Mr Floppy
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Studio albums: Breakfast, Gratuitous, The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead |
Mr Floppy was an Australian band originating from Melbourne in 1989, known for their blend of alternative rock, punk rock, and oi! genres. The lineup consisted of Tim Aylward (formerly of The Swarm) on guitar, Mick Kuarol also on guitar, Paul Johnson handling bass and vocals, and Joseph Kennedy (previously with Pray TV) on drums. They independently released three studio albums through their own label, Zombie Penis Death Records, which was distributed by Waterfront Records: Breakfast (1991), Gratuitous (1992), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead (1993). Although they developed a dedicated cult audience, the group dissolved in 1994. Comparisons to TISM were frequent, but the band members dismissed these parallels.
Band history
Mr Floppy formed in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, deriving their name from a character featured in the BBC comedy series Blackadder Goes Forth. They launched their label, Zombie Penis Death, with distribution managed by Waterfront Records. Prior to releasing their debut single, drummer Joseph Kennedy departed and was replaced by a drum machine named "Bonecrusher Roland".
Their first single, "100,000 Morrisseys" (1989), co-written by Aylward and Johnson, alluded to Morrissey, the lead singer of The Smiths. Despite unfavorable critical reception, the track gained exposure through John Peel’s radio program and incorporated samples from The Smiths’ songs. Waterfront Records re-released this single in mid-1990.
In late 1990, the band issued a six-track EP titled Firm and Fruity, recorded at Whirled Records Studios. Australian blues artist Chris Wilson contributed harmonica on the track "Stir Fry Baby". Shortly thereafter, guitarist Mick Kuarol left and was succeeded by Bernard Blake.
On 16 December 1991, Mr Floppy unveiled their debut album Breakfast, which featured three satirical renditions of Australian Crawl’s "Reckless", retitled as "Breakfast". This album also included the entire Firm and Fruity EP. In March 1992, "Breakfast" reached No. 5 on the 2XX Independent Chart.
Bernard Blake exited the group in early 1992, reducing Mr Floppy to a duo. Later that year they released Gratuitous, a seven-track album. During this period, they supported tours for acts like Spy vs Spy and Crash Test Dummies. After parting ways with Waterfront Records, distribution was arranged through Mushroom Distribution Services. Recordings from a live Sydney performance in April 1992 were incorporated into their subsequent album.
Their final album, The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead, arrived in July 1993 and included two versions of Kate Bush’s "Wuthering Heights". The song "Boring Fart" was later adopted by Silverchair as an opening number during their early tours.
Mr Floppy disbanded in 1994 following farewell concerts at Club O in Perth. That same year, Paul Johnson formed Poontang*, which performed 24 shows and released one album before disbanding in 1998.
In 2008, Melbourne band Root! released an EP titled Get Up Yourself, where critics acknowledged Mr Floppy’s influence on both TISM and Root!, emphasizing a unique Melbourne sound that evolved from punk rock into dance punk and roots punk styles.
Most compositions created before 1992 were co-authored by Aylward and Johnson. On The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead, Johnson is credited with the majority of tracks except for "Get a Dog Up Ya" (written by Aylward/Johnson) and "Birdie Num Num" (credited to Johnson/Blake), which debuted live in Sydney in late 1991.
Discography
- Breakfast (1991)
- Gratuitous (1992)
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead (1993)
Band Members
- Paul Johnson – bass guitar, lead vocals (1989–1994)
- Tim Aylward – lead guitar, backing vocals (1989–1994)
- Mick Kuarol – rhythm guitar (1989–1990)
- Bernard Blake – rhythm guitar (1990–1992)
- Joseph Kennedy – drums (1989)
Timeline
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