One of Australia’s most loved and influential bands, the Hard-Ons are this year celebrating 40 years of punk rocking in public. In doing so they will embark on 40th anniversary tours of both Australia and Europe, along with the release of new music, starting with the fast-out-the-gate new single “Buzz Buzz Buzz”. They are also the subject of a new feature length documentary film, The Most Australian Band Ever, which will premiere October 16 at Sydney’s SXSW festival.
“Buzz Buzz Buzz”, out today on Cheersquad Records & Tapes, is the first taste of the current Hard-Ons line-up’s yet to be announced third album, and a great, razor-sharp pop song driven by intense energy and power. It’s a Tim Rogers/Peter Black co-write (about which Blackie sez, “Our best collaboration so far. When Tim said ‘I wanna get a little left of center with the melody on this,’ I was BLOWN away (but not surprised 🙂)“) and it’s a promise of great things to come. Blackie, Ray, Murray and perpetual newbie Tim have covered a lot of bases on their two albums to date (2021’s ARIA top 5 debuting I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and last year’s the Top 30 debuting Ripper ’23), but the suggestion this time is the album is heavy on the pop. The sort of pop that can cause hearing problems that is – the Hard-Ons wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Most Australian Band Ever is directed by Jonathan J. Sequeira for production companies Living Eyes and Play Vintage – the man and the production house that made the acclaimed 2017 Radio Birdman documentary Descent Into The Maelstrom (and it’s worth mentioning the Hard-Ons just opened for Birdman on the three sold out Sydney shows that closed out their Birdman 5-0 tour). The film is set to premiere October 17 at SXSW in Sydney with a screening and Q&A at the Dendy Newtown. Perfectly timed with the anniversary, The Most Australian Band Ever offers insight into the band’s long existence, with plenty of live footage and interviews and guest appearances from Dave Faulkner (The Victims, Hoodoo Gurus), Ross Knight (Cosmic Psychos), Jerry A (Poison Idea), Steven Hanford aka Thee Slayer Hippy (Poison Idea) and Rob Younger (Radio Birdman). The film has a particular focus on the Hard-Ons‘ early days, the obstacles – some self-inflicted – which they’ve had to overcome, and the legacy they’ve built.
he Hard-Ons’ 40th Anniversary Australian Tour Oct – Nov 2024
Friday October 18th – Soapbox, Brisbane
Thursday October 24th – Sussex Inlet Tavern, Sussex Inlet
Friday October 25th – La La La’s, Wollongong
Saturday October 26th – Paddo RSL, Sydney
Sunday October 27th – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
Thursday October 31st – Altar, Hobart
Friday November 1st – The Tote, Melbourne
Saturday November 2nd – Singing Bird Studios, Frankston
Sunday November 3rd – Red Hill Hotel, Castlemaine
Monday November 4th – Barwon Club, Geelong
Thursday November 7th – Amplifier, Perth
Friday November 8th – Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough
Saturday November 9th – Froth & Fury, Adelaide
Tickets on sale now and available from https://linktr.ee/thehardons
