Dagnabit

ORIGINS: Castle Hill, NSW

GENRE: Punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 1995-1997

 

MEMBERS:

• Brendan (Vocals)
  
• Luke Mernagh (Guitar)
• Sean (Bass)
• Jane (Bass)
• Drums (Ed)
  

SUMMARY: Formed at Oakhill College, Dagnabit is probably best known as the first band of Luke Mernagh (AKA Luke Shirker), who would go on to play in a variety of punk bands. Dagnabit were a garage band who predominantly played parties and they broke up when Luke decided to form The Shirkers. Brendan went on to play in the band Bender with the actor Beau Brady (Home and Away).

 

ORAL HISTORY: 

LUKE: We had two bass players because we didn't want to kick our mate Jane out (...) We had around 5 songs and played a few parties around the Hills District. We would play our original songs and always finish with Knowledge by Op Ivy. I think we used to cover Op Ivy's Bankshot too. Probably the most fun band I was in. We would jam Saturdays and whenever else we could in the sweltering hot garage of Ed's parent's house in Castle Hill. We broke up because I started The Shirkers with my other mate Simon and we just stopped jamming and friendship groups were shifting. The Dagnabit guys were upset that I switched teams to Shirkers and I never resolved it. Here lies the first of a pattern of me being dishonorable and never facing the music and resolving things or being open.

Luke Mernagh, Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Bender, The Shirkers, Deadstare, Instant Mayhem, Stereo City, The Breakout, The Lock Ups, The Panic Attacks, Black Jaw, The Colytons