11/05/2024
In the early hours of this morning we lost original BH drummer and dear mate Alan "Fred" Noonan following a recurrent battle with cancer.
It is no exaggeration to say that Fred was a Brisbane punk rock legend. Prior to co-founding Blowhard in 1989, Fred was a member of pioneering punk bands Brothers Of Feedback, New Improved Testament and Public Ex*****on (who supported Dead Kennedys in 1984).
Fred was with Blowhard from 1989 to 1993 (and intermittently since), during which time he formed his country-punk side project The Fred Band. As is often the Bris-punk way, the side-project endured, and provided Fred with a career highlight when the Fred Band supported his beloved Canadian HC pioneers DOA in 2014.
Fred was also instrumental in maintaining Brisbane punk's status on the international stage. He undertook several overseas tours with Sixfthick and The Jim Rockfords, finding a second home in France's Brittany region. Of that French-Celtic enclave, Fred would say "Brittany is French for Queensland".
Additionally, Fred periodically manned the drum stool for Elvis and the Burger Kings, and more recently was a member of Surfari Krishnas, RL Crocodile and 57 Below.
Fred's legacy is surpassed only by that of his already-departed mate Rollo. The pair are now reunited in the punk rock afterlife, where the beer is always fine. Our thoughts are with Caitlin, Hector, the extended Noonan clan, and Fred's bandmates through the years.