Nick Barker and the Reptiles are back. What was the pivotal moment when you decided it could happen?
The boys came to a Wreckery reunion show and that was the first time we’d been in the same room all together in a long time and it was good to see ‘em, so we floated the idea. After a fair bit of frustration with trying to organize a local pub show (they shall remain nameless), Jason Evans was at us to do The Community Cup, and that seemed perfect, not to mention more dignified than squabbling over cash.
After 20 years apart, can a band find that ‘magic’ that made you a great rock n roll band?
Reptiles members kept playing over the 20 years since the band split, so there is half the battle won. It took a few rehearsals but when you did the amount of gigs we did from ‘89-‘92 there’s a fair bit of muscle memory.
So all the Reptiles have remained musos the whole time?
Yep.
Is there a chance you might actually be better than you were in your 20s? Be honest.
It’s different, we used to play everything too fast, probably something to do with the schooners of vodka and staminade (don’t ask). I would say we have a better backbeat groove now. The youthful exuberance and running around has been replaced by a more Stonesy feel and better guitar tones.
With wisdom comes…what?
Hard to answer that without sounding like Gandalf. I dunno, regret?
Your new single Bend Not Break is a stomping pub rock anthem. Where did you record it and with whom?
My old buddy Craig Pilkington did it onto his 2-inch tape machine at his rippin’ studio Audrey. I don’t like recording that much, it makes me tense, so it was important to have someone I trusted. I toured a lot with Craig, with Mick Thomas, so we’ve been at the coal face together. The Reptiles are truly the sum of their parts, as in none of us, with the exception of Adrian, are truly great musos, so recording isn’t a walk in the park, but that’s what’s great about a band and something I’ve missed. It is what it is and there’s a strange freedom in that.
It’s not a complicated message. So, Nick Barker, you’ve been bent over the years, but you will not break?
Financially perhaps! Bending is what this industry is all about, being able to adapt. Pick your battles? Like Guerilla warfare! I’ve gone from the six-figure recording budgets of the late ‘80s to making records for the price of a VC commodore. Sometimes we all feel like that bloody cat on that card (hangin’ on by a claw), but fuck it, what else would I do?
You hand picked Dave Larkin to open for you?
He’s brings in all the hip young girls.
The Bend Not Break single launch takes place on Saturday October 27 at Cherry Bar. Have you played there before and was there a reason you chose AC/DC Lane Nick? I’m thinking of your lead role in the Bon Scott stage production Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be.
Cherry is the true home of rock’n’roll in Melbourne, there’s a lot of venues in our town, but few take the responsibility of putting on original local acts as seriously as Cherry Bar and that’s important for bands. I’m sick of turning up at venues to see a chalk board out the front with tonight Nick Parker (true story) on it!
What can we expect from Nick Barker And The Reptiles at this launch?
Probably not Lady fuckin’ Gaga!
