Gotye’s band The Basics form political party

Gotye and his two bandmates from The Basics have formed a political party.

Wally De Backer, Kris Schroeder and Tim Heath’s Basics Rock’n’Roll Party (BRRP) has launched with a focus on education and music; the party is targeting the state elections in Victoria on November 29.

“We’ve all got higher education degrees so we’re not just musicians,” Schroeder told AAP, “but we haven’t come up through any political ideology we just care about certain things like indigenous affairs and education […] We’re interested in giving an equal opportunity to all as far as access to music is concerned.”

The Basics are currently campaigning on social media:

“Have to take the BRRP national – the repeal of the Mining Tax is an affront to our future as a democracy, and a sign that the LNP and PUP are committed to destroying our environment and economy,” the band posted on Facebook.

The BRRP needs to gather signatures from 500 electors registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission to be eligible to run.

The Basics have just recorded 16 new songs at Abbey Road; some of the tracks will be held off for use on an eighth LP but others will feature on their upcoming EP The Lucky Country.

While comparisons to Peter Garrett, Midnight Oil frontman and ex-member of the Labor Party, will be made throughout The Basics’ campaign, the AAP have said Schroeder believes Garrett missed an opportunity when he tied himself to Labor.

“I think it was a bit of a compromise between his own ideals and what was convenient at the time,” he said.