ORIGINS: Lower Blue Mountains, NSW
GENRE: Grunge
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-1997
GENRE: Grunge
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-1997
MEMBERS:
- Andrew Stout -Vocals, Guitar
- Ben Parker - Bass
- Lachlan Donaldson - Drums
RELEASES:
- Demo (1995)
SUMMARY: Anon was a three piece grunge band active in the Blue Mountains during the mid-'90s. Starting as teenagers while attending Blaxland High, the band was influenced (like many other bands in the area) by local indie rockers Plastic Dinosaur. Anon recorded a demo (now lost) and members moved on to other projects (Lycanthia, Futile, iFly) after 3 or 4 years of playing shows from Penrith to Katoomba.
SHOWS:
- Rainbird Festival, Katoomba Showground, Katoomba - 9th December, 1995
ORAL HISTORY:
ANDREW: Plastic Dinosaur inspired a lot of Lower Blue Mountains bands - they were like the mothership. The bands that followed them were Futile, Pounder, Glister, Dalkiel, and my own band Anon. It was 1994 and I was writing some songs... we started jamming in Lachlan's garage. As with all families of drummers, his parents must have been super cool to allow us to make all that racket. I remember his mum quite a few times asking to read my lyrics folder, seemingly interested in particular lyrics of particular songs after we'd been jamming sometimes... so pretty awesome parents to show interest and be up for all the noise!
Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
LACHLAN: We would have been in, like, Year 10 at Blaxland High. I was drumming, Ben played bass, and Andrew had songs written, so we just formed a three piece jamming in my garage. I was listening primarily to metal back then - Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Cruciform, and some older stuff like Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Motorhead.
Lachlan Donaldson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
BEN: Andrew and Lachlan were in the same music class in Year 10 and were playing together a bit for school. Andrew had some songs ready to go when he brought Lachlan and I in, and it went from there.
Ben Parker (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
ANDREW: I had friend named Jason Dunn, who wasn't a muso or related to any of the local bands, who I used to write lyrics with. I'd bounce my ideas off him and he suggested bits here and there. He mainly told me whether something was worthy or lame.
Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
BEN: We used to catch the train to Katoomba to play at the Gearins open mic nights, 'The Bent St Jam'. That was the first time we'd ever played in a pub - we were only 15 and 16 at the time. It was a lot of fun. Around that time some of the local bands would also put shows on in their driveway, loungeroom, or backyard, and that was always good too. Playing in a band at that age was really exciting and the all age gigs just had the best vibe.
Ben Parker (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
ANDREW: We cut our teeth catching the train up from Blaxland to Katoomba and sneaking into the Gearins while underage and playing at the Bent St Jam nights, which was an open mic gig on Tuesday nights. The band Tang were also often there. We also played at the Axolotl in Werrington a good few times and at the Rainbird Festival in Katoomba.
Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
LACHLAN: Thinking back, the songs were actually really good and we should have pushed harder and kept going with it. If we had the demo now and reformed - refined the songs and re-recorded them - I think we could really turn it into something.
Lachlan Donaldson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
ANDREW: We ended in 1997 because school was winding up and we'd each started to drift in different directions and pursue different interests. At the end of Year 12, Lachlan went to England on a gap year to teach at Catholic Choir School, which would have made it hard to continue regardless!
Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025
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