While the notorious ‘Filth and the Fury’ reputation of punk rock has long since receded, it can be argued that its status as a community, indeed one that embodies all of the attributes that we like to think of when we use that word — support, acceptance, and a sense of responsibility — has never quite been appreciated by the general public.
Gingerfest may just change all of that. Some of Australia’s most renowned punk bands, including 28 Days, Bagster, Totally Unicorn, Born Lion, and more, have banded together to raise money for Vision Australia and to honour the memory of late Canberra punk scene mainstay Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber, known to friends as ‘The Ginger Ninja’.
Nicholas, who was tragically murdered last year, was a beloved stalwart of the local punk scene and news of his death resulted in an outpouring of grief and tributes from the very punk bands he held in such high esteem both at home and abroad. To commemorate the event, CLOWNS vocalist Stevie Williams has put together a list of the the greatest gingers in music.
Gingerfest happens on Saturday the 6th December at The Factory Theatre, Sydney, for tickets and info visit www.gingerfest.com.au
Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour)
Slipknot were the band that originally got me into heavy music. Yes I realise their music and stage show to this day can seem a bit lame, but I’ll probably always hold fond memories of being eight years old and watching Channel V endlessly, waiting for the scary masked men to come on the screen with all of their yelling and swear words.
There’s no denying that in their prime they were badass as fuck, and in my eyes they still are. They were something that world had yet to experience, and as an impressionable young mind at the time I fell in love with their music and theatrical stage shows. I remember the day i got Stone Sour’s first album from a Sanity in my local shopping mall which had a photo of Corey Taylor inside of it, and it was the first look I ever had at him without a mask or coloured hair. Realising that me and him share the same genetic mutation in the MC1R protein was a glorious experience.
Josh Homme (QOTSA)
And what a dude we have here. Josh Homme has it all! He’s a great song writer, incredible guitarist, great singer and charisma so thick you could cut it with a knife.
He’s done a great job over his career as being one of those red headed gentlemen who many of you normal hair coloured people will commonly say ‘wow, he’s so cool and good looking I forgot he was a ranga!’. Kudos Josh Homme.
Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Another 90’s nostalgia act that I grew up with, Garbage were a band that i’d commonly wake up at 5am to hopefully catch a video clip on Rage for. Their songs were catchy and poppy, yet still featured the distorted and low guitars that I craved in my youth.
She was also a total babe, which of course has nothing to do with her artistic integrity or songwriting abilities, but in a world where red headed people are commonly depicted as unattractive, it was great to see a smoking hot rock n roll babe proving to the world that there is exceptions to the rule.
James Tidswell (Violent Soho)
Enough with the childhood reminiscing, in walks James Tidswell. Violent Soho have been one of my favourite bands for the last five years, and I’m so pleased to see them kicking so many arses in Australia now after watching them through their overseas tours and epic hard yards over the years.
One time James rocked up to one of our shows at Crowbar in Brisbane and we hung out with our other good friend Mary-Jane around the corner for a few hours. He’s a bloody legend, and it’s sick to see him fully repping the red with those luscious long locks of hair and his late beard (RIP JT’s beard).
Animal (The Muppets)
The worlds greatest drummer? I think so. Human or not, Animal is possibly my favourite being in music who shares the multiple recessive gene on his chromosome 16. If The Muppets ever come to Australia in the future, I need everyone who is reading this to help get Clowns to open the show!!
Gingerfest 2014
Saturday December 6
Factory Theatre, Sydney
Tickets and info: www.gingerfest.com.au
Full line-up:
28 Days
The Snowdroppers
Clowns
Super Best Friends
Born Lion
Totally Unicorn
Anchors
The Decline
Chris Duke & The Royals
Bagster
Isaac Graham
Steel City All Stars
Lincoln Le Fevre (Acoustic)
Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ Mcdougall (Acoustic)
Hightime
Revellers
Punk Rock Hillbilly
Andy ‘The Mad Dog’ Mcdougall
Lost In Line (Acoustic)
