Sticky Fingers have unveiled a brand new single and it’s an attack on Sydney’s controversial lockout laws, which have devastated the city’s nightlife economy, particularly in areas like the once bustling Kings Cross.
The track is a cover of The Specials’ classic 1981 tune ‘Ghost Town’, which dealt with the rising unemployment and inner-city violence that was permeating London at the time and which you may remember from its inclusion in Shaun of the Dead.
“A few months ago, me and the lads were listening to The Specials version of the song and then we all just started laughing because the lyrics are so poignant to how Sydney is feeling right now,” bassist Paddy Cornwall told triple j.
“‘This town is turning into a ghost town/all the clubs are closing down’. Lockout laws and the general attitude towards culture and live music in this city, and I guess all of Australia,” Cornwall continued.
The band have reportedly filmed their own version of the ‘Ghost Town’ music video, which is set to drop sometime this week. The clip sees the band cruising around Sydney “in a pretty sweet car”, much like the original clip.
“It’s more or less a total rip-off [but] our spin on it obviously. It was one to cross off the list to do [a clip] that involved a cool car, which is our friend Jamie’s gold Mercedes and we’re all looking pretty schmick,” said Cornwall.
Addressing Sydney’s lockout laws, Cornwall said the legislation does little to curb alcohol-related violence. “We kind of feel like the whole issue hasn’t really been addressed: that Australia has an aggressive drinking culture,” he said.
“I guess it’s an educational thing and it’s an awareness thing and that’s going to take time, things like that don’t just change overnight.”
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“You can’t just shut down a city and expect everyone’s going to go home to bed and that nothing bad is ever going to happen again.”
“It doesn’t really work like that… It’s going to be up to new mums and dads to try and teach their kids how to drink [responsibly].” The band’s new single is a reaction to “what we see as an issue that’s ongoing in the best way that we know how, which is put out a beautiful song”.
“None of us are politicians and we haven’t got political answers for what’s happening but by the same token we’re in a position where we’re able to help the conversation keep going and give people the tune while we’ve got an album coming out as well.”
