The Meanies

The Meanies
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres Alternative rock
Australian rock
Punk rock
Years active 1989–present
Labels Au Go Go Records
Associated acts Tomorrow People, The Bakelite Age, Skivvy Concorde, Sun God Replica, Seaweed Goorillas, Even, The Oxymorons
Website Official website
Members Link Meanie (Lindsay McLennan)
Ringo Meanie (Mark Hobbs)
Wally Meanie (Roderick Kempton)
Jaws Meanie (Jordan Stanley)
Past members Tasman "Tas" Blizzard
D.D. Meanie (Dennis DePianto)
VB Meanie (Dave Christopher)

The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock band, formed in 1988. The current band members include Link Meanie (Link McLennan), Ringo Meanie (Mark Hobbs) and Wally Meanie (Roderick Kempton). The Meanies had a hiatus in the mid-late 1990s, but began performing again in 1998. The band is known for its highly energetic performances, with vocalist Link being injured on stage on several occasions.[1][2]

Australian Rolling Stone said The Meanies songs, "will all be short, between two and three minutes every time. Each burst of savage punk/pop noise will also be a potential anthem; an unclean riff with a beating heart of pure melody."[2]

They have been cited as influential for bands including Frenzal Rhomb.[3]

History

In the 1990s, the Meanies performed primarily in Melbourne, and toured in Australia, Japan and Europe with acts including Nirvana, The Lemonheads, Pop Will Eat Itself, Redd Kross, Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Bad Brains. They played at the Australian Big Day Out festival in 1992, 1993 and 1994.[2][4][5]

In 2006, they released a DVD entitled The Meanies: A Seminal Australian Punk Tale,[5] which features a documentary, Sorry 'bout the Violence, 11 video clips and a live concert filmed in 1994. The band toured the east coast of Australia in support of it in August–September 2006.

In 2008, the Meanies performed to promote the release of a series of 7” singles featuring previously unreleased tracks and cover versions of Meanies tracks performed by bands such as Cockfight Shootout, Digger and the Pussycats, The Drones, Dan Kelly and You Am I.[6]

On February 14, 2008, original member Dennis DePianto, better known as D.D. Meanie, died at St. Vincents Hospital in Melbourne. He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child, and towards the end of his life he also suffered a short battle with cancer. He was in The Meanies from their inception until 1995.[7]

Guitarist Tas Blizzard died on August 1, 2008, as a result of a car accident.[8] His blue Ford station wagon went out of control as he was driving along the Bellarine Peninsula (located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia) in wet conditions around 3pm Friday. The car spun into a dam alongside the road and was almost completely submerged. Blizzard was the only person in the car.

Discography

Singles

EPs

Albums

Videos

Compilations

Compilations that The Meanies have appeared on.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Meanies @ the Espy, Melbourne". FasterLouder.com.au, Retrieved on 9 August 2009
  2. 1 2 3 Chris Johnston. "100% Danger". Australian Rolling Stone. Sydney, NSW: Tilmond Pty Ltd (August 1994): pg23.
  3. ↑ 23 May 2003, Patrick Donovan. "Atomic Rhomb". Retrieved on 9 August 2009
  4. ↑ McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2.
  5. 1 2 Beat Magazine 9 Aug 2006 The Meanies by Patrick Emery
  6. ↑ Patrick Emery, 9 January 2008. "Beat article 9/1/08". themeanies.net, Retrieved on 9 August 2009
  7. ↑ Faster Louder R.I.P. DD Meanie
  8. ↑ The Geelong Advertiser Geelong show to become a tribute to dead The Meanies guitarist Tasman Blizzard
  9. 1 2 "The Meanies Discography". Discogs, Retrieved on 9 August 2009
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