Brisbane punk rockers Flangipanis have confirmed that 2026 will be their last year as an active band.
From 2015 to 2017, the group topped 4ZZZ’s Hot 100 three times. They also secured the top spot with their song Asshole Aunt in 2020. Plus, they’ve been voted into second place three times.
And with song titles like Piss In Your Beer, Mother Fucking Love Song, You Don’t Have To Be A C*nt, and Good Little Taxpayer – with raucous energy to match – how could they not have amassed a devoted audience over the last 18 years?
The band’s Jodie Lawlor and Josh Murphy confirmed the sad news in an exclusive interview with Wall of Sound during the recent Froth & Fury Festival.
Discussing their motivations behind the decision, Murphy said, “It’s a good moment to call it,” while Lawlor explained that she’d rather listen to a young band rather than herself: “I’ve said enough,” she said.
“It’s a good moment to call it,” Murphy told Wall of Sound. “We can have a big party year leading up to our Birthday in September, so in theory that will be when we call it.”
Lawlor added, “Honestly, I would much prefer listen to a 20-year-old front a band than my 41-year-old ass. I've said enough.”
Additionally, Lawlor explained that in their 18 years as a band, Flangipanis have “done a bunch” as a staunchly independent, self-managed outfit.
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This June, the band are performing at Dead of Winter Festival – the festival’s return after six years. Flangipanis’ achievements include supporting the Hard-Ons and The Dwarves, “drinking the Cosmic Psychos rider and getting to support them (twice!),” covering Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy for Gravy Day, opening for NOFX on their final tour of Australia, and paying tribute to 4ZZZ for its 50th anniversary last year.
The band’s most recent album, Fuckin’ Woo, was released in 2021.
During the interview with Wall of Sound, Lawlor confirmed that the band isn’t dying, “we’re just gonna stop playing for a while.” Lawlor and Murphy agreed on the importance of supporting new bands, advising their fans to “go see someone else.”
“If you're bummed that a band you love doesn't exist, go see someone who's not 40,” the pair said. “Go to a 20-year-old playing to five people, that's more interesting than us, go do that!”
Lawlor also urged punters to “stop buying 30-year reunion tickets” and instead watch the younger bands. She elaborated, “There’s a huge trend with people just backing these bands that have done something 20 or 30 years ago, and I think it's important to just stop.”
Murphy concurred and emphasised the importance of putting money towards emerging bands “because we’re running out of them to be frank.”
Murphy concluded, “Listen to community radio, go to 100-cap venues, that's the only way it's going to happen, or keep happening.”
You can watch the interview with Wall of Sound below.
