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Weddoes Reunion For New DVD
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Weddings, Parties, Anything aren’t reforming. But their reunion to support their new live DVD is a welcome one. By Christopher Hollow
Reunion v. Reformation? “There’s a crucial difference.”
Too Earnest? “My fault.”
The Australian Flag? “A mess.”
Patriotism? “Repulsive.”
Experimental Facial Hair?
I first met Mick Thomas many years ago at the Public Bar in North Melbourne. An avid St. Kilda supporter he had talked about me enthusiastically in the Brian Nankervis book Boys and Balls. However, despite his fervor, he had got my name wrong, in fact he’d got both names wrong – he’d called me Greg Hollows – and when I spotted him out enjoying a quiet drink I wanted to let him know that I was as chuffed as any person who’s had both Christian and surname misquoted.
But even back then I thought, “this Greg Hollows sounds like an interesting sort of player. Probably a half back flanker, tall, lithe, could be Aboriginal.”
Years later I’m talking to Thomas about the latest Weddings activity and asking him the questions that Greg would’ve wanted to know.
It’s been close to a decade since Weddings, Parties, Anything split after being dubbed “pub stalwarts” one too many times. But now they’re returning for a series of shows both here and abroad and have a DVD to promote, A Long Time Between Drinks, which captures the last triumphant reunion performance at the 2006 Queenscliff Festival.
It appears that Weddings, Parties, Anything refuse to die?
It would appear that way. It’s a funny thing to be weighing into. I know that everyone feels this sense of dubiousness when they see bands reforming and I’m no different to anyone else, like ‘why don’t they just leave it?’
I’ve tried to be very adamant that it’s not a reformation it’s a reunion and to make that distinction is crucial really. The thing I said to the guys is, ‘I don’t want to be in the position to have to break up again’.
You’ve flirted with a couple of one-off reunions over the past couple of years, the last one is now on DVD.
It just seemed like something you could do with a fair amount of joy. The friendships were still pretty good. We got offered Queenscliff and there was a chance to film it and a chance to release all this archival stuff. When we split I never said we wouldn’t play again but I did say we’d cease to function as the band that people knew. That still holds true. But I’m sort of glad there’s a bit of stuff happening.
You sound like you’re surprised that you’re enjoying it?
Well, you break up for a reason and I broke up because I had other things I wanted to do. I felt like the Weddings were stopping me from doing interesting things. That there was only twenty songs that people wanted to hear from us and I didn’t have anywhere to go in an artistic sense. These days if it’s just one part of what I’m doing and I can actually keep a lid on it. I reckon I’m happy to have a bit of a play as long as it doesn’t became too much of what I’m doing. If we all get on, play good shows, if it feels dignified and proper it’ll be great. I just want it to be pretty clinical, quick and clean.
So does that mean you’re scared of it being a success? That it could blow up in something else?
I guess what I’d be scared of, Chris, is if it was massive but not a lot of fun.
What about the London show on Anzac Day?
It’s looking like it’s going to happen.
A Long Time Between Drinks is available through Madman. Weddings Parties Anything play the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the East Coast Bluesfest.
Read the complete article in January Rhythms.