When you have as big a celebrity fan as Stephen King, you must be doing something right! The three-piece from Finley, New South Wales, Australia, often jump genres from disco-pop (Stevie, Calypso) to mutant dance (Arse Huggin' Pants) - in the course of a single album, no less. And yet, they still manage to rock like mofos (Shazam!, Outta My Head, and - of course - their cover of Black Betty).
The three band members Mark Maher or "Kram" (drums and vocals), Damien Whitty or "Whitt" on guitar and Janet English on bass/vocals come from the small town Finley in southern New South Wales where they jammed together in their youth.
The band moved to Melbourne, Australia where Kram was studying at the Victorian College of the Arts School of Music. The band played its first gig at a loungeroom for a friend's party. The band soon became part of Melbourne's punk scene playing gigs at venues like the Tote Hotel in Collingwood, Victoria. They released their first single Circle K on Au-Go-Go Records with an EP titled P'tang Yang Kipper Bang Uh! following in 1992. The band's first album Shashavaglava was released in 1992. 'Shashavaglava' means 'dickhead' in Croatian. This album featured the songs Old Man Sam and a cover of English comedians The Goodies' song Run.
Spiderbait signed with Polydor Records and released their first album with the new label, their second album overall, named The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake in 1995. The album reached #14 on the Australian charts with singles Monty and Jesus receiving extensive airplay on Triple J. The album title refers to an unfinished project by the Finley Rotary Club, which became a venue for teenage drinking in their home town.
Their third album Ivy and the Big Apples was released in 1996, reached #3 and sold over 180,000 copies in Australia. Their first single Buy Me a Pony received extensive airplay on Triple J resulting in listeners voting it as their favourite song of the year. The second single Calypso also achieved commercial airplay, and reached #13 in the Australian singles charts in 1997.
In 1998, Janet English and her then boyfriend Quan Yeomans of Regurgitator recorded an album as Happyland. Around the same time, Kram and Richie Lewis of Tumbleweed released their own side-project the Hot Rollers - so named as both member's mothers were hairdressers. The Hot Rollers only album (self-titled) was released through Polydor.
Spiderbait returned together in 1999 with the album Grand Slam which also debuted at #10 on the Australian album charts.
Despite good airplay for the Grand Slam singles Shazam! and Stevie, their 2001 album The Flight of Wally Funk was a commercial flop, only selling 20,000 copies. The album was recorded in Whitt's living room.
Spiderbait recorded the Tonight Alright album in Los Angeles with producer Sylvia Massy who had worked with acts such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Tool, System of a Down and Skunk Anansie. The first single Black Betty was a cover version of the old Leadbelly song which became a hit in 1977 when covered by Ram Jam. The single reached #1 after 10 weeks in the singles chart in May 2004 (after debuting at #12), and stayed there for three weeks, becoming their biggest selling single ever. The film clip featured a hot rod similar to the car on the ZZ Top Eliminator. The song also made the soundtrack to the Electronic Arts video game Need for Speed: Underground 2. Tonight Alright was released on 28 March 2004, and debuted and peaked at #14. The second single Fucken Awesome debuted in the top 30 on June 28 2004. Interscope Records signed the band in 2004 to distribute Tonight Alright in the US and UK.
At the 2004 ARIA awards, Kram performed as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
In September 2005 they released a Greatest Hits collection to reveal their back catalogue to younger fans who were caught up by Black Betty. This debuted at #6 and received a Gold Accreditation.
The band went on hiatus March 2005 after bassist Janet English gave birth to her daughter and planned a cycling tour across Europe. More recently Kram had announced plans of a solo album to be released sometime in 2006. On 18 November 2006 the band performed at the Queensland Council of Unions organised Rock the Vote! concert in Brisbane after a nine month hiatus from touring.
The band recorded a cover of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" as the main theme for the film Ghost Rider (2007), starring Nicolas Cage. A small excerpt is played during the film, and then in its entirety as the first song when the credits roll. The band's song "Glokenpop" is featured in the 2009 game LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation Portable. Kram released his debut solo album, Mix Tape, in March 2009. In 2010, Magnapop's album Chase Park featured a cover of Spiderbait's song "Jesus" from The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake. In December of that year, they supported Guns N' Roses at a Sydney gig. The band recorded a cover of "Rock-a-Bye Your Bear" for the compilation ReWiggled - A Tribute to the Wiggles.[41]
2013–present: End of hiatus and self-titled album
In an interview with Triple J in February 2013, Kram announced that Spiderbait were in the studio, working on their first album in seven years, saying "We're doing a new record and we're about halfway through. We're just writing demos at the moment and it's coming along well. We're back in our Motorhead and Metallica metal phase—I'm all double kick at the moment."
The self-titled album, Spiderbait, was released on 15 November 2013. The band played a gig on the same day, for the opening night of the Jam Gallery, a new music venue in Bondi Junction.
On 11 March 2022, the band released "My Car's a A UFO", their first new song in nine years. The song was initially recorded for their fifth album, The Flight of Wally Funk and is the lead single from the band's third compilation album, 'Sounds in the Key of J, scheduled for released on 8 April 2022.
