Dez Dare (AKA Darren Smallman of labels God Unknown, BATTLE WORLDWIDE, Low Transit Industries, and bands Thee Vinyl Creatures, The Sound Platform, Warped) grew up in Geelong, Australia, where he became involved in the local punk and rock scene in 1990. Sharing stages with the likes of 5678s, Cosmic Psychos, Fugazi, The Dirty Three and the Hard-ons, before shifting his focus to running record labels.

In the 2020s we see Dez Dare take form in a spare room in Brighton, UK, where Dez starts building his own studio and producing music and videos that have been described as "sounds like MONSTER MAGNET and DEVO caught in a drug bust… highly unique and highly recommended" by MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL [Nick Odorizzi] to The Wire’s Edwin Pouncey "dynamically armed with a ten-pronged set of lyrical barbs and musical hooks that, once heard, sink deep and hold fast" to Crossfire Metal "minimalistic, electronic, psychedelic, hippie poop, that is only bearable with a hell of a lot of acid, angel dust and LSD".

Keep an eye on dezdare.com for all the release and touring news for 2025.

"DIY psych punk Dez Dare pits sledgehammer riffs and lo-fi electronics against a world of monsters... dynamically armed with a ten-pronged set of lyrical barbs and musical hooks that, once heard, sink deep and hold fast." The Wire [Edwin Pouncey]

"Incredibly creative and productive... the result is vibrant psychedelic noise herb punk, somewhere between BEVIS FROND, ALIEN SEX FIEND, DINOSAUR JR, BLACK ANGELS and the Canadians HOT GARBAGE. Crazy? Crazy!" OX Fanzine [7/10]

"Sounds like MONSTER MAGNET and DEVO caught in a drug bust. Heavy groove riffs and psych experimentation nestle up to chirping 8-bit synths and crunchy beats, accompanied by spoken/barked vocals... Highly unique and highly recommended." MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL

"The Australian psych-punk legend is a true underground hero." Clash

Release Credits

Dez Dare sang + made noises with samples, guitars + synths.
Laura Loriga sang.
Recorded + produced x Dez Dare.
Laura x Giles Barrett @ Lightship Studios.
Mastered x Matthew Barnhart @ Chicago Mastering Service.
Photography x Steve Gullick.
Design x Dez Dare.

Record Labels: God Unknown + Six Tonnes De Chair + CH!MP
Publishing: BATTLE WORLDWIDE
Licensing: Polyvinyl
Touring: CH!MP w/ Ivy Agency [US] + Crunch Tapes [EU]
Got any questions? Say hi!

Buy

Listen

Hairline Ego Trip