Dollyrockers back with nostalgic gigs

bill gigs with The Mavericks, of which Ferguson was a member, playing the harmonica. “On those nights everything would end in a supergroup jam. There would be slightly boozy extended outro versions of all our songs. Mostly for our enjoyment.”

The Dollyrockers recorded their first EP – titled Consume Me, with five tracks – using the last vinyl left in South Africa as CDs took over, which is now a highly desirable collectors’ item. It also thwarted the dreams of Valiant Swart (see alongside). “And it was recorded in a previous incarnation of this studio,” says Vermaak, referring to the place where were meeting.

“It was always a nightmare trying to get gear up three flights of stairs,” he recalls.

“My partner and I have ended up working here, so it’s come full circle.”

Continuing to reminisce, Vermaak says: “Greg’s way older than the rest of us. We’d all grown up idolising him from Penguins in Bondage days.

“So I auditioned for the band and it didn’t go very well and Greg did the ‘I don’t think it’s going to work out’ thing. I got down on my knees and grovelled for a second chance, but with Anthony on bass, with whom I’d played before. That’s when it clicked.”

Back in those days, when there were no quotas, the band had two songs getting airplay on radio – Heart Hits The Ground and Ziggy Played Bizarre – as well as videos on television. “Barney Simon picked up on Ziggy, and a song called Book I Write found its way onto a KFM compilation disc, so we found an alternative as well as a mainstream audience,” says Donnelly.

Dollyrocker songs have been used in soundtracks for movies Once Upon A Road Trip and Twist. The band also penned the theme song for TV series Couch Trip, and Sleepy Town was used in the TV series Going Nowhere Slowly. Lovesong, off their final album was listed on the 1001 South African Songs You Must Hear Before You Go Deaf.

Over time, the band changed their sound a bit, says Donnelly, moving from pop punk into what he calls their “darker, kind of more moody, old men kind of sound”.

Going back and listening to the material to put a set together for the upcoming gigs, the guys realised their earlier albums were the most popular so the core of the shows will focus on these.

As much as it’s important to give the fans what they want, and the songs they love most, it also indulges the band in that they can play their favourites too.

“We picked the songs I suppose you could call singles and put them in. It’s only then we realised how many songs we had that stood the test of time, and to have a full set of memorable songs,” says Donnelly.

It’s unashamed nostalgia, says Vermaak. “Yes, that’s the reason you do these shows,” agrees Greg. “I feel because of the places where we were all at when we parted ways – not for any specific reason… life happens – this line-up had kind of unfinished business.”

“We’re doing it, and we’re going to have fun doing it,” Vermaak asserts.

If your memory needs a jog, have a listen here: https://thedollyrockers.bandcamp.com/releases

The Dollyrockers play on Friday, April 7 on the Grand Daddy Hotel rooftop, Long Street, 6pm; Sunday, April 9 at Bardough/Los Muertos, Loop Street, 1pm. No cover charge for these gigs.