Hard-Ons to celebrate 40 years

Australian punk royalty the Hard-Ons will be rolling into town this November to celebrate 40 years of rocking.

Fresh from a blockbuster European tour, the Punchbowl-founded band will bring its coming new album I Like You A Lot Getting Older to Geelong’s Barwon Club.

I Like You A Lot Getting Older will be the third album from the band’s present line-up of Peter “Blackie” Black, Murray Ruse, Ray Ahn and Tim Rogers.

It follows 2021’s ARIA top five-debuting I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and last year’s top 30-debuting Ripper ’23.

New single “Buzz Buzz Buzz” is the first taste of the new album.

Band member Blackie said excitement was high heading into the Geelong show and album tour.

“It’s definitely something you can’t help but feel good about but in most ways it’s really another day in the office.

“I totally don’t mean to be flippant, but I think bands on our level just really get off on making and being involved in music full stop.

“For me the fireworks go off when the next songs take shape. Having said that, we are super-excited about the new album. It’s very pop, very fun and has one of my best guitar solos I’ve ever recorded.”

Weaned on high energy rock’n’roll and the early punk and post-punk era, the Hard-Ons appeared on the Sydney scene in the 1980s.

With their youthful and unforgiving band name, transgressive and hilarious graphics and diverse ethnicity, the Hard-Ons found a common denominator of noise and energy and appealed to a young crowd who was open to anything.

The band scored 17 consecutive number ones on the Australian independent charts and in 1989 were the only Australian band still based in Australia to hit the top five in the NME charts.

During its original incarnation, the Hard-Ons shared the stage with the Ramones and Nirvana at Big Day Out and received plaudits from artists including Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), Malcolm Young (AC/DC) and American songwriter Jello Biafra.

“You never know what ya gonna get at a gig! We just set up and blast away! Love it, and we always give 110 per cent,” Blackie said.

“We have the best fans! We’ve played with some of the best bands. We’ve had records come out on the best labels. We are lucky as all heck.”

The Hard-On’s latest release for the 40th anniversary tour will also coincide with the release of a new feature length documentary on the band The Most Australian Band Ever.

The film will offer an insight into the band’s long existence, with extensive live footage and interviews and guest appearances from Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Ross Knight (Cosmic Psychos), Jerry A (Poison Idea) and Rob Younger (Radio Birdman).

“As far as the film, we haven’t seen it yet but he did make the amazing Radio Birdman doco Descent into the Maelstrom so I know we’re in good hands,” Blackie said.

The Hard-Ons play at the Barwon Club on November 4.

For more information, head to linktr.ee/thehardons