THE MEANIES - Desperate Measures
Written by: Tom Wilson – Sense Music Media | Sunday 21 November 2021
Uncage Your Inner MEANIE
Playing their first show in 1988, THE MEANIES have become a bit of an institution in the Australian punk scene, contributing to the hearing damage of several generations of fans. I spoke to Link Meanie (AKA Lindsay McLennan) about the upcoming Uncaged Festival, and touring with some band called NIRVANA …
Talking Some Sense with Link ‘Meanie’ McLennan
One of my favourite Australian bands is THE MARK OF CAIN; when I spoke to Kim Scott, he was saying that Australia had a pretty thriving pub rock scene in the 80s. What are your thoughts on that?
I think the two main things that I can see are different is the quantity of bands – there are a lot of bands who are quite business-minded these days, whereas I think most of us doing it back then … I know, from my point of view anyway, that I didn’t think beyond getting five hundred people to show up, and that was the pinnacle, you know? That’s all you were aiming for. There wasn’t anywhere near as many bands around, so I think it was probably easier to get noticed if you were a good band, whereas I think nowadays it’s a lot harder for good bands to get noticed if they don’t have the business-minded person in the band. I think you’ve really got to have someone like that in your band nowadays. The other thing is, I think, you could have more aggressive situations in crowds back then – like violent situations. It all seems to be a lot nicer at shows these days, which is a good thing … It’s just me being older and whatever, but it seems to lack a little of the spontaneity. Sometimes it feels a little generic. I don’t know. What I do value is that it does feel like a nicer environment.
You guys were regulars on the Big Day Out throughout the 90s, in its formative years. What were some of the most vivid memories of that? Who were some fun bands to tour with?
Meeting THE RAMONES was a pretty good one. I didn’t really get to talk to them much. I talked to C.J. a bit, but I think Joey and Johnny looked like a rabbit in headlights when you tried to talk to them! [Laughs] Like they were going to get a disease or something. BAD BRAINS were great – they were heroes of mine … We did a bit of a tour with them, so I got to get up onstage a few times and sing Pay to Cum with them, so that was pretty thrilling for me. I was pretty nervous and everything back then, and I was just like a little fanboy. [Does a high voice] “What was your favourite BAD BRAINS song?” [Laughs]
The PEARL JAM tour was a lot of fun, because that was something that was very different. I was never really a PEARL JAM fan, but they were really lovely guys, and it was such a weird experience playing to 30,000 people who mostly didn’t give a shit about us. It’s nice to get to experience that once, and I’m not that fussed if I ever do again, but yeah … NIRVANA was interesting. For me, it wasn’t as big as doing BAD BRAINS or something, because I wasn’t as into them then. They were just starting to break at the time. I remember watching them, maybe knowing four songs, whereas a year later, I would’ve been like, “Oh God…” [By that point] I’d listened to Nevermind a hundred times. Yeah, it’s a pity it didn’t happen a year or two later!
Nevermind had just come out. It was when they were just taking off, and Smells Like Teen Spirit was just starting to hit the charts, and they were starting to get big, but they had already booked the tour in Australia, which was 3000-seat venues, so they were contractually obligated to do this tour, whereas they could’ve played the tennis centre. I don’t know if it was frustrating for them, or maybe they enjoyed it, I don’t know. I don’t think Kurt seemed like he was in a pretty good place at the time. He wasn’t very well, I don’t think. Interesting to have been a part of history!
Whenever bands like NIRVANA come up, or bands that have been affected by death, particularly suicide, people tend to then put their previous existence on this amazing pedestal … After Kurt’s suicide, these gigs became these spectacles. How do you feel about that?
I think there are probably better examples then NIRVANA, because they were pretty huge before he died, but you’re totally right. They become almost untouchable, don’t they? In terms of their iconography, they become these almost religious figures. It’s a classic trope of music, isn’t it? You’ve got to die to get famous, you know?
[Scoffs] Who’d want to get appreciated in their own time?
Nah, fuck that. That’s for losers! [Laughs]
One of my favourite MEANIES songs is Punchin’ Air. It sounds like it was written about a bully. I’m 6’7” – do you need me to beat this person up for you? Because I will. That’ll be my way of bettering the Australian music scene, by beating up your bully.
[Laughs] Nah, I’m all good! If it was written about a specific person … maybe, but no. It’s not about being threatened by someone. It’s more about, intellectually, feeling frustrated, I think, and not being able to get through to someone. It’s just all about that frustration. And that’s just a metaphor; “punchin’ air” is like … it’s useless wasting your time with some people, you know? We’re seeing a lot of that on both sides of this whole current dilemma going on, which I’m not going to get into. No one’s listening to each other. I’m so over it, you know?
Everyone is on each other, whether it’s American politics, COVID … Unplug, go outside and touch grass, for fuck’s sake.
I know. I think everyone needs to slow down.
You guys are obviously booked for Uncaged next year. Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Old friends? New bands?
Because I’ve been pretty isolated over the last couple of years, and doing my own music, I’ve sort of lost track a little bit, so it’s going to be good to check out all the new bands. There’s a lot on [the bill] that I don’t know. But of course I’m going to love going to see TUMBLEWEED and MAGIC DIRT and seeing all the old friends and stuff, and catching up with them. That’s going to be a highlight. It’s a good mix for that festival. I like seeing them mix the old bands with the new ones. It’s good for us.
The Meanies play the Uncaged Festival in 2022 and are touring nationally until April. See website for all dates.
Pictured: Link McLennan, Jaws Stanley, Ringo Hobbs + Wally Kempton - THE MEANIES
Photo courtesy of themusic.com