By ADAM COOPER
BACK in the eastern suburbs of Ol’ Melbourne town, kids would skate, ride BMX and gather with mates to jam out some tunes.
Annoying parents and neighbours alike, a seed was planted that would grow into a great Oak. One of these Oaks was Bodyjar. Local all age shows in the nineties became the stuff of legend and tours with Blink 182, NOFX, Pennywise and The Descendents cemented Bodyjar as a force of nature.
Still stirring up a cyclone, Bodyjar have a new tour brewing. How It Still Works… will be surely devastating a town near you. We spoke with singer/guitarist Cam Baines about said gigs…
Hot Metal: Hey mate, great to chat with you. Can’t believe the How It Works album is 25 years old ! Wowsers.. time flies huh?
Cam Baines: “Oh man I know. One minute we’re skating everyday and jamming every few days and now I need pain killers to mow the lawn. But what the hell, glad to be still doing what we love. The album has got legs, though – luckily for us. I think the songs still stand up. Well most of em not all – LOL!”
HM: How’s the tour prep coming along? Getting your steps in?Â
CB: “It’s going good – we jam once a week and I’ve been singing through the set at home in my studio two times a week just to make sure I’m ready. It’s weird playing songs you haven’t played for ages. You have to relearn to sing ’em. My daughters love the album now but they’ll be sick of it soon – and me.”
HM: Awesome to hear you’re treading the boards around the country. Any fave venues that you’re revisiting that you have a soft spot for?
CB: “Always loved Crowbar Sydney and Lions Arts Factory in Adelaide. They’re both sold out now I think – or close to – and we’re still a month away from the tour so that’s good. Booth of those venues are owned and run by good people who know what bands need. Good backline and drinks rider.
HM: Are you guys playing the album start to finish? Mixing it up? Playing some old and new stuff?
CB: “We’re gonna mix it up this time so we can fit in some other song people want to hear. But the first three or four will be all HIW.”</e
HM: How is Locality Store (skate shop in Greensborough, Melbourne) coming along? Are you still involved there?
CB: “I sold the shop but I’m still involved with running it. James, the guy who bought it, had worked there with me for eight years and is doing a great job. I still shop there for shoes and tees and stuff. Cunt doesn’t give me much of a discount though. LOL.”
HM: What are you listening to at the moment in the chariot?
CB: “I’ve gone back to metal lately: Metallica And Justice For All and Master Of Puppets, Slayer Reign In Blood. That kinda thrash stuff I listened to in high school. I love that shit and I was getting sick of punk rock. But I’ll go back to it eventually. I listed to a lot of rap too. MF Doom, etc>
HM: OK … It’s time for some serious in depth questions… Do you follow sport / sports and if so which teams?
CB: “AFL – Hawks for life! I’ll attached a pic of me when I was 11.”
HM: What is your all time desert island artist or album?
CB: “Descendents ALL Just saw them live again two nights ago – best band ever!”
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