Machine Gun Fellatio
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2005 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2005, reunited briefly in 2024 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Machine Gun Fellatio (commonly abbreviated as MGF) was an alternative rock group from Australia, established in 1997. They became known for their daring stage presence and witty songwriting. The band’s provocative name mirrored their cheeky and irreverent style. Over their career, they produced three full-length albums, three extended plays, and three singles before dissolving in 2005. In 2024, they reunited briefly for a trio of performances.
1997–1999: Origins and Love Comes to an End
Machine Gun Fellatio emerged in 1997 through the fusion of two Sydney-based bands, Vrag and Limebunny. Prior to merging, both groups had contributed to the compilation Unsound Sounds, which included Vrag’s track "Isaac or Fuzz." This song featured a mistaken voicemail layered over an energetic dance rhythm and received notable airplay on the national youth radio station Triple J. Glenn Dormand (known by his stage name Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) recounted that the track’s concept stemmed from an accidental voicemail left by a local Pizza Hut.
Building on this momentum, the band finalized its core members: Dave Arroyo and Dormand shared vocal and keyboard duties; Warrick Leggo (aka LoveShark) played guitar; Ross Johnston (3kShort) contributed bass, guitar, and keyboards. Their first EP, Love Comes to an End, also referred to as Isaac or Fuzz due to label-added promotional stickers spotlighting the single, was released during this period.
Less than 500 copies of this EP were pressed; Matt Ford (Pinky Beecroft) later revealed that numerous unsold units were discarded. Ford joined the ensemble as vocalist and keyboardist after departing Limebunny and declining an invitation to join The Whitlams, with whom he co-wrote the acclaimed track "No Aphrodisiac" alongside Dormand. The lineup expanded further to include Christa Hughes (KK Juggy), drummer Glenn Abbott (Bryan Ferrysexual), and Maree Bonner (The Widow Jones) on vocals and keyboards.
2000–2005: Bring It On!, Paging Mr. Strike, and On Ice
The first release featuring this expanded lineup was the track "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle," which was inspired by spontaneous lyrics from a party attendee.
In September 2000, they launched their debut album, Bring It On, through Mushroom Records.
By 2002, Machine Gun Fellatio had performed at prominent Australian music festivals such as Big Day Out, Homebake, Livid, and the Woodford Folk Festival.
Their sophomore album, Paging Mr. Strike, arrived in 2002 and featured the popular single "Rollercoaster," which gained wider recognition after being used in a Just Jeans commercial. A special two-disc edition named 2nd Page for Mr. Strike followed in 2003, including remixes and rare songs.
Known for their provocative live performances that frequently involved nudity and explicit elements, the band stirred controversy. Following a show at the University of Melbourne, several other universities in Victoria canceled scheduled appearances due to concerns over their conduct; nevertheless, institutions in other states continued to engage them, and Melbourne University rehired them for another performance the following year.
In 2004, Maree Bonner departed and was succeeded by Connie Mitchell (Feyonce), who later became lead vocalist of Sneaky Sound System. Meanwhile, Pinky Beecroft moved to Melbourne for health-related reasons. Their final studio effort, On Ice, released that same year, met with limited acclaim. The group ultimately disbanded in 2005 amid exhaustion, substance challenges, and creative disagreements.
2005–present: Activities Following the Separation
After the group disbanded, individual members engaged in diverse creative ventures:
- Pinky Beecroft established Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, which later became known simply as The White Russians.
- 3kShort joined tours with White Knuckle Fever and collaborated with Vashti Hughes in performances.
- LoveShark partnered with 3kShort to launch the Outer Space Cowboys.
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab shifted focus toward television presenting and directing films.
- KK Juggy concentrated on cabaret productions and took roles in musical theatre, cinema, and television; she also served as lead singer and ring mistress for Circus Oz. Additionally, she produced jazz and blues albums alongside her father Dick Hughes and fronted bands such as the Honky Tonk Shonks and The Loud Hailers.
- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott) fronted The Bryan Ferrysexual Experience before initiating the band Super Massive with Malina Hamilton-Smith.
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell) became the principal vocalist for Sydney’s Sneaky Sound System.
On 7 August 2024, the ensemble declared a reunion to perform as one of four supporting acts for TISM's Death to Art Tour, sharing the stage with The Mavis's, Ben Lee, and Eskimo Joe. They held a confidential warm-up concert on 11 October in Newcastle, marking their first live appearance in 19 years. On 20 October, Dormand announced that no additional performances would occur beyond the TISM tour dates.
Personnel
- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott) — drums
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab (Glenn Dormand) — keyboards and vocals
- KK Juggy (Christa Hughes) — vocals
- LoveShark (Warrick Leggo) — guitar
- Pinky Beecroft (Matt Ford) — vocals and keyboards
- 3kShort (Ross Johnston) — bass, guitar, and keyboards
- The Widow Jones (Maree Bonner) — vocals and keyboards (1997–2004, 2024)
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell) — vocals (2004–2005)
- Jack Hammer (Guy Fleming) — vocals and keyboards (1997)
- Chris Fegan — guitar (1997)
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Position | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Bring It On! | 78 | ||
| Paging Mr. Strike |
|
6 |
|
| On Ice |
|
36 |
Compilation Albums
| Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Unsound Sounds |
|
| The Essential Hits |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP information | Highest chart ranking |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Love Comes to an End |
|
— |
| Impossible Love |
|
78 |
| For the Ladies |
|
31 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart rankings | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | Triple J Hottest 100 | |||
| "Isaac or Fuzz" | 1997 | —[upper-alpha 1] | — | Love Comes to an End |
| "Impossible Dream" | 2000 | — | 16 | Bring It On! |
| "Unsent Letter" | — | 16 | ||
| "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle" | — | 67 | ||
| "Summer" | 2001 | — | — | |
| "The Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)" | 2002 | 31 | — | Paging Mr Strike |
| "Rollercoaster" | 2003 | 38 | 6 | |
| "Pussytown" | — | 8 | ||
| "Take It Slow" | — | 59 | ||
| "You've Ruined All My Favourite Songs" | 2004 | 76 | — | On Ice |
| "What the Fuck?" | — | 34 | ||
Notes
ARIA Music Awards
Since their inception in 1987, the ARIA Music Awards, organized by the Australian Recording Industry Association, have honored outstanding achievements within Australia's music sector.
! |- | 2002 | "Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | |
References
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