Younger readers might not actually know who The Porkers are, but in the late-1990s they were a pretty big deal on the Aussie ska scene. Before you start laughing at the concept of the Australian ska scene, it actually used to thrive pretty strongly, so they were a very well-loved band.
The Newcastle based group formed in 1987, released a swag of material and played plenty of big festivals in their time and, while their website suggests they haven't exactly split up, they haven't played a show in a long time and their last album, This Is The Porkers, appears to have dropped over six years ago.
Soundwave's AJ Maddah has made murmurs of bringing the band back to play the 2014 Soundwave Festival after an extended period of nothing much coming out of the band's camp.
Here with the legendary Pete Porker. Hoping to convince him to reform The Porkers for #SW14
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) December 1, 2012
@GutsyGale Rage are no longer. Hopefully Porkers will be at SW14.
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) April 19, 2013
Today it appears as if the idea may have fallen through at the last minute. We'll let you read Maddah's comments on the matter.
A while ago I ran into a dear friend & lead singer of seminal Aus ska band. He was down in the dumps for personal reasons & I offered to...
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
... Put his band on SW, make a big deal of their comeback & offered a ridiculously large fee + costs + very high billing above their value..
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
So a week ago I get contacted by some douche he sends to play hardball and "negotiate" w me! I go along w this nonsense for love of band...
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
Then today I am informed, 4 days out from announcement & totally snowed under that they demand that I issue a contract immediately...
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
...As said douche is going away fro 5 weeks. Because my written offer & word may be good enough for the headliners bit not for mr douche.
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
What the fuck! No, really, what the fuck! Oh well. So long and thanks for all the pork.
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 19, 2013
The Soundwave line-up is announced on Friday, only then will we know for sure who Maddah - the most powerful figure in the Australian music industry - has and has not secured for the country's biggest heavy music festival.
