John Phatouros – Vocals Mick Whitby – Guitars & Vocals Jason Cleary – Bass & Vocals Warren Hall - DrumsThe Volcanics formed in Perth’s back blocks in 2002 with a purpose of playing stripped down rock ‘n’ roll with no hype attached. Inspired by the great local bands that came before them such as The Victims and The Scientists as well as the classic rock sounds of The Stooges, MC5 & AC/DC. By 2003 they had gained a reputation for raw and ultimately inspiring live shows and picked up some tasty national and international supports such as Asteroid B612 & Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Around this time ex Three Orange Whip Jason Cleary joined the fray & the band entered Begerk! Studios within weeks of his joining to lay down tracks for their first EP Nothin’ For You, a raw but focused recording of 4 originals and a cover of Light The Fuse by Perth legends The Rockets. Whilst the EP received rave reviews and disc of the week on RTRFM, original drummer John “JT†Tombidies departed and his seat was quickly filled by ex Drones skinsman Warren Hall for the launch of their debut disc at a packed Amplifier bar.“The Volcanics pack the sort of unbridled guitar attack that you wish all those shitty bands full of kids with dreams in their eyes and no ideas in their heads would pause for just one moment and listen to, if only because they might learn something†The Barman i94bar.comThe focus quickly went back to the live arena and the band picked up support slots for The Hellacopters, Celibate Rifles, Mudhoney, The Drones, Radio Birdman, The Big Day Out and a show stealing set at RTRFM’s In The Pines that secured them the main support for Jet. In February 2005 The Volcanics toured Sydney and Melbourne for the first time and in June were part of Out Of The Loop’s compilation also entitled Light The Fuse for which the band recorded 4 tracks including a cover of The Bamboos classic Snuff and performed at the launch aided by Greg Hitchcock (original Bamboos guitarist and The Very’s & You Am I member) for a roof shacking version of the song. The band gained airplay for their track Hold It Down Australia wide as well as with various European radio stations and returned to the east coast culminating in a packed out show at The Espy with The Cant’s. The Volcanics took time out to record their debut album with Lindsay Gravina (Magic Dirt, The Living End) at Birdland Studios and with final touches done; Save Me Compression now sees the light of day as the first single taken from it and with the album proper to be released in early 2007. The band look ahead to launching new single So Cold in December and play shows with Aussie legends You Am I and Japan’s favourite sons Guitar Wolf before unleashing there debut album on the world early in 2007 with a full Australian tour by mid year.
