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The Hard-Ons are a punk rock band from Sydney, Australia that originally formed in 1981. They have been called Australia's most commercially successful independent band, with over 250,000 total record sales. ^[1]

Biography

1980s: Early days

The Hard-Ons' origins can be traced to Western Sydney's Punchbowl Boys High School, where all band members were students. The first version of the band featured Keish de Silva on guitar and vocals, Peter Black on guitar and Brendan Creighton on drums. In 1982 Creighton left and was replaced by Ray Ahn on bass guitar with de Silva taking over the drumming. Being too young to play in pubs, the band featured at birthday parties and school dances. On 20 June 1984, the Hard Ons played their first official show at the Vulcan Hotel in Ultimo. ^[2] Quickly gaining a considerable following, the band released its debut EP Surfin' On My Face the following year. This was the beginning of a series of releases for the band that netted them remarkable run of 17 consecutive #1 listings on the Australian independent music charts.

Subsequent recordings like Smell My Finger, Dickcheese, Love Is A Battlefield Of Wounded Hearts and Yummy! set the blueprint for the 'Hard-Ons sound': messy pop-punk with metal and psychedelia elements. The band also showed their independent punk spirit, with the members deliberately controlling their own careers: recording, booking and promoting themselves, creating their own artwork (mostly done by Ahn), choosing support bands and even managing the merchandise desk whilst on tour.

While maintaining a solid if underground following in Australia, the Hard Ons were particularly popular in Europe, scoring a Top 10 hit in Spain and a Top 5 slot in Greece with their 1989 album Love is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts. That album also made the Top 5 in the NME chart. At the time, this made the Hard Ons only the third Australian band after Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Go Betweens to have achieved this. In 1989 the group also recorded a split EP with British band The Stupids. Two years later they teamed up with Henry Rollins and released a version of "Let There Be Rock" that was released in a limited edition on 10" vinyl.

1990s: Split and reformation

Following the release of 1993's Too Far Gone, the band members announced that they were breaking up, with an interest in pursuing projects outside the Hard-Ons' style of music. This break was interrupted by a 'reunion' gig in October 1997, which was followed by the release of a new EP ("Yesterday And Today") and a "best of" Compilation album in 1998. Following This Terrible Place... in 2000, the band's first line-up change occurred, with Keish de Silva deciding to leave the band. To accommodate this, Peter Black took up full-time vocals with the group and Front End Loader/Regurgitator drummer Pete Kostic was brought into the line-up. This new trio released Very Exciting! in 2003, their first album for Chatterbox Records.

In 2005, the 21st anniversary of the band's first pub gig was celebrated by Australian and European tours as a four-piece, with Kostic drumming and de Silva on vocals. Although technically still a three-piece band, it is clear that Keish De Silva still shares a close relationship with his old band. Recordings were made in 2006 with contributions from all four band members (though primarily Black, Ahn and Kostic) with the intention of releasing a double album of material. This project was eventually released as two separate albums: the 'poppier' Most People Are a Waste of Time (2006) and the 'heavier' Most People Are Nicer Than Us (2007), with subsequent tours around Australia.

The band reportedly recorded U.S. comedian Neil Hamburger on guest lead vocals in January, 2008.

Musical Style

A 1987 BEAT Magazine article described the Hard-Ons' sound as "Motörhead meets the Beach Boys" ^[3]; a quote that goes some way towards describing the band's take on the punk rock genre. Though originally inspired by punk bands such as Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, Ramones and The Saints ^[4], the band also blended pop, psychedelia and metal elements; "death-pop" as once described by Ray Ahn. ^[5] The band were also noteworthy not only within punk but also within rock music for having their lead vocals handled by de Silva, the group's drummer. The physical challenge of drumming to the band's fast punk rock songs as well as singing (as opposed to shouting) made for charismatic live performances. Guitarist Black provided another original touch to the band with his distinctive guitar sound that is both melodic and messy, often making use of feedback.

Major recurring lyrical themes range from girls, love and relationships (e.g.: "I Do I Do I Do", "Just Being With You", "Girl in the Sweater") to toilet humour ("I Farted", "Oozin' for Pleasure") as well as other variations, particularly in the post-Keish line-up of the band, which includes albums that contain such songs as "Dance Parties Equal Dickhead Fest", "Making Money off Goths is easy" and "Poorest Kid on the Block".

