Spiderbait with Kram

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I live in South Golden Beach next door to Splendour.

Every year the sleepy village gets a bit rowdy when the festival is on, which is fun.

We’ve played Splendour many times over the years, it’s so awesome, but I still go every year as well. It’s my local gig once a year.

There’s a lot of musicians young and old around. For a rural area it’s incredibly creative and diverse.

Still would like to see more venues open up in the area for local bands to play. But I think that’s the same everywhere.

How did you first start playing music?

Whitt & I used to jam drums & guitar in my folks backyard in Finley. The town is so small & there was nowhere to play shows but we had great fun. Every Holidays when he would come home from boarding school he’d have some amazing news about a band he’d seen in the city. One day he brought home a distortion pedal & cranked it up.

Everything changed for me then!

Drumming & singing in my HSC I came first in the state with 100% score on my performance exam. It was a trip and totally unexpected. My music teacher at the time Julie Croft was a great inspiration.

I think that musical event & jamming with Whitt shaped my outlook on music. Later when Janet came along & we started writing songs together the shape was complete.

How has the music scene changed since you first started playing?

One difference is there’s not the money around from record sales that there was then. This source of income was crucial to a lot of bands.

Also social media has transformed bands in a lot of ways. There’s much more expectation to connect directly with fans & have a lot of hits. But the sad thing is that it’s fine if you’re into it but sucks if you’re not.

Not every band or artist wants to constantly be in contact. Some would much prefer to be left alone. It also keeps some privacy and mystique to the artist intact.

I am one of those.

I really loathe social media and avoid it.

 How did Spiderbait form?

Whitt & I in the backyard in Finley.

We used to go to parties & hang out heaps, I’ve always loved him and his energy.

Then we asked Janet to jam with us.

She said ‘I’ve never played bass in my life!’

We said ‘that’s great! you’ll learn quickly’ and she did – she is awesome. We were very punk rock back then and just wanted to play  with our friends.

This ethos still remains & is the main reason we’re still together and successful.

 What’s your gear setup, has it changed much over time?

Not really. Whitty still uses the magical Boss DS1 pedal that started it all. Same Marshall Amp.

Janet changed a while ago to a smaller white Fender bass which is much lighter for her.

I’ve got 2 kick drums now cos I’m going thru a metal phase ever since I wrote Straight Thru the Sun!

But we are and always will be the same 3 people playing music together.

What’s been happening recently?

A lot of big festival shows in the past few years. Our gigs have taken on a euphoria between us and the crowd which has been amazing. Something special is going on.

You’re dropping a 7” single vinyl box set of your singles, how did this come about?

We thought it would be a cool idea – have always loved vinyl the best. It’s a great feeling to actually hold yr song in your hand as a 7 inch single.

Also looking back over the 25 or 30 singles we’ve released over the years is like a diary of our lives. Every song has a meaning, time & place attached to it. We liked that idea especially retrospectively.

Where did you press the vinyls?  

I have no fucken idea sorry, but they look great!

Who did the artwork?

All our artwork since the start has been done by Janet & her friend George Stasjic who designed many of the iconic characters.

Janet’s work is awesome.

George is quite simply brilliant. Genius.

How has Spiderbait changed since the very early days?

Not much. We’re still the same in a lot of ways. Humour. Manner. Style.

But one major change is the confidence that comes with experience. You don’t give a fuck what people think/ say about you.

When you’re a young band there’s a lot of worries sometimes.

But now we’re all very comfortable with who we are & what we’ve achieved. It’s nice.

You’ll be playing  all of the bands hit singles in order at the Forum in Melbourne on the 9th of November, it’s going to be a very special show. How did the idea to play all the hit singles in order of release come about?

It was Whitt’s idea. Such a great one too.

Earlier this year we were backstage in Adelaide just about to play to 10,000 people at a festival with Magic Dirt & Jebediah, 2 of our most loved bands and friends️

We had a quick meeting about doing a Forum show later in the year & Whitt suggested a SINGLES show. Brilliant.

What do you like to do away from music?

Absolutely nothing as much as possible.

I would recommend this to anyone.

People are way too obsessed with this fuckin word BUSY and forget to just live.

Life is short. Smell the roses.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

The Beatles Abbey Road & Echoes by Pink Floyd. I love Ruby Fields heaps she is awesome. Also, Fair Maiden from Adelaide and Major Leagues from Brisbane.

What’s on the cards for Spiderbait looking into the future?

No idea really except a new album is def on the cards which will be great.

Any secrets that you care to share?

Fuck Off social media from your life and be reborn free.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Any food. Any place. Any time.

https://www.facebook.com/spiderbait/