Beasts of Bourbon, Scientists, reunite for Brian Hooper fund raiser

The Beasts of Bourbon and The Scientists are reforming for a fund raiser next month for bassist Brian Hooper.

He was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer last year.

The concert, I Get Up Again is on Friday April 13 at the Prince Bandroom in Melbourne.

Hooper had three stints with the Beasts of Bourbon, between 1990–93, 1996–97 and 2003–08.

He also played with Scientists alumni Kim Salmon and drummer Brian Pola in The Surrealists, after emerging with them in Perth’s punk scene.

Hooper first met Pola when he put an ad for a drummer which specified, “Must be absolute moron” and Pola was the only one who applied.

Pola, also a Beasts of Bourbon drummer, is organising the benefit show for thin lanky comrade.

He says: “I Get Up Again will be a rare and unique show.

“As you’d expect from an artist of Brian’s pedigree, it will bring some of Australia’s most respected alternative rock, seminal punk and swamp blues artists together for what is shaping up to be an unmissable night.”

The lineup currently includes Adalita, Gareth Liddiard, Mick Harvey and Rosie Westbrook, with more to be added in the coming weeks.

It’s not the first time Hooper has been laid low by misfortune.

He’s talked previously about a bad patch in 2003/4 when “a raging amphetamines habit” (his words) saw his marriage collapse, his computer services business going under, he found his elder brother dead in a house and he broke his back.

The latter was the result of a freak balcony fall, and doctors warned he would likely never walk again.

But he proved them wrong. He recovered the use of his legs and re-joined the Beasts at an emotional show at the Greyhound Hotel in St Kilda.

He also chose the time to clean up. When the Beasts went back one of their habitual hiatuses, he worked on two solo albums, the first released under the title The Thing About Women.

Beasts singer Tex Perkins says: “Despite being told that he would never walk again, Brian determinedly rehabilitated himself to a point way past expectation.

“His recovery was a true Phoenix rising from the ashes episode and was an inspiration to the rest of us beasts.

“Brian’s accident really showed what he was made of –  true grit.

“Cancer better watch out –  Brian just might kick its fucking arse.”

Tickets are available for $50 + booking fee via the Prince Bandroom website (princebandroom.com) while donations can be made via a GoFundMe at gofundme.com/brian-henry-hooper-i-get-up-again.