On Sunday February 15, 2015, one of the greatest punk shows in Melbourne took place in Collingwood. It was a rare moment where everything fell into place to deliver a stellar lineup of classic Aussie punk bands.
CJ Ramone, bassist for The Ramones from 1989 to 1996, was meant to be supporting NOFX on their Australian tour. For whatever reason, that tour didn’t happen for him, but he now had a new album that needed promoting.
About a year earlier, I had toured Adolescents through Australia and Steve Soto, who played guitar in CJ’s band and Bass in Adolescents, recommended that he contact me after that supporting tour fell through. Out of all the ex-Ramones members touring, CJ was the most relevant.
It was clear after I had my initial announcement that CJ had made many friends on the Ramones run back in the ‘90s, because classic Aussie punk bands were approaching my partner and I to play with him. Normally I was the one approaching them.
All the shows were amazing (Hard-Ons played in Canberra, Area 7 played in Footscray), but the last Melbourne show will probably be the highlight of my whole life as a promoter. The support bands for The Bendigo Hotel just fell in place.
Shy punk band from Perth (ex-Japan), Mach Pelican, were easy to see the influences of, but to me they were one of the best Australian bands going – catchy, simple and fun. It turns out they were extremely tight. I had contacted them to play with CJ, but due to busy work commitments (they now own Japanese restaurants) they couldn’t play.
The Meanies were asked to play the first Melbourne gig, but could only do the Sunday at Bendigo Hotel. Cosmic Kahuna and 12FU had agreed to play – our lineup was full. Weeks later, Mach Pelican told us they were free to play on the Sunday if we wanted them. Of course we did. I was eager to get the poster out there.
The beautiful thing about CJ Ramone and Steve Soto is their willingness to talk about the past. Hanging out with them was like being around a live music documentary. They would talk with anyone and everyone around them. CJ surrounded himself with great people, and was one of the most rewarding tours I have been a part of.
There’s one thing that people will remember from this show; the bloody heat. It was 34°C that day, but if you asked anyone else they’d probably say it was 50. The Bendigo Hotel was an oven. I remember the sweat coming from every band that played. I remember K-Rock from Mach Pelican refusing to take his leather jacket off until it became too much for him.
None of this would’ve happened without influential punk musician Steve Soto. Without him, I never would’ve toured with Adolescents or CJ Ramone. Even Clowns owe some European success to Soto introducing their agent. Steve wasn’t just helping shape punk rock in the early ‘80s; he was your mate. He remembered everyone by name.
Sadly on June 27 this year, Steve Soto passed away in his sleep. The punk rock world shared memories and mourned the loss of one of the greats. Steve had worked so hard on the new Adolescents album, so the band continued the shows that were booked as he would’ve wanted.
My highlight gig is a few hundred people crammed into The Bendigo Hotel, on a 35 degree Summer Sunday the best punk rock gig Melbourne had seen for quite some time.
RIP Steve Soto!
By Glenn Stewart
