Clowns of Decadence

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The Clowns of Decadence are an Australian rock/punk band from Adelaide, South Australia.

Formed on January First 1988, Terra Australis Invasion Year 200, with the jamming of three core members of punk melodians THE MUTANTS / FESTERED VESTOONS plus a political renegade from thrashers TOXIC AVENGERS, the CLOWNS OF DECADENCE didn't settle on a name til some time in 1989 and then collected three more members and a significant following in Australia and New Zealand through several years of performing and touring. While categorised as a rock/punk band, the group itself referred to their musical style as 'Junk Fusion' and pushed their own brand of insurgent punk vaudeville. The band was characterised by irreverent PR ... "They are not despite popular belief a fleet of Japanese whaling vessels."

Shortly after joining forces in 1988 all four original members attended the protests at Nurrungar, a US-Australia Joint Facility (in reality a US spy base in the South Australian desert) with Cappo Skum-fakir (Clown's bass player - later alias Spako Airhead when he switched to 2nd guitar in 1993) being the co-ordinator of the demonstration in the outback, and vocalist, trumpeter and hard-working cobber Ocker Bozo supplying the PA for the event so fellow free-spirit musos Aunty Raelene could rock the desert. With over 500 arrests; the army called out against a civil disturbance for only the second time in Australia's brief history; lots of media coverage; and Queensland anarchists peacefully shutting down the eyes and ears of this part of the Cold War machine for 48 hours, the event was deemed a success.

The band's performances were to become marked by a chaotic circus-style show which grew and developed over the years, from the simple wearing of face paint, clown costumes and delivery of a strong anarchist message to circus stunts such as fire breathing, the Fish-bowl of Doom, Balloon Drop of Nakedness, Crowd Cavalcade, the giant community doobie (Clown Carrot of Justice), sword swallowing and the Rather Large Dice of Mayhem to name but a few. Insane and detailed artwork for the band's elaborate stage props, posters and album covers was generally the original work of drummer Trolla Bolla Snatcha Razoo, an accomplished visual artist.

In the early hours of January First 1998 in the beer garden of Adelaide's Producers Hotel the Clowns of Decadence finished their last live performance ... ten years to the day after the Core Four first jammed. Shortly thereafter bass player Marshall Benzene (youngest Clown, joining the troupe in 1993) left the band and the remaining Clowns allowed the group to drift into a hiatus without any public explanation.

Members

As credited on the 1994 album Dirty Tricks Incorporated.

• Lord Stingy (guitars, pyromania, penny pinching)
• Ocker Bozo (vocals, trumpet, excess)
• Reverend Spud McGeek (piano, synth, vocals, Guinness)
• Trolla Bolla Snatcha Razoo (drums, art, mad ravings & bizarre facial contortions)
• Marshall Benzene (bass, fire cadet, stilt walker)
• JJ Hi-Jinx (sax, clarinet, fire blowhard)
• Spako Airhead (guitar, vocals, clown co-ordination)

Discography

Albums/EPs

• Kamikaze Karnival (1993)
• Dirty Tricks Incorporated (1994)
• Too Ugly For Airplay (1995)
• Clowns Of A Lesser God (1996)

Singles

• "Big Green Couch Of Hope" (on compilation album Grind Em Down - 1992)
• "If Pain Could Turn To Gold" (on compilation album Let's Make Cents)
• "New Age Neurotic" (on compilation album Triple M Presents On The Edge Of The World - 1995)]]