Julian Smith

My childhood was full of music. We were lucky enough to live down the road from Judith Clingan ( more info here).

Every week we'd go to her classes and sing greetings to each other and learn sol-fa and clap rhythms and that sort of thing.

My first memory of learning a proper instrument was missing most of my first lesson in fits of uncontrollable laughter as the poor teacher tuned his guitar. Just lost it – each time a note would bend – the funniest thing ever!

Move forward a few years and I decided in High School that I liked the flute, so borrowed an instrument and joined the school band. This led to several years of AMEB exams, youth orchestra's and a PhD in procrastination at practice time.

At uni I was involved in several bands and groups playing music for theatre. It was around this time that I started playing bass, when bands like Primus and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers were at the fore. I was also heavily involved in Street theatre, circus (I spent many an hour juggling), video, radio and various other theatre/media related stuff – and of course majoring in being a professional idiot.

A while back I had a bit of a jam at a music club with this great duo who were getting some pretty exciting noises out of things like accordions and mandolins. Thrillbilly Stomp had just grown another leg – well, replaced a leg that they had recently lost with a cheap prosthetic alternative.

One of the great things about music is that you're always learning and (hopefully) improving. The closer you look, the more there is to discover. As time goes on I'm continuing to work at developing from a plastic leg into something with knee joints and other useful features.

To write to Julian directly Email:

julian@thrillbillystomp.com