Putting The Fun Back In Music With PEEJ From PUNK ROCK FACTORY

Interview by Kris Peters
Any band in the modern age that can take rock/punk/metal music to
the increasingly numbed youth of our generation is already a winner
in my books, but when they release songs that I can possibly
convert my two young daughters with then they elevate to the next
level pretty damn quickly.
So when I was given the opportunity to speak to a band pitched to
me as Punk Meets Disney then you can imagine I was doing backflips.
Or something that counts as one at my age.
Punk Rock Factory are a band of gentlemen from the UK who have made
a healthy career out of playing other peoples songs.
But only bastardising them.
No-one is immune, with the band spicing up in their own punk
fashion tracks from Meatloaf to John Farnham to Hansen and in most
cases making them all the better for it.
The fact Punk Rock Factory have released six albums since their
inception in 2019 speaks volumes, but when you also consider the
band has slayed it at festivals like Bloodstock and Slam Dunk then
you know they have the mental toughness to back it up.
But it was their second album A Whole New Wurst from 2020 that drew
me instantly to the band. An album of punk reworkings of Disney
classics covering movies such as Moana and Frozen, its discovery
has given me renewed hope that my girls will return from the dark
side and once more embrace the music they were destined for.
And to top it off the versions of Let It Go and We Don't Talk About
Bruno (Encanto) are good enough to get Dad bopping!
Punk Rock Factory are about to embark on their maiden tour of
Australia, so to find out even more possible weapons in my fight
against Taylor Swift HEAVY sat down for an entertaining chat with
frontman/guitarist Peej to find out more, starting with just why
the band has neglected Australia for so long.
"It's a big commitment for us," he laughed. "It's the other side of
the world and we have to make sure we sell some tickets. We don't
wanna turn up and play to no one. There's been a big call for us to
come to Australia for a while now. It's something we've been
building up to and it's finally time."
Things take a humourous turn when we ask Peej what non-essential
items he will be making sure to pack.
"You guys will tell me that these aren't essential, but I need some
kind of spider repellent," he replied, completely honestly. "I
don't deal with bugs very well (laughs). You could probably tell me
more whether that's essential or not."
Which beckons the question do they actually sell spider repellent
in the UK?
"I'm sure I could find some," Peej measured. "I'm definitely going
to try (laughs)."
When I tell him there's no such thing the laughter continues.
"Brilliant," he smiled. "I'm just gonna have to sleep in a giant
box so nothing gets in."
In the full interview we discuss what to expect from the live show,
where and how the band selects which songs to cover, a typical Punk
Rock Factory live show, the success of A Whole New Wurst and if it
came as a surprise, if there are any songs or genres they won't
attempt, the possibility of punking up songs from heavy metal
bands, their home studio The Sausage Factory, the massive European
tour to follow and more.