Beasts of Bourbon
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | August 1983 |
| Founder | Tex Perkins |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Beasts of Bourbon emerged as an Australian blues rock ensemble in August 1983, featuring James Baker on drums (previously with Hoodoo Gurus and The Scientists), Spencer P. Jones handling guitar duties (The Johnnys), Tex Perkins as the vocalist (formerly of Dum Dums), alongside Kim Salmon and Boris Sujdovic on guitar and bass respectively (both formerly of The Scientists). While Jones and Perkins remained consistent members, the band's roster experienced several changes throughout its intermittent existence. Their first album, The Axeman's Jazz, was released in July 1984, with the single "Psycho"—a rendition of a Leon Payne song—gaining significant traction on alternative radio. The group dissolved by mid-1985 as members shifted focus to other musical ventures.
After regrouping in 1987, they launched their sophomore album, Sour Mash, in December 1988 under Red Eye Records. According to rock historian Ian McFarlane, this release "redefined guitar-based rock'n'roll," transitioning from swamp-rock influences towards a more exploratory blues sound, highlighted by Perkins’ evolution into a genuine blues vocalist. Their fifth studio effort, Gone (January 1997), secured a position within the Top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Similarly, their seventh and concluding studio album, Little Animals (released 21 April 2007 through Albert Productions), also achieved Top 50 chart status.
1983–1985: Formation and Early Years
Initiated in August 1983 by singer Tex Perkins to fulfill prior band commitments, Beasts of Bourbon began performing at smaller venues across Sydney. The founding lineup comprised James Baker on drums, Spencer P. Jones on guitar, Kim Salmon also on guitar, and Boris Sujdovic playing bass. This original group recorded their debut album, The Axeman's Jazz, in a single eight-hour session during October 1983 with producer Tony Cohen for just $100. In the same year, Richard Ploog briefly joined as drummer. By January 1984, the band featured Jones, Perkins, Sujdovic, Brett Rixon on drums, and Tony Thewlis on guitar while performing in Perth.
Released through Green Records in July 1984, The Axeman's Jazz became a definitive work within Australia’s garage and swamp rock scenes and ranked as the highest-selling Australian alternative album that year, moving over 30,000 copies across Europe. Its single "Psycho" also topped Australian alternative charts for sales during 1984. The initial lineup disbanded in March when The Scientists embarked on an overseas tour; temporary substitutes included Stu Spasm from Lubricated Goat and Brad Shepherd from Hoodoo Gurus. By early 1985, the group consisted of Baker, Perkins, Spasm (lead guitar), Jones, and Graham Hood on bass. Despite underground acclaim and functioning largely as a side project for members, Beasts of Bourbon ceased activities by June 1985. Subsequently, members engaged in various other musical endeavors: Perkins with Salamander Jim among others; Jones with The Johnnys; Salmon and Sujdovic returned to The Scientists; Baker briefly formed The James Baker Experience before it too dissolved.
1988–1993: From Sour Mash through The Belly of the Beasts
Following the disbandment of The Johnnys and The Scientists in March 1988, Beasts of Bourbon reassembled with Baker, Jones, Perkins, Salmon, and Sujdovic. They recorded Sour Mash under producer Phil Punch (The Mexican Spitfires) which was released in December via Red Eye Records. This album marked a stylistic shift from swamp-rock roots towards a rawer blues-infused and experimental sound. Perkins’ vocals matured into a distinctive blues growl. Critic Skip Jansen from Allmusic characterized it as a "raw blues-rock album with post-punk afflictions," appealing to aficionados of Australian rock and garage punk genres. Their cover of Ry Cooder and Jack Nitzsche’s "Hard Work Drivin' Man" reached number one on independent charts in November 1988. In August 1989, they followed with another independent chart-topper single "Hate Inside," penned by Jones and Perkins. By this period, Perkins was also active with The Cruel Sea.
After touring Europe extensively, their third album Black Milk appeared in July 1990. Jansen regarded it as "a fine album of lurching blues-driven rock," though somewhat less compelling than earlier works. In Germany they released the non-album single "You Let Me Down" / "Blanc Garçon," which was included on the German edition of Black Milk; these tracks were often cited as superior to much of the album's material. By February 1991, Brian Henry Hooper (bass) and Tony Pola (drums)—both from Salmon’s project The Surrealists—replaced Sujdovic and Baker respectively. This new formation toured Australia during the Kick Arse tour.
Hooper, Jones, Perkins, Pola, and Salmon collaborated on their fourth album The Low Road, produced once again by Tony Cohen. McFarlane praised its energetic delivery and gritty rock riffs; meanwhile Jansen noted its more straightforward approach but felt it lacked some live performance vitality. Among its tracks was "Chase the Dragon," addressing heroin trafficking with what has been described as a "blistering ... nefarious delight."
