Chris Penney Aidan McDonald Milla Holland Anthony Biancofiore Lauren Hester James Macleod
Past members
Joe Hansen PJ Russo Allan Stacey Matt Fazio
Private Function are an Australian punk[1] group. They have released four studio albums and are known for their larrikin humor, high-energy live performance style and unorthodox marketing gimmicks.[2]
History
In 2016, the group released their debut EP Six Smokin' Songs which featured Bryan Curtis, the face of Australia's anti-smoking campaign, portrayed as being at death's door until he heard the band's music.[3]
In 2017 they released a track titled "I Wish Australia Had Its Guns Again",[4] a satirical take on to US gun laws, which became a crowd favourite.[5] The track was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021-2022 vampire TV series, Firebite.[6]
In November 2017, a second EP titled Rock In Roll was released on independent record label Roolette Records.[citation needed]
On 16 August 2019, the group released their debut studio album titled, St. Anger with both the title and artwork replicating Metallica's divisive album of the same name.[3]
In June 2020, the group announced the release of their second studio album Whose Line Is It Anyway?[1] The album debuted at number 9 on the ARIA Charts.[7] The release of the album included a limited-edition "Mystery Bag" vinyl variant which purportedly contained small plastic bags of speed pressed inside the clear records.[8]
In July 2021, the group announced the compilation of early EPs titled, The First Two Tapes On a 12".[9]
In October 2021, founding member Joe Hansen was removed from the group.[10][11] Hansen was replaced with Anthony Biancofiore, who initially filled in to play Santa Claus at Private Function's Christmas Show, Miracle on 69th Street, at The Forum Melbourne, before becoming a permanent member. Later, super-fan Lauren Hester, who the band were familiar with after she directed the video for the track 'Give War A Chance' for her Swinburne Film and Television assignment [12], was offered a permanent place in the band, replacing Allan Stacey.[13]
In February 2023, the band have announced the release of their third studio album, 370HSSV 0773H, released on 31 March 2023 via their own Still On Top Records. The album was proceeded by the single "I'm This Far Away (From Being the Worst Person You've Ever Met)" and "Seize and Destroy".[13] The first 3000 vinyl copies of the album featured a scratchcard album cover, and was given a government exemption by the then South Australian Minister for Liquor and Gaming to be sold in the state [14]. The winning cover revealed three matching icons and its owner won a signed test pressing of the album, $2999 in cash and a photo of their face printed on all future pressings of the album.[13] The winner of the scratch competition was found in June 2023 as a Queensland man named Mitch. The album debuted at number 11 on the ARIA Charts.[7] The band also released a limited-edition "Gold" vinyl variant of the album filled with the band members' urine, limited to 50 copies.[15][16]
Six Smokin' Songs: Live at the 1997 Carols By Candlelight
Released: December 2021
Format: cassette
Label: Marco Chan (MCR-001)
Note: Limited to 50 copies
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
