PLUG UGLIES

 

Plug Uglies were a rock band formed in Sydney in 1985, taking their name from an 1830s New York street gang known for wearing top hats stuffed with straw to soften police baton blows. The original lineup featured John Gorman (who had occasionally played with Brisbane punk band The Leftovers) on guitar, Wayne Baker on bass, Tina Stevens on drums, and Roger Norris on vocals. Their debut performance was at The Music Cafe in Kings Cross in 1986. They quickly became one of the top inner-city bands, playing at iconic pub venues like the Harold Park Hotel, Palace Hotel, Evening Star, Vulcan Hotel, and the Hopetoun Hotel, among others. They also toured QLD.

Before their first recording, Baker was replaced by Mark Lock. In 1988, they entered Kings Row studio in Sydney and released a seven-track mini-album titled 'Knock Me Your Lobes'. Unfortunately, that same year, John Gorman tragically took his own life just five months before his thirtieth birthday, causing significant upheaval for the band. Bassist Mark Lock departed and was replaced by John Willsteed (ex-Go Betweens). John Gorman's brother, Michael Hiron (ex-Flaming Hands, The Riptides), joined the group, along with Clem Lukey (ex-Pineapples From The Dawn Of Time). This lineup went on to record the EP 'Johnny Panic' in 1990 and the single 'Pounding Grace / Grubby Supper'. The Plug Uglies finally called it a day in 1992. Tina Stevens became an award-winning artist exhibiting her work internationally, Roger Norris a successful advertising creative in New York and John Willsteed became a senior lecturer in the School of Creative Practice at QUT. In 2005 Laughing Outlaw Records released a compilation of their recorded material. Michael Hiron died in 2001.

Members

Roger Norris (vocals), John Gorman (guitar), Wayne Baker (bass), Tina Stevens (drums), Clem Lukey (guitar), Michael Hiron (guitar), Mark Lock (bass), John Willsteed (bass)

SINGLES
''Pounding Grace / Grubby Supper'' 1990

EPs

'Johnny Panic' 1990 Ratllesnake

ALBUMS
'Knock Me Your Lobes' 1988