Riv on the Record: Stu Mackenzie (frontman of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard)

THIS week I had the great pleasure of being joined by mega-superstar musician Stu Mackenzie from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Spin it!

You are a Surf Coast boy, hailing from Anglesea. Where did it all start for you and what’s good about where we live?

I feel pretty blessed to have grown up in Anglesea, especially looking back now as a dad. It’s just so beautiful.

I spent a lot of time there in the bush and at the beach, and I played football a bit down there for the Anglesea FNC.

I did a pretty decent ACL injury playing in the ruck when I was about 17 and at that time I was getting into guitar and was playing in a few bands.

I spent a few months in a moonboot and there was nothing to do other than really play guitar. I sat on a chair and my mates did what I was used to doing.

It was this pivotal moment in my life where I was forced to make a bit of a jump. I’m grateful I did because I started to gain confidence and get into it in a big way.

 

Was there a gig or moment in particular which made you really get into music?

My parents were really awesome and took my brother and I to a lot of folk festivals and other things.

We went to Falls Festival when we were kids, and to Port Fairy and Apollo Bay.

We’d occasionally head up to Geelong, but it was mostly the festivals we’d see bands through.

I supposed when I started to get into music of my own, I’d ask them to take me to the Barwon Club or the Nash.

Soon after we were playing gigs there and we’d just do as many as we could.

 

When did King Gizzard come along and what was the origin story there?

I went to high school with Cookie, and then I played in a band with Lucas too. Ambrose is from Ocean Grove and he played in a band with Lucas, so we had this whole scene together so when we all turned 18 we moved to Melbourne.

I met Joey and Eric in Melbourne, and then along came Cavs who was a great drummer.

A couple of years went by and King Gizz formed in this super casual house party way. We’d be the band that would spontaneously form and we didn’t really have many songs.

We’d improvise and jam in different formats and it formed in this super organic way.

Eventually we thought we should make something of this vibe, and luckily the recordings we made started to get a few plays on the community radio and we got enough feedback to keep it going.

Suddenly we were on tour in the United States and Europe, and we’ve not gotten off that hamster wheel since.

Did you ever think it would turn into what it has become?

Definitely not, and if we did, it would have been different.

I think we’ve kept it together because we’ve been protective of that spirit.

We don’t work with producers and when we record we are just in a room with a few microphones and we just fool around. We have a nice time with each other and we love the company.

We’ve done everything on our terms and we’ve been happy to fail when we fail. To everyone’s surprise we are still doing our thing.

It’s super explorative and why wouldn’t it be. It’s the most fun thing to do.

 

Connect us back to Anglesea and your love for the area. You wore the jumper on stage in Paris at your recent gig; take us through that.

Jamie, my uncle, who used to be president of the club, came to the gig with my folks and he had a little gift for me. I pulled out the jumper and was stoked.

The lead conductor of the orchestra and I that night had them on. Jamie was so chuffed.

We are sponsoring the women’s team now thanks to Jamie and we just love it. I would have spent more time at the club if it felt the way it does now. It’s more inclusive and everyone should feel that way. I’m so proud to be involved.

If you’re going to curate a festival like Gizzfest again, who are the three local bands you’d get on the bill?

We need to get Jamie on the tools for this one again.

I’d think of all the mates I’d play with when I was growing up! We played a lot of shows with The Frowning Clouds, Orb, Lea Senior, Bananagun and more.

It was like a pretty epic scene when we were coming through.

What’s next for Stu Mackenzie?

I’m looking forward to spending some more time in the studio this year.

We don’t really have a lot of shows coming up which is like the first time we’ve slowed down since the pandemic.

Aside from US tour and a few Aussie shows throughout the year it’ll be low key. Maybe a show at the Anglesea Football Netball Club?

RAPID RIV:

I’m coming over for dinner, what are you cooking? Vego curry, your choice of Indian or Thai.

Favourite Movie? Fantastic Planet

Pump up song in the morning? Any thrash metal – Exodus, early Metallica.

Favourite spot for a coffee on the coast? Le Comptoir in Aireys Inlet