Fan reaction

Although not as widely known as some classic punk and independent bands, the Hard-Ons have carved a niche in the world of punk rock and have assembled a cult following of fans worldwide. They are Australia's most successful independent band, with over 250,000 records sold worldwide and 17 consecutive #1 hits on the Australian alternative charts. Their popularity far outreaches Australia, with large cult followings in Spain and Greece. At one time there was a Hard Ons cover band in the UK known as Suck n Swallow. ^[6] Some of the band's most prominent fans include Jello Biafra, Henry Rollins and Dave Grohl. ^[7]

Band members

Keish De Silva - vocals, drums (1982-1993 / 1998-2001)
Peter "Blackie" Black - guitar, vocals (1982-1993 / 1998-Present)
Ray Ahn - bass guitar (1982-1993 / 1998-Present)
Pete Kostic - drums (2002 - present)

Discography

Albums

Smell My Finger (1986)
Hard-Ons (1987)
Hot For Your Love Baby (1987)
Worst Of... (1987)
Dickcheese (1988)
Love Is A Battlefield Of Wounded Hearts (1989)
Yummy! (1991)
Dateless Dudes Club (1992)
Too Far Gone (1993)
Your Choice Live Series (1995)
This Terrible Place... (2000)
Very Exciting! (2003)
Most People Are A Waste Of Time (2006)
Most People Are Nicer Than Us (2007)
(untitled album) (2009)

EPs

Surfin' On My Face (1985)
Surfin' On My Face (1988) (reissue)
No Cheese (1988) (Split 10" with The Stupids)
Dull (1991)
Where The Wild Things Are (1992) (split with Celibate Rifles)
Test (1994)
Yesterday & Today (1999)
Hard-Ons/Boom Boom Kid Split! (2002)
Hard-Ons With Neil Hamburger (2009)

Singles

Girl In The Sweater (1986)
By My Side"/"I'll Come Again (Livin' End Flexidisc)
All Set To Go (1987)
Busted" b/w "Suck 'n' Swallow (1987)
Just Being With You (1988)
Sick Of Being Sick (1989) (free giveaway)
Been Had Before (Demo) (Vinyl Solution Giveaway)
Where Did She Come From? (1990)
Dull (1991)
Let There Be Rock (1991) (with Henry Rollins)
Love Hurts (Munster Magazine Giveaway)
She's A Dish (1992)
Crazy Crazy Eyes (1993)
You Disappointed Me (1999) (Germany)
Shark's Head (1999) (Spain)
Sunny"/"Scared Of It All (Europe Promo)
There Goes One Of The Creeps That Hassled My Girlfriend (2005)

Compilations

Why March When You Can Riot?! (1985)
On The Waterfront - Volume Three (1986)
Vicious Vinyl (1987)
Fuck Or Fuck Off (1987)
The Not So Lucky Country (1988)
I Could'a Been A Contender (1988)
Hard To Beat: 21 Stooges Killers (1989)
Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation (1990)
Let's Make The Wiener Kid Sing His Song (1993)
A Decade of Rock (1994)
Singles (1994)
Rarities (1994)
The Best of (1999)
Suck 'n' Swallow : 25 Years, 25 Songs (2009)

DVDs

The Hard-Ons vs. Europe 2007 (2008)

References

^ Hard-Ons.net history by Murray Engleheart
^ Custom-Made Records artist page
^ NKVD Article from spring 1989
^ Bad Taste Records biography

External links

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 A 1987 BEAT Magazine article described the Hard-Ons' sound as "[[Motörhead]] meets the [[Beach Boys]]" {{ref|CustomMade}}; a quote that goes some way towards describing the band's take on the punk rock genre. Though originally inspired by punk bands such as [[Sex Pistols]], [[The Buzzcocks]], [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]], [[Ramones]] and [[The Saints (band)|The Saints]] {{ref|CustomMade}}, the band also blended pop, psychedelia and metal elements; "death-pop" as once described by Ray Ahn. {{ref|NKVD}} The band were also noteworthy not only within punk but also within rock music for having their lead vocals handled by de Silva, the group's drummer. The physical challenge of drumming to the band's fast punk rock songs as well as singing (as opposed to shouting) made for charismatic live performances. Guitarist Black provided another original touch to the band with his distinctive guitar sound that is both melodic and messy, often making use of [[Audio feedback|feedback]].
-Major recurring lyrical themes range from girls, love and relationships (e.g.: "I Do I Do I Do", "Just Being With You", "Girl in the Sweater") to [[toilet humour]] ("I Farted", "Oozin' for Pleasure") as well as other variations, particularly in the post-Keish line-up of the band.
+Major recurring lyrical themes range from girls, love and relationships (e.g.: "I Do I Do I Do", "Just Being With You", "Girl in the Sweater") to [[toilet humour]] ("I Farted", "Oozin' for Pleasure") as well as other variations, particularly in the post-Keish line-up of the band, which includes albums that contain such songs as "Dance Parties Equal Dickhead Fest", "Making Money off Goths is easy" and "Poorest Kid on the Block".
 ==Fan reaction==