Hard-Ons

{{Short description|Australian punk rock band}} {{Distinguish|text="hard on", a slang term for erection}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hard-Ons | image = The Hard-Ons (8386621730).jpg | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = Peter Black and Murray Ruse at the Rolling Stone Awards | background = group_or_band | alias = Dead Rats, Plebs, The Three Sinners | origin = Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia | genre = Punk rock, power pop, hardcore punk | years_active = {{start date|1982}}–{{end date|1994}}, 1997–present | label = ViNil, Chatterbox, Bad Taste, Waterfront, Alternative Tentacles, Cheersquad Records and Tapes | spinoffs = Nunchukka Superfly | website = | current_members = Peter "Blackie" Black Ray Ahn Murray Ruse Tim Rogers | past_members = Peter Kostic Keish de Silva }}

The '''Hard-Ons''' are an Australian punk rock band, that formed in 1982 in Punchbowl, New South Wales. Its founding members were Keish de Silva on lead vocals and drums, Peter "Blackie" Black on guitar and backing vocals, and Ray Ahn on bass guitar. The band issued five studio albums prior to their disbandment in 1994. The band reformed in 1997. In 2002, de Silva announced his departure from the band. He was replaced on drums by Front End Loader's Peter Kostic, while Black took over on lead vocals. Kostic was later replaced in turn by Conation drummer Murray Ruse in 2011. de Silva returned as a guest vocalist in 2014, and permanently rejoined the band in 2016. This version of the band would stay together for a further five years and one studio album, prior to de Silva's second departure in 2021. You Am I frontman Tim Rogers has since taken over as the band's lead vocalist.

Across their career, the band have had two singles, two EPs, three studio albums and one greatest-hits compilation peak within the ARIA top 100.<ref name="ARIACharts">{{cite Ryan|page=124}}</ref> They have sold over a quarter of a million albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/features/hard-ons-fourty-years-on-we-never-thought-wed-be-doing-this-forever/6OJW-v38__4/07-06-23|title=Hard Ons 40 Years On: 'We Never Thought We'd Be Doing This Forever' |website=The Music|date=7 June 2023|access-date=9 June 2023}}</ref>

==Biography== ===1981–1994: Early days to disbandment=== The Hard-Ons' origins are traced to Western Sydney's Punchbowl Boys High School, where three founding members were students.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="LWTTTBio"/> In 1981 the first version of the band, then-known as Dead Rats, included Peter "Blackie" Black on guitar, Brendan Creighton on drums and Shane Keish de Silva on guitar and vocals.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McGregor"/> In 1982 Creighton left to form Thrust and Raymond Dongwan Ahn joined on bass guitar with de Silva taking over on drums, the group began playing as The Plebs before being renamed as The Hard-Ons by the end of the year.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McGregor"/> Initially being too young to play in pubs, the band featured at birthday parties and school dances.<ref name="LWTTTBio"/> On 20 June 1984, The Hard-Ons played their first official show at the Vulcan Hotel in Ultimo.{{ref|CustomMade}} Black later recalled "We wanted to be punk rockers ... We didn't want Keish's parents to see so we had bags full of these jackets and chains and stuff and went around the corner of the street and put all these clothes on. Keish's dad busted us".<ref name="LWTTTBio"/> Quickly gaining a considerable following, in August 1985 the band released its debut extended play, ''Surfin' on My Face'', on ViNil Records.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> This was the beginning of a series of releases for the band that netted them a run of 17 consecutive No. 1 listings on the Australian alternative music charts.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

