Fifteen years into the game, King Parrot still sound like a band that just kicked in the door, flipped over your furniture, and asked if you’ve got anything good in the fridge. Equal parts vocal-chord rattling metal screams and road-hardened riffs, they’ve spent the better part of a decade and a half dragging their feral brand of metal across continents, sharing stages with legends, and somehow surviving the music industry while dance keeping sober in the process. Which, frankly, is an impressive feat.
We caught up with Youngy to talk about all of it — the surreal highs (playing to tens of thousands in Jakarta), the questionable global state of nachos (shots fired at America and London), NBA allegiances that make zero geographical sense, and the very real, very human work of staying sober in a scene that treats excess like a membership card.
Racket
So you guys have been doing doing this shit for what, 15 years now?
King Parrot Youngy
Yeah, it’s been about 15 years. Brother, yeah, we’ve been going pretty hard for a long time. Yeah. And I think after sort of touring the US, maybe like three or four years after, we got rolling. So it’s been, been a long standing relationship, yeah, tours, coming over, over there, and playing and, yeah, it’s, it’s been an amazing journey to be, to be fair, yeah,
What’s the standout moment from being in one band for 15 years?
Well, I wouldn’t say there’s just like one. There’s been so many crazy things that have happened for us as a band over the years. I mean, you know, early days, we got an opportunity to go and play in like Jakarta to like 15 or 20,000 people, and it’s very surreal experience playing in a predominantly Muslim country, playing the kind of music, you know, over there. And it was unbelievable. So, you know, that was kind of like one thing I remember, you know, really clearly, is just like looking out and just going, “Holy shit,” like that was really early days. But, you know, so many cool touring experiences traveling around the US and Europe also, and a bit of Asia and stuff too. So that’s cool. But I think last year was a real step for us in a direction that we never thought we’d take when we got to, you know, to with, you know, we did Pantera in Europe, and then we did Pantera and Amon Amarth in the US as well. So that was little experience for us to be able to participate in those tours.
I saw Pantera at the 2000 OzzFest, and it was probably the most I was afraid for my life at a show. It was at this venue in Southern California that held like 55,000 people, right? And I just remember bonfires of trash everywhere. And it’s on the side of this mountain. So you’re kind of looking down at the stage, wherever you’re at, yeah, and just these dudes just tweaked out on God knows what. I had to mosh through a couple bonfires to get out of that, like running through burning plastic and paper plates and shit. I fucking loved it.
Playing in Jakarta versus playing in Australia versus playing in the US, what are some of the cultural differences that you find yourself trying to be aware of going to different places?
I mean, I guess playing in like places like we’ve done it, done a few Indonesia tours over the years, because it’s so close to us, obviously. So, yeah, there’s definitely a huge cultural thing there. I mean, they take time to pray and do all that sort of stuff during the day. So it’s kind of strange. Seeing a festival, to have some time out to pray that was, you know, definitely very bizarre. But, um, you know, like culturally, I guess so many things are similar. I mean, it’s not worlds apart from from here to the US and to Europe and stuff, but I think the most encouraging thing that I’ve seen recently, and especially doing, you know, some of the Pantera stuff, but even our own stuff back here at home, like it appears like there’s this younger generation of of kids coming through that are really enamored by old school metal and stuff that their parents might have been into, and they’re into it, and because the bands are still around, it’s still a feasible thing to attend. So what I’ve really noticed in the last probably two years is that the demographic is getting, appears to be getting younger. I mean, it’s still the folks that are kind of more our age that are there, but, you know, there’s been a bit more demand for us to play all ages shows and things like that here in Australia and obviously doing all that Pantera stuff. Last year, we saw how many young kids are coming out to see this stuff that they never got the chance to see when it was first out. So, yeah, it was a real eye opener. Man, it was. It’s been really, really cool. We played this festival last weekend here in Australia, and, man, there was just so many kids up the front of the stage. It’s like a big all ages sort of festival, and lots of oldies there and drinking too, but lots of kids up on the stage, up at the front, stage diving, and having the time of their lives. So that really, you know, gives us some gives us some fire in the belly, that’s for sure.
Nice. I have a six year old that accidentally heard me listening to Nekrogoblikon and was just like, I love this. And my wife was less than thrilled. She’s very, very sweet, into outdoorsy activities and folk/Americana music, and our kid comes in, he’s like, “I like metal!” His John Goblikon impersonation is on point, too.
Anyway, how do you feel Australia does nachos?
