If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to survive 30 years in an Australian band without a punch-up, a lawsuit, or at least a few costume changes, Quan Yeomans of Regurgitator is here to tell you—it’s mostly sweat, setlist amnesia, and just the right amount of “naive courage” to dive headfirst into the circle pit of life. Ali Williams catches up with Quan mid-tour, somewhere between a billion-degree beach day and Quan’s Melbourne “hoodie weather.” Regurgitator’s recent shows clock in at a marathon hour and 55 minutes, a feat even Quan admits is “too much for me.” The band briefly flirted with the idea of an intermission—abandoned after realising it just broke the groove. Audiences now get an uninterrupted slab of Gurge, and honestly, no one’s screaming for an encore after that much garage rock. As Quan puts it: “I played everything!” The current tour isn’t just another lap around the sun—it’s a madcap dive into the Regurgitator singles catalogue, dusting off tracks they haven’t played in years (thank you, Google, for those forgotten lyrics). There are over 50 singles, so no, they’re not playing them all (unless you fancy a three-hour endurance test). But the setlist is a living, breathing thing, evolving with every gig—much like the band themselves. Expect some surprises, and don’t get too comfortable: they change it up to avoid “getting bored” and keep the fans guessing. Forget the urban legend about meeting band members Ben Ely and Quan meeting on a Brisbane bus—turns out Ben first rocked up at Quan’s mum’s place to score weed. “He just happened to walk downstairs where I was tinkering with my 4-track,” says Quan, and the rest is history. Brisbane in those days was a tight little scene: cross a few one-way streets and you’d bump into half your future bandmates (or get hopelessly lost, if you’re Ali). Regurgitator’s music has always balanced piss-taking parody with actual substance—something Quan admits is often missed by casual listeners. “I’m amazed how many people don’t listen to the lyrics,” he laughs, despite the fact he obsesses over every word. These days, their songs show up on random playlists, introducing a whole new generation of fans (many thanks to TikTok and Spotify—“even if Spotify’s evil,” Quan quips). The band’s legacy now stretches from ‘90s moshers to 19-year-olds who think The Angels are edgy vintage. Despite three decades of gigging and a few legendary bust-ups (including one that almost ended in a lawsuit—cheers, Martin), Quan says the band feels more like a family than ever. New members like Sarah have slotted in seamlessly, proving sometimes a bit of stability trumps creative friction. That said, Quan reckons the secret to not going stale is “reinventing yourself—take a page from Bowie.” But these days, the wild competitive spark of youth has mellowed into something more sustainable: “Now it’s way easier to tour. It’s easygoing, it’s lovely.” Swerving into songwriting, journalism, and the perils of letting technology do all the heavy lifting. Quan’s not shy about the state of AI writing: “My god, the writing part is so bad. It’s terrible… it just messes it up every time. It’s such a slop.” For Regurgitator, the real art comes from putting in the work, not “pressing buttons.” So, aspiring artists—take note: it’s called a work of art for a reason. As Quan wraps up, he drops the essential plug: “You can catch us playing at a rural town near you, and probably a big city as well, so please come along. We’d love to see your face. It’ll be a good time.” So, whether you’re an OG Gurge tragic or a TikTok kid who thinks Polyester Girl is a deep cut, Regurgitator’s Jukeboxxin’ tour is your chance to see living legends in the flesh. Check out Regurgitator’s upcoming Jukeboxxin’ dates—from the Top end to Tassie and everywhere in between. Expect singalongs, sweat, and possibly a history lesson in Aussie music, all delivered with Regurgitator’s signature sideways grin. Tickets available now—don’t sleep on it. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
