The Hi-Fi Melbourne

December 2008 sees a special surprise reunion of the Headless Chickens classic line-up from the hit-making era of their Body Blow album and a welcome return of the Chickens unrivalled brew of dastardly electronics, danceable beats and sharp pop songs.

New Zealand’s Headless Chickens were possibly the most challenging chart-topping act of the nineties Downunder. A string of hits on both sides of the Tasman included Top 20 smash Cruise Control, triple J favourites Donde Esta La Pollo, Gaskrankenstation, Juice, Mr Moon and the NZ number one George. An enormously popular touring act with a flamboyant live show, the Chickens built a huge fan base through the early part of that decade, touring with everyone from Arrested Development to Pop Will Eat Itself before they splintered apart and the band petered out before the end of the decade.

After a decade away, this group that saw its way through tragedy (the suicide of founding member Johnny Pierce) and triumph (their NZ number one triumph with George remains the only chart-topping song for their legendary kiwi label Flying Nun) is now back to strut around the farmyard in their own inimitable style.

Chris Matthews and Fiona McDonald are back to share lead vocal duties, while the muscular rhythm section of Bevan Sweeney and Grant Fell lay the base for the sonic mayhem wrought by Matthews, Michael Lawry and Anthony Nevison.