Hard-Ons: Aussie punk rock band debut new documentary to celebrate 40th anniversary

From the streets of Punchbowl to stages across the world, Aussie band the Hard-Ons are celebrating over 40 years of smashing stereotypes the punk rock way.

The Hard-Ons members Murray Ruse, Peter 'Blackie' Black, Ray Ahn, and Tim Rodgers. Picture: Supplied

It’s the 1980s – the height of punk rock and skinheads – and a group of migrant teens with long hair were tearing it up on a dingy stage in Sydney’s west.

Somewhere in the crowd someone starts yelling racial slurs.

“When we formed the band, we didn’t realise that the three of us had different skin colour,” bassist Ray Ahn said.

“People used to yell out to us ‘Channel O Band’, and we were like ‘yeah right … we’re the colour of the rainbow’.”

Ray Ahn, Peter Black and Keish DeSilva – a Korean, Croatian and Sri Lankan group of friends hailing from Punchbowl – didn’t know it then, but the Hard-Ons would later become one of the most beloved and influential Australian bands.

The Hard-Ons playing live on stage during the 80s. Picture: Supplied

After debuting in 1982, the Hard-Ons are still the only band to have charted a record-setting 17 consecutive Number 1’s on the Australian independent charts.

In 1989, they became the only Australian-based band to hit the Top 5 in the British New Musical Express chart.

The Hard-Ons current members Peter 'Blackie' Black, Ray Ahn, Murray Ruse and Tim Rodgers. Picture: Supplied

Now, almost 40 years later, the band is still rocking on stages around the world, this month releasing their newest album ‘I Like You A Lot Getting Older’.

But before stardom, the band started as a group of migrant boys who happened to go to Punchbowl Boy’s High School.

It was a shared love for music that brought the three boys together, sneaking off to secret band practices and gigs.

Keish DeSilva, Peter Black and Ray Ahn in their younger years. The three boys from Punchbowl became the founding members of Aussie punk-rock band the Hard Ons. Picture: Supplied

“It’s just like how any other band forms,” Peter ‘Blackie’ Black added.

“You hear something that moves you that much that the earth shifts underneath your feet and you think, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life’.”

At the time, Peter said they had no idea the Hard-Ons would have such a lasting impact.

“We grew up in an area where (diversity) was such a norm,” Peter said.

“We certainly didn’t know that people were going to make a big deal about the fact that we’re different skin colour until we started playing,” Ray added.

The Hard Ons band members Ray Ahn, Keish DeSilva and Peter 'Blackie' Black. Picture: Supplied

“And then all of a sudden we were like hey they’re right – we are different.”

To celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary, a new documentary called ‘The Most Australian Band Ever’ premiered this week as part of the South by South West Sydney convention.

The premier was the convention’s only sold out show.

Film director Jonathon Sequeira said the documentary was as much a celebration of western Sydney’s “hidden” underground music scene as it was a deep dive into the band’s rise and influence.

Keish DeSilva, Ray Ahn and Peter Black are the founding members of Aussie punk-rock group the Hard Ons. Picture: Supplied

“Everybody who’s into Australian music and underground music knows who the Hard-Ons are,” Mr Sequeira said.

“They’re sort of the elders of that scene, they’re so well respected but I don’t think even they realise just how much people look up to them.

“But a big part of the film is that these guys were from the western suburbs, from the down and out, and they went and did it anyway.

“And that’s something we’re really proud of because it changed things for a lot of people.”

Film Director Jonathan Sequeira (left) and Hard-Ons band member Ray Ahn (middle) at the premier of the documentary 'The Most Australian Band Ever!' at The Dendy in Newtown. Picture: Supplied

In 2019, Ray and Peter returned to Punchbowl High School where they met student band ‘320’ – the 2018 winners of the YouthRock competition.

“They’re just incredible,” Ray said. “People look down on western Sydney, like we’re the poor area, no resources – but these kids went out and they beat teams whose parents probably pour thousands of dollars into their music. They even beat the prestigious Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.”

Hard-Ons members Peter 'Blackie' Black and Ray Ahn meeting Punchbowl Boys High School YouthRock band winners '320'. Picture: Facebook

Heading into their 40th anniversary Australian tour, Peter and Ray said it was an “honour” to continue inspiring newer generations of punk rockers.

“It’s just something we love doing,” Peter added.

“People ask us if we ever thought we’d be playing for this long, and it’s like no – no one ever thinks that. But the fact that we’re doing it, it’s incredibly awesome.”