Powder Monkeys Reform For Single Melbourne Show

One of Melbourne's most iconic rock bands of the early 1990s, the Powder Monkeys, have confirmed they will reform for one show a decade after the passing of their frontman Tim Hemensley.

Hemensley and guitarist John Nolan had played together in Geelong punk rock group Bored! in the late 1980s, forming the Powder Monkeys after leaving that band in the early 1990s. By this stage Hemensley was already a veteran of the Australian underground rock'n'roll scene, having spent his teenage years as a member of Melbourne bands Royal Flush and the brilliant GOD.

The Powder Monkeys had the most staying power of all of Hemesley's groups though; the group toured internationally and released four great records in the decade or so they were together. Unfortunately Hemensley lost a lengthy battle with heroin addiction in 2003, overdosing on July 21 of that year.

To commemorate ten years since his passing, the Powder Monkeys will reform for just the one show – and at this stage that will be the extent of their reformation – at The Tote on Sunday 21 July, exactly ten years after Hemensley's death.

Nolan and drummer Timmy Jack Ray will be joined by Mike Findlay on bass, while a series of guest vocalists will step up to the microphone to pay tribute to Hemensley. So far they include Joel Silbersher, Matty Whittle, Adalita, Dave Hogan, Roman Tucker, Sly Splatterhead, Spencer P Jones and Richard “Evil Dick” Hunt, with more to be announced.

The full line up taking to the hallowed stage of The Tote is a massive one, with plenty of Australia's best garage rock bands and plenty of the Powder Monkeys' contemporaries helping to celebrate. The line up is as follows:

The Powder Monkeys, Hoss, Seminal Rats, Bored!, The Casanovas, The Spazzys, The Onyas, Hits, Power Line Sneakers, Digger & the Pussycats, Bittersweet Kicks, Swedish Magazines, Wrong Turn, Fortress of Narzod, Leadfinger, The Undecided and more still to be announced.

Tickets are $35 + bf and available through OzTix from Wednesday morning.