Groin

 

ORIGINS: Sydney

GENRE: Punk / Hardcore / Oi

YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-1998

 

MEMBERS:

• Matthew J. Von Groin (Guitar, Vocals) [Matty Albert] [1994-1995]
  
• Martin Hoots McGroin (Bass, Vocals) [Martin Jennings] [1995-1998]
  
• David Lee Groin (Guitar, Backing Vocals)
  
• Craig B. Lowe d'Groin (Drums, Backing Vocals) [1994-1995]
  
• Chris (Bass) [1994]
• Aaron Cortilla (Drums) [1997-1998]
• Fran Toller (Guitar) [1997-1998]
  

RELEASES: 

• Warts 'n' All (1995) - Download Here
• 1. Who's the Crook?
• 2. Your Life, Your Loss
• 3. Gonna Get Ya
• 4. Gotta Feelin'
• 5. Little Johnny
• 6. Idiot
• 7. Sick Dude
  

SUMMARY: Matty Albert and his cousin Dave formed the band towards the end of 1994 with Craig on the drums. Martin went to check them out while they were practising and, since their original bassist hadn't shown up, jumped in on the bass, becoming their permanent bass player. The band released one demo tape and played shows throughout 1995 before disbanding. Dave went on to start a Metallica cover band called Damage Inc, and Matty and Martin played in many other bands afterwards.

 

SHOWS:

• Arthouse, Melbourne - January, 1997
• Pulling on the Boots, Iron Duke, Alexandria - 6th and 7th December, 1997
  
• Pulling on the Boots, The Iron Duke, Alexandria - 31st July, 1998
• Rocky's 18th Birthday, St Peters Studios - 22nd August, 1998
• Punk Files 4, The Globe, Newtown - 7th November, 1998
• Punx Picnic, St Peters, Sydney - 31st December, 2001
   

ORAL HISTORY:

MARTIN: Groin was one of those happy accidents for me. I was in a 3-piece punk band (The DTs) at the time as guitarist/lead singer and I knew Matty Albert from playing gigs with Spilt Milk. He had mentioned that he and his cousin Dave were messing around with some new sounds, funk, grind, punk... so I popped in to check them out, I think it was at either Noisegate Studio or Zen Studio. Anyway, they had an amazing sound going with two of the best guitars I had ever heard. A young lad called Craig played drums on a huge hardcover kit, double kick and a mass of symbols. Anyway, the bass player, a guy called Chris, had failed to turn up so I asked if I could play bass. I didn't even play or own a bass but wanted to be part of this outfit. I jumped in my car, went to Cash Converters, and bough a cheap SG copy, came back, plugged in, and the rest is history. We decided we wanted to be like the Ramones, all took the last name 'Groin'. I became Martin Boots McGroin.I always enjoyed the style and it was such a change from all the ska and oi! I normally played.

Martin Jennings (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels discussion, 2024

 

MATTY: So much fun. I was just writing dirty riffs that were too heavy for Spilt Milk. Geez we had fun. At the time I would practice about 4 times a week in various bands

Matty Albert (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels discussion, 2024

AARON: I had been in Sydney for a couple of years. I was in the Royal Australian Navy so I moved around a bit. I'd been going to a lot of local punk gigs so I was starting to meet people in the scene, mainly just enough to say hello. I had been practising drums by myself and, after a few beers after watching The Varukers at the Lansdowne Hotel, I figured I could play in a band so I asked Martin if he knew anyone who needed a drummer. He said, "Yeah, I do." He explained it was him and another guy called Fran. I think it was the following weekend he introduced me to Fran at a gig at the Iron Duke. I couldn't believe it, it was the guy who played drums in Stalin's Organ. I was pretty star struck and shitting myself because I had never played with anyone before, and to be honest, I was pretty shit.

Aaron Cortilla (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

AARON: My first time playing live was the 31st July '98 at the Iron Duke. I only remember because I have dated photos of the night. And I cutout the gig page from the Drum Media. I played terribly. I remember Martin looking back at me a few times with a "What the hell are you playing?" look on his face.

Aaron Cortilla (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

AARON: The Navy ended up sending me to a sea posting based in Western Australia so, although we rehearsed a few times when I was back in Sydney, it all got to difficult. We only ended up playing a handful of gigs and because I was so bad the decision probably wasn't too hard. I ended up playing in Drop Zone then The Hippycrits with Fran. He was even the best man at my wedding.

Aaron Cortilla (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Injured Head, Mystro, Sinus, The DTs, Lestat, Hatetrip, Spilt Milk, The Last Hemeroids, Beaver, Staunch, Unpaid Debt, Columbia's Pain, Pandora's Theory, Toe to Toe, Headbutt, Two Faced, Riot City, Dropzone, The Hippycrits, Bullwinkle's Revenge, Stalin's Organ, Vae Victus, Dark Horse

Martin Jennings

Matty Albert