Well, we’re not as close to places that have that influence is as you guys are. So look, the Mexican out here is hit and miss. It’s got some good places that do it really well. And then there’s some some not so great places. But yeah, it is kind of tricky to find a very like a unique, authentic Mexican restaurant in Australia. They’re not as terrible, yeah. But that being said, you know, like, I’ve been to events in America where, you know, you get these corn chips with liquid cheese. I’ve seen that too. So the worst nachos I’ve ever seen are definitely in America.
(Not bringing up my stadium nachos tattoo) I get that, but my worst ones were in London. Just fucking awful. They suck at nachos.
They try and do fish and chips as well, like we do fish and chips here, and it’s like, you go and have fish and chips in London, and it’s like, what the fuck is this shit?
So, my dad also lives in Australia, and he runs a live production company out there. Still has his Mullet from 1980, and this guy told me once that Whitesnake were the “gods of metal”. And I’m curious as who, in addition to Whitesnake, is your upper pantheon of metal gods?
Well, I mean, as Australians, we’ve got to worship at the altar of AC/DC. Obviously, that’s, that’s a no brainer. And obviously Black Sabbath are right up there too. You can cross so many spectrums there. So it’s sort of challenging to kind of just pick out a couple. But when it comes to Australian bands, like legendary kind of, like, I look at extreme metal stuff, that can be, like Sadistic Execution.
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Sadistic Execution (I am not), but they were one of the first pioneering, ridiculous over the top acts to come out of Australia. You know, they kind of had a bit of an influence on the Norwegian black metal scene. Record came around out of maybe ‘86 or something. So those guys are kind of legendary and friends of ours as well.
So, it’s kind of cool to see how they sort of infiltrated that world, which was, you know, back then, much a much more challenging thing to do. But, I mean, there’s, there’s so many, you know, I mean, Slayer, and the fact that we got to have be in close quarters with Pantera for much of the year last year was something it’s just absolutely crazy. So many. Man, it’s such a tough thing to do, just to pick a few out. But you know, we’re going out with, we’re going out with Soulfly and GWAR and they got to be up there. I mean, Max Cavalera is an absolute legend, big influence on me. So anytime that we get the opportunity to spend some time with Max and the tribe, it’s an honor and something that we’re really grateful for. So, yeah, there’s a there’s a couple for you.
So, I’m told that you love yourself some some NBA basketball. So I gotta ask, who’s your teams? With you not living in the US, how do you even pick a team?
So this is, this is kind of weird, but what the first place I really went to in America was New Orleans, and so this was back in 2005. I think, and that was when the the Hornets were in New Orleans.
I was there hanging out with some friends for a month or two, and just just sort of hanging out, and I was able to go and watch some games, and the Hornets sucked back. They were terrible. And it cost $7 us to get a ticket to go and sit up in the nosebleeds. So, I just go in and get a $7 ticket. And then, because no one was there, I could just kind of weave my way down from where I was. I kind of had this thing with the Hornets. And then as time went on, they obviously became the Pelicans, and the Hornets went back to Charlotte.
So over the years, you know, our record label, House Call Records, is down in Louisiana, so we’ll get we go down there quite a bit when we when we come over to America, and I just started following the Pelicans and yeah, not too many New Orleans Pelicans fans around. I don’t even think most people know that they’re a team in the NBA, especially over here. But I’m a Pelicans fan.
Great. I mean, I usually pick a non-local team based on their mascot. Pelicans are alright. I’m not sad about that.
Well, it’s true, and, I didn’t realize it at the time, but it’s the it’s the state, it’s the official bird of the state of Louisiana. So there you go.
Your recovery and sobriety are super important to you. In an Industry known for indulgence and overdoing everything, do you find that you have enough support in there or is it just fortitude to handle yourself?
Well, yeah, it’s been. It’s been a long time for me and on the clean and sober train. So it’s not, it’s nothing new, that’s for sure. I’ve certainly built up a good network of supportive people that understand and get it.
It’s then they’re not so common in the music industry. But there’s definitely a few around, for sure, there’s definitely a few around. I mean, yeah, like, I’ve been on tours where, you know, we’ve got people in recovery together. There might only be three or four of us, but it’s great to be able to sort of have that support on those bigger tours that we’ve done. But I always find it a challenge as well, when we’re when we’re out and around touring, to find, like, a 12-step meeting and just like, go and try your luck and rock up to a meeting and just say, hey, yeah, I’m from Australia, and I’m here to do it.
