Bio

ROSS KNIGHT – BASS AND VOCALS  

DEAN MULLER – DRUMS  

JOHN MCKEERING – GUITAR  

“Here’s three ugly looking blokes, touring the world, playing at all these wonderful cities,  dining at all these wonderful restaurants, meeting all these famous people. In the back of  ya head I’m thinking to myself ‘Im a fuckin’ farmer!’” – Ross Knight  

“Even thou the Cosmic Psychos never had the commercial impact or success that  Nirvana and Pearl Jam had, they were still a major influence on them, and I think a lot of  it had to do with the spirit and the sound of their music.” – Butch Vig, Record Producer.  

The Cosmic Psychos are (almost) an Australian punk rock institution who formed in  Spring Plains, Victoria in 1982, spearheaded by founding member and bass player  Ross Knight.  

To date, the band have released 10 studio albums since their self-titled debut  (1987) and their influence has been global, with UK band The Prodigy sampling  their music on 1997’s ‘The Fat of the Land’ LP and Nirvana producer Butch Vig  proclaiming them an influence on both Nirvana and the Seattle grunge scene of the  1990’s. 

In 2009, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam spoke candidly of the effect the band had on  him growing up in Seattle. The band’s repetitive lyrics, fuzzed out guitar and wah wah bass sound has remained unchanged over their 30 plus year career and  continues to win over new audiences.  

A documentary by film maker Matt Weston, released in 2013, titled ‘Blokes You Can  Trust’ featured a whose who of global indie tastemakers and music makers  espousing the Cosmic Psycho’s legacy in Australian musical history. The  documentary has given the band new life and they currently find themselves  fielding touring and interview requests as far flung as Spain, Germany and Costa  Rica.  

It’s been a wild ride for the Psycho’s mainstay Ross Knight who originally formed  the band in 1982 for ‘shits and giggles’. He’s been trying to balance the demands  of fronting one of Australia’s defining punk bands and managing his vast third generation farm ever since; which includes running cattle, tending a vineyard and  volunteering his time and tractor to the local fire service. 

Rounding out the Psycho’s line-up since 2005 is Melbourne born Dean Muller on  drums and John ‘Mad Macka’ McKeering on guitar. Macka (formerly of Brisbane  stalwarts The Onyas), has spent time as a lawyer, pizza delivery driver, carpet  factory worker, bartender and swim coach. These days, when not hanging with the  Psycho’s he teaches punk rock chords to guitar students and regales beginners with  stories about the time he once beat Olympian swimmer Kieran Perkins in a medley  race.  

The Cosmic Psycho’s have survived the passing decades, musical trends and  fashions with ease. Most fans will tell you they’re simple blokes (you can trust), just making straight-ahead, good-fun, Australian influenced punk rock. 

In 2019, the Cosmic Psychos celebrate 30 years since the release of their second  album ‘Go the Hack’ – which perfectly sums up the career trajectory of one of  Australia’s most loved bands.  

“They’re our ambassadors, have a listen to their lyrics, they sing about dead kangaroos.” Ray  Ahn – HardOns