Machine Gun Fellatio (also known by the censored initialism MGF) are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1997. They are well known for their provocative on-stage antics and humorous lyrics, as well as the musical merit of their songs. Their outrage-provoking name (coined by an early associate of the band who devised the term from a philosophy exercise) gives some idea of the attitude that pervades the band's work. They released three studio albums, three EPs and three singles before breaking up in 2005.[1] In 2024, however, they reformed.
Machine Gun Fellatio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock, experimental |
| Years active | 1997–2005, 2024 |
| Members | Bryan Ferrysexual Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab KK Juggy LoveShark Pinky Beecroft The Widow Jones 3k Short |
| Past members | Feyonce |
History
edit1997–1999: Formation and Love Comes to an End
editMachine Gun Fellatio were formed when members of two Sydney bands, Vrag and Limebunny, combined in 1997.[2] The bands had previously collaborated on projects and had released a compilation record, Unsound Sounds,[3] which included a track by Vrag, "Isaac or Fuzz". "Isaac or Fuzz" consists of parts of a voice message left on a record company answering machine asking for the name of the song that goes "Da da da da...." (the song consists mostly humming of the tune "Reach Up" by the Paul Oakenfold-related project Perfecto Allstarz) put to a fast dance beat.[1] In an interview Glenn Dormand (aka Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) explained "We got a wrong number on our answering machine. We rang the number back. It was a local Pizza Hut. Basically, they said 'Isaac hasn't been here for a long time, and Fuzz isn't reliable either'."[4] The song received significant airplay on national youth broadcaster Triple J.[2][4][5] To capitalise on the success of the song they consolidated the band lineup, with Dave Arroyo and Glenn Dormand (Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) on vocals and keyboards, Warrick Leggo (LoveShark) on guitar and Ross Johnston (3kShort) on bass, guitar and keyboards, and released their debut EP Love Comes to an End.[2]
There were reportedly less than 500 copies of Love Comes to an End in existence, Matt Ford, (Pinky Beecroft) once stated in an interview they dumped boxes of their first EP in a skip when they realized they would never sell them.[citation needed] This EP is also referred to as Isaac or Fuzz, after their record label stuck stickers proclaiming that it contained the single "Isaac Or Fuzz" to try to increase sales by capitalising on the air play of the song on Triple J.
Ford later joined the band as singer, keyboardist, after leaving Limebunny and turning down an offer to join the band The Whitlams, with whom he helped write their hit song, "No Aphrodisiac", together with Dormand. The band was also joined by Christa Hughes (KK Juggy – the Ks standing for "knickers" and "knockers"), Glenn Abbott (Bryan Ferrysexual) on drums and Maree Bonner (The Widow Jones) on vocals and keyboards completing the band's line-up.[1]
2000–2005: Bring It On!, Paging Mr. Strike and On Ice
editTheir first release under this arrangement was the song "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle". The lyrics were based on something sung by a party guest at one of the member's homes.
In September 2000, they released their debut studio album, Bring It On, on Mushroom Records.[1]
In 2002, they performed live at the Big Day Out festivals, Homebake, Livid, the Woodford Folk Festival and Gone South.[citation needed]
Their second album Paging Mr. Strike was released in 2002, containing the band's most popular single, "Rollercoaster", which displayed more radio-friendly lyrics and was used in a commercial for Just Jeans.[1] In 2003 the album was followed by a two-disc edition titled 2nd Page for Mr. Strike, which contained a second disc of remixes and rare tracks.[citation needed]
The group caused some controversy for their wild live performances which often involved both male and female nudity, light bondage gear and implied sexual intercourse with their instruments.[citation needed] After a Student Union organised performance at the University of Melbourne, fellow Victorian universities RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology cancelled their scheduled performances because of the band's lewd behaviour at Melbourne University. This did not stop other Australian universities in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania allowing the band to perform on their campuses and did not stop Melbourne University hiring the band again the following year.[1]
The Widow Jones left the group in 2004 and was replaced by Connie Mitchell (Feyonce), who later became known as the lead singer of Sneaky Sound System. Pinky Beecroft moved to Melbourne to get away from the band and to deal with drug-related health problems.[1] The band's last album, On Ice, was released the same year and was met with a relatively muted response and the band decided to break up the following year.[6] Issues listed as contributing to the break up include burn out, excessive drug use and creative differences.[7]
2005–present: After the Split
editSince the split, various band members have since moved on to other projects:
- Pinky Beecroft formed Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, whose name was later shortened to just The White Russians.[citation needed]
- 3kShort tours with White Knuckle Fever a duet he formed with Celia Curtis of Circus Bizarre and performs with Vashti Hughes in her show Mum's In.
