View source for Machine Gun Fellatio

{{Short description|Australian alternative rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Machine Gun Fellatio
| image             = Machine gun fellatio promo shot.jpg
| caption           = 
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| genre             = [[Alternative rock]], [[Experimental music|experimental]]
| years_active      = {{start date|1997}}–{{end date|2005}}, {{start date|2024}}
| label             = 
| website           = 
| current_members   = Bryan Ferrysexual<br/>[[Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab]]<br/>[[KK Juggy]]<br/>LoveShark<br/>[[Pinky Beecroft]]<br/>The Widow Jones<br/>3k Short
| past_members      = [[Connie Mitchell|Feyonce]]
}}

'''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 breaking up in 2005.<ref name="Allmusic">{{allMusic |class=artist |id=p480629 |author=Jody Macgregor |accessdate=13 August 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Oz">{{cite web|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36937/20060807-0000/www.ozmusicproject.net/band/artist61e3.html|url=http://www.ozmusicproject.net/band/artist61e3.html|title=Machine Gun Fellatio|publisher=Oz Music Project|archive-date=6 August 2006|access-date=13 April 2015}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The bands had previously collaborated on projects and had released a compilation record, ''Unsound Sounds'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Machine-Gun-Fellatio-Libertines-limebunny-Unsound-Sounds/release/2851945 |title=Machine Gun Fellatio / Libertines / limebunny - Unsound Sounds (CD) at Discogs |date=1997 |publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=5 August 2011}}</ref> which included a track by Vrag, "Isaac or Fuzz". "Isaac or Fuzz" consists of parts of a voice message left on a record company answering machine asking for the name of the song that goes "Da da da da...." (the song consists mostly humming of the tune "Reach Up" by the [[Paul Oakenfold]]-related project Perfecto Allstarz) put to a fast dance beat.<ref name="Allmusic"/> In an interview Glenn Dormand (aka Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) explained "We got a wrong number on our answering machine. We rang the number back. It was a local Pizza Hut. Basically, they said 'Isaac hasn't been here for a long time, and Fuzz isn't reliable either'."<ref name="Elizer">{{cite web|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/19991206130000/http://www.immedia.com.au/im_m/archive/Volume2-1997/eliezer-970826.html|url=http://www.immedia.com.au/im_m/archive/Volume2-1997/eliezer-970826.html|title=Strange Connection|publisher=In Music & Media|last=Elizer|first=Christie|archive-date=6 December 1999|access-date=13 April 2015}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The song received significant airplay on national youth broadcaster [[Triple J]].<ref name="Oz"/><ref name="Elizer"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jfiles/files/s689467.htm|title=1997 Playlist|publisher=[[Triple J]]|access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="Oz"/>

There were reportedly less than 500 copies of ''Love Comes to an End'' in existence, Matt Ford, ([[Pinky Beecroft]]) once stated in an interview they dumped boxes of their first EP in a skip when they realized they would never sell them.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} This EP is also referred to as ''Isaac or Fuzz'', after their record label stuck stickers proclaiming that it contained the single "Isaac Or Fuzz" to try to increase sales by capitalising on the air play of the song on Triple J.

Ford later joined the band as singer, keyboardist, after leaving Limebunny and turning down an offer to join the band [[The Whitlams]], with whom he helped write their hit song, "No Aphrodisiac", together with Dormand. The band was also joined by [[Christa Hughes]] (KK Juggy &ndash; the Ks standing for "knickers" and "knockers"), Glenn Abbott (Bryan Ferrysexual) on drums and Maree Bonner (The Widow Jones) on vocals and keyboards completing the band's line-up.<ref name="Allmusic" />

===2000–2005: ''Bring It On!'', ''Paging Mr. Strike'' and ''On Ice''===
Their first release under this arrangement was the song "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle". The lyrics were based on something sung by a party guest at one of the member's homes.

In September 2000, they released their debut studio album, ''[[Bring It On! (Machine Gun Fellatio album)|Bring It On]]'', on [[Mushroom Records]].<ref name="Allmusic" />

In 2002, they performed live at the [[Big Day Out]] festivals, [[Homebake]], [[Livid (festival)|Livid]], the [[Woodford Folk Festival]] and [[Gone South]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

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]].<ref name="Allmusic" /> In 2003 the album was followed by a two-disc edition titled ''2nd Page for Mr. Strike'', which contained a second disc of remixes and rare tracks.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

The group caused some controversy for their wild live performances which often involved both male and female [[nudity]], light bondage gear and implied sexual intercourse with their instruments.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} After a Student Union organised performance at the [[University of Melbourne]], fellow [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]n universities [[RMIT University]] and [[Swinburne University of Technology]] cancelled their scheduled performances because of the band's lewd behaviour at Melbourne University. This did not stop other Australian universities in [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]], Western Australia and [[Tasmania]] allowing the band to perform on their campuses and did not stop Melbourne University hiring the band again the following year.<ref name="Allmusic" />

The Widow Jones left the group in 2004 and was replaced by Connie Mitchell (Feyonce), who later became known as the lead singer of [[Sneaky Sound System]]. Pinky Beecroft moved to [[Melbourne]] to get away from the band and to deal with drug-related health problems.<ref name="Allmusic" /> The band's last album, ''[[On Ice (Machine Gun Fellatio album)|On Ice]]'', was released the same year and was met with a relatively muted response and the band decided to break up the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christahughes.net/bio.htm |title=Christa Hughes - A Biography |publisher=christahughes.net |access-date=5 August 2011}}</ref> Issues listed as contributing to the break up include burn out, excessive drug use and creative differences.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-26 |title=Classic Album: Machine Gun Fellatio – Paging Mr. Strike |url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/programs/classic-albums/machine-fun-fellatio-paging-mr-strike/10544978 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Double J |language=en-AU}}</ref> 

