Are Fox Trotsky & TheExplosives The 153rd MostDangerous Band In The World?

Sat 30th Apr, 2005 in Features

The combination of monkeys and music has been a longstanding one. There are songs about monkeys, monkeys have adorned album covers and, hell, there was even a band called The Monkees (illogical misspelling notwithstanding). “But,” you’re wondering, “musicians may like monkeys, but why don’t they play rock and roll? They can type romance novels, can’t they?” Lucky for you, Fox Trotsky has answered your dilemma. Recruiting three – Fizz Fazz, Barry and Turbo – for Bathurst’s premier electro garage punk pop outfit Fox Trotsky And The Explosives, the former Nancy Vandal frontman says “it’s a popular misconception that monkeys are not interested in performing human music. You’d think that with all of Robbie Williams’ success people would accept they really do want to get actively involved. I believe that the Explosives can be the crossover act that brings down the walls of ignorance that surround simian-based rock and roll.”

To recap: Nancy Vandal (nee Nancy Vandal And The Popgun Assassins) first arrived on the scene in 1994 with debut EP Return Of The Zombie Skate Poets From Planet Sex. It was the start of a long, albeit remarkably monkey-free, career. Jason Whalley of Frenzal Rhomb joined the band for one album in 1996 before 1997’s Bikini High Pool Party Massacre 3.. Who Invited The Undead? added a brass section and featured the singles Move Over Satan and Rock And Roll Concert. The band toured. And toured. And toured some more, supporting the likes of TISM, Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake. But following the release of 1999’s electro-tinged album I’ve Wasted My Life, the band split. “I always wanted to avoid being one of those bands that outstays their welcome, and can’t see the writing on the wall,” Trotsky explains. “When we quit the writing was clear and in bold print.” A one-off reunion show at Sydney’s Manning Bar in late 2003 proved successful. “It was easily the biggest crowd we’ve ever drawn on our own so logic suggests if we continue doing one of these shows every two years, by 2030 we’ll be fucking massive!”

But now the Explosives are on the scene. Described as an amalgamation of some of Trotsky’s favourite artists, namely The Ramones, The B52s and Gary Newman, the Explosives’ sound “pretty much continues where Nancy Vandal were heading with I’ve Wasted My Life, but with even more electro stuff.” Debut single The 153rd Most Dangerous Band In The World has hit radio airwaves and filmclip has hit TV screens, with the track a succinct encapsulation of just how dangerous Trotsky and his army of simians are. “We’ve never taken it to the man / but we sent him an indignant fax.” “We take drugs / Codral non-drowsy formula.” It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the burning issue remains: in the grand scheme of dangerousness, how does ranking 153 compare with other artists? “Someone pointed out to me that considering how many bands exist in the entire world, to be 153rd is most dangerous indeed. I will have to check with W. Axl Rose – for it is he who maintains the list and actual rankings – but I know at one stage recently we dropped to 191 which was just ahead of Skid Row. I promptly swore at an MTV Awards night and propelled us up to 153.”

And you can save your pennies, kids, as The 153rd Most Dangerous Band and all future Explosives recordings are only available as free mp3s through xraystudios.com or mp3.com.au. “I’m kind of a rock and roll Robin Hood – I steal musical ideas from the rich, and give them to the poor. Although there is nothing preventing the rich to download them as well, I suppose.. the philosophy is a work in progress.” Technology-centric philosophical musings aside, the frontman is laying down the law about what it will take to get the new project on the road. “I’ve promises to tour the Explosives if we get to support Joan Jett – however in that scenario I would probably be too nervous to perform and embarrass Joan by asking her to marry me. This could also cause waves with my existing wife.”

Trotsky is also working on another project – Dr. Loomis – featuring members of Nancy Vandal and The Tenants. Originally named Rich Uncle Skeleton, the band is newly monikered after discovering another band with the same namesake (“who would have thought other people thought The Simpsons was funny, as well as me?”). Dr. Loomis tracks will soon be available to download alongside Explosives tracks at Trotsky’s X-Ray Studios site. The multimedia company (“it seemed like a natural progression from being an unemployed bum”) has created short films, animations, music videos and advertisements – a comprehensive collection of which can be found on the recently released double DVD X-Ray Studios Vol. 1 – Ow! My Eyeball!! Disc 1 features “a cavalcade” of X-Ray produced material, while Disc 2 is chockers of archival Nancy Vandal live footage, film clips and commentaries. “Pretty much all of the Nancy Vandal stuff is 2nd or 3rd generation video material which kind of makes a mockery of the DVD format, however at least you can skip to wherever you want to go to now” Trotsky explains.

So with no sign of the Explosives or Dr. Loomis slowing down, it’s best for you jump on the bandwagon now. There’s just no way of knowing what might happen if you anger the 153rd most dangerous band we know.

Fox Trotsky And The Explosives’ debut single is available to download here and you can also order the double DVD Ow! My Eyeball! for AUD $22 postage paid.