- LoveShark formed the Outer Space Cowboys with 3kShort and played gigs around Sydney.[citation needed]
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab became a TV Presenter on Foxtel and now works as a film director on the Stories of Our Town project
- KK Juggy has created and starred in several of her own cabaret shows[8][9][10][11] as well as appearing in other musical theatre productions, film and TV.[12][13] For two years, she was singer and ring mistress for the highly regarded circus troupe Circus Oz.[14] She went on to release an album of jazz and blues classics with her father Dick Hughes, which toured Australia.[15] She released an album of music with her band the Honky Tonk Shonks and has more recently been seen with her blues psychedelic thrash trio, The Loud Hailers.[16]
- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott) had another band The Bryan Ferrysexual Experience which broke up shortly after MGF did. He later formed Super Massive with singer-writer Malina Hamilton-Smith.[17]
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell) has since gone on to be one of the lead singers of the Sydney-based band Sneaky Sound System.
On 7 August 2024, it was announced that the band were to reform as one of four support acts for TISM's Death to Art Tour, alongside The Mavis's, Ben Lee and Eskimo Joe. On 11 October, the reformed MGF performed a secret warmup show at the King Street Hotel in Newcastle, which was also the band's first show in 19 years. Dormand posted to social media on 20 October that the band would not be playing further shows after the TISM tour.[18]
Members
edit- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott)—drums
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab (Glenn Dormand)—keyboard and vocals
- KK Juggy (Christa Hughes)—vocals
- LoveShark (Warrick Leggo)—guitar
- Pinky Beecroft (Matt Ford)—vocals and keyboards
- 3kShort (Ross Johnston)—bass, guitar and keyboard
- The Widow Jones (Maree Bonner)—vocals and keyboard (left in 2004)
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell)—vocals (2004–2005)
- Jack Hammer (Guy Fleming)—vocals and keyboard (1997)
- Chris Fegan—guitar (1997)
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [19] | |||
| Bring It On! | 78 | ||
| Paging Mr. Strike |
|
6 | |
| On Ice |
|
36 |
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Unsound Sounds |
|
| The Essential Hits |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [19] | ||
| Love Comes to an End |
|
— |
| Impossible Love |
|
78 |
| For the Ladies |
|
31 |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [19] |
Triple J Hottest 100 | |||
| "Isaac or Fuzz" | 1997 | —[A] | — | Love Comes to an End |
| "Impossible Dream" | 2000 | — | 16 | Bring It On! |
| "Unsent Letter" | — | 16 | ||
| "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle" | — | 67 | ||
| "Summer" | 2001 | — | — | |
| "The Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)" | 2002 | 31 | — | Paging Mr Strike |
| "Rollercoaster" | 2003 | 38 | 6 | |
| "Pussytown" | — | 8 | ||
| "Take It Slow" | — | 59 | ||
| "You've Ruined All My Favourite Songs" | 2004 | 76 | — | On Ice |
| "What the Fuck?" | — | 34 | ||
Notes
- ^ "Isaac or Fuzz" was a radio only single and ineligible to chart in 1997
Awards and nominations
editARIA Music Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | Nominated | [21] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Jody Macgregor. Machine Gun Fellatio at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ a b c "Machine Gun Fellatio". Oz Music Project. Archived from the original on 6 August 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Machine Gun Fellatio / Libertines / limebunny - Unsound Sounds (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- ^ a b Elizer, Christie. "Strange Connection". In Music & Media. Archived from the original on 6 December 1999. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "1997 Playlist". Triple J. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Christa Hughes - A Biography". christahughes.net. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- ^ "Classic Album: Machine Gun Fellatio – Paging Mr. Strike". Double J. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Tuneful send-up at Fringe". The Age. 18 October 2002. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Innes, Matt (16 November 2018). "Christa Hughes Is A Beer Drinking Woman At Wonderland Festival". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Iccarino, Clara (2 October 2008). "Christa Hughes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Ross, Annabel (6 March 2013). "In praise of mad, wonderful women". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Low, Lenny Ann (11 August 2022). "Legendary Sydney 'mermaid' resurfaces in all her glory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Temple, Julien, The Eternity Man (Drama), Grant Doyle, Christa Hughes, Lara Mulcahy, Goalpost Pictures, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), retrieved 30 September 2024
- ^ "Christa Hughes". Q A. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Russo, Nicole. "Dick and Christa Hughes – 21st Century Blues". www.thebarefootreview.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Those Hollywood Nights are winding down". www.i94bar.com. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Song You Need to Know: Super Massive, 'I Like It'". Rolling Stone Australia. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DBUkixHzL4L/
- ^ a b c Peaks in Australia:
- All except noted: "Discography Machine Gun Fellatio". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Peaks from 51–100: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 173.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Albums". ARIA. 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2002: 16th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.