Goons of Doom - rock heathens?

Tue 1st Aug, 2006 in Features

Fresh from touring with Californian legends Pennywise, Goons of Doom guitarist Vaughan Dead lets us in on a few of the Goons’ blood thirsty antics. Such as what not to do at the Jack Awards and how to maintain a healthy relationship with loved ones whilst on tour…

The Goons of Doom are a five piece outfit that guitarist Vaughn Dead informs me “Got our name from a kindergarten pal, Steel Eel,” Eel apparently was commenting on the amounts of cheap boxed wine that they all consumed. Vaughn admits that “our drummer Cut Throat Cowboy is definitely the biggest GOON of all.”

According to Vaughan Dead, “the Goons have been friends since kindie, surfing and chilling together,” saying that, “the surfing definitely came before the music.” When asked his favourite place to play, Vaughn responded with “Anywhere, as long it’s to happy drunks.” His favourite place to surf though was a little more particular. “Great Banks, North swirl, West wind, Southey.” I guess only a fellow surfer knows the feeling.

Vaughn admits that although the Goons “have only been playing guitars for two years or so” they have already embarked on a couple of overseas tours. He elaborates: ”We toured America and Japan…Japan was so cool; an all-expenses paid tour, playing at Veans – a ritzy department store. We played topless to 1500 hundred people with our nipples bleeding.”

Vaughn believes his craziest tour moment (even crazier than bleeding nipples?) was “playing in America in Florida, and Killer Whale  (the band’s other guitarist) “kicked a skinhead in the teeth that was in the crowd,” he went on to explain that “luckily enough the bouncers happily escorted the skinheads out” and the Goons finished their gig unscathed.

When I asked “What are you currently listening too?” Vaughn Dead said “Ozzy Wrong, Wizard of Death’s – Popeye the Sailor Man” When asked what his and the Goons plans were over the next few years Vaughan jokingly replied “biggest inevitable plan is to be world famous…we want to be world famous.”

The Goons started their band, Vaughn explains when “we couldn’t afford to pay for the rights to any other bands to put on our surfing video – Dope Juice” with support from Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater and Volcom and using their own music they eventually pulled it together.

The Story of Dead Barbie and the Ghost, The Goons of Dooms latest EP will hit the shelves in all good record stores soon. “Recorded in only four days with Ian Pritchett” Vaughn says the album has taken eight months to release but is sure to please fans of the first album Bikey Zombie that according to Dead “sold ten thousand copies charting at number eighteen on the Australian Independent Recording charts”.

Having recently come off the road from touring with Pennywise and Grinspoon, The Goons have plenty of tales of laddish behaviour whilst out on tour. But the old adage – what goes on tour stays on tours seems to have slipped Vaughan Dead’s mind. When asked which was his favourite band to tour with Vaughan jumped in quick with his response “Modular Lounge”. What he thought of touring with Pennywise – his response –  ”really cool, although by the end of the tour I think our antics wore them out.” When touring and hanging with The Grinners, Vaughn Dead fesses up that “I stole Phil’s guitar when on tour, he stole it back leaving me guitar less at one of our gigs.”

The singer from Grinspoon, according to Vaughan  “gave them a standing ovation at the  Jack Awards,” not long before the Goons of Doom were asked to vacate the premises for unruly behaviour: “Ozzy pegged a can at the head of one of the boys from Faker,” explains Vaughan.

Yet with all the perks of touring and living a rock and roll lifestyle, Vaughan confesses his favourite place to be  is still “staying close to the bosom of my partner” with his young family,  “it’s surely the best place I would like to be”, he quickly adds “along with being on my own private jet and drinking copious amounts of alcoholic bevies, touring and recording.”

“Keeping your head on the bosom pillow of your better half helps to maintain a healthy relationship whilst touring,” Vaughan finishes.

See the Goons of Doom launch their new album The Story of Dead Barbie and the Ghost at the following venues:

Thursday August 3 – The Modular Lounge
Friday  August 4 – The Great Northern Hotel
Saturday August 5 – The Sol Bar, Coolum