Pig City From The Saints to Savage Garden

From cult heroes the Saints and the Go-Betweens to national icons Powderfinger and international stars Savage Garden, Brisbane has produced more than its share of great bands. But behind the music lay a ghost city of malice and corruption. Persecuted by the Bjelke-Petersen government and its toughest enforcers – the police – Brisbane’ s musicians, radio announcers and political activists braved ignorance, harassment and often violence to be heard. Since its first publication in 2004, Pig City has become a much-loved cult classic, providing an enduring soundtrack and history lesson for a new generation of fans and musicians alike. This edition includes a special Pig City playlist.

Born in Melbourne in 1971, Andrew Stafford has worked as a freelance writer, university tutor and occasional environmental consultant. Because none of these things is especially lucrative, you may also find him behind the wheel of a cab. You can find Andrew online at www.andrewstaffordblog.com, or on Twitter as @staffo_sez.

Foreword vii Introduction 1 PINEAPPLES FROM THE DAWN OF TIME (1971– 1979) 1. A Million People Staying Low 9 Brisbane (Security City) 2. Guerrilla Radio 24 The difficult birth of 4ZZZ 3. The Most Primitive Band in the World 52 The Saints 4. The Striped Sunlight Sound 77 The Go-Betweens 5. Task Force versus the Brisbane Punks 94 Early punk on the Brisbane scene 6. Swept Away 113 The Riptides; the Apartments UPS AND DOWNS (1980– 1989) 7. Last of the Leather Age 127 The Fun Things; the 31st; the End; the Screaming Tribesmen 8. Everybody Moves 139 The bands leave home 9. Brisbane Blacks 154 Aboriginal rock 10. Too Much Acid 168 Sydney or the bush 11. SS Brigade 183 The eviction of 4ZZZ 12. Cyclone Hits Expo 204 The impact of the Livid Festival AFFIRMATION (1990– 2000) 13. Rock Against Work! 219 The Brisbane scene post-National Party 14. Spring Hill Fair 238 The Custard collective 15. Black Ticket Day 254 4ZZZ in the 1990s 16. The Human Jukebox 273 Regurgitator 17. New Suburban Fables 291 Powderfinger 18. Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World 307 Savage Garden Epilogue – No, Your Product 322 Notes 330 Playlist 340 Bibliography 350 Permissions 359 Acknowledgments 360 Index 362 Picture Section 371