Cosmic Psychos
Encyclopedia
The Cosmic Psychos are a punk rock band based in Melbourne
and rural Victoria
in Australia
. An underground band that has only ever achieved limited recognition.
public radio station 3PBS.
The Cosmic Psychos had a huge influence on the Seattle Sound during the 1990s, and were seen as some of the pioneers of grunge
.
Known for their hard drinking behaviour and vulgar lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos are one of the defining bands of the yob rock genre, a movement that celebrates the Australian male lifestyle; other bands include The Onyas, The Vee Bees and ThundaBox.
Their fans include Buzz Osbourne from the Melvins, Donita Sparks
from L7
, Lindsay McDougall
from Frenzal Rhomb
and Kurt Cobain
from Seattle band Nirvana
and Stanners. Pearl Jam
singer Eddie Vedder
recognized the Cosmic Psychos at a 2009 Melbourne solo show as an early influence on him and his band.
for the American market for their 1991 album, Blokes You Can Trust. Production duties were handled by the then little-known producer, Butch Vig
, fresh from completing Nirvana
's Nevermind
. "Blokes You Can Trust" introduced a song that became an enduring fan favourite, "Dead Roo", which shed light on some Australian highway hazards.The band went on to release Self Totalled and Oh What a Lovely Pie.
In 2006, after a lengthy quiet period, the Psychos issued Off Ya Cruet on Sydney's Timberyard Records
. Notable for being recorded with a new drummer, in Dean Muller, the opening track on the album is Kill Bill, presumably a bitter song for ex-drummer, Bill Walsh
.
The band was also covered by UK band The Prodigy
who released a version of L7
's tune, "Fuel My Fire", which itself was largely based on a the Cosmic Psychos' tune "Lost Cause".
In 2007 the band released "Dung Australia". Ross Knight, Dean Muller and Robbie Watts cover (70s Australian band) Buffalo's song "Skirtlifter". The album introduced new guitarist John "Mad Macka" McKeering (The Onyas) and saw the band drop Timberyard Records. July 2007 saw the release on the European label Pitshark Records of the "Off Ya Cruet!" CD album, in a different digipak cover. On December 13, 2008, the same Pitshark label released "Dung Australia" on CD, again in a different digipak cover, and with a bonus unreleased song called "Anarchy In Boondall".
2011 : Glorius Barsteds on CD (Missing Link rds) + a bonus "Best Of" CD...
2011 : Glorius Barsteds on Vinyl LP (PITSHARK Records) + a bonus CD : DUNG "Who Flung" !!!
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and rural Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. An underground band that has only ever achieved limited recognition.
Description
Known for their droning, fuzzed-out bass and wah-wah guitar with repetitive lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos have a simple sound that works well in context and remained largely untouched since they formed in 1982 when they evolved from the short lived Spring Plains and first achieved notoriety for their demo 'Custom Credit' which received enormous airplay on MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
public radio station 3PBS.
The Cosmic Psychos had a huge influence on the Seattle Sound during the 1990s, and were seen as some of the pioneers of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
.
Known for their hard drinking behaviour and vulgar lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos are one of the defining bands of the yob rock genre, a movement that celebrates the Australian male lifestyle; other bands include The Onyas, The Vee Bees and ThundaBox.
Their fans include Buzz Osbourne from the Melvins, Donita Sparks
Donita Sparks
Donita Sparks is a vocalist, guitarist and song-writer in Los Angeles, California. In addition to performing with her most recent band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments, she is also the co-founder, along with Suzi Gardner, of grunge band L7...
from L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
, 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 :...
from 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...
and Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
from Seattle band 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...
and Stanners. 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...
singer Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
recognized the Cosmic Psychos at a 2009 Melbourne solo show as an early influence on him and his band.
History
"Custom Credit" was later released on the Down On The Farm mini LP for Mr Spaceman Records, the label which also released the band's debut LP. They later moved to Survival Records releasing Go The Hack which was later licensed to Sub Pop Records. They eventually signed to Amphetamine Reptile RecordsAmphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
for the American market for their 1991 album, Blokes You Can Trust. Production duties were handled by the then little-known producer, Butch Vig
Butch Vig
Butch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
, fresh from completing 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...
's Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
. "Blokes You Can Trust" introduced a song that became an enduring fan favourite, "Dead Roo", which shed light on some Australian highway hazards.The band went on to release Self Totalled and Oh What a Lovely Pie.
In 2006, after a lengthy quiet period, the Psychos issued Off Ya Cruet on Sydney's Timberyard Records
Timberyard Records
Timberyard Records was a pioneering record label in the Australian independent music movement of the 1980s. Initially releasing prominent underground Sydney acts such as Box the Jesuit, The Dubrovniks, Girl Monstar, Johnny Teen and the Broken Hearts and the Zen Genies plus an early EP of You Am I,...
. Notable for being recorded with a new drummer, in Dean Muller, the opening track on the album is Kill Bill, presumably a bitter song for ex-drummer, Bill Walsh
Cherry Bar
The Cherry Bar is a Melbourne city bar founded in 2000 by former Cosmic Psychos drummer Bill Walsh. Appropriately located on ACDC Lane , the bar threw out existing artists studios in the building to make a rock music venue and has become a popular concert after-party venue for touring bands and...
.
The band was also covered by UK band The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
who released a version of L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
's tune, "Fuel My Fire", which itself was largely based on a the Cosmic Psychos' tune "Lost Cause".
In 2007 the band released "Dung Australia". Ross Knight, Dean Muller and Robbie Watts cover (70s Australian band) Buffalo's song "Skirtlifter". The album introduced new guitarist John "Mad Macka" McKeering (The Onyas) and saw the band drop Timberyard Records. July 2007 saw the release on the European label Pitshark Records of the "Off Ya Cruet!" CD album, in a different digipak cover. On December 13, 2008, the same Pitshark label released "Dung Australia" on CD, again in a different digipak cover, and with a bonus unreleased song called "Anarchy In Boondall".
2011 : Glorius Barsteds on CD (Missing Link rds) + a bonus "Best Of" CD...
2011 : Glorius Barsteds on Vinyl LP (PITSHARK Records) + a bonus CD : DUNG "Who Flung" !!!
Robbie "Rocket" Watts
Robbie Watts joined the band in 1990 as a replacement for guitarist Peter "Dirty" Jones. Watts' first album with the group was "Blokes You Can Trust". He remained the band's sole guitarist until his death on 1 July 2006, following a show in Bendigo.Discography
- Down On The Farm (1985)
- Cosmic Psychos (1987)
- Go The Hack (1989)
- Slave To The Crave: Live At The Palace, Melbourne (1990)
- Blokes You Can Trust (1991)
- Down On The Farm & Cosmic Psychos (1991)
- Palomino Pizza (1993)
- Self Totalled (1995)
- Oh What A Lovely Pie (1997)
- 15 Years, A Million Beers (2001)
- Off Ya Cruet! (2006)
- Dung Australia (2007)
- Glorius Barsteds (2011)