Snakeheads have a long and storied history centering around the friendships between two iconic grass roots indie musicians, one’s untimely death and the other’s relentless pursuit to bring to fruition their collaboration.
James Roden and Pete Lusty shared a 35-year friendship rooted in a love of punk, rock, mod and a whole range of music. Nearly five years after Lusty’s death, Roden is completing the first and only Snakeheads album, ‘Belconnen Highs’, as a tribute to his closest friend and a nod to the school where they met. The album, started in the eponymous high school and refined in Lusty’s basement, is set for release on Goldmans Music in 2025 on vinyl and streaming platforms.
Lusty was an huge figure in the indie music scene in Australia. He founded indie label Ivy League Records and was the manager of legendary bands such as The Vines, Jet and Empire of the Sun. The list of songs that bore his imprint is legion and, on his death, collected by Mushroom Records on the following playlist:
Roden was a member of the iconic The City Lights and worked at Modular Recordings (The Avalanches).
Both played together in various outfits since meeting in Year 7 at Belconnen High School in Canberra before moving to Sydney forming the John Reed Club and signing briefly with EMI Records. In 2016, they rekindled their friendship and began jamming, writing songs and recording together.
As their collection of songs grew and some stand outs appeared, they decided to record with their friend Kit Warhurst (Rocket Science) on drums and Roden’s brother Harry Roden (The City Lights) on bass. Legendary producer Wayne Connolly was involved early and even helped them refine their sound and finish a couple of songs. They recorded six tracks at Hercules Studios (owned by an Easybeat) but before the first batch of songs was finished, Lusty was diagnosed with high-grade Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in mid-2019. After unsuccessful treatment in Sydney, Pete travelled to Boston, USA for a last-chance procedure, accompanied by family and friends, including Roden. Lusty tragically died on 15th March 2020.
Roden has spent the intervening time collating a seventeen track debut album for the collaboration under the name Snakeheads which is due for release this year through Goldmans Music. The first and final release from a couple of legends.
‘Temptation’ is a visceral slice of 2 minute punk rock with a thunderous unrelenting pace that has within its DNA a little Radio Birdman, a little Ash , a touch of The Vines and a smattering of Swedish bands like The Hives or Soundtrack of Our Lives. Pulse quickening buzzsaw rock with an intensity and passion, a foot-wide swaggering stance and a degree of reprobate insouciance. It comes with a black and white montage, hand-made by Todd Sheldrick, containing evocative images from a bygone era and some performance shots which perfectly suits the frenetic pace and passion of the music:
‘Temptation’ is out now and available to download and stream here. It follows the earlier single ‘Shit I Don’t Have Time For‘ with Tasmania’s enigmatic Andrew Swayze from A. Swayze and the Ghosts assisting on vocals. Look out for the full album ‘Belconnen Highs’ released through Goldmans Music – a precious piece of musical history and a fitting legacy. Another classic example of the Marrickville Sound – seasoned musicians on their second or third life playing creative, exciting and dynamic music. Proving once again that creativity has no use by date.
