CLINTON ROONEY
THIS BEAST HAS JUST RELEASED A PASSIONATE 240 PAGE BOOK ABOUT ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST ROCK 'N' ROLL BANDS - POWDER MONKEYS.
It may well be that time wounds all heels, but just when the world seems ugly, everything turns to hate, and you feel you’ve gotta push the world away, somebody gets ahead of the breakdown coming refuses to rest in the doldrums and with a large helping of blood, sweat & beers releases a book to crank me up. It’s gonna be hard to stay straight until morning.
Clinton Rooney is the supernova that never quits. A man that wasn't born yesterday, talks softly and carries a big shtick. After another nite in hell and in valediction to his 2000 sins he decided to play that insane old game by making an atomic resolution. The nature of the offence is a three-volume archive of one of the greatest bands to walk the globe. In his fit of the persecution blues, all bruised, battered & bloodshot, he’s managed to put together a beast with not two but three backs.
We were in ten minds, but as the first of the three weighty instalments hit the shelves we decided to send someone who ain't no stranger to dirt. Lady Muck herself, Norma Dunstan, caught up with Mr Rooney to discuss the yin yang of the project…
It's a love letter to all things Powder Monkeys. It’s clearly a massive undertaking. What prompted you to do this in the first place and why the lack of editorial?
It's a love letter to all things Powder Monkeys, indeed. The lack of editorial was intentional. This project was done entirely out of love for the Powder Monkeys, our deep friendships, and as a tribute to the families and close friends. I was inspired by Maree Robertson's amazing 'Bored: This is Geelong' book, which set the bar real high, and my childhood obsession with 'The Sex Pistols File.' These influences encouraged me to present the story as raw and authentic as possible, letting the chronological arrangement, starting in late 1991, speak for itself.
It's a massive undertaking, but one driven by a genuine passion to preserve the band's legacy. Hemo was our first choice to narrate the Powder Monkeys' tale. After many conversations with Loretta Hemensley, we envisioned the following people to bring the story to life: TJ Ray, ‘Dog Meat’ David Laing, John Harley, Murray Engleheart, Mark Walsh, Richard Stanley, Patrick Emery and Marty Bolton. Sadly, we also thought Patrick Emery would have been an excellent choice. Ultimately, I hope these books inspire a writer to step forward. When they do, I’ll say, 'Here, have this; it will guide you, along with all the other stuff like the recorded interviews and journals that didn’t go into the books.'
How long did the book take to finish?
12 months and counting, because new stuff comes up every week. I would come home from working a straight 9 to 5 job and be keen as to get stuck into the book, get told off and forget I had real life shit to deal with. I would play with the kids, watch something with my wife, and then roll up my sleeves and “get into the scrapbooking”, as my family would say. I would have moments where I would get lost in the detail and then ‘bam’ it would hit me. I would get upset at the whole tragedy of losing my friends. Thankfully, more often I would be smiling at the success they achieved or laughing my arse off because the three of them in the band were the funniest cats you could meet.
When did your friendship with John Nolan start?
John and I bonded and remained friends until his passing; I spoke at his funeral and truly loved him. Besides my family, John was the person I talked to the most. While some people have Robbie Williams and Madonna etc as their heroes, my heroes were in Australian bands. This friendship started around 1991/92: I was a collector scum and couldn't believe that John Nolan, so easily approachable, worked at Greville Records. Every time I visited Melbourne; I'd bring along my homemade cookies and deliver the 'holy sacrament' to John. I loved John’s passion for underground comics, I loved Johns’ passion for film. John introduced me to amazing, off-the-wall films, educating me on characters such as Jesco White, the petrol-sniffing, mountain dancer from Boone County, West Virginia.
He loved Black exploitation films like ‘Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song’. We watched ‘The Decline of Western Civilization: Part 1’, ‘Hated: GG Allin & the Murder Junkies’, all that. Meeting my heroes turned out to be an amazing experience.
When did you first hear Powder Monkeys? Did you think they stacked up against Bored!?
I first heard about the Powder Monkeys from John and first heard them when the 'Ying Yang' single came out at Mark Walsh’s first shop [You Beaut] that he opened. I recall seeing the poster in the front window, and then the news would travel back here from people who had caught their shows. Bored! only toured down to Tassie once, but what a show it was! The 'Take it Out On You' lineup in Hobart, 1989, just prior to their Euro tour with Dave T, Buzz, Hemo, and Nolan, changed everything for me. It was alright to love the Sex Pistols as well as Rose Tattoo, Metallica (they played 'Seek & Destroy' at soundcheck), Black Flag, AC/DC, and Slayer. At the time I was into pre-Celtic Frost era Hellhammer. This mix created a new Australian sound that opened the doors for many new bands, especially out of Geelong—seriously, buy Maree’s ‘Bored! This Is Geelong’ book if you haven’t already.
The Powder Monkeys, I think John sums it up pretty well. They had a deep respect for the great Aussie tradition of Hard Rock—from the Easybeats through to Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs live at Sunbury, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo—all that stuff. There was an Australian tradition where bands played in pubs; people in the suburbs worked all week, came out on the weekend, and you had to put up or shut up—there was no room for fancy-pants stuff. That’s what gave Australian Pub Rock its real tough edge. But at the same time, they grew up listening to West Coast Hardcore Punk, so they had to incorporate both elements. Powder Monkeys were the greatest live band I have ever seen.
Tell us about the suitcase that John left for you? What was inside? What made it into the book?
