The Bennies

{{Short description|Australian band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Bennies | image = | caption = | landscape = | alias = Madonna (2009–2011) | origin = Melbourne, Victoria | genre = Punk rock, ska, reggae | years_active = 2009–present | label = Vinnies Records, Pool House Records, Poison City Records | spinoffs = Loser, Previous Future | website = [http://www.thebennies.com.au thebennies.com.au] | current_members = Anty Horgan DJ SNESmega Nick Williams Ollie Roots Dougie Rankin Joe Larwood | past_members = Steve Lavery Christos Salaoras Craig Selak David Beaumont Jules Rozenbergs Nick Thunder Marco Foxlee Sam Faulkner }}

'''The Bennies''' are an Australian ska punk band originally from Melbourne, Victoria and currently based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Forming in 2009, the band has under-gone multiple line-up changes; lead vocalist and synth player Anty Horgan is the band's only remaining original member. Self-described as "psychedelic reggae ska doom metal punk rock from Hell,"<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies - triple j unearthed |url=https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/bennies |website=triple j Unearthed |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> the band are known for their high-energy live shows<ref>{{cite web |title=LIVE REVIEW: THE BENNIES @ THE TRIFFID |url=http://aaabackstage.com/live-review-the-bennies-the-triffid/ |website=AAA Backstage |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=James |title=The Bennies @ Adelaide Uni Bar Review |url=http://scenestr.com.au/music/the-bennies-adelaide-uni-bar-review |website=Scenestr.com.au |publisher=Eyeball Media |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> and their mix of genres including dub, punk rock and heavy metal. To date, the band have released five studio albums and two EPs.

==History==

The band originally formed in 2009 under the name Madonna.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=David |title=The Bennies - Beat Magazine |url=http://www.beat.com.au/music/bennies-4 |website=Beat Magazine |publisher=Furst Media |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> Under this name, the band released a self-titled collection of demo recordings on CD in 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=Madonna (The Bennies) - Madonna |url=https://jackknifemusic.bandcamp.com/album/madonna-the-bennies-madonna-cd |website=Bandcamp |publisher=Jackknife Music |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> before changing their name to The Bennies the following year due to legal issues concerning the use of the name. Under their new name, The Bennies would release their debut album ''Party Party Party!'' on 3 September 2011 via Jackknife Music.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies - Party! Party! Party! |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Bennies-Party-Party-Party/release/5115495 |website=Discogs |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> In 2012, the band underwent their first line-up change after guitarist Steve Lavery departed from the band and was replaced by Christos "Souv" Salaoras. Following a tour of Japan later that year, Salaoras also left The Bennies. His replacement was Jules Rozenbergs, who had previously played in Melbourne punk bands Kimbo<ref>{{cite web |title=Kimbo - triple j Unearthed |url=https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/kimbo-0 |website=triple j Unearthed |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> and The Gun Runners.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gun Runners - triple j Unearthed |url=https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/gun-runners |website=triple j Unearthed |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> This line-up would remain intact for the next six years, with their first release being 2013's ''Better Off Dread'' EP on April 20, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jacknife Records To Release THE BENNIES "Better Off Dread" |url=http://restassuredzine.com/news/1866-jacknife-records-to-release-the-bennies-qbetter-off-dreadq |website=Rest Assured Zine |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> This was followed by ''Rainbows in Space'', the band's second studio album, which was released in November. It marked the band's first release with Poison City Records,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies Sign To Poison City |url=https://themusic.com.au/article/HacOMTAzMjU/the-bennies-sign-to-poison-city |website=theMusic.com.au |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> who would put out every Bennies release until 2017.

