The Stalkers play the Loudmouth Stage at Livid at the RNA Showgrounds on Saturday and the Troccadero, Surfers Paradise on Sunday. Rock’n’Roll is in stores now.

For the last few years, Ben Ely has been better known for keeping down the bottom end with Brisbane pop experimentalists Regurgitator. With the band on hiatus, he’s got some time to stretch his musical legs, currently sporting a guitar for trashy punk rockers The Stalkers, who’s new EP Rock’n’Roll finds them on the Livid bill this weekend.

“We’ve been making a video clip for The Stalkers. I’ve been pretty busy this morning. We’re doing this EP independently, so it’s really hands on. I’ve been burning some CDs to send away to people.”

It pretty obvious he’s enjoying a bit of DIY after spending so much time on a major label.

“Fuck yeah it’s good,” he enthuses. “There’s a lot more work to be done. I shot the video myself and I’m editing it now. I’m really enjoying doing music like this actually. I’m having more fun that I ever have. I’ve had a lot of experience, and there’s a lot less pressure on this band. We did some shows with Front End Loaded last weekend, playing some good simple rock’n’roll. That’s what it’s all about.”

Musically, The Stalkers takes a step back from some of the more technology-based riffage of Regurgitator, as well as moving in a different direction to the more progressive sounds of his earlier work with Pangaea.

“With Regurgitator for the last couple of years a lot of it’s been sample based stuff with computers on stage, and I just wanted to get back to where it began, just a guitar and an amp and some attitude. I think the whole reasoning is to keep it really simple. I play lots of different types of music, but what it comes down to is just having fun.”

They say inside every bassist is a frustrated guitarist, what this the case?

“It’s just kind of like growing another arm,” he laughs. “On a bass you can get away with almost anything. I’ve been studying up on my old AC/DC videos, checking out some Yngwie J Malmsteen tablature. He’s terribly good. Accent on the terrible…”