===2005–present: After the Split===
Since the split, various band members have since moved on to other projects:
* Pinky Beecroft formed Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, whose name was later shortened to just The White Russians.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
* 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.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
* [[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
* [[Christa Hughes|KK Juggy]] has created and starred in several of her own cabaret shows<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-10-18 |title=Tuneful send-up at Fringe |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/tuneful-send-up-at-fringe-20021018-gdup7h.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Innes |first=Matt |date=2018-11-16 |title=Christa Hughes Is A Beer Drinking Woman At Wonderland Festival |url=https://scenestr.com.au/arts/christa-hughes-is-a-beer-drinking-woman-at-wonderland-festival-20181116 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=scenestr.com.au |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Iccarino |first=Clara |date=2008-10-02 |title=Christa Hughes |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/christa-hughes-20081003-gdsxbk.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Annabel |date=2013-03-06 |title=In praise of mad, wonderful women |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/in-praise-of-mad-wonderful-women-20130306-2flj2.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> as well as appearing in other musical theatre productions, film and TV.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Lenny Ann |date=2022-08-11 |title=Legendary Sydney 'mermaid' resurfaces in all her glory |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/legendary-mermaid-resurfaces-in-all-her-glory-20220811-p5b945.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Temple |first=Julien |title=The Eternity Man |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190710/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |others=Grant Doyle, Christa Hughes, Lara Mulcahy |publisher=Goalpost Pictures, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)}}</ref>  For two years, she was singer and ring mistress for the highly regarded circus troupe [[Circus Oz]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christa Hughes |url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/christa-hughes/10643232 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Q+A |language=en-AU}}</ref>  She went on to release an album of jazz and blues classics with her father Dick Hughes, which toured Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Nicole |title=Dick and Christa Hughes – 21st Century Blues |url=https://www.thebarefootreview.com.au/archive/2010/75-dick-and-christa.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.thebarefootreview.com.au |language=en-gb}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Those Hollywood Nights are winding down |url=https://www.i94bar.com/~i94barrocks/reviews/gigs/2947-loud-hailers |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.i94bar.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
* 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-writer Malina Hamilton-Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-24 |title=Song You Need to Know: Super Massive, 'I Like It' |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/song-you-need-to-know-super-massive-i-like-it-24428/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>
* 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, New South Wales|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DBUkixHzL4L/ | title=Instagram }}</ref>

== 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 ([[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%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br/><ref name="charts">Peaks in Australia:
* All except noted: {{Cite web|url = http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Machine+Gun+Fellatio |title = Discography Machine Gun Fellatio|publisher = Hung Medien|work = Australian Charts Portal|access-date = 13 April 2015}}
* Peaks from 51 to 100: {{cite Ryan|page=173}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|''[[Bring It On! (Machine Gun Fellatio album)|Bring It On!]]''
|
* Released: 29 September 2000
* Format: [[Compact disc|CD]]
* Label: Sputnik/[[Mushroom Records|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
|
* [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]: Platinum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2003.htm|title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Albums|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|date=2003|access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"|''[[On Ice (Machine Gun Fellatio album)|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%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="charts"/>
|-
! scope="row"|''[[Love Comes to an End]]''
|
* Released: 1997
* Label: Mushroom Distribution Services <small>(MGF001)</small>
* Format: CD
| —
|-
! scope="row"|''[[Impossible Love EP|Impossible Love]]''
|
* Released: January 2000
* Label: Sputnik/Mushroom <small>(MUSH01927-2)</small>
* Format: CD
| 78
|-
! scope="row"|''For the Ladies''
|
* Released: January 2002
* Label: Mushroom/Sputnik <small>(02066-2)</small>
* Format: CD
| 31
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles as lead artist and chart position
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="charts"/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Triple J Hottest 100]]
|-
! scope="row"| "Isaac or Fuzz"
| 1997
| —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Isaac or Fuzz" was a radio only single and ineligible to chart in 1997}} || —
| ''Love Comes to an End''
|-
! scope="row"| "Impossible Dream"
| rowspan="3"| 2000
| — || 16
| rowspan="4"| ''Bring It On!''
|-
! scope="row"| "Unsent Letter"
| — || 16
|-
! scope="row"| "Mutha Fukka on a Motorcycle"
| — || 67
|-
! scope="row"| "Summer"
| 2001
| — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "The Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)"
| 2002
| 31 || —
| rowspan="4"| ''Paging Mr Strike''
|-
! scope="row"| "Rollercoaster"
| rowspan="3"| 2003
| 38 || 6
|-
! scope="row"| "Pussytown"
| — || 8
|-
! scope="row"| "Take It Slow"
| — || 59
|-
! scope="row"| "You've Ruined All My Favourite Songs"
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| 76 || —
| rowspan="2"| ''On Ice''
|-
! scope="row"| "What the Fuck?"
| — || 34
|}

'''Notes'''
{{notelist-ua}}

==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Music Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony held by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]]. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2002|2002]]
| "Girl of My Dreams (Is Giving Me Nightmares)"
| [[ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist - Single|Breakthrough Artist - Single]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref name="ARIA2002A">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110233233/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 January 2012 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2002: 16th Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA)|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
{{end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Machine Gun Fellatio}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Australian alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Sydney]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1997]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2024]]