You just always have some kind of weird, unique experience doing that shit. So I like, put myself out there like that and doing that stuff. So that’s been cool. And, you know, got lots of lots of friends here that are supportive too. It’s something that was necessary for me when I was first contemplating getting off the booze and the drugs and stuff. And it’s just become this beautiful thing in my life that is very rewarding. And I certainly wouldn’t be doing all this stuff with the band if I didn’t partake in that.
I know that there’s plenty of people that still struggle with addictions of any kind. Do you have any words of advice for someone that is thinking like, “How can I possibly start on this different path?”
Yeah, yeah, for sure. I would say, slow down, take it easy for a minute, get your head in, and do it one day at a time. As simple as that sounds to a drug addict, that’s kind of a weird way to think, because it really requires you to be in the moment when you’re using drugs or alcohol. You’re kind of always in the past, or you’re always in the future. And it’s very difficult to be present, but when that kind of “just do it, just don’t drink and don’t take drugs today”, mentality kind of sunk into this thick skull, it was this kind of revelation.
I was like, “Wow, I can maybe manage to just do one day if I, you know, get to a meeting.” I call a few people in recovery on the phone, I’ll do some writing and do some journaling. You know, working the 12 step thing, maybe I can manage it. And I did start to manage that, and that was how it kind of started to snowball for me, and just, you know, turning up and just wanting something better for myself, too. So that would be my advice, is just to slow down and get to some meetings and check it out and see what happens.
And, yeah, see if it’s for you. I mean, they talk about the gift of desperation, and when things get bad enough for you to want to really change something, then you’re like, “Alright,” you know?
I’ve lost people to drug addiction, and so when I hear people that are doing it and putting in the effort, I just think of all the people in your life that are so thankful to have you around. Yeah, and I just think that that’s so cool. I think it’s, it’s so self-aware to understand, like, this is what I need to do.
Yeah, I mean, you know, it’s something that I see so much, you know, touring around and traveling around and talking to people and meeting people and stuff. You see it so much, and you generally, I find a lot of people want to talk about it while they are wasted. And I’m like, you know, because they’re open and they’re like, you know, people are much more suggestible and all that sort of stuff when they’re already drunk or already lit up or whatever. That kind of frustrates me a little bit. But you know, when someone’s sitting at home and maybe reading an interview like this, or reading something in an article. Yeah, that’s when it’s more likely to sink in. So I’m always like happy to kind of talk about it and, and if it can help one person, fucking fantastic.
Hell yea. Has there ever been a question that you were dying to answer that no one’s ever asked?
No, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. I mean, I know that’s probably not the answer you were looking for, but I just can’t think of anything. Feel free to ask me anything stupid, for sure.
I mean, asking about nachos was pretty dumb.
I mean, I can tell you a question that I’m sick of answering is about the preconceived idea that I think American people have of Australia being this place that you where you’ve kind of like dodge crocodiles and alligators and snakes and shit, and that they’re crawling around in our houses and stuff, that there seems to be a bit of a misconception there, that a lot of American people think that that’s what we’re doing down here, and it ain’t quite that.
I live in Oregon, it’s pretty wild here.
Man, yeah, I’ve been proper scared in America with the bears and shit.
Haven’t seen too many bears. Have seen mountain lions. We had coyotes on the trail the other day, but they ain’t shit. But yeah, for me, it’s about all we have. We have our share of snakes by the rivers, but nothing crazy.
Yeah, yeah, we got some venomous ones here. You know, I see a couple here and there, but it’s, it’s kind of not the Steve Irwin wildlife show here in Australia that people seem to think that it is,
Well, I’m sorry you don’t get to see all kinds of crazy shit every day just crawling around in your house.
Yeah, you know, I mean, we get to see the kangaroos and stuff like that. They’re around. Most of most of them are dead on the side of the highway.
We just got raccoons. I’ve seen a couple beavers and some pikas. Lots of small to medium rodents. That’s about it.
I like raccoons. Man, raccoons are cool. I like those guys. They’re cool. I remember it’s been in Montreal. I was in Montreal once, and I just was walking along, and this raccoon popped up out of a dumpster and just popped its head up I was walking past. It was great.
Right before I moved out of Southern California, we hear this terrible ruckus on the roof come out and they’re just two raccoons fucking like crazy on top. It’s the worst sound. Goddamned terrible.
That’s great. Raccoons, fucking great.