Machine Gun Fellatio embodied the Australian rock counterpart to theater of the absurd, staging performances that resembled burlesque carnivals far more than conventional rock gigs. Band members alongside their backing singers appeared on stilts in leisure suits, as nurses cats or altar boys, or nearly nude save for nipple tassels fake mustaches and a toy animal positioned for cover. Their tracks proved equally provocative, incorporating found sound industrial noise and the most obscene lyrics imaginable. Inevitable controversy trailed the group, which appeared to be their explicit aim. Throughout they issued albums whose undeniably catchy melodies and kinetic bursts of pop hooks attracted loyal listeners despite failing to mute stricter detractors.
The musicians had previously belonged to multiple Sydney groups active during the 1990s often at once including Vrag Limebunny and the Libertines unrelated to the English act sharing that name. When Limebunny and the Libertines collaborated on the Unsound Sounds compilation tracks created by the shared personnel were attributed to Machine Gun Fellatio a name discovered in graffiti beneath a park bench. Every participant adopted a stage alias. In its initial configuration the lineup featured Glenn Dormand handling keyboards vocals and production as Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab Warrick Leggo on guitar as LoveShark and Ross Johnston covering bass and keyboards as 3k Short. Their debut single Isaac or Fuzz arrived in 1997 built around a sampled phone message requesting the title of the track that goes Da da da da....
Television scriptwriter Matt Ford who assumed lead vocals while also playing bass keyboard and guitar under the name Pinky Beecroft entered after departing Limebunny and declining an invitation to the Whitlams whom he had assisted in writing their hit No Aphrodisiac. Additional recruits comprised Christa Hughes singing and dancing as KK Juggy the Ks denoting knickers and knockers Glenn Abbott drumming as Bryan Ferrysexual and the Widow Jones supplying vocals and keyboards. This finalized roster issued the follow-up single Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle in 1999 its lyrics drawn from a phrase uttered by a party guest inside their bathroom. The debut album Bring It On! followed in 2000 via Mushroom Records. Further scandal arose on tour when KK Juggy executed a topless cartwheel across the audience during a Melbourne University show prompting student council complaints that led several other booked university dates to be scrapped yet a subsequent election installed a new council that promptly reextended an invitation.
Paging Mr. Strike appeared in 2002 followed by the two-disc edition 2nd Page for Mr. Strike. The single Rollercoaster featuring markedly more radio-friendly lyrics than prior releases soundtracked a Just Jeans advertisement drawing criticism from certain longtime supporters. Earlier Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab and 3k Short had produced commercial music independently to augment the band’s earnings. The Widow Jones departed in 2004 and was succeeded by Connie Mitchell former lead singer of Primary performing as Feyonce. Pinky Beecroft relocated to Melbourne to separate himself from the group while addressing drug-related health issues intensified by the notoriously debauched MGF lifestyle. Their concluding album On Ice was assembled while the members were divided across two cities. It garnered weaker reception than the prior pair of releases and the band dissolved in 2005.
After the split the individuals pursued separate performance or media paths. Christa Hughes resumed burlesque hosting and performing as KK Juggy and later joined Circus Oz. Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab presented programs on the MusicMAX channel. Bryan Ferrysexual established the Bryan Ferrysexual Experience. Returning to her birth name Connie Mitchell Feyonce entered Sneaky Sound System and achieved substantial success. LoveShark assembled the Stoner Funk Orchestra. The Widow Jones sustained a solo career. Pinky Beecroft launched Pinky Beecroft & the White Russians and in a characteristically eccentric development also took up professional billiards commentary.
