PROTON ENERGY PILLS

The Proton Energy Pills was a punk rock band formed in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales in 1986. The band comprised brothers Dave Curley (vocals), Lenny Curley (guitar), Jay Curley (bass) along with Scottish born Stewy ''Leadfinger'' Cunningham (guitar) and Richie Lewis (drums). Australian Musicologist, Ian McFarlane writes that "The Proton Energy Pills derived their name from American cartoon series Roger Ramjet (the proton energy pills gave Ramjet his extraordinary strength). The band played a form of heavy retro-grunge that drew on US bands like Blue Öyster Cult, MC5 and Mudhoney for inspiration. Local bands that the Pills aspired to included Radio Birdman, The Celibate Rifles and The New Christs.

The band formed whilst most of its members were at school in Wollongong and learnt how to play at parties covering their favourite songs by bands like The Ramones, The Stooges, Flamin Groovies and Radio Birdman. Their first gig took place on 15 August 1987 at the Wollongong Ironworkers Club and the band became known for their long hair and super distorted sounds. Later the band would start to play in Sydney more regularly and would take on Steve Pavlovic as their manager and sign with Waterfront Records and release two influential singles, ''Survival / Symmetry'' (1989) and ''(Less Than I) Spend / Strawberry Patch'' (1990). Both singles sold very well and made it to the top of the Sydney Independent Charts at the time.

The Proton Energy Pills supported Dinosaur Jr on the NSW and Victorian legs of their first Australian tour in 1989 The band also scored the Australian tour support for US band Mudhoney in their first visit to Australia in early 1990. Proton Energy Pills also played with P.I.L., The Buzzcocks, Rollins Band and The Hoodoo Gurus and supported many of their local heroes including The Celibate Rifles, The Hitmen, Hard-ons and Lime Spiders.

The Protons disbanded in mid-1990 citing musical differences after the recording of a five-track self-titled EP at Sydney's Electric Avenue Studios with Phil Punch and Kent Steedman from the Celibate Rifles producing. Following the split of the band, members of the Proton Energy Pills went on to play in many successful bands including Brother Brick, Zambian Goatherders, Tumbleweed, Leadfinger, Asteroid B-612 and Challenger-7, The Yes-Men, Richie & the Creeps, Brut 66 and The Pink Fits.

In 2017 the band recorded ''Tombstone /Revolution'' at Code 9 Studio in Mona Vale. It was released in 2021 on the Outta Space label. The lineup was Dave Curley (vocals), Stewy Cunningham (guitar), Jonny Turcinskis (guitar), Brett Hottes (bass) and Grant Lawrence (drums). In March 2021, Wollongong based record label Music Farmers re-issued the studio recordings of The Proton Energy Pills on deluxe gatefold 12" vinyl LP. The record made an appearance on the ARIA vinyl sales chart at #11 on 22 March 2021. Bassist Jay Curley died in 2014 aged 42.

Members

Dave Curley (vocals), Lenny Curley (guitar), Jay Curley (bass), Stewy Cunningham (guitar), Richie Lewis (drums), Jonny Turcinskis (guitar), Brett Hottes (bass), Grant Lawrence (drums)

SINGLES
''Survival / Symmetry'' 1989 Waterfront 
''(Less Than I) Spend / Strawberry Patch'' 1990 Waterfront 
''Tombstone / Revolution'' 2021 Outta Space 

ALBUMS
'Proton Energy Pills' 1990 Waterfront 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Proton_Energy_Pills