to the top with their mullets, Angus Young’s trademark school uniform and their thunderous power chords. And we love them for it.

Jimmy Barnes

Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes summed up what it was to be a middle class Australian with his single Working Class Man, and is best heard in an Aussie pub with scores of bogans as his backing vocalists. He too couldn’t resist a good mullet.

Men at Work

The band’s 1981 Australia-proud single Down Under includes references to combies, vegemite sandwiches, beer flowing and men chundering, all important aspects of the Australian bogan lifestyle.

Frenzal Rhomb

Beloved Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb have over the years generated controversy for plentiful profanity (in cover art, song titles and lyrics), their on and off stage behaviour and their radical political beliefs, and so on. Most recently, they let their profane bogan fly with a serious of vitriolic tweets aimed at the 27^th Annual Aria Awards.

Violent Soho

Proudly from the 4122 (ie, the suburb of Mansfield on Brisbane’s south side), Violent Soho are a band of mates who play ‘absolutely awesome music’, heavily inspired by 80s and 90s punk/grunge. This hometown pride and commitment to mates, in combination with their love of long, flowing locks, beer, and flannys, allow them to be a key example of what it is to be an Australian bogan.

Dune Rats

They have a song with the lyrics ‘Dalai Lama, Big Banana, marijuana’, they filmed a music video showing them chain smoking bongs, they celebrate being added to the SXSW lineup with the statement ‘gonna get fat on In’n’Out’ AND they too have luscious flowing locks. Dune Rats epitomise what it is to be part of the Australian stoner bogan subculture.

This list is by no means exclusive; there are plenty of other iconic Australian acts who have proudly embraced and displayed their inner bogan, and we love them for it. Aussie hip hop acts like Hilltop Hoods and Bliss n Eso, for example, and just look at Kevin Parker’s (Tame Impala) footwear choice at the Aria Awards.

So go, you good bogan things, and keep making the Australian music industry, and Clive Palmer, proud.

Share in the comments below who you think should be crowned 'Australia's most bogan band'!!!