The new Melbourne group featuring more original Cosmic Psychos than the Cosmic Psychos will release their debut single “Townhall Johnny”, their ode to the publican of Melbourne’s long running dive bar, on Friday December 4, and launch it at The Tote that night!
Almost too good to be true, Spitting Chips are a new Melbourne trio featuring Peter “Dirty” Jones and Billy Walsh – two-thirds (guitarist and drummer respectively) of the original Cosmic Psychos, and the guys who laid down the fuzz-drenched wah wah and primal driving beats that came at you like a psychedelic bulldozer back in that band’s glorious OG days.
Forming the Cosmic Psychos in 1985 with Ross Knight out of the ashes of wah wah art punks Spring Plains (as featured on the seminal 1984 Au-go-go compilation Asleep at the Wheel), Peter and Bill were a unit before the Psychos, developing the sound around the dives of St Kilda and then with the Psychos making the classic debut 12″ EP Down On The Farm, the self-titled album, and its follow up Go The Hack. They were there when the Psychos’ sound started reverberating around the world with classic tracks like “Lost Cause”, “Custom Credit” and “Lead Me Astray”, influencing subsequent generations of noise-rockers in the process. Peter’s departure in 1990 was a shock for the band’s original fans; Bill remained for another 15 or so years, but the band changed, becoming more streamlined and slicker.
A return that’s been 27 years in the making, the music that Peter and Bill’s are making in Spitting Chips has been described by Melbourne identity Phil MacDougall as the TRUE sound of the Cosmic Psychos. In the case of Peter Jones, his singularly wild sound has not been heard on any record since Go The Hack, and Bill hasn’t appeared on record since 1997’s Oh What A Lovely Pie, so these guys really are just picking up where they left off. Indeed, you could say the granddaddies of grunge are back and arguably they are still the missing link between the Stooges and the Sub Pop Seattle sound. (I mean, how did Green River go from arena polish to Super Fuzz Big Muff?)
The new songs reflecting their love of heavy sixties garage psychedelia combined with no nonsense plain language vernacular. Most musicians of the senior variety are winding down but these blokes – Peter, Bill, and their mate Sam “Bootsy” Johnson on bass – are just catching their breath starting over with a compelling intensity.
Having spent a couple of years getting their shit together in the Melbourne’s lowest-rent bars and having already ventured for low-key forays into Sydney and Adelaide, Spitting Chips are ready to take their sound to the world. Their first single is out December 4 on Cheersquad Records and Tapes. “Townhall Johnny” is a perfect A-side; the band’s ode to Johnny Collins, publican of North Melbourne’s Town Hall Hotel and music lover extraordinaire, it is anthemic, funny and grimy all in one and the kind of rousing tune that would have you jumping around if your feet weren’t stuck to the carpet. “Get Outta Yer Head” is the perfect B-side; darker, dirtier, it’s a story of the unhinged life of a child in an adult’s body navigating day to day issues as best as is humanly possible. Both tracks are heavy on the wah wah and fuzz and a taste of what’s to come with the band’s debut album An Encyclopedia Of Riverology, which we’ll see in 2027
Not ones to muck around, Bill, Peter and Sam will be launching the single on the night of its release, Friday December 4, at the Tote, with special guests Budd, The Wraylettes and Sloppy Jalopies.
Spitting Chips “Townhall Johnny” (Audio)
Spitting Chips “Townhall Johnny” / “Get Outta Yer Head” will be released on Fri Dec 4, 2026, and available on limited edition gold vinyl 7″ and digitally. You can pre-order your copy now from: https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/album/townhall-johnny
TRIPLE R PRESENTS SPITTING CHIPS SINGLE LAUNCH Friday 4 December – The Tote, Collingwood with Budd, The Wraylettes & Sloppy Jalopies Tix – RRR Presents – Spitting Chips Single Launch Tickets at The Tote – Band Room (Collingwood, VIC) on Friday, 4 December 2026
Spitting Chips are also playing the Poppin’ Mommas Xmas Special at the Breakwater Hotel, Geelong, Saturday 19 December
Spitting Chips live at the Townie – photo by Cal Reynolds