The band demonstrated an independent punk spirit, with the members deliberately controlling their own careers: recording, booking and promoting themselves, creating their own artwork (mostly by Ahn), choosing support bands and even managing the merchandise stand whilst on tour.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="McGregor"/> During 1987 the group were promoted as part of the Australian skate boarding scene.<ref name="Barrett"/> While maintaining a solid if underground following in Australia, The Hard-Ons were popular in Europe, scoring a Top 10 hit in Spain and a Top 5 slot in Greece with their 1989 album, ''Love is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts''. It also reached the Top 5 on the ''NME'' chart; this made The Hard-Ons the third Australian band after Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Go Betweens to do so. In 1989 the group recorded a split EP with British band The Stupids. Two years later they teamed up with Henry Rollins and released a cover version of AC/DC's hit, "Let There Be Rock", which was released in a limited edition on 10" vinyl. In January 1992 the group performed at the inaugural Big Day Out and were joined on-stage by Rollins on four songs.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Following the release of 1993's album, ''Too Far Gone'', and after recording a live album for Your Choice Records, the band announced their break up, to pursue projects outside The Hard-Ons' style of music: "after more than ten years of playing the same songs, they were just not interested in doing so any more".<ref name="McFarlane"/>

During the break-up of The Hard-Ons, Ahn and Black formed another punk band, Nunchukka Superfly, with Pete Allen of Massappeal on drums and, a short time later, James McCann from Harpoon on vocals; while de Silva created Malibu Stacey.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="LWTTTBio"/> Nunchukka Superfly released their debut, self-titled album in 1999.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Black compared Nunchukka Superfly with The Hard-Ons as "a much heavier and experimental outfit, citing psychedelic, avant-garde, progressive rock, free jazz, funk and dub among the usual inspirations of punk and post-punk".<ref name="LWTTTBio"/>

===1997–2020: Reformation=== In October 1997, The Hard-Ons played a reunion gig which was followed by the release of a new EP, ''Yesterday and Today'', in 1998 and a compilation album, ''The Best Of'', in 1999.<ref name="McFarlane"/> In August 2001, ABC TV broadcast the rock music series, ''Long Way to the Top''.<ref name="ABCTVDoco"/> The Hard-Ons featured on "Episode 6: Gathering of the Tribes 1984–2000" where they were described as "an eclectic band of misfits that took up where punk had left off in the early 80s. Their challenge was to make that sound relevant and exciting in the 1990s. There was nothing left but to get downright offensive".<ref name="LWEp6"/> In 2001 they played simultaneously with the Austrian noise musicians Farmers Manual as part of the What is Music? festival at the Newtown RSL.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hard Ons Vs. Farmers Manual Concert & Tour History |website=Concert Archives |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/hard-ons-vs-farmers-manual |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

Following ''This Terrible Place...'' in 2000, the band's first line-up change in twenty years occurred, with de Silva deciding to leave the band during 2001.<ref name="McGregor"/> Black took up full-time vocals and Pete Kostic (Front End Loader, Regurgitator) was brought in on drums.<ref name="McGregor"/> In 2002 The Hard-Ons and Boom Boom Kid issued a shared EP, ''Split!''.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 2003 The Hard-Ons released ''Very Exciting!'', their first album for Chatterbox Records.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In 2005, the 21st anniversary of the band's first pub gig was celebrated by Australian and European tours as a four-piece, with Kostic drumming and de Silva on vocals. Although technically a three-piece band, de Silva maintained a close relationship with his old band.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Recordings were made in 2006 with contributions from all four – though primarily Black, Ahn and Kostic – with the intention of releasing a double album. This project was eventually released as two separate albums: the 'poppier' ''Most People Are a Waste of Time'' (2006) and the 'heavier' ''Most People Are Nicer Than Us'' (2007), with subsequent tours around Australia. The band recorded with United States comedian Neil Hamburger on guest lead vocals in January 2008.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} In April 2011, the group announced via their website that Kostic had left. On 5 August that year Murray Ruse (Conation, Captain Cleanoff) played his first show as their new drummer.

