Legend has it that long ago there emerged one of the more entertaining underground bands to emerge in Australia in a long time- PROBLEM- who came together early in 2001.
They could of sunk without a trace like so many bands do only for the fact that there was bugger all to do in this sad old place than to amuse themselves with raw songs with crazy lyrics and ridiculous stage costumes.
After 3 CD releases, songs on Aussie & overseas compilations, heaps of gigs, vidoes screened on Rage and C31 and they're still LIVING THE ROCK 'N ROLL DREAM.
(BELOW) Perry Problem meets the luscious Madame Naja Scorponic
The hard working people at CUMBERSOME RECORDS put a PROBLEM song on one of their samplers in 2002 and in October 2007 the band's SPOOKY ROCK cover of Syd Barrett's VEGETABLE MAN made it onto THE VEGETABLE MAN PROJECT VOL 5 CD.
But backwind to 1998. Mr Problem had been drumming in a succession of crap bands for years decided to have his own crap band. He bought a 4 track, guitar, bass and a drum machine (and with help from Andre "The Axe" Zondler, Heath MacNally and Dave DK) created the seminal CD, THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS.
Copies were left in random places and given to passers by. The Village Idiot song received airplay on JJJ and 3CRs' Punk Show and The Dr Grouse at The Mouse show also gave the CD a regular spin. The band played its debut gig at Melbourne University in 2003 with Perry Problem on bass and vocals, Harry Vaz on guitar and Will Guthrie (ANTBOY) on drums.
"Success", as Winston Churchill once said, "is going from one disaster to another and not losing enthusiasm." To PROBLEM its all about LIVING THE ROCK 'N' ROLL DREAM, the DREAM OF ROCK IMMORTALITY that one day some smelly writer from a second rate street press rag will go to a PROBLEM gig and write a brief piece on this weird band that made a racket and went beserk. That's THE DREAM, OUR DREAM, YOUR DREAM. We're still waiting. Guess we'll have to cross their palms with silver. As the Spanish proverb goes, el dinero va a donde está el dinero. But it wouldn't be the same
"It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary." So said Churchill another time. We're not sure if that was before or after he helped mastermind the slaughter of thousands of our blokes at Gallipoli, but it is the thought that counts. Australian soldiers fought so well there that they had a biscuit named after them. Anyway back to the ouevre: PROBLEM have played Adelaide, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo, Campbell's Creek, Geelong, Shepparton and many Melbourne metropolitan shows.
The band has a cult following of some of the most strangest, wonderful people in Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo, Adelaide, NZ and Portugal. In March 2008 PROBLEM toured New Zealand playing an athletic 8 gigs in 10 days from Auckland to Invercargill.
(BELOW) Danny McNasty
The band have released 3 CDs. THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS- 2001,
HOT LOAD- 2004 and the OUTBREAK EP- 2008. If you would like to purchase any CDs, t shirts, stickers & badges, you can direct from us. Iif you are in Europe, buy a CD from http://www.louielouie.biz in Porto, Portugal (just ask for Rui) or better still come to one of our gigs. Dreams can come true.
Now for some name dropping in the remote possibility that someone will read this. Past and present members have played or play in bands such as
DIED PRETTY, ONE INCH PUNCH, THE TOMMYS, LONGPIG, WAXING THE SUN, RYAN FERRY, THE ECCLESIASTICAL CYCLE SLUTS, MOUTHFUL, SECONDS, HUMAN GENOME PROJECT, FLAT MAGGOT, PEOPLE ON A PLANET.
(BELOW) Pill Problem in action
PRESS: PROBLEM LIVE @ Old Bar Fitzroy by Dave DK.
There's something going on but you don't know what it is, do you Melbourne? Perry Problem seems to know something we don't and ably backed by his horrid band, he's already dished out some hilarious culture lessons to Melbourne and is shortly about to make his assault on Adelaide. Part gruesome cabaret part edgy punk, Problem is one band that is really bringing entertainment back into Melbourne pubs. There's not a lot of pretence and certainly no Australian Idol vocal gymnastics, but you will see a visually exciting arthouse show with quality musicianship, even if it is provided by a fiendish peasant, a ghoul in denim and Chickenman.
Perry himself is not afraid to take a few risks as he strides through the crowd, impeccably dressed in a V-Line jacket, candelabra in hand, serenading his courtesans. His quirky (and often macabre) humor always shines though. With songs from the slick back streets of Collingwood, (Trust Me, I'm A Junkie) to dark tales from European history (The Blood Countess) Last Friday's show at The Old Bar had some unpredictable moments and those popping their heads in stayed for more. Problem are about to take their horrorshow theatre on the road and won't be back until later this year but they will be back, Problems like this just don't go away.
Cover of THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS CD
REVIEWS:
"Better than horse porn", Chris UK backpacker 2008
"Get off!!", New Plymouth NZ
"Some fine punk rock moments", Nigel from Horror Story NZ
"Why do Aussie bands always climb up on the bar?", staff at Jetset Lounge NZ
Blodwyn (BELOW)