Beasts of Bourbon performed at the first-ever Sydney event of Big Day Out in January 1992 before embarking on another European tour. In January 1993 they issued a double live album entitled The Belly of the Beasts - Live '91 & '92 and Shit We Didn't Put Out the First Time, commemorating their tenth anniversary. That year also saw publication of their sheet music collection titled Ten Years Behind Bars, featuring an introduction by Clinton Walker. They participated in the expanded Big Day Out tour across four Australian cities in 1994 followed by another European tour. Afterward Salmon departed alongside Hooper and Pola to concentrate fully on The Surrealists while Perkins focused on The Cruel Sea’s acclaimed album The Honeymoon Is Over released May 1993. Jones engaged in various projects culminating with his solo debut Rumour of Death released November 1994.
1996–2012: Subsequent Period
In September 1996, Beasts of Bourbon reunited, bringing together Hooper, Jones, Perkins, Pola, and Charlie Owen—formerly of Divinyls and also a collaborator with Perkins in Tex, Don and Charlie—on guitar. They issued Gone in January 1997, which entered the ARIA Albums Chart Top 50 and included the single "Saturated". A portion of their 1997 live set at the Esplanade Hotel was later featured on the 1999 compilation Beyond Good and Evil. Despite this activity, the band disbanded once more by the close of 1997.
The group came back together in late 2003 to produce a live album titled Low Life, which was released in August 2005 through Spooky Records. In 2006, they performed at Big Day Out festivals throughout Australia and New Zealand. By December that year, Albert Productions secured an exclusive global recording contract with the band, leading to the April 2007 launch of Little Animals, which also reached the Top 50. Perkins regarded this agreement as a pivotal achievement due to Albert Productions' longstanding impact on their career. The band took part in the Rockin' for Rights event opposing Workchoices legislation but ended their run again after a performance in Berlin in April 2008.
In 2012, announcements were made about reuniting the original lineup for a singular show at the 2013 Australian All Tomorrow's Parties festival. Meanwhile, Jones engaged in collaborations with Nothing Butts and members of The Drones, while Perkins fronted Tex Perkins & the Apes.
2013–present: Three Decades and The Beasts
August 2013 marked Beasts of Bourbon’s 30th anniversary, celebrated with multiple concerts in Sydney and Melbourne featuring a rotating roster including James Baker, Tony Pola, Boris Sujdovic, Brian Hooper, Kim Salmon, and Charlie Owen. Core members Jones and Perkins remained constant throughout. These events coincided with the release of a triple live album entitled 30 Years On Borrowed Time.
In tribute to Spencer P. Jones and Brian Hooper, both of whom died in 2018, the band reemerged in 2019 under the name The Beasts. Their album Still Here incorporated posthumous contributions from Jones. The Beasts toured Australia late that year with support from Adalita; the lineup consisted of Perkins, Owen, Pola, Salmon, and Sujdovic. In December 2020, Rolling Stone Australia ranked The Beasts of Bourbon at number 42 among its "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time."
In May 2023, The Beasts announced two concerts called "The Beasts Be Suburban" to honor four decades since Beasts of Bourbon’s inception.
Members
- Spencer P. Jones – guitar, backing vocals (1983–1985, 1988–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2008, 2013; deceased 2018)
- Tex Perkins – lead vocals (1983–1985, 1988–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2008, 2013, 2019–2024)
- Boris Sujdovic – bass guitar (1983–1985, 1988–1990, 2013)
- James Baker – drums (1983–1984, 1984–1985, 1988–1990, 2013, 2023–2024; deceased 2025)
- Kim Salmon – guitar, harmonica, backing vocals, slide guitar (1983–1984, 1988–1993, 2013, 2019–2024)
- Brett Rixon – drums (1984; deceased 1993)
- Tony Thewlis – guitar (1984)
- Graham Hood – bass guitar (1984–1985)
- Stu Spasm – guitar (1984–1985)
- Brian Henry Hooper – bass guitar (1990–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2008; deceased 2018)
- Tony Pola – drums (1990–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2008, 2019; deceased 2021)
- Charlie Owen – guitar (1996–1997, 2003–2008, 2019–2024)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| The Axeman's Jazz |
|
- |
| Sour Mash |
|
- |
| Black Milk |
|
142 |
| The Low Road |
|
85 |
| Gone |
|
49 |
| Little Animals |
|
44 |
| Still Here (credited as The Beasts) |
|
- |
Live albums
| Album Title | Release Details | Highest Chart Rankings |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| From the Belly of the Beasts |
|
85 |
| Low Life |
|
- |
| 30 Years on Borrowed Time |
|
- |
Compilation album
| Compilation Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Beyond Good & Evil - The Best of The Beasts of Bourbon |
|
Extended plays
| EP Title | Release Data | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| Just Right |
|
121 |
External links
- Articles with short description
- Australian blues rock bands
- Musical groups formed in 1983
- Musical groups disbanded in 1985
- Musical groups reunited in 1988
- Musical groups dissolved in 1993
- Musical acts originating from Sydney
- Swamp rock bands
- 1983 establishments in Australia
- 2018 disestablishments in Australia
- Musical groups disestablished in 1985