Back to Back

ORIGINS: Sydney, NSW

GENRE: Punk/Hardcore

YEARS ACTIVE: 1988-1990

 

MEMBERS:

• Con Barcode - Vocals
• Alison Murray - Bass
• Ken 'Putter' Weigert - Drums
• Creature - Guitar (1988)
  
• Ashley Chatto - Guitar (1988-1990)

SUMMARY: First punk band for long term players Con Barcode, Ken Weigert, and Massappeal guitarist Ashley Chatto. Back to Back changed their name to Lowlife after a while and played a series of shows in Sydney with other punk bands of the era such as Massappeal, Mortal Sin, and Splatterheads. The band ended when Chatto moved on to join Massappeal. 

 

SHOWS: 

ORAL HISTORY:

ALISON: Back to Back started after listening to 'Gun in Mouth Blues' (Rollins Band song). There was myself, Con the Wog, Putter, and I think our dear friend Creature filled in on guitar until Ashley volunteered. We saw bands at least five nights a week... we met religiously every Wednesday arvo at the Crystal Palace Hotel (Sydney) and every Thursday at Waterfront Records. We'd go to Waterfront and buy a record and then go to the Palace after. On The Street was usually released Thursdays as well at around 8 or 9pm, with the ink still wet, so we'd plan our weekends around shows listed in it. We were all so close and trusting of each other. Massappeal were huge then and The Hard Ons were just about to crack it.

Alison Murray (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

CON: I was 19 and it was the best fun. Sometimes up to 15 people would be watching us rehearse and those times were loose. We once went to a pool party and I got naked all night. The parents were there and I was having a joint in the driveway and through an open kitchen window the mum asks, "Who's that naked boy in the backyard". A girl answered, "Mum, that's Con, come meet him - he's so nice". Then my mate let a girl (who'd never driven before) drive his car - our guitarist Ashley and I were on the roof racks and they snapped off when she skidded. We hit the road hard and walked the rest of the way to a mate's place. I then found a lounge chair on the side of the road... people had pissed on it and I carried it on my head. It was just shit like that every weekend, plus fights, hospitals, mad gigs, etc. Can't believe any of us survived. 

Con Barcode (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ALISON: We practised once a week at The Music Box in Petersham but unfortunately it was only a block's walk from a sharehouse I'd moved in to - so there was lots of beer. 

Alison Murray (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

CON: We played with legends like Massappeal, Mortal Sin, Splatterheads, etc. We did six Black Flag covers, and played songs from Minor Threat, Weasels, Government Issue, and Samhain.

Con Barcode (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ALISON: We played Black Flag and Minor Threat covers. We also had a good list of original songs - all fast hardcore type with a lot of guttural sounds. Putter was also really into The Police, so that was an influence. Early 7 Seconds was also an influence. We played weekly at the Teachers Club, which was up from the Trade Union Club. Played a few parties and opened for Massappeal a few times. One show was a Year 12 farewell night in a hall somewhere way out west. We played Flag covers all night and the schoolies were pissed. I yelled out, "Who likes Rolling Stones?" and everyone replied, "Meeee!". My response: "Too bad, we don't know any of their songs". The schoolies started throwing things at us. 

Alison Murray (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ALISON: I think we changed our name to 'Lowlife' because there was something hard about printing 'Back to Back'. I hated the name 'Back to Back' anyway... 'Lowlife' was heaps easier to screenprint, haha. We later broke up when Ashleigh left to play in Massappeal and we couldn't find a new guitarist. Lucky we didn't print the hoodies. 

Alison Murray (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

CON: We finished up when Ashley joined Massappeal. When Massappeal supported bands like Sepultura he'd always put me on the door. Rest in peace my friend.  

Con Barcode (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ALISON: Punk/hardcore shows back then were the best days of my life. Rough but friendly - everybody knew each other. They were all tough gigs, lots of sweat and smoke and spit and beer. 

Alison Murray (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RELATED BANDS: Barcode the World, The Blurters, The Unknown, Impact Statement, Milat, Excessive Force, Ciggie Bludging Mission, Assimilators, Ratlicker, Massappeal, The Armalites, Crawlspace