In 2014, the band released their second EP, ''Heavy Disco''.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE BENNIES ANNOUNCE HEAVY DISCO EP |url=http://poisoncityrecords.com/post/100035090291/the-bennies-announce-heavy-disco-ep |website=Poison City Records |publisher=Tumblr |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> To promote the release, the band appeared on triple j's ''Like a Version'' segment in February 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tyeson |first1=Cameron |title=The Bennies Covered TISM For Like A Version, And It Was Genius |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/music/the-bennies-covered-tism-for-like-a-version-and-it-was-genius/ |website=Pedestrian.TV |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The band performed a stripped-back version of "Heavy Disco",<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies - Heavy Disco (live on triple j) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRl0DyhpbrA |website=YouTube.com |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> as well as a cover of TISM's "He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies cover TISM for Like A Version |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSjBMfXCnsM |website=YouTube.com |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> Damian Cowell, who was a member of TISM, gave his approval of the cover to the band and performed the song with them live in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies feat. Damian Cowell - (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River (Live TISM cover) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVa-eZUwTos |website=YouTube.com |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The Bennies themselves would later contribute to Cowell's second studio album as Damian Cowell's Disco Machine, 2017's ''Get Yer Dag On!'', featuring on the song "365 Lemmys" alongside Henry Wagons.<ref>{{cite web |title=365 Lemmys featuring Henry Wagons and The Bennies |url=https://thedc3.bandcamp.com/track/365-lemmys-featuring-henry-wagons-and-the-bennies |website=Bandcamp |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref>

In 2015, a new single titled "Party Machine" was released.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moskovitch |first1=Greg |title=Listen: The Bennies Drop Raucous New Single 'Party Machine' |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/the-bennies-drop-raucous-new-single-party-machine/ |website=Tone Deaf |publisher=Seventh Street Media |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The song ended up being their most successful single to date, and was voted into the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2015 at number 88.<ref>{{cite web |title=1-100 List | Hottest 100 2015 - triple j |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/15/countdown/ |website=triple j |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The song was the lead single from their third studio album, ''Wisdom Machine'', which was released on 25 March 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE BENNIES! Wisdom Machine album - Out March 25th! |url=http://poisoncityrecords.com/post/137715962826/the-bennies-wisdom-machine-album-out-march |website=Poison City Records |publisher=Tumblr |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The album spawned a further three singles – "Legalise (But Don't Tax),"<ref>{{cite web |title=EXCLUSIVE: The Bennies - Legalise (But Don't Tax) |url=https://themusic.com.au/article/QpdVVFdWWVg/exclusive-the-bennies-legalise-but-dont-tax |website=theMusic.com.au |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> "Detroit Rock Ciggies"<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies Release "Detroit Rock Ciggies" Music Video, Announce Tour Dates |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/the-bennies-release-detroit-rock-ciggies-music-video-announce-tour-dates/ |website=New Noise Magazine |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> and "Corruption"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Tom |title=Lindsay McDougall & Wil Wagner Star In The Bennies' Wild New Video For 'Corruption' |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/lindsay-mcdougall-wil-wagner-star-bennies-wild-new-video-corruption/ |website=Music Feeds |publisher=Evolve Media |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> – with music videos being made for the latter two.

The band released a single, "Get High Like an Angel", in late 2017, and toured Australia in support of it.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE BENNIES 'Get High Like An Angel' single tour |url=https://amnplify.com.au/the-bennies-get-high-like-an-angel-single-tour/ |website=AMNplify |publisher=Australian Music Network |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> It would serve as the opening track on The Bennies' fourth studio album, ''Natural Born Chillers''. The album was released on 2 February 2018 and was the band's first release through Pool House Records. In March 2018, it was announced that bassist, vocalist and founding member Craig Selak would be departing from the band following two remaining festival shows.<ref>{{cite web |title=All-round Legend Craig Selak Announces Departure From The Bennies |url=https://www.oztix.com.au/news/archive/2018/03/16/all-round-legend-craig-selak-announces-departure-from-the-bennies-themusic/ |website=Oztix |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> His replacement was Nick Williams, who the band had met years prior from touring with Williams' band Foxtrot.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Winters |first1=Brian |title=Interview: The Bennies |url=https://www.thepier.org/interview-the-bennies/ |website=The Pier |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> Selak would go on to form LOSER, alongside former Apart From This frontman Tim Maxwell and former Smith Street Band drummer Chris Cowburn.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGahey |first1=Joey |title=LOSER // Not Just Another Aussie Supergroup |url=https://www.hysteriamag.com/loser-not-just-another-aussie-supergroup/ |website=Hysteria Magazine |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref>

