Machine Gun Fellatio (also known by the censored initialism MGF) were an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1997. They are well known for their provocative on-stage antics and humorous lyrics. Their outrage-provoking name (coined by an early associate of the band who devised the term from a philosophy exercise) gives some idea of the attitude that pervades the band's work. They released three studio albums, three EPs and three singles before disbanding in 2005. In 2024, however, they reformed for three shows.
History
1997–1999: Formation and Love Comes to an End
Machine Gun Fellatio were formed when members of two Sydney bands, Vrag and Limebunny, combined in 1997. The bands had previously collaborated on various projects and released a compilation record titled Unsound Sounds, which featured Vrag's track "Isaac or Fuzz". This track incorporates segments of a voice message left on a record company's answering machine, inquiring about the song identified by the lyric "Da da da da..." The composition primarily features a vocal rendition of the melody "Reach Up" by Perfecto Allstarz, a project associated with Paul Oakenfold, set to an upbeat dance rhythm. The song received significant airplay on national youth broadcaster Triple J. To capitalise on the success of the song they consolidated the band lineup, with Dave Arroyo and Glenn Dormand (Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) on vocals and keyboards, Warrick Leggo (LoveShark) on guitar and Ross Johnston (3kShort) on bass, guitar and keyboards, and released their debut EP Love Comes to an End. and Melbourne, Homebake, Livid, the Woodford Folk Festival and Gone South.
Their second album Paging Mr. Strike was released in 2002, containing the band's most popular single, "Rollercoaster", which displayed more radio-friendly lyrics and was used in a commercial for Just Jeans. Issues listed as contributing to the break up include burn out, excessive drug use and creative differences.
2005–present: After the split
Following the split, several band members transitioned to new projects:
- Pinky Beecroft formed Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, whose name was later shortened to just The White Russians.
- 3kShort tours with White Knuckle Fever a duet he formed with Celia Curtis of Circus Bizarre and performs with Vashti Hughes in her show Mum's In.
- LoveShark formed the Outer Space Cowboys with 3kShort and played gigs around Sydney.
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab became a TV Presenter on Foxtel and now works as a film director on the Stories of Our Town project
- KK Juggy has created and starred in several of her own cabaret shows as well as appearing in other musical theatre productions, film and TV. For two years, she was a singer and a ring mistress for the highly regarded circus troupe Circus Oz. She went on to release an album of jazz and blues classics with her father Dick Hughes, which toured Australia. She released an album of music with her band the Honky Tonk Shonks and has more recently been seen with her blues psychedelic thrash trio, The Loud Hailers.
- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott) had another band The Bryan Ferrysexual Experience which broke up shortly after MGF did. He later formed Super Massive with singer/songwriter Malina Hamilton-Smith.
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell) has since gone on to be one of the lead singers of the Sydney-based band Sneaky Sound System.
On 7 August 2024, it was announced that the band were to reform as one of four support acts for TISM's Death to Art Tour, alongside The Mavis's, Ben Lee and Eskimo Joe. On 11 October, the reformed MGF performed a secret warmup show at the King Street Hotel in Newcastle, which was also the band's first show in 19 years. Dormand posted to social media on 20 October that the band would not be playing further shows after the TISM tour.
Members
- Bryan Ferrysexual (Glenn Abbott)—drums
- Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab (Glenn Dormand)—keyboard and vocals
- KK Juggy (Christa Hughes)—vocals
- LoveShark (Warrick Leggo)—guitar
- Pinky Beecroft (Matt Ford)—vocals and keyboards
- 3kShort (Ross Johnston)—bass, guitar and keyboard
- The Widow Jones (Maree Bonner)—vocals and keyboard (1997-2004, 2024)
- Feyonce (Connie Mitchell)—vocals (2004–2005)
- Jack Hammer (Guy Fleming)—vocals and keyboard (1997)
- Chris Fegan—guitar (1997)
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS<br/>
|-
! scope="row"|Bring It On!
|
- Released: 29 September 2000
- Format: CD
- Label: Sputnik/Mushroom <small>(MUSH33288-2)</small>
| 78
|
|-
! scope="row"|Paging Mr. Strike
|
- Released: 26 August 2002
- Format: CD
- Label: Sputnik/Mushroom <small>(33565-2)</small>
| 6
|
- ARIA: Platinum
|-
! scope="row"|On Ice
|
- Released: 18 October 2004
- Format: CD
- Label: Sputnik/Mushroom <small>(33826 - 2)</small>
| 36
|
|}
Compilation albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! Title
! Details
|-
! scope="row"|Unsound Sounds
|
- Released: 1997
- Format: CD
- Label: Reach Around Records
|-
! scope="row"|The Essential Hits
|
- Released: 13 August 2010
- Format: CD, digital download
- Label: Warner Music Australia
|}
Extended plays
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| EP details
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br />
|-