Brisbane four-piece THE ROGUES talk shop with BROOKE MCMASTER about their upcoming appearance at the elusive Fete De La Musique. The free festival began in France in 1982 and has since spread to hundreds of cities around the world. It showcases the talents of amateur and professional artists on June 21 each year.

BM: Alright boys, what’s the lowdown on The Rogues? 

Tom Kidd (Drums): Drives, labours, fixes Steve’s spelling mistakes and occasionally breaks up arguments; Steve Moloney (Guitar): Also drives, yells, does the boring shit, and likes to start the arguments; Jack Rodgers (Vocals): smokes, shouts and not much else; Reuben Schafer (Bass): Squeals loudly, fiddles, and also likes to start arguments (mostly about tone) with Steve.

BM: So, tell me how The Rogues formed?

TK: Tom let word slip that he had a drum kit and was learning to play it, Jack was band-less after his previous band died and latched on to his new found drummer.  [Kidd talks about himself in third person]

Steve Moloney: We sorta sucked at that point. We just played loud covers of the Ramones, AC/DC and The Living End, and moshed hard until mothers across the road came and abused us. We got better though.

BM: I’ve heard that you guys hadn’t been playing your instruments long before The Rogues was put together?

SM: It was an ego thing...

BM: Did you do it for the chicks?

SM: Uh...didn't work.

BM: How did you come up with the name The Rogues?

TK: Jack and I thought of it. It is not taken from The Rogue Traders.

SM: (laughs) Apparently we all thought of it…

BM: Who are some of the bands you have toured with?

Steve Moloney: Oh apart from AC/DC and the stones… no I guess that’s it.  Nah, basically we have been playing a lot of strange and small shows around Brisbane. We have played with Repeat Offender, The Red Paintings, Small Mercies and Mouthguard. We have done a bunch of shows with Sunshine Coasters the Vagrant City Scandal; who we are releasing a split EP with later this year.   

BM: What can you tell me about the EP you are about to release?

SM: It’s our debut EP, which basically means that after three years we finally scratched the money together and recorded. So it’s sort of our best of. We recorded at zero interference with Bryce Moorhead, who was terrific basically for not kicking us out.  We’ve just finished mastering it, and it’s just getting printed. July 24 it should hit the shelves, and E-Shelves. Also we are playing The Zoo on the June 24 to launch it, so look out!

BM: What can we expect to see when you play at Fete De La Musique?

TK: A shaggy beast with a ‘kiss me’ face and a ‘don't tell your mother’ attitude.

SM: Something a little bit loud and inappropriate for a Saturday stroll through the city, but fun and intriguing enough to stop and listen...hopefully. 

THE ROGUES play Fete De La Musique Saturday June 21. Their debut EP is set for release July 24.

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