Studio Discography
Shashavaglava (1993)
The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake (1995)
Ivy and the Big Apples (1996)
Grand Slam (1999)
The Flight of Wally Funk (2001)
Tonight Alright (2004)
Spiderbait (2013)
Scenester
Spiderbait Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like, like people have been great
They're like um
Like, like I had no idea
Like totally tranquil
Like, like
Like, like I thought it was just like
Like, that's all you know,
Like I'll tell you about it when I get home
Hey, look at me I'm a scenester
Hey, look at me I'm a scenester
Hey, look at me I'm a scenester
Can't get away from me, scenester
Go to all the rock and roll places
Seen with all the rock and roll faces
I'm gonna be a good bassist
When I get myself a new tattoo
Buy all the records that they do
Go to all the shows that they do
Wear all the clothes that they do
I don't give a shit I don't have to
Hate rock stars that are plastic
'Specially when they're geriatric
Now they think that kids are fantastic
They're so young and cute and they're so cool
Feel so good I'm a scenester
Feel so good I'm a scenester
Feel so good I'm a scenester
Can't stop me now I'm a scenester
Deep down inside I'm a racist
Deep down inside I'm a sexist
Don't know much but I know that
If you had Docs like me you'd be cool too
The song Scenester by Spiderbait is a satirical critique of the "scenester" subculture. The lyrics begin with a description of the supposed friendliness and tranquility of the people in this scene, which is then followed with the refrain "Hey, look at me I'm a scenester" sung repeatedly throughout the track. The singer describes their desire to be a part of this scene by going to rock and roll venues and associating with the "rock and roll faces." The singer also mentions their aspiration to be a bassist, and how they perceive tattoos as a symbol of coolness. The rest of the lyrics continue to mock the trend-following nature of scenesters, stating that they will buy the same records, attend the same shows, and wear the same clothes as their favorite musicians.
However, the song does not just mock the scenester's subculture but also highlights the singer's inherent biases as they declare that they are a racist and a sexist "deep down inside." The final line "If you had Docs like me you'd be cool too" implies that the singer is wearing Dr. Martens, a popular choice of footwear for the punk and alternative subcultures. The song is ultimately a commentary on the ridiculousness of subcultural trend-following and the inherent biases that can exist within even those who claim to be against mainstream culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Like people here are like really friendly
The people in this community are excessively friendly, accommodating, and welcoming.
Like, like people have been great
The individuals in this community are exceptional, and it is evident in their attitude and behavior.
They're like um
The people in the group are hesitant or unsure when communicating with outsiders.
Like, like I had no idea
The newfound understanding and knowledge gained by the artist arose due to their recent exposure to the group and their behavior.
Like totally tranquil
The atmosphere and setting of the community are relaxed and peaceful.
Hey, look at me I'm a scenester
The singer is a scenester and wants others to be aware of this fact.
Can't get away from me, scenester
The singer's involvement in the rock and roll community and behaviors associated with it make it impossible for others to ignore them.
Go to all the rock and roll places
The artist frequents rock and roll venues and events.
Seen with all the rock and roll faces
The artist interacts with well-known individuals within the rock and roll community.
I'm gonna be a good bassist
The artist aspires to be proficient at playing the bass musical instrument.
When I get myself a new tattoo
Getting a new tattoo is a pre-requisite for the singer's entry into the rock and roll scene.
Buy all the records that they do
The artist purchases all the records produced by their favorite rock and roll bands.
Go to all the shows that they do
The singer attends all the rock and roll performances of their favorite bands.
Wear all the clothes that they do
The clothes and apparel associated with the rock and roll genre are the singer's primary attire.
I don't give a shit I don't have to
The singer is indifferent to societal norms and believes they don't have to conform to expectations.
Hate rock stars that are plastic
The artist detests rock stars who act artificial and pretentious.
'Specially when they're geriatric
The artist is particularly disgusted when older rock stars try to act young and hip but fail miserably.
Now they think that kids are fantastic
The singer views older rock stars as hypocrites for praising and celebrating youth.
They're so young and cute and they're so cool
The singer admires young people for their charm, good looks and personification of the qualities they deem as cool.
Feel so good I'm a scenester
The artist feels a sense of pride and elation by being part of the rock and roll community.
Can't stop me now I'm a scenester
The artist's involvement in the rock and roll scene has made them unstoppable and determined to stay attached to it.
Deep down inside I'm a racist
The artist has latent racist tendencies.
Deep down inside I'm a sexist
The singer has latent sexist tendencies.
Don't know much but I know that
The artist has limited knowledge or insight into topics but is confident in their beliefs.
If you had Docs like me you'd be cool too
The singer believes that the type of shoes they wear (Doc Martens) elevates their social status and grants them universal coolness.
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dalmanation
Hey look at me!
Emot Ikontruck491
I'm a scenester.
karma bad
Dalmanation send pics of feet pls
murphysinfinland
They were on blob in these days
Tim Climie
Seth Rogan.