In 2012, the band began re-issuing their early catalogue as bonus re-packagings featuring unreleased songs and live tracks. The first to be released was a new 60-track version of ''Smell My Finger'' and The Hard-Ons promoted it with a national tour. While working a shift as a taxi driver between legs of that tour on 18 May 2012, Black suffered a severely fractured skull when he was assaulted with a skateboard. Several fund-raising shows were held to raise money for his care and recovery, including special Hard-Ons shows in Sydney and Newcastle on 1 and 2 June that featured the line-up of Ahn, Kostic and de Silva on vocals and guitar. Within three months, Black had recovered sufficiently to perform a short tour in support of his solo album ''No Dangerous Gods in Tunnel'' that was followed by a Hard-Ons tour of Europe and Japan. Another Australian tour to wrap up the previously cancelled shows was completed in October, with a 51-track re-release of ''Dickcheese'' coming out around the same time.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===2021–present: de Silva's second departure and new music=== Keish de Silva was removed from the Hard-Ons in March 2021 following allegations of sexual misconduct. A planned documentary on the band was also cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hard-ons-keish-de-silva-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-24317/|title=Hard-Ons' Keish de Silva Accused of Sexual Misconduct|website=Au.rollingstone.com|date=19 March 2021|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

In August 2021, it was announced that Tim Rogers was the group's new lead singer. The band's thirteenth studio album was released on 8 October 2021, titled ''I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/music-news/tim-rogers-joins-hard-ons-lead-singer-you-am-i/13483256|title=Tim Rogers is the new lead singer of the Hard-Ons|website=ABC|date=4 August 2021|access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/news/newmusicfriday-james-blake-sam-teskey-moaning-lisa-and-more-out-now|title=NewMusicFriday: James Blake, Sam Teskey, Moaning Lisa and more out now!|website=ARIA Charts|date=8 October 2021|access-date=9 October 2021}}</ref> The album debuted at number 4 on the ARIA charts, becoming the band's first to enter the ARIA top 50.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/olivia-rodrigo-returns-to-aria-albums-chart-1-with-sour|title=Olivia Rodrigo returns to ARIA Albums Chart No. 1 with SOUR|website=ARIA Charts|date=5 October 2021|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>

In April 2023, the band announced a new album entitled ''Ripper '23'' and an accompanying Australian tour.<ref name="ripper">{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/the-hard-ons-new-album-australian-tour/|title=The Hard-Ons Announce New Album 'Ripper '23' and Accompanying Australian Tour|website=Music Feeds|date=4 April 2023|access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref> The album peaked at No. 28 on the national chart. During 2024, the Hard-Ons toured Australia with The Damned and played on four dates of Radio Birdman's 50th anniversary tour.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

''I Like You a Lot Getting Older'', the Hard-Ons' 15th studio album, was released on 4 October 2024.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} By 16 October 2024, it had reached number five in the ARIA Australian music charts. Their 40th anniversary Australian tour begins on 8 October 2024.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

==In film== A feature-length documentary film about the band's career titled ''The Most Australian Band Ever'', directed by Jonathan Sequeira, premieres at SXSW Sydney<ref name=malone2024>{{cite web |last=Malone |first=Ursula |title=Documentary charts 40-year career of Sydney punk band the Hard-Ons |website=ABC News |date=16 October 2024 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-17/documentary-sydney-punk-band-hard-ons/104471574 |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref> on 18 October 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=SXSW Sydney 2024 Schedule |website=SXSW Sydney |url=https://schedule.sxswsydney.com/sessions/fcd598e1-8e6b-4afd-bb32-8873738e728d |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

==Musical style== Early recordings by The Hard-Ons such as ''Smell My Finger'', ''Dickcheese'', ''Love Is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts'', and ''Yummy!'' set the blueprint for the group's sound: messy pop-punk with metal and psychedelia elements. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane described their music as "cheap and potent, their appeal selective. Yet never has so much been owed by so many to so few chords ... fused punk tempos, hardcore attitude, heavy metal riffs and surf-pop melodies into a seamless ball of energy".<ref name="McFarlane"/> A 1987 ''Beat Magazine'' article described their sound as "Motörhead meets the Beach Boys"; AllMusic's Jody McGregor describes it as a "mix of punk, pop, and metal" with "dashes of power pop, psychedelic rock, thrashy metal, and a healthy dose of humor".<ref name="McGregor"/> Though originally inspired by punk bands such as Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, Ramones and The Saints,{{ref|CustomMade}} the band also blended pop, psychedelia and metal elements; "death-pop" as described by Ahn.{{ref|NKVD}} The band had a very similar sound to Hüsker Dü, especially their Candy Apple Grey era. They were also noteworthy not only within punk but also within rock music for having their lead vocals handled by de Silva, the group's drummer. The physical challenge of drumming to the band's fast punk rock songs as well as singing (as opposed to shouting) made for charismatic live performances. Guitarist Black provided another original touch to the band with his distinctive guitar sound that is both melodic and messy, often making use of feedback.

