Rex Banner / Homewrecker

Please state your name, what you do in Rex Banner and tell us the name of the first pornographic film you were lucky enough to see? 

Adrian John Kelly, hire the van and carry the merch and “Kascha And Friends.” I hope my dad doesn’t read that I know I found his porn stash. Awkward.  

Describe your band in one sentence… 

An incredibly bland combination of pop, skate punk and melodic hardcore that upsets people a lot. 

Why did you choose to release a split with Homewrecker? 

We did a split with Homewrecker because they are our friends and it was an easy way to make our band look credible. 

Say something nice about Homewrecker…

 

No. Pat is a jerk, Josh is a sweater, Penno is an emo icon, Greg is a drunk and Billy is the nicest person in Sydney. 

The artwork for the split is awesome, who came up with the concept?

Callum Preston AKA The Tooth AKA the emo from Her Nightmare AKA legendary Parma eater came up with the concept when high on paint fumes at the Everfresh studio. Rex Banner is too retarded to make legitimate artistic decisions so I took it out of our hands and put it in his. Penno had a good crack as well I believe. 

Rex Banner and Homewrecker toured together in support of the split’s release, which member of Homewrecker has the worst habits on the road? 

Well, they are all a bunch of little girls so all of them. Penno chucking a tanty and breaking his guitar was pretty awesome and a DIY punx band touring in the Macbeth corporate footwear sponsor mobile was definitely good for a laugh. Pat playing with one hand was also sweet, even if no one got it. Not playing the AFI cover was pretty bad though. 

Do you think the tracks on the split are an accurate portrayal of where your band is currently at? 

Yes Cameron, I do believe so. We are rapidly honing in on the Rex Banner sound. Which is a blend of Paramore and Napalm Death. 

Does God have a place in punk rock? 

Rex Banner is actually a Christian band. Not many people know that. We all met at various Hillsong services and are currently negotiating with the church for them to fund our next record, buy us new gear and straighten our hair. Tooth And Nail reps were at some of the split launch shows to check us out, hopefully it goes well. 

Who are some up and coming Australian bands that you want to give props to? 

I heard Party Vibez today and they are pretty ruling. They are from Melbourne and do party thrash.  Also Values Here from Brisbane sound like Ambitions and the whole Sam’s Shed crew keep churning out rad bands like Germhead, Ghost Town and Skyway. 

What’s in store for the rest of 2008? 

We go on tour with Amity, A Secret Death and House Vs Hurricane in October, which will be sick. Then we will re-double our efforts at writing our full length and do a couple of local shows. 

Is Adrian Kelly the biggest fuckhead in the Australian music scene?  

No. Pretty close though. Top 10 at least. 

 

Homewrecker questions answered by Pat Cahill (vocals) 

Please state your name, what you do in Homewrecker and tell us the name of the first pornographic film you were lucky enough to see? 

My name is Pat and I do vocals for Homewrecker. I cant remember the name, but it was German and had a girl dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Wasn’t half bad!  

Describe your band in one sentence…  

Fast, hardcore, punk. 

Why did you choose to release a split with Rex Banner?  

Because Kelly wouldn’t leave me alone until we agreed. Haha. We’re friends with those guys and we had just gone through a major line-up re shuffle so it seemed like a good idea to get something out there with the new guys. 

Say something nice about Rex Banner…  

Those dudes can fucking play!! 

The artwork for the split is awesome, who came up with the concept? 

 

Well that credit goes to Callum ‘the tooth’ Preston, The smashed up tapes was an awesome idea. Seriously it’s hard enough getting 5 guys to agree on artwork for a release, let alone 10 haha.  

But I think everyone was stoked on how it turned out in the end. 

Rex Banner and Homewrecker toured together in support of the split’s release, which member of Rex Banner has the worst habits on the road? 

 

I never got the chance to spend a whole lot of time in their van, but with the amount of shit they give Brendan it has to be him haha. 

Do you think the tracks on the split are an accurate portrayal of where your band is currently at? 

 

NOOOO way!!  

We had just gone through replacing both guitarists and our drummer maybe 2 months before we recorded for the split, and to get the guys ready to play shows let alone writing was fucking hard work. I mean I’m happy with how the songs turned out and I’m glad we did it but I think everyone has found their place in the band a lot more now.  

Does God have a place in punk rock? 

 

Punks all about the freedom to be yourself isn’t it?? But I don’t know I mean personally I don’t Believe in God. But hey if it helps someone get through the day then whatever. As long as it’s not forced upon me then I have no problem with it. Kids just need to exercise their judgement.

 

Who are some up and coming Australian bands that you want to give props to? 

 

Well there are a few that we’ve been able to play with, ill try and keep it short: Infection, Ghost town, Had It!! , The Hollow, The Farewell, Mentally Unstable, That’s about all I can of right now. Kids should definitely check those bands out if they haven’t. 

What’s in store for the rest of 2008? 

A few shows with Carpathian and The Hollow in November, We’re Playing with the Bronx in Sydney in December and I know its not 2008, but well be bringing in the new year with a few shows in Perth. 

 

Is Adrian Kelly the biggest fuckhead in the Australian music scene?  

 

I’m going to have to go ahead and agree with you on that one! haha