In the Family Way   - by Monty James

The parents of pop stars are often overshadowed by the success of their offspring, but they are parents (other than your own, of course) worth special consideration. It can’t be an easy moment, when your offspring hopelessly declare their love for ‘the muse’ and the hazy lifestyle baggage of sex, drugs and years on the dole.

The McLennan brothers agree to give us an insight into their parents, their lives before pop stardom and the world the way it was - when everything had to do with Star Wars. "Our parents aren’t musical… they’re just insane," jokes Ross McLennan, the older brother and lead singer of Snout. "Actually, our mum played the piano and for a long time I thought dad could play the ukulele," he says.

"I used to think he was a fantastic ukulele player," adds younger brother and Chief Meanie, Link. "Until I found out he just cut off the strings and played it like a drum!" Fortunately for Melbourne’s original pop music scene, more substantial inspiration came when Ross was given a Beatles album at ten.

"It was Abby Road, one of those albums that parents gave their kids because it had tracks like Octopus’s Garden on it," says Ross. The gift became a catalyst for Ross to begin what he describes as a ‘Beatles only’ phase, listening to nothing other than the Beatles for "too long".

Meanwhile, Kid Meanie was taking on lead breaks in the bath and dreaming giant, capacity-filled stadiums full of screaming and adoring Kid Meanie fans. Link shared his brother’s interest in sixties pop, particularly those records that exploiting what he describes as "the nasal whine, twiddle bop, twang thing". Some years after his first album acquisition, Ross purchased a guitar. Link soon followed, fuelled by an independent, early pubescent interest in heavy metal music. Ross remembers using s four-track recorder to fuse Link’s heavy metal guitar riffs with pop tunes of his own.

The McLennan brothers unenthusiastically describe forming a band when Ross was in his early twenties and Link was in his late teens. "It was a situation that took us back to our relationship with each other as children," says Ross, describing it as "a bad time for us".

Link is more succinct - "I was fucked in the head," he declares. With their musical union in tatters, the brothers took their separate paths, but never allowed themselves to drift too far apart. When younger brother Link achieved substantial success as a member of The Meanie, he helped a young Snout (led by his older brother) secure gigs at venues and connections at the Au-go-go label.

"The Meanies really helped us… we did some shows together and it meant that Snout got a bit of a head start," says Ross, who has been recording with Snout since 1993. "But even though it was a head start," concedes Ross, "there were negatives. People would always come up and ask. ‘Are you Link’s brother?’."

Link is quick to add his own experiences in receiving mistaken adoration, prompted by his siblings successes. "I remember going to see Snout play at Pushover and having these two guys come up and say hello, and I’m thinking, oh this is great, you know, Meanies fans," says Link. "Anyway, they came up to me and said ‘great show’, talking about Snout - I turned around and ran away," he laughs.

Genetic similarities aside, both Link and Ross are happy to admit sharing musical influences, guitar techniques and songwriting methods. Both Snout and The Meanies do not try and hide their influences in sixties pop, particularly British pop in the case of Snout and the more fuzzed out, distorted American pop in the case of The Meanies.

"I think Ross and I have got some pretty strong pop sensibilities," says Link. "There’s probably just a bit more fuzz and speed with The Meanies. I think anyone who can appreciate pop can like either, you know. I can’t see why a fan of the Beatles wouldn’t appreciated the Ramones. It’s just that they couldn’t play as well so they turned up the volume."

Local pop lovers will have their opportunity to experience an event of equal weighting when the McLennan brother join forces once more to produce the Nothing To Do With Star Wars show, featuring Snout and The Meanies. Ross says Snout will be playing some new tracks, destined for the next album, as well as tracks from the latest album, Circle High and Wide and previous releases. Link promises new material from the recently re-formed Meanies, indicating that fan can expect yet another change in direction from one of Melbourne’s most established alternative acts.

Snout and The Meanies play The Corner Hotel this Saturday 7th, with Snout also playing on Friday 13th August at The Continental.