THE MUNGABEANS

The Mungabeans were a Brisbane indie rock band that began as an impromptu fill-in at Jabbo’s Jazz and Blues Club (situated in what is now a Roma Street carpark) in 1983, when regular Saturday night act, The Headstones, took breaks. A series of drummers joined childhood friends guitarist Paul Grogan and bassist Guy Mansfield on stage, until Jabbo’s regular Mike McCann was permanently recruited. Guitarist Evan Clarry, who was Mansfield’s classmate at Church of England Grammar School, joined from the first official gig. The Headstones' leader, Chris Flynn (later of The Dubrovniks), suggested the act name themselves after things called mungabeans that he'd seen at a health food shop. Bean sprouts were uncommon in Brisbane; no-one recognised the error in the name, nor the association with hippies, so posters were printed with the erroneous name which stuck.

The ‘Beans performed regularly at Brisbane’s underground venues throughout 1985 and ’86, progressing from support to headline act largely on the strength of a bizarre stage show and repertoire. As a film student, guitarist Evan Clarry had access to elaborate cinematic props, which embellished the simulated sex and violence characterising Beans’ gigs. And, while the theatre was often tongue-in-cheek, perceptions of subversiveness in a conservative, heavily policed Brisbane led to undercover police often infiltrating Mungabeans’ gigs. The band’s early repertoire was dominated by covers of kitsch glam and Australian rock songs of the early 1970s, largely to irritate elements of the self-conscious underground music set who reviled the material. Over time, Grogan’s compositions replaced the covers, as the band became more ambitious. They released a single in 1986 on the Sundown label ''Give It To Me Today / Expensive Taste''.

Interest in Sydney led to the band moving there in 1986 (as had The Headstones, Screaming Tribesmen, Ups & Downs and others). Like many Australian independent acts of the 1980s, The Mungabeans gained more popularity overseas than in their own backyard. In their case Germany and England took to the band, however the 'Beans never toured outside Australia. In a 1986 article published in RAM (Rock Australia Magazine), the band was cited as ''influential on a wave of ex-Brisbane performers who succeeded internationally as independent and mainstream music markets merged in the late 1980s. The 'Beans paved the way for a new wave of young bands, who eschewed taking themselves seriously''. Clarry left the band before they started recording their EP 'A Much Sweeter Gag' in 1988. They split in 1990, reforming in 1991 as Undermine, before splitting for good in 1992. High points of recognition in Australia were multiple appearances on Rage and regular airplay in 1988 of The Beans' song ''Too Late (to Turn Back Now)'' from their debut EP, 'A Much Sweeter Gag'. 

Members

Paul Grogan (vocals/guitar), Guy Mansfield (bass/vocals), Mike McCann (drums)
Evan Clarry (guitar)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mungabeans_(Brisbane_band)