If you’ve ever thought there should be more heavy music exploring the mysteries of deep space, strange new worlds and the limits of human reason, you’re in for a treat this weekend as AGLO will be bringing their Star Trek themed heavy metal to the Black Box Theatre in Nambour, with Diploid (Naarm/Melb) Street Suffer (Bris/Meanjin) and Verminate (Bris/Meanjin).
We caught up with the mastermind behind AGLO, Mr Aaron Osbourne, to discuss his favourite Star Trek moments and what kind of extraterrestrial madness the punters can expect this Sunday.
BAD HABIT: Aaron, from what I understand AGLO started as a covid project with you writing and performing everything. I wanted to ask about your history in underground music… what got you interested? Shoot us your punk resume. Bands etc you've done. How has it all fed into the AGLO mainframe?
AARON: I got interested in metal/heavy music when I was about 12 years old after my parents got divorced, pretty standard on that front. Loved everything heavy and instantly started seeking out harder/more aggressive stuff from a young age. I grew up in Canberra and got heavily into the local music going around there at the time and the international metal and hardcore that would pass through as well.
Bands I've done/punk resume – Slowburn, 4 Dead, I Exist, Outright, Sex Wizard, Year of the Rat, Burn the Hostages, Mental Cavity, Extortion, AGLO and lots of filling in for mates’ bands here and there along the way as well. I'd say all of that swirled together is what ended up influencing AGLO, plus a heavy heaping of Crowbar and Morbid Angel.
BH: I’m imagining over covid you were trapped inside with nothing but Star Trek box sets and guitar. And that sort of claustrophobic madness was the planets aligning to produce AGLO. What’s the best Star Trek series? What’s the best movie (Wrath of Khan or maybe Undiscovered Country is the answer). What’s the appeal of Star Trek? Have you ever thought of playing in Spock ears?
A: Surprisingly most of the AGLO ideas came a bit after COVID (once I could leave the house), but I definitely watched a shitload of Trek while locked down. My favourite Star Trek series is The Next Generation, and subsequently I think First Contact is my favourite movie. All the Borg story lines are so good. Voyager gets a special mention for also being probably as good as TNG. I've always been a big sci-fi head, but Trek is just the one that stuck with me the most, it has so much content and so many different styles of TV/Film incorporated to it. This worked as a great source of material for a brutal band...no Spock ears yet, I don't quite see myself as logical as the Vulcans.
BH: It’s been said that Nambour and the surrounding areas are the "UFO Highway". It’s one thing to have an interest in science fiction but do you ever indulge in any UFO/Extraterrestrial spotting? Do you believe? Do you want to believe? Could humanity handle having contact with visitors from outside of Earth?
A: I've personally never engaged/experienced any UFO spotting, however I'm a firm believer. It's mental to think we are the only life forms in the universe functioning the way we are. I mean I think it's essentially fact that some humans have had contact with visitors, but they can't handle/haven't been able to figure it out. So I don't think we are prepared for it (yet). Maybe our future generations will be.
BH: Growing up, sci fi like Star Trek was a lot closer, culturally, to UFO and conspiracy TV and film. I remember Leonard Nimoy narrating the In Search Of… tv series. In modern times, a lot of these "conspiracies" have been "weaponised" to push some agenda. For example, people flipping out about the new Star Wars. I miss the innocence of the old days. I was wondering if you ever weigh in on this online dialogue. Do you have any thoughts on how sci fi has changed over the years?
A: I also miss the innocence, let me like my kooky shows! I don't engage in the online discourse, I've got too much other stuff happening in my life to devolve into that haha. Honestly, I really like most of the new Trek and Star Wars stuff that's out there, and similarly when something else new comes out and it's sick, it's hugely refreshing. The new Dune films are obviously some of the best representations of the genre in my mind. I'm excited for more original stories or adaptations and less running back over old IP though.
BH: Cheers for answering these questions. What Star Trek episodes should people watch to prepare themselves for the shows? Any last words? May the force be with you.
A: Watch 'The Best of Both Worlds' Eps from TNG, get yourself assimilated with Jean-Luc. Last words - Resistance is Futile - AGLO Brutal.
Sunday 14 July
Black Box Theatre Namba
DIPLOID (Narrm/Melb)
AGLO (Narrm/Melb)
STREET SUFFER (Meanjin/Bris)
VERMINATE (Meanjin/Bris)
2pm to 8pm - ALL AGES
Tickets $20 or $25 on the door - BOOK HERE
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