Major recurring lyrical themes range from girls, love and relationships (as in: "I Do I Do I Do", "Just Being With You", "Girl in the Sweater") to toilet humour ("I Farted", "Oozin' for Pleasure") as well as other variations, particularly in the post-Keish line-up of the band.

==Band members== ===Current members=== * Ray Ahn – bass guitar, backing vocals (1982–1993, 1998–present) * Peter "Blackie" Black – guitar (1982–1993, 1998–present), backing vocals (1982–1993, 1998–2001, 2016–present), lead vocals (2001–2016, occasional live shows 2025–present) * Murray Ruse – drums (2011–present) * Tim Rogers – lead vocals (2021–present)

===Former members=== * Pete Kostic – drums (2002–2011, 2025 US tour; substitute for Murray Ruse) * Keish de Silva – drums (1982–1993, 1998–2001), lead vocals (1982–1993, 1998–2001, 2016–2021) * Jerry A – lead vocals (2025 US tour; substitute for Tim Rogers)

===Timeline=== <div class="left" > <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:0 right:30 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1982 till:05/07/2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:lines value:black legend:Studio_album

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1982 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1982

LineData = at:01/11/1986 color:black layer:back at:01/04/1988 color:black layer:back at:01/06/1989 color:black layer:back at:01/12/1990 color:black layer:back at:01/07/1993 color:black layer:back at:20/11/2000 color:black layer:back at:17/03/2003 color:black layer:back at:10/04/2006 color:black layer:back at:04/08/2007 color:black layer:back at:11/05/2010 color:black layer:back at:29/09/2014 color:black layer:back at:11/10/2019 color:black layer:back at:08/10/2021 color:black layer:back at:01/06/2023 color:black layer:back at:04/10/2024 color:black layer:back

BarData = bar:Keish text:"Keish de Silva" bar:Tim text:"Tim Rogers" bar:Blackie text:"Peter Black" bar:Ray text:"Ray Ahn" bar:Pete text:"Pete Kostic" bar:Murry text:"Murray Ruse" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Blackie from:start till:01/01/1994 color:guitar bar:Blackie from:start till:01/01/1994 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Ray from:start till:01/01/1994 color:bass bar:Keish from:start till:01/01/1994 color:drums width:3 bar:Keish from:start till:01/01/1994 color:vocals bar:Pete from:01/01/2002 till: 01/08/2011 color:drums bar:Blackie from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/2001 color:guitar bar:Blackie from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/2001 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Blackie from:31/12/2001 till:01/03/2016 color:vocals bar:Blackie from:31/12/2001 till:01/03/2016 color:guitar width:3 bar:Blackie from:01/03/2016 till:end color:guitar bar:Blackie from:01/03/2016 till:01/04/2021 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Blackie from:04/08/2021 till:01/02/2025 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Blackie from:01/02/2025 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Tim from:04/08/2021 till:end color:vocals bar:Ray from:01/01/1998 till:end color:bass bar:Ray from:01/01/1998 till:01/04/2021 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Ray from:04/08/2021 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Keish from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/2001 color:drums width:3 bar:Keish from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/2001 color:vocals bar:Murry from:01/08/2011 till:end color:drums bar:Keish from:01/03/2016 till:01/04/2021 color:vocals </timeline> </div>

