INTERVIEW: PUNK ROCK FACTORY IN CONVERSATION WITH PEEJ AND STEAD
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
No Barriers spoke to Peej (vocalist/guitarist) and Stead (guitarist) from the astonishing UK band Punk Rock Factory.
Everyone’s favourite covers lovers the English band Punk Rock Factory are returning to tour Australia with their ‘Mortal Wombat’ tour in November 2025. They have recently released a banger of a 1990s-themed album ‘All Hands On Deck’. They are about to launch their ‘We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat!’ UK tour and they are headed to ‘Jera On Air’ in the Netherlands in late June. No Barriers was grateful that Punk Rock Factory’s band members Peej and Stead found room in their busy schedules to answer a few of our questions on the new album, the new tour and so much more!
For those people not up to date on Tik Tok phenomenon, Punk Rock Factory made a world-wide impact on music fans through the COVID lockdowns as they lit up social media by playing amazing versions of classic songs, TV themes, Disney songs and whatever music they liked. And, people from all over the world loved it. Punk Rock Factory comprises of four skilled UK musicians: Peej (vocals/guitar), Benj (bass/vocals), Stead (guitar) and Kob (drums/vocals). This band have found a way to channel into our deepest psyche and guilty pleasures and deliver songs with a pop-punk spin. “Yeah,” says Peej. “People don’t want to be known as, ‘I’m a massive fan of Disney’, or ‘I’m a geek that likes all this ’90s nostalgia stuff’ but everyone loves it”.
Earlier this year, Punk Rock Factory released a new album ‘All Hands On Deck’ featuring 11 new covers of 1990s classics including songs like ‘Boom! Shake The Room’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, ‘C'est La Vie’ by B*Witched, ‘Larger Than Life’ by Backstreet Boys, ‘Bring It All Back’ by S Club 7, ‘Living La Vida Loca’ by Ricky Martin, ‘Gangsta Paradise’ by Coolio and my personal favourite ‘I Am, I Feel’ by Alisha’s Attic.
“The 1990s are back” stated Stead. “It’s our ultimate tribute to the 1990s – packed with some of the greatest hits of the era according to us as we thrashed out a list around a table. But the songs are reimagined in our true style”. And, Peej backed this sentiment up: “We have fans of all ages from 5 to 75 years of age. The music of the 1990s helps parents’ bond with their kids over music. We’re in our mid- late-30s, people our age all have kids and families, and they want to listen to punk and rock music, and the kids want to listen to Disney soundtracks, and all of a sudden, they have this middle-ground where the parents are happy because there’s guitar riffs in it and the kids are happy because they know the songs from the films. So often I look out across our crowds and you’ve got five-year-olds and 75-year-olds and every age in between. Who has fans like that? It’s so good to see.”
Punk Rock Factory have a busy touring schedule: The Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. In the UK, they will play Cardiff Castle before they head down under to Australia and Japan. Then, they will return to the UK to play Wembley Stadium with Bowling For Soup and Wheatus. It all sounds amazing! “We love to play live and really party with live shows. Our tours aren’t soft” said Peej. “If you want a good night out. If you want fun, a bit of stupidity with guitar riffs and drinking…where you enjoy and party to guilty pleasures - embrace your youth.…then, that is what our live shows are like”. As, Stead stated “What could possibly go wrong!”.
“We are thinking about what’s next…hmm…maybe Christmas songs. Stead’s really into Christmas – I can take or leave it – but it’s an idea,” said Peej. “We’ll see what’s trending with our fans. Who knows? For now, we want to crank it up, sing-along, and party like it's the 1990s!”
If you want to party like it’s 1999, then head off and see Punk Rock Factory. If you love your music, this is a way to nostalgia trip with real musicians playing it with pop-punk authenticity – ‘Mmmbop’ has never sounded better. Fight your way to a ‘Mortal Wombat’ gig.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Brisbane – Friday - 21 November - The Crowbar
Sydney – Saturday - 22 November – The Crowbar
Melbourne - Sunday - 23 November – Max Watts
Adelaide – Tuesday - 25 November – Lions Arts Factory
