Iain: We will never get over having to leave your shores but this has been aided by on returning home we now have access to real beers and don't have to rely on Bundy,ha ha!!!
Jeff: It's a bit of a let down to leave Australia, as we meet so many good people. Even worse is getting back into the work routine back home.

* You played 3 shows while you were in Melbourne, The Birmy, The 'Wasted
Festival' at the Espy and The Arthouse, were you happy with the
reactions you got from the aussie punters?

Iain: I thought we went down really well considering the vast majority of the aussies had never heard us or seen us before, we were made to feel welcome by absolutely everyone and had a great time.
Jeff: The venues were great and the gigs were well put together. We saw many of the same people at all 3 gigs and made some good friends along the way

* At 'Wasted' there were over 20 Aussie bands playing, did you manage to
see many of them? Which ones really caught your attention?

Iain: We all managed to see different bands and without insulting any we do not remember to mention, as there were loads of bands to watch, we thought that the best bands were Marching Orders, Charter 77, Bulldog Spirit, The Blurters and Rust.

* Being 'Wasted UK' veterans how did you feel the 'Wasted Festival' went
in Melbourne?

Iain: I thought it went really well, the main room was packed and when I heard how many were meant to be in there it made no sense as the room could only have taken another 100 max so someone is bullshitting about figures through the door. The Espy was a superb place to hold the show and I think the only way to make Wasted work, due to the logistics, would be to have 2 or 3 bands from Europe again and all the excellent aussie bands again.
Jeff: The main difference for me was that i wasnt familiar with most the bands. Other Wasted Festivals included all the old eighties bands that we all love. In saying that, it was great to be exposed to all these bands from Australia that i never knew existed.

* Were the Aussie crowds much different to other's you have played too?
(we were better right)

Iain: The aussie crowd were a little sedated compared to a lot of places but thats down to several reasons, they hadnt seen us before, it was a very long day by the time we came on, we're shit and everyone was too full of Bundy and Carlton to dance, saying that though the reaction was great but it could have done with a bigger mosh pit.

* The Australian shows were the first time new drummer Matt had played,
let alone rehearsed with the rest of the band. Was it nerve racking not
having played with or met a member of the band before playing a show?

Iain: Nah, I have done it too long to worry about that, The Duck, who is the other main man, assured me Matt was red hot, and he was. As it was our first showing on your shores though, that's why I wanted to play a set at the Birmy to calm his nerves. He did a top job.
Jeff: I actually play in another band with Matt called Secret Army. When the English drummer up and quit, it made sense to drag Matt along, aka Pongo Pigtrotter.

* Will he be invited back for more Beerzone shows?

Iain: Yes, he is more than welcome to play again, he was a real cool guy too. He will most likely do the next US tour as well.

* Anyone who had the chance to meet any of you guys would, I am sure,
all agree that you are all really top, down to earth blokes. Do you
think that has had an impact on the success of Beerzone?

Iain: Something has to help as the music and our playing ability is shit, ha ha! To be honest, I wouldn't ever consider any 'Johnny Rock Stars' to be in any line up of mine anymore, I have had them before, they start off really quiet then after a gig or two, they think they're some sort of superstar, it makes me laugh because this is fuckin' Beerzone, so they joined the wrong band!!!
Jeff: It probably helps people rememeber us, as we always hang out with the people we meet along the way. Well, most of 'em. From time to time you get the
odd idiot that won't go away.

* A couple of you detoured via Sydney on the way back to the UK.
Melbourne is by far the better city wouldn't you agree? Not that there
is anything wrong with Sydney, but the folk from there are a bit on the
odd side.

Iain: How could anyone be more odd than Trav? Ha ha! just joking, it's an unfair question as we weren't playing the scene, we were being stupid tourists and all we were interested in was the brothels and bars, ha ha!!

* The most important part of any trip is the beer. Carlton Draught, VB,
Tooheys or Cascade?

Iain: Under the trade sescriptions act, how can any of those be called beer? If I had to choose one, I used Carlton on my cornflakes as it had the best flavour.
Jeff: I fucking hate beer ! From time to time i will drink a Guinness, but it's all about Vodka and Camel cigarettes

* Rumour has it that you are keen to come back to Australia and play
more shows across the country. Is this true, or another one of those
internet rumours that has Cock Sparrer playing at the base of Ayers rock
on a Sunday afternoon?

Iain: If the people who said they could hook us up a tour are true to their word, we would love to come back. Will Sparrer be playing under the rock? Now that would be worth coming along too, ha ha!!

* Any last comments or questions you would like to ask yourselves?

Iain: I hate being too serious, but you guys, especially you Fiona and Stu and Joel, were absolute diamonds and the best thing to come out of it was making some good new mates. See ya soon.
Jeff: Yeah thanks to the people Iain just mentioned, along with Dominique, John,the sound guy at the Espy, the kids from Wonggong ( or whatever that place is called ), Run Like Hell, and the young schoolkids that listened in on rehearsal.

Check out reviews of Beerzone albums in the reviews section.

You can also find photos from the Melbourne shows in the gallery under the 'Wasted Weekend' sub gallery