Regurgitator are fired up for Hotter Than Hell
Aussie alt-rock legends Regurgitator are set to headline the scorching lineup for Hotter Than Hell 2024. Fresh off a tour supporting their acclaimed album Invader, the band is showing no signs of slowing down. Bassist Ben Ely, in a recent interview, revealed their excitement for the festival and their plans to keep the creative momentum going.
“After we did [the Invader] tour, we were like, oh, we should have a break and maybe not tour for a bit,” Ely admits. “But then this came up.” Referring of course to the upcoming Hotter Than Hell music festival; a lineup stacked with the kind of rock royalty that Regurgitator couldn’t resist being a part of.
“Sometimes you just got to say yes. It looks really great,” Ely enthuses, clearly excited about sharing the stage with the likes of Jebediah. “I really love Jebediah, ever since I saw them on Recovery when I was like 15 or 16 way back in the 90s. I’ve always been a fan of their music, and I like their new album.”
The overwhelming success of Invader has fuelled Regurgitator’s fire. Ely describes being “a bit overwhelmed with how much people liked it.” This positive reception has spurred the band to aim even higher with their next record.
“We’re kind of starting work on another record,” Ely reveals. “We kind of want to emulate the same sort of process where we just work really hard over a long period of time to try and make the best record that we can.”
This meticulous approach to crafting their music led to Invader taking nearly two years to complete. The band’s commitment to quality over speed paid off, with the album garnering “lots of really lovely feedback.” Ely reflects, “It seemed to pay off that kind of amount of energy we put into the record.”
For Regurgitator, the DIY ethic is deeply ingrained in their creative process. “That was something that our first drummer, Martin Lee, kind of instilled us with when we first signed our record contract with Warner Brothers way, way, way back in the early days in the mid-’90s,” Ely recalls. “It was like, oh, let’s get the record budget and buy our own gear and learn how to use the studio ourselves!”
This self-sufficient approach continues to this day. “I’ve got a studio at my place, and Quan’s got one at his place,” Ely explains. “We kind of move between those two places and email each other ideas. And, yeah, but we’re all self-produced and we do everything ourselves, like record and mix and everything.”
While this DIY method can be “a little bit overwhelming” at times, it allows Regurgitator to maintain complete creative control. “We’re control freaks,” Ely chuckles, “so that works well for us, I think.”
So what can fans expect from Regurgitator at Hotter Than Hell 2024? A blistering set packed with hits, deep cuts, and maybe even a sneak peek at some new material. “We’re really looking forward to playing Hotter Than Hell,” Ely says. “It’s going to be a blast!”
So mark your calendars and get ready to rock out with Regurgitator and a host of other legends at Hotter Than Hell 2024.
Hotter Than Hell 2024 Tickets
Saturday, 12th October – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough, WA
Saturday, 19th October – York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, VIC
Saturday, 26th October – Coopers Alehouse, Gepps Cross, SA
Saturday, 2nd November – Kirwan Tavern, Townsville, QLD
Sunday, 3rd November – Chardons Corner Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
Regurgitator
Less Than Jake (US) – SA and QLD only
Unwritten Law (US) – WA and VIC only
Jebediah
Little Birdy
Adalita – VIC only
The Kickons –WA only
The Bennies – SA and QLD only