The band continued to tour in support of ''Natural Born Chillers'' throughout 2018, releasing music videos for "Dreamkillers"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Likoski |first1=Steve |title=The Bennies release 'Dreamkillers', a song directed at all the people that try and tell you not to chase your dreams |url=http://eatthismusic.com/2018/01/17/the-bennies/ |website=Eat This Music |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> and "Trip Report."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies release new video 'Trip Report', tour starts this week |url=https://www.therockpit.net/2018/the-bennies-release-new-video-trip-report-tour-starts-this-week/ |website=The Rockpit |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> In January 2019, the band announced that longtime friend Graham Leach – AKA DJ Snes Mega – would be joining the band on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bennies Announce Australian Summer Tour & New Member |url=https://themusic.com.au/article/o6e_t7a5uLs/the-bennies-announce-australian-summer-tour-new-member |website=theMusic.com.au |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref> The band's first release as a quintet was a single, "Waiting for Dave", which was released on 11 January 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Webber |first1=Harry |title=The Bennies Drop New Single And Video 'Waiting For Dave' |url=https://lifewithoutandy.com/news/music/bennies-drop-new-single-video-waiting-dave/ |website=Life Without Andy |accessdate=22 January 2019}}</ref>

Horgan released his debut solo album, ''Rudeboy'', in December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jenke |first1=Tyler |title=The Bennies frontman Anty! has shared his huge debut album, 'Rudeboy' |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/bennies-frontman-anty-debut-rudeboy/ |website=Tone Deaf |publisher=Seventh Street Media |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref> In June 2022, the band announced that Beaumont, Rozenbergs and Williams would be leaving the band following a final show the following month in Melbourne. Horgan and Leach would continue on under the moniker and announced a new line-up in November of 2022, which included guitarist Ollie Roots, bassist Nick Thunder and drummer Marco Foxlee. The band played its first show with the new line-up that same month at Vinnies Dive Bar on the Gold Coast. On 24 February 2024, the band supported TISM at a secret show at the Pier Bandroom in the Melbourne suburb of Frankston. The following week, they released a new single entitled "Let's Have a Party". The band's fifth album, ''You Can't Put Out This Fire'', was released in April 2025.

Nick Thunder left the band in August 2025, with Williams rejoining as bassist in his place.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/thebenniesband/posts/pfbid0PaVxmNUqrvsABmvAPVxL455Z12BjtJ3pZRqRbTN76zQwgUizrEpYZWf3zYatDwcol</ref> Also in 2025, it was announced that Bennies alum Craig Selak, Jules Rozenbergs and David Beaumont had formed a new band under the moniker of Previous Future.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Varvaris |first1=Mary |title=Ex-The Bennies Members Form New Band Previous Future |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/ex-the-bennies-members-form-new-band-previous-future/Nl2EKCsqLSw/29-10-25 |website=theMusic.com.au |publisher=SCG Media |access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref>

==Band members== ;Current members *Anty Horgan – lead vocals, synthesizer (2009–present) *Graham "DJ SNESmega" Leach – turntables, backing vocals, guitar (2019–present; occasional live shows 2014–2018) *Ollie Roots – guitar, backing vocals (2022–present) *Nick Williams – bass, backing and lead vocals (2018–2022; one-off show 2024, 2025-present) *Dougie Rankin – trombone, backing vocals (2024–present; occasional live shows 2016–2024) *Joe Larwood - drums (2025–present)

;Former members *Steve Lavery – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2012) *Christos Salaoras – guitar, backing vocals (2012) *Craig Selak – bass, lead and backing vocals (2009–2018) *David "Bowie" Beaumont – drums (2009–2022) *Julien "King Jules" Rozenbergs – guitar, backing and lead vocals (2012–2022) *Marco Foxlee – drums (2022–2023) *Dom Ryan – drums (2023–2024; touring) *Nick Thunder – bass, backing vocals (2022–2025) *Sam Faulkner – drums (2024-2025)

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:50 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2009 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2009 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2009