I talked Tony Neil from Fridge into coming along with me to Melbourne as Mudhoney was playing down your way in Torquay, and again with the Cosmic Psychos at Cherry Fest. That journey was a wild ride that ended with me sharing a hotel room with our great friend Mad Macka at a hotel opposite the airport. We could write a book on that trip alone!
But the main reason for the trip was to collect three extra-large suitcases of John's music-related history. I am so grateful to the Nolan family, especially David, who put it all together. It took me a good three months to sort it all out, and thankfully it's all together and filed away. I don't consider that I own it—I am just the gatekeeper, making sure it goes to the right people.
Inside was everything from signed Devil Dogs, Nomads posters, Dead Moon signed drum skins, artwork by Spencer P Jones, tons of emails, letters, journals, Chrissie’s amazing artwork, ‘Pure Shit’ movie poster and of course all his bands that he played in news clippings and photos.
Any tapes or recordings in the suitcase that might see the light of day?
Bloody oath! I will share a picture of the tapes here that we have been going through, as part of a promise to the band. John always mentioned to me that ‘Dog Meat’ Dave Laing would get first choice on all releases if interested, and I am happy to say we have been in contact most weeks. We have sent off some DAT tapes for a double live album of 'Blood, Sweat, and Beers' to be released, including around 8 additional tracks from the same gig that have never been released before. Amazing photos from their show at The Espy before their Euro tour, with the bouncers wanting to kill Tim—you can see the tension in the pictures.
Then Dave will release all the albums with bonus material from John’s collection, or out of his own collection. He has also unearthed some forgotten gems. We've been discovering some great stuff, from early practice room recordings to the first two shows at the GB and the Euro tour of '99. There are also two different tapes from the GB in 1993 when they had the studio upstairs—sounds pretty wild!
How often did they tour Tassie?
Yes, they toured Tassie five times, from 1994 to their last tour here in 1998, mainly because of the great man Mark Walsh. I was always happy to help out. They chose to stay at my place instead of fancy hotels on all their tours and would always play at the Trades Hotel in Launceston. That one with Mustang and the Onyas was the greatest. Anyone who was there would attest to the life-changing experience.
Also, the Powder Monkeys played at the Basin Concert one year—I think it was 1995—along with other great Tassie bands like Fridge and Dreadnaught. Just beautiful times.
How often did you go to the ‘mainland’ to see them?
Back then, airplane tickets were not cheap for me, which is why I got involved in their touring here—it was cheaper to get them down to Tassie. I saw them more often in Melbourne in their own homes etc just hanging out watching videos at John's/Chrissie's flat or at practice rooms. The Club in Collingwood was a ripper show, I recall, with an early version of Sean Greenway's Yes-Men, featuring Jimmy Sanchez, Richard Stanley, and Hemo on drums."
You’re Tassie born and bred. Were you ever tempted to move to Melbourne after getting a sniff of this dirty Rock‘n’Roll bug?
I’m still tempted! But now I have cheaper flights and the comfort of home only an hour away. It takes me just 5 minutes to get to work here, and that’s hard to beat.
Now that you’ve become Powder Monkeys official historian have you been regaled with any stories you hadn't yet heard?
All the time! Just last week, Paul from LiveWire RRR told me about a night he saw the Powder Monkeys at Swinburne collage. I'm pretty sure it was in a classroom. John broke a string, and while he was changing it, Tim H shared a bong with some enthusiastic uni student!
Are you still in touch with Powder Monkeys drummer TJ Ray? What's he doing these days?
We have a whole family of TJ Ray fans— Aimee and the kids love him. We talk all the time on the phone and catch up every three months, with the last time being at The Saints with Mark Arm in Hobart. He’s doing great, just working away in a 9 - 5 job. I’ve been nagging him for the return of his great band, The Roobs, which is looking more and more likely to happen. He also plays in a couple of other bands, playing bass. Yes, the greatest drummer in the world is playing bass!
Let's play what-ifs… What-if the band went with Rick Rubin's Def American Recordings label. Where do you think it would have taken them? Has the band ever spoken to you about this?
TJ reckons they would have got their shit together if they hit the USA. By the end of that '99 tour in Europe, they were all clean and healthy on that return flight to Australia, so they could definitely have done it. I think David Laing says it best in an interview: “They didn’t want to play to a more mainstream audience. Whenever they did, they abused them. But on an underground level, they could have had more success, like Dead Moon or the Cosmic Psychos maybe.”
We know you have a checkered past with Bad Batch’s own Dr. Deaf can you tell us any stories of misadventures together… fit for print?
The Nirvana show at the Palace in Melbourne was unforgettable. The cookies I mentioned earlier, which I would give to John, did a number on both me and Dr. Deaf. I was chucking a whitey inside just before the main show, lying on the ground. Dr. Deaf was carried out by the bouncers and was found drinking the sauce off a hot dog seller's stall because he was that dry!
When are ‘Powder Monkeys File Volumes 2 & 3’ going to land?
‘Volume 2’ is filled with more awesome content, again around 240 odd pages, and it’s just about done; give it a couple of months at the most. It was done, I printed off 3 copies and then a heap of relevant new stuff was donated to the cause.
‘Volume 3’… I am not ready to tackle that one yet.
When and where can our readers pick up a copy of this amazing tome?
You will reach me here:
Limited numbered hardcover and numbered soft cover books message me here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572905126882
Or…
This is a print on demand service. These guys are quick to print and ship but expensive. If anyone has a better idea sing out.
https://mixam.com.au/print-on-demand/powdermonkeysfile
Or you may have something that you think needs to go in the books email me here:
