The Living End’s frontman Chris Cheney has described the band’s early gigs as a “contact sport,” recalling the chaotic moshpits and balcony divers that defined the 90s rock scene as they prepare for their ARIA Hall of Fame induction this week.
Almost 30 years after their breakout anthem Prisoner of Society exploded from the punk underground, Cheney reflected on the sheer intensity of live shows in the late 1990s. “There was a period there where I felt safe being on stage; even though we were inciting it, I was glad I wasn’t in it,” he said.
The guitarist recalled regularly stopping mid-song as crowdsurfers piled over barricades to escape swinging elbows. “In 1998, ‘99, it was like a mania. Every show was just sold out and that debut record was in the charts for so long,” he said. “I was looking through some old home video tapes of shows when we were getting them transferred to digital and there were people jumping off balconies and hanging from rafters and scaffolding. It was unreal.”
An Alternative to the Alternative
The Living End emerged during Australia’s golden era of alternative rock, alongside bands like You Am I, Powderfinger, and Silverchair. However, Cheney, bassist Scott Owen, and drummer Andy Strachan stood out with their unique sound—a blend of punk, psychobilly, and rockabilly, heavily influenced by Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.
“We were the alternative to the alternative,” Cheney said. The band’s distinctive look—vintage guitars, upright bass, and ska-inspired outfits—made them outliers in a scene dominated by grunge and pub rock.
From High School to Hall of Fame
Formed in high school, The Living End spent eight years honing their craft in small clubs and opening for Green Day and The Offspring before their “overnight success” with Prisoner of Society in 1997. Their self-titled debut album hit No. 1 on the ARIA charts in 1998.
When they debuted on the Big Day Out main stage in 1999, Cheney said they were determined to prove themselves. “It was like a slingshot when we finally arrived… By the time it happened, we were ready. We had this arsenal of songs under our belt that everyone knew and we could play.”
The band’s moshpit at the Big Day Out was notorious. “It was an exciting thing to happen and it’s lasted to this day. We’ve made nine records, but that first record built an incredible fan base that have stuck with us. They come night after night, year after year.”
Staying Focused
Despite the chaos around them, The Living End avoided controversy. “Yeah, there wasn’t a lot of controversy happening around us; people probably thought we were a bit boring because we were just so focused on the music and playing a great show,” Cheney said. “We never wanted to be that messed up that we couldn’t play.”
He added, “And we couldn’t get too messed up because it’s quite intricate, and requires a certain amount of dexterity, to play the kind of music we play. We stepped over the line a few times … Scott’s fallen off that bass a few times and it’s a long way down. But I’m fitter and healthier now than when I was 25.”
Looking Ahead
Cheney dismissed any notion that the Hall of Fame induction signals an end. “People like Paul Kelly and Nick Cave certainly seem to be getting better with age; I don’t think there’s any end destination or chequered flag with a music career,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to be starting out now, I’m glad we started when we did because what a scene it was and now with a catalogue of nine records and still going, to get a pat on the head is a wonderful thing.”
The Living End will continue their I Only Trust Rock’n’Roll tour from late July. The ARIA Hall of Fame event, also honouring Spiderbait, Kate Ceberano, Jenny Morris, Vika & Linda, and Gurrumul, will be broadcast from 9.15pm AEDT on June 13 on ABC Entertains and ABC iview.