==Discography==

=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="ARIACharts"/><ref>Peaks in Australia: * ''I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken'': {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Hard-Ons|title=Discography The Hard-Ons|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=16 October 2024}} * ''Ripper '23'': {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Hard-Ons|title=Discography Hard-Ons|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=16 October 2024}} * {{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/ybVOGJf|title=Part of Hard-Ons ARIA chart history 1988 to 2022, received from ARIA in 2022|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= 2 December 2023}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. * ''I Like You a Lot Getting Older'': {{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/kasey-chambers-lands-10-top-10s|title=Kasey Chambers lands 10 top 10s|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=11 October 2024|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Smell My Finger'' | * Released: November 1986 * Label: Waterfront (DAMP 37) * Formats: LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Dickcheese'' | * Released: April 1988 * Label: Waterfront (DAMP 71) * Formats: LP, Cassette | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Love Is a Battlefield of Wounded Hearts'' | * Released: June 1989 * Label: Waterfront (DAMP102, SOL19 CD) * Formats: LP, cassette, CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Yummy!'' | * Released: December 1990 * Label: Waterfront, Festival (DAMP147, C 30500, SOL26 CD) * Formats: LP, cassette, CD | 93 |- ! scope="row" | ''Too Far Gone'' | * Released: June 1993 * Label: Waterfront, Festival (C 30989, DAMP 181) * Formats: LP, Cassette, CD | 107 |- ! scope="row" | ''This Terrible Place...'' | * Released: 20 November 2000 * Label: Chatterbox (CB014) * Formats: LP, CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Very Exciting!'' | * Released: 17 March 2003 * Label: Chatterbox (CB028) * Formats: CD, LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Most People Are a Waste of Time'' | * Released: 10 April 2006 * Label: Chatterbox (CB047) * Formats: CD, LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Most People Are Nicer Than Us'' | * Released: 4 August 2007 * Label: Chatterbox (CB059) * Formats: CD, LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform or Die'' | * Released: 11 May 2010 * Label: The Cool Bananas Record Company (COOL1) * Formats: LP, CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Peel Me Like a Egg'' | * Released: 29 September 2014 * Label: Citadel * Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download | — |- ! scope="row" | ''So I Could Have Them Destroyed'' | * Released: 11 October 2019 * Label: Music Farmers * Formats: CD, vinyl, streaming | — |- ! scope="row" | ''I{{'}}m Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken'' | * Released: 8 October 2021 * Label: Cheersquad * Formats: CD, vinyl, streaming, Cassette | 4 |- ! scope="row" | ''Ripper '23'' | * Released: 2 June 2023<ref name="ripper"/> * Label: Cheersquad * Formats: CD, vinyl, streaming, Cassette | 26 |- ! scope="row" | ''I Like You a Lot Getting Older'' | * Released: 4 October 2024 * Label: Cheersquad * Formats: CD, vinyl, streaming, Cassette | 71 |}

=== Soundtrack albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of soundtrack ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/olivia-dean-doubles-up|title= Olivia Dean doubles up|website=ARIA Charts|date=12 December 2025|access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''The Most Australian Band Ever! – The Secret Origin of the Hard-Ons'' | * Released: 5 December 2025 * Label: Cheer (9361385181502) * Formats: LP, CD, Cassette | 54 |}

=== Compilation albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of compilation albums ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="ARIACharts"/> |- ! scope="row" | ''Hard-Ons'' | * Released: 1986 (US) * Label: Big Time Records (6040-1-B) * Formats: LP, Cassette * Note: US compilation | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Hot for Your Love, Baby'' | * Released: December 1987 * Label: Waterfront Records (DAMP 63) * Formats: LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''The Worst of...'' | * Released: 1988 (Europe) * Label: Vinyl Solution (SOL-8) * Formats: LP * Note: UK & Europe compilation | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Junk 1984–1987'' | * Released: 1991 * Label: * Formats: LP | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Rarities'' | * Released: 1994 * Label: Waterfront Records (DAMP182) * Formats: CD, Cassette | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Singles'' | * Released: 1994 * Label: Waterfront Records (DAMP183) * Formats: CD, Cassette | 127 |- ! scope="row" | ''A Decade of Rock'' | * Released: October 1994 * Label: Waterfront Records, Festival Records (DAMP 182, DAMP 183) * Formats: 2× CD * Note: Combines ''Singles'' and ''Rarities'' | 68 |- ! scope="row" | ''The Best of...'' | * Released: 1999 * Label: Citadel Records (CITCD 546) * Formats: CD, Cassette | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Suck and Swallow: 25 Years 25 Songs'' | * Released: 23 March 2009 * Label: Boss Tuneage Records (BTRCRS037) * Formats: CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Eat Shit Listen to Horrible Music'' | * Released: 2 May 2010 * Label: Insubordination Records (116) * Formats: CD, LP | — |- |}

=== Live albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of live albums ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''Your Choice Live Series'' | * Released: 1995 * Label: Your Choice Records (YCLS 026) * Formats: CD * Note: German release |-

! scope="row" | ''Live at the Annandale '' | * Released: 2011 * Label: We Empty Rooms (WER 15) * Formats: LP * Note: Recorded at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney |- |}

=== Extended plays === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of extended plays ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| EP details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="ARIACharts"/> |- ! scope="row" | ''Surfin' on My Face'' | * Released: August 1985 * Label: ViNil Records (VR 006) * Formats: 7" vinyl | — |- ! scope="row" | ''No Cheese (The High-Way to Hell Tour Souvenir)'' | * Released: 1988 * Label: Waterfront Records (DAMP 88) * Formats: 10" vinyl * Note: Split EP with The Stupids, Tennant All Stars and Pittman All Stars | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Sick of Being Sick'' | * Released: 28 July 1989 * Label: Waterfront Records (DAMP111) * Formats: 7" vinyl * Note: aka ''Giveaway EP'' | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Where the Wild Things Are...'' | * Released: 1992 * Label: Waterfront Records, Festival Records (DAMP 170, D 16022) * Formats: 7" vinyl, CD, Cassette * Note: Split EP with Celibate Rifles | 51 |- ! scope="row" | ''Dateless Dudes' Club!'' | * Released: May 1992 * Label: Waterfront Records, Festival Records (DAMP176, D 29127) * Formats: CD, Cassette | 78 |- ! scope="row" | ''Test'' | * Released: January 1994 * Label: Waterfront Records, Festival Records (DAMP183, D11550) * Formats: CD, Cassingle | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Yesterday and Today'' | * Released: May 1999 * Label: One Way Street Records (OWSEP01) * Formats: CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Split!'' | * Released: 2002 * Label: * Formats: * Note: Split EP with Boom Boom Kid | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Pay Attention Collector Scum'' | * Released: 7 November 2008 * Label: Stiff Records (BUY 666) * Formats: CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''American Exports'' (with Neil Hamburger) | * Released: April 2009 * Label: Red Lounge Records (RLR 062) * Formats: 7" vinyl * Note: Vocals by Neil Hamburger | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Split'' | * Released: 16 October 2010 * Label: * Formats: 7" vinyl * Note: Split EP with The Manges | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Shit-Pants-Shit-Pants'' | * Released: 2011 * Label: Boss Tuneage, The Cool Bananas Record Company (BTRC060, COOL3) * Formats: CD | — |- ! scope="row" | ''Redd Kross/Hard-Ons'' | * Released: 27 February 2026 * Label: Cheersquad Records * Formats: 12" vinyl, digital * Note: Split EP with Redd Kross | 48 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2026-03-09|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=9 March 2026|access-date=6 March 2026}}</ref> |}

===Charting singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+List of singles which had a chart position within the ARIA top 100 !rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:22em;"| Title !rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year !colspan="1"| Chart peak positions !rowspan="2" scope="col"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS <ref name="ARIACharts"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/rl0JXlE.png|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from : 27/07/92 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 130)|via=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Let There Be Rock" {{small|(with Henry Rollins)}} | 1991 | 65 | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "She's a Dish" | 1992 | 64 |}

===DVDs=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Title ! Date |- |''The Hard-Ons vs. Europe 2007'' |2008 |- |}