Colors = id:vox value:red legend:Lead_vocals,_synthesizer id:blvox value:coral legend:Backing_and_lead_vocals id:bvox value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:g value:green legend:Guitar id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:t value:lavender legend:Turntables id:tr value:claret legend:Trombone id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:alb value:black legend:Studio_album

LineData = at:09/03/2011 color:black layer:back at:11/01/2013 color:black layer:back at:03/25/2016 color:black layer:back at:02/02/2018 color:black layer:back at:04/18/2025 color:black layer:back

PlotData = width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,–4) bar:Anty Horgan from:start till:end color:red bar:Steve Lavery from:start till:01/01/2012 color:green bar:Steve Lavery from:start till:01/01/2012 color:pink width:3 bar:Christos Salaoras from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 color:green bar:Christos Salaoras from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 color:pink width:3 bar:Julien Rozenbergs from:01/01/2013 till:07/23/2022 color:green bar:Julien Rozenbergs from:01/01/2013 till:07/23/2022 color:magenta width:3 bar:Ollie Roots from:11/06/2022 till:end color:green bar:Ollie Roots from:11/06/2022 till:end color:pink width:3 bar:Craig Selak from:start till:03/01/2018 color:blue bar:Craig Selak from:start till:01/01/2013 color:pink width:3 bar:Craig Selak from:01/01/2013 till:03/01/2018 color:magenta width:3 bar:Nick Williams from:03/01/2018 till:07/23/2022 color:blue bar:Nick Williams from:03/01/2018 till:07/23/2022 color:magenta width:3 bar:Nick Thunder from:11/06/2022 till:08/01/2025 color:blue bar:Nick Thunder from:11/06/2022 till:08/01/2025 color:pink width:3 bar:Nick Williams from:08/01/2025 till:end color:blue bar:Nick Williams from:08/01/2025 till:end color:magenta width:3 bar:Graham Leach from:01/01/2019 till:end color:lavender bar:Graham Leach from:01/01/2019 till:end color:pink width:3 bar:Graham Leach from:11/06/2022 till:end color:green width:7 bar:Dougie Rankin from:01/06/2024 till:end color:claret bar:Dougie Rankin from:01/06/2024 till:end color:pink width:3 bar:David Beaumont from:start till:07/23/2022 color:orange bar:Marco Foxlee from:11/06/2022 till:11/06/2023 color:orange bar:Sam Faulkner from:06/01/2024 till:06/01/2025 color:orange bar:Joe Larwood from:06/01/2025 till:end color:orange }}

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Party! Party! Party!'' | * Released: September 2011 * Format: CD, LP, digital * Label: Jackknife Music (Jackknife #6) |- ! scope="row" | ''Rainbows in Space'' | * Released: 2013 * Format: CD, LP, digital * Label: Poison City Records (PCR076) |- ! scope="row" | ''Wisdom Machine'' | * Released: 2016 * Format: CD, LP, digital * Label: Poison City Records (PCR117) |- ! scope="row" | ''Natural Born Chillers'' | * Released: 2018 * Format: CD, LP, digital * Label: Pool House Records (PHR007) |- ! scope="row" | ''You Can't Put Out This Fire'' | * Released: 2025 * Format: CD, LP, digital * Label: Vinnies Records |- |}

===Extended Plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Better Off Dread'' | * Released: 2013 * Format: 7" LP, Digital * Label: Jackknife Music (Jackknife #8) |- ! scope="row" | ''Heavy Disco'' | * Released: 2014 * Format: CD, 7" LP, Digital * Label: Poison City Records (PCR099) |}

==Awards and nominations== ===Music Victoria Awards=== The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music.

{{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | Music Victoria Awards of 2014 | ''Rainbows in Space'' | Best Heavy Album | {{nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url= https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees|title= Previous Nominess|website= Music Victoria|accessdate= 13 August 2020|archive-date= 19 September 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200919214225/https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|title=Previous Winners|website=Music Victoria|accessdate=13 August 2020|archive-date=31 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731040330/https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennies, The}} Category:Musical groups established in 2009 Category:Musical groups from Melbourne Category:Australian rock music groups Category:Ska punk musical groups

The Bennies

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