Congratulations on the re-release of Butcher / Hairstylist / Beautician! What inspired you to re-issue the album 10 years later?

The original pressing sold out quickly, within the first year of release I think. People have been hounding me for a re-release for a long time so what better time than its 10th birthday?

When you listened back to the album after all this time, what stood out to you the most about the songs?

There’s a kind of innocence beneath all the alcoholism, a purity of some kind. An optimism that only someone who has not yet been crushed by the music industry can put forward. Besides that, just the simple yet effective nature of the songs stands out to me, it’s easier said than done to write in that way. I think I put far more thought and effort into the songs I write now and they are not necessarily better, different yes, but not necessarily better. One generally hopes they get better at something the more they do it but this is not always the case with music, in fact, more often than not people get worse at it, cheesier, more boring. I could philosophise on why this is so but we’ve all got places to be and things to do so perhaps another time eh?

You mentioned that you didn’t feel the need to change anything for the re-release. Why do you think the album still holds up so well?

I think the way it was recorded, all analog on old vintage gear, gives it a gorgeous, timeless sound. It was recorded almost completely live and that energy was captured so well. I don’t really buy into the whole ‘remixed/remastered’ thing unless the original version stunk. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I say. The sound of the record represents that time and place perfectly to me and it’d be a waste of time and money to try and make it sound different.

The album is tied to a specific time in your life—what’s it like revisiting those songs now?

There has been no re-visit to be honest, the songs have never strayed too far from me over the years. I have continued to play the majority of these songs at shows as they are among my most requested tunes by my audience and I am a sucker for a bit of crowd pleasing.

What was the creative process behind the original album? How did it reflect your life at that time and has your approach to making music changed?

The songs were written over an unknown period of time, I wrote so many songs back then and with the help of Nick and Johnny we settled on these ten songs as the pick of the bunch. I definitely wrote a few of the songs in Perth, I wrote ‘Cunt’ when I was still in high school, visiting the Midland Train Station on a daily basis on my commute home, but the majority were written after I moved to Melbourne, inspired by the big city and the people I was hanging out with. I think I still write lyrics in the same way, as I mentioned before I put a bit more thought into it and take my time a bit more now. I’m more curious with sounds now, back then I was very committed to a certain sound. I’m open to a much wider spectrum of sounds now.

It’s pretty special that you’re reuniting with your original bandmates Nicholas Allbrook and Jonny Baird for the anniversary tour in March 2025. How does it feel to be getting the band back together, and what are you most excited about for these shows?

It feels good! Nick and Johnny are two of my very favourite people and it’ll be a great big laugh to get back on the tools together. I’m pumped to see Nick re-learn the drums (I don’t think he’s picked up a pair of drum sticks since our last show back in fuck knows when) and very excited to see Johnny’s gigantic fingers creeping all over a bass guitar again. They’re very good boys so I can’t imagine hitting the road with them again will be anything short of a gas.

Do you have a favourite memory of performing with Nick and Johnny back when Butcher / Hairstylist / Beautician was first released?

I was so drunk back then I barely remember a thing.

You recently dropped the video for “Stinking Rich”. What was it like working with director Triana Hernandez, got any fun behind the scenes stories?
Working with Triana was great, she is a massive legend with a beautiful brain. I don’t think I had slept the night before, I was on a very quick weekend trip to play 3 shows across Sydney, Portarlington and Melbourne, so I flew down from Sydney after a rowdy night and got straight to it in my hazy mind set. She had me wear this helmet (the ‘Ozzie Dream Sim 400’) which I couldn’t see anything out of, I nearly threw up all the pies I had to scoff while I was wearing that thing trying to walk around in the street because I was so disoriented. I nearly got hit by a truck, staggering around blindly in the street. There’s a good photo somewhere of Triana guiding me to a safe place off the road because I was definitely about to spew. Good times. Fun fact, the ‘rich guy’ look in the video is based on Matt Preston, the food critic. He commented on Rage’s instagram post about the video saying “Nice look”. Full circle stuff.

Over the last 10 years, you’ve toured internationally and become a bit of cult figure in Australian music. How do you think those experiences have shaped you as an artist?

I think that after the first bit of buzz from this first album of mine I got a bit self conscious from the attention and my writing suffered because of it, but eventually I remembered that I just make music for myself and if anyone else digs it that’s a bonus. After that settled back in I think I got back on track. I’m the same fella I’ve always been, just a few more strangers know my name I guess.

Looking back on the past decade, what are you most proud of?

The four records I have made, the friendships I have made and kept that are a direct result of me playing music, and my ability to stand in front of an audience and bare my soul to them.

Got any words for the fans who’ve stuck with you all these years?

I love yas more than you’ll ever know. Thanks for all the support and I’ll see ya soon.

Peter Bibby: Australian Headline Shows

Sun 2 Mar 2025 - Mojos - Fremantle, WA
Sun 9 Mar 2025 - Crown & Anchor - Adelaide, SA
Thu 13 Mar 2025 - Black Bear Lodge - Brisbane, QLD
Fri 14 Mar 2025 - Marrickville Bowling Club - Marrickville, NSW
Sat 15 Mar 2025 - Northcote Social Club - Melbourne, VIC

Tickets are on sale now

A QUICK CHAT WITH PETER BIBBY