Getting to Know… Fake News | Interview 🎤

In the 340^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Queensland, Australia melodic punk band, Fake News.

“We just get out there & play melodic punk rock the way it’s meant to be.” Woo! That’s awesome, 🎙 Fake News! In response to our first burning question, the Queensland, Australia punk band expounds, “With Fake News you know you’re going to get blistering guitar riffs with classic fast punk drumbeats & catchy vocal melodies..” Like our many other Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on the collective: the genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Fake News: Interview No. 340!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

We just get out there & play melodic punk rock the way it’s meant to be. Strangely enough there aren’t that many bands doing it anymore. The genre has spread out into so many sub genres that you don’t even know what you’re listening to sometimes. With Fake News you know you’re going to get blistering guitar riffs with classic fast punk drumbeats & catchy vocal melodies. The live show is pure energy which really gets the crowd going. We aren’t all about image or a bunch of posers. We are just normal guys making the music we love & having a great time doing it. We love to have a laugh too. There is always something happening that cracks me or everyone else up. Good times all round.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Fake News form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

It was back in late 2017. I heard through a friend that Mick was starting a punk band along the lines of Strung Out, Pulley, Pennywise etc. so I had to check it out. None of us really knew each other beforehand but we seemed to click straight away & we were playing the kind of music I always wanted to. We had a few different drummers & singers along the way in our quest to find the right sound that the band needed. Our goal was always to have a good melodic sound. That is where Tim & Nat came in who shared that same vision. The rest is history.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Not really. Our goal was always to make music & be heard. It still is we have just gotten a little bit better at doing it along the way.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

There would be so many to list. We have all been inspired by so many different artists over the years all in their own special way. I will make a couple of special mentions though. Tony Sly is definitely one. Both for his acoustic works & anything with No Use For A Name. He was such a good songwriter who could deliver feeling through his music. A Wilhelm Scream is another band that I am constantly in awe of. Whether it be watching them play live or listening to their albums those guys are all the best at what they do. Top class musicians all round. Don’t even get me started on their bass player Brian Robinson. I wish I could play like that guy he is a freak.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Well, this one time on tour when we were backing up Everclear we accidentally drank all their beers in their rider while they were on stage. They weren’t drinking them anyway. Needless to say, the tour manager was not happy with us & he ran off to get some more beers for them which we also ended up drinking later that night as well as eating their food & souveniring their tour poster. The moral of this story is if you are going on tour with Fake News, make sure you order extra beers for your rider!

Sorry Everclear, love you guys still.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

I would have to say playing 🎵 “Broken Bones” live is always a great feeling. The crowd always love that song & it gets everyone going. There is just something about it. Great energy & feel to it, as well as people being able to sing along with it helps.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

We are full of hidden talents, but we can’t give them all away here & now.  I will say that our guitarist Darren does a great horse racing call. As well as football commentary. He almost had a career in radio, and he is suited to it because man that dude can talk. He also has a face made for radio!

Closing out, what is Fake News currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We just released the video clip for our new single 🎵 “Rise & Fall”. The song was released on all streaming platforms on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Then on March 16 we are releasing our new EP on all digital platforms as well. Well worth checking out to anyone that can appreciate some good (punk) rock music. We are playing 3 shows with Unwritten Law this week. That is something we are all looking forward to. On March 9 we are also Playing with A Wilhelm Scream here on the Gold Coast. Beyond that we are planning on getting back in the studio real soon to record another single that we are aiming to release later this year. Here are all the links you need to stay up to date with all the Fake News happenings.

Follow… Fake News: Instagram • Facebook •  YouTube • Spotify • Apple Music • Website

Getting to Know… Fake News: Interview No. 340 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Fake News, Ben Russoniello Photography; Tumisu via Pixabay]