Interview by Kris Peters
Any band in the modern age that can take rock/punk/metal music to the increasingly numbed youth of our generation is already a winner in my books, but when they release songs that I can possibly convert my two young daughters with then they elevate to the next level pretty damn quickly.
So when I was given the opportunity to speak to a band pitched to me as Punk Meets Disney then you can imagine I was doing backflips. Or something that counts as one at my age.
Punk Rock Factory are a band of gentlemen from the UK who have made a healthy career out of playing other peoples songs.
But only bastardising them.
No-one is immune, with the band spicing up in their own punk fashion tracks from Meatloaf to John Farnham to Hansen and in most cases making them all the better for it.
The fact Punk Rock Factory have released six albums since their inception in 2019 speaks volumes, but when you also consider the band has slayed it at festivals like Bloodstock and Slam Dunk then you know they have the mental toughness to back it up.
But it was their second album A Whole New Wurst from 2020 that drew me instantly to the band. An album of punk reworkings of Disney classics covering movies such as Moana and Frozen, its discovery has given me renewed hope that my girls will return from the dark side and once more embrace the music they were destined for.
And to top it off the versions of Let It Go and We Don't Talk About Bruno (Encanto) are good enough to get Dad bopping!
Punk Rock Factory are about to embark on their maiden tour of Australia, so to find out even more possible weapons in my fight against Taylor Swift HEAVY sat down for an entertaining chat with frontman/guitarist Peej to find out more, starting with just why the band has neglected Australia for so long.
"It's a big commitment for us," he laughed. "It's the other side of the world and we have to make sure we sell some tickets. We don't wanna turn up and play to no one. There's been a big call for us to come to Australia for a while now. It's something we've been building up to and it's finally time."
Things take a humourous turn when we ask Peej what non-essential items he will be making sure to pack.
"You guys will tell me that these aren't essential, but I need some kind of spider repellent," he replied, completely honestly. "I don't deal with bugs very well (laughs). You could probably tell me more whether that's essential or not."
Which beckons the question do they actually sell spider repellent in the UK?
"I'm sure I could find some," Peej measured. "I'm definitely going to try (laughs)."
When I tell him there's no such thing the laughter continues.
"Brilliant," he smiled. "I'm just gonna have to sleep in a giant box so nothing gets in."
In the full interview we discuss what to expect from the live show, where and how the band selects which songs to cover, a typical Punk Rock Factory live show, the success of A Whole New Wurst and if it came as a surprise, if there are any songs or genres they won't attempt, the possibility of punking up songs from heavy metal bands, their home studio The Sausage Factory, the massive European tour to follow and more.