===Reissues=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- !'''Volume''' !'''Title''' !'''Description''' !'''Date''' |- |'''1''' '''''(1984–1987)''''' |''Smell My Finger'' |60 track double C.D. featuring every release from the period, demos, live tracks and rarities |2012 |- |'''2''' '''''(1987–1988)''''' |''Dickcheese'' |51 track double C.D. featuring every release from the period, demos, live tracks and rarities |2013 |- |}

==Awards and nominations== ===AIR Awards=== The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. {{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2022 | ''I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken'' | Best Independent Rock Album or EP | {{nom}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-air-independent-music-awards-2022/|title=Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022|website=musicfeeds|date=1 June 2022|access-date=1 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="AIRwins2022">{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/genesis-owusu-wins-big-at-the-2022-air-awards/|title=Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards|website=MusicFeeds|date=5 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|author=Tyler Jenke}}</ref> |- | 2023 | ''Yummy'' (re-release) | Best Independent Punk Album or EP | {{nom}} | <ref name="AIRnoms2023">{{cite web|url= https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-the-australian-independent-music-awards-2023/|title= Nominees Announced for the Australian Independent Music Awards 2023 |website=Music Feeds|date=31 May 2023|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="AIRwins2023">{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/air-awards-2023-winners/|title=King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards |website=Music Feeds|date= 4 August 2023|access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref> {{end}}

=== Don Banks Music Award === Foundation band members, Raymond Ahn and Peter "Blackie" Black, were honoured jointly with the 2025 Don Banks Music Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Briggs|first=Maddy|date=2025-11-19|title=2025 Creative Australia Awards announced|url=https://limelight-arts.com.au/news/2025-creative-australia-awards-announced/|access-date=2026-02-23|website=Limelight|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==References== {{Refbegin}} ;General * {{Cite encyclopedia | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | author-link = Ian McFarlane | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | title = Whammo Homepage | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | archive-date = 5 April 2004 | access-date = 18 January 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality. ;Specific {{Refend}} {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="McFarlane">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040615182929/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=874 'The Hard-Ons'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=874 the original] on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2013.</ref>

<ref name="Holmgren">{{Cite web | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hardons.html | publisher = Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) | title = The Hard-Ons | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | access-date = 28 January 2013 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110805194217/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hardons.html | archive-date = 5 August 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="McGregor">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic | pure_url=yes | class=artist | id=p13140 }} | title = Hard-ons | last = McGregor | first = Jody | publisher = Rovi Corporation | work = Allmusic | access-date =28 January 2013 }}</ref>

<ref name="LWTTTBio">{{cite web | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | date = 22 November 2002 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/longway/artist_index/hardons.htm | title = Band: Hard Ons – Stories and Highlights from 1982 | work = Long Way to the Top | access-date = 28 January 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="ABCTVDoco">{{cite web | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | date = 22 November 2002 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/longway | title = ABC Online – ''Long Way to the Top'' | access-date = 28 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101124010521/http://www.abc.net.au/longway/ | archive-date = 24 November 2010 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="LWEp6">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/longway/episode_6/ | title = Episode6: Gathering of the Tribes 1984–2000 | work = Long Way to the Top | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = 28 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111022150137/http://www.abc.net.au/longway/episode_6/ | archive-date = 22 October 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Barrett">{{cite news | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170425054615/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/rock-of-ages-20121016-27pdd.html | url = http://www.theage.com.au/action/printArticle?id=3718705 | title = Rock of Ages | last = Barrett | first = Peter | work = The Age | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 27 October 2012 | archive-date = 25 April 2017 | access-date = 28 January 2013 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

*{{note|Hard-OnsnetAbout}}[http://www.hard-ons.net/about.html Hard-Ons.net history] by Murray Engleheart *{{note|BadTaste}}[http://www.badtasterecords.se/bands.asp?id=23 Bad Taste Records biography]

}}

Category:Australian punk rock groups Category:Australian power pop groups Category:Australian hardcore punk groups Category:Musical groups established in 1982 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1994 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1997 Category:Musical groups from Sydney Category:Alternative Tentacles artists Category:Shield Recordings artists