Meet Xero, The Husky That Heads Out On Tour With A Bunch Of Hardcore Bands

21 August 2015 | 2:31 pm | Upasana Chatterjee

Get a load of his AAA tour laminate though

The most unique roadie you'll ever meet, let us introduce you to Xero, a four-year-old Husky who heads out on the road with his dad, Daniel Lohrey, and the slew of Queensland-based hardcore bands Lohrey takes out on tour through his van hire company, Wolfpack Touring (fitting, we know).

Speaking to theMusic.com.au, Lohrey explains just how his best mate and wing-dog came to be known as one of Queensland's coolest pups.

"I started playing in a band called Exile when I lived In Gladstone, QLD. I started taking him to our shows because one day I was leaving to one and he had a sooky tantrum when I picked up my case so I just took him with me."

Picking Xero up from a local breeder, Lohrey shares that Xero was the runt of the litter and "named 'Mama's Boy' because he never went far from his mother's side". 

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"He wouldn't leave me alone when I went to leave after looking at the litter. Something just told me to take the little guy home."

With Lohrey running Wolfpack Touring, Xero gets to meet and travel with bands like She Cries Wolf, Tomb Of Doom, Blind Oracle and Lohrey's own two bands, Exile and Rivals, all the while snatching out the passenger seat if he can.

"We currently have two vans running, a seven seat people mover dubbed The Spaceship and a 13 seat carrier van. He has his own dedicated spots and even sneaks the cheeky passenger seat when the seats aren't all occupied."


Xero with She Cries Wolf

Lohrey says promoters, venues and bands are generally very receptive to Xero "because of his temperament."

"A lot of venues are very accommodating of him and are usually very stoked to see a dog hanging around like one of the band members when we're unloading gear and whatnot. The only time we have issues is when we play nightclubs and city venues, but I always have people to look after him when I need to be inside to work."

"He's got quite the name all over. People have told me they come to shows just to see him."

And if you're wondering if ol' Xero is subject to the heavy riffing and double-kicks of the hardcore and metalcore bands he goes on tour with, and whether dog-sized headphones are even available, you don't have to worry.

"He's not generally exposed to the music side of the spectrum due to him being a dog and having super sensitive ears. He's always there inside the venue to mingle with the punters in between sets though."

Well, Xero, you can mingle with the theMusic.com.au team any time.