sticky fingers tour cancelled

Controversial Rock Singer Hospitalized, Band Cancels Concert After Fans Arrive

Fans learned of the cancellation just minutes before Sticky Fingers was scheduled to being their performance.

By Allison Schonter - August 7, 2023 02:41 pm EDT

Australian rock band Sticky Fingers canceled their show in Brisbane after controversial frontman Dylan Frost was "rushed to hospital." Just moments before the band was set to take the stage for the Saturday, Aug. 5 show, the group, who last year released their fifth album Lekkerboy , told the crowd they would be unable to perform after Frost "became very ill."

"As best we know he's ok," keyboardist Freddy Crabs told the audience, according to The Music . "Obviously this was a short time ago so we can't do the show. Sorry to put you out like this. This is one of the best venues in Australia, we love coming here. We love you all. It's killing me right now. We know when you go home tonight, please, I know this is a frustrating moment for all of you. Please, just be respectful. We are so sorry and we'll keep you updated. It's going to be alright. We're sorry. We're really really sorry."

@user1375544390 sticky fingers wait till last minute to cancel 👍👍 #brisbane #riverside #stickyfingers #stickyfingers2023 ♬ original sound – 186537890

Bassist Paddy Cornwall added, "We're going to reschedule the show. The good news is we're going to do it all again. If you can look after each other on the way out. We're f*cking devastated."

Hours after abruptly canceling the show, the group told their fans on social media, per Stuff , "Dylan became very ill, and was rushed to hospital." The group added that they "intend to reschedule for another date, and will reach out to fans. The band is very sorry to have let anyone down, and intend to make it up to everyone as best as they can." Further information has not been released at this time.

The cancellation marks the latest issue for the band this year and came after Sticky Fingers was removed from Australia's Bluesfest lineup in March. The band was pulled amid its history of controversy, with Frost, who has spoken in the past about mental health issues and alcoholism, having been accused of abusing and threatening Aboriginal Australian singer Thelma Plum and her boyfriend. He also reportedly made racist remarks at a gig featuring the Indigenous punk band Dispossessed. Following those incidents, the band took a break, and Frost eventually released a statement saying that he was "wholeheartedly against racism, and so is the band," and that he doesn't "condone or in any way excuse violence against women, straight up, I never have and I never will."

When the group was announced as part of Bluefest's lineup, several other performers, including King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and two-time Australian Music Prize winner Sampa The Great, withdrew from the lineup in protest. In a statement, according to Billboard , the popular music festival eventually announced, "Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built."

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Bluesfest removes Sticky Fingers from lineup after boycotts and backlash

Director says narrative around Sydney band is ‘difficult to accept’ but festival can no longer support them

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The Sydney band Sticky Fingers is no longer on the lineup at this year’s Bluesfest after weeks of backlash that saw other artists withdraw from the festival in protest.

Zambian rapper Sampa the Great and Melbourne rockers King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard announced last month they would boycott the five-day festival in Byron Bay over the inclusion of Sticky Fingers, whose lead singer Dylan Frost has been dogged by controversy since allegations about his behaviour arose in 2016.

On Thursday, the music festival’s founder and director Peter Noble announced that Sticky Fingers would “step off” the 2023 lineup.

“Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built,” the statement from Noble said.

“The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn’t deserve the continued public scrutiny he’s being given.”

Noble had previously issued two statements of support for the group, saying he believed the unfair victimisation of Frost and his band had been “cruel and unforgiving”.

“That whole situation happened 7 years ago and the lead singer of Sticky Fingers has been extremely apologetic and open about his bipolar schizophrenia and substance abuse during that time,” Noble wrote on February 21.

Sticky Fingers has been contacted for comment. The band has not commented on the recent controversy. The Guardian has also reached out to Sampa the Great and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard for comment.

Sticky Fingers went on a year-long hiatus after allegations surfaced in 2016 that Frost had abused and threatened the musician Thelma Plum and her boyfriend outside a Sydney hotel.

Frost subsequently apologised publicly for his behaviour, citing alcohol addiction and mental health issues as contributing factors.

In the same year, Frost was accused of shouting racist remarks at a gig headlined by an Indigenous punk band. He has since publicly denied these claims and was quoted in reports saying: “Rumours have been spread around suggesting that I’m racist. That is complete bullshit.”

Soon after the band returned to performing, Frost was allegedly ejected from a Sydney pub after a verbal altercation with a transgender person, in which he allegedly screamed and swore at her.

At the time a Sticky Fingers spokesperson did not deny Frost had been asked to leave the hotel, but denied that he had instigated the altercation or threatened violence.

In a statement on Facebook in 2018, Frost wrote: “I am wholeheartedly against racism, and so is the band ... I do not condone or in any way excuse violence against women, straight up, I never have and I never will.

“I also have to acknowledge that my alcoholic behaviour in the past has intimidated or made people feel unsafe around me, and I am truly sorry for this.”

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Sticky Fingers Were Booked For Bluesfest. Now Everyone’s Up In Arms

News that controversial band Sticky Fingers would be joining Bluesfest's 2023 line-up spurred artist withdrawals, a misguided doubling down from organisers and contentious online debate. Writer Ben Madden reflects on what the controversy tells us about the state of the Australian music industry, and where to from here. Words by Ben Madden

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King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard recently pulled out of the Australian festival Bluesfest, and some people’s responses might have you believe that the sky’s falling in. The band withdrew from the festival after the addition of the controversial reggae five-piece Sticky Fingers, who joined the likes of The Doobie Brothers, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, and many more on the line-up. 

King Gizzard’s  withdrawal statement is not a call to action. Instead, it simply announced their opposition to Bluesfest’s values and the band’s presence. In response to the band’s decision, Sticky Fingers shared a picture of South Park’s PC Principal inserted into a photo of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.

So why did they decide to withdraw? Sticky Fingers’ band members have a long list of on-record controversies. This includes lead singer Dylan Frost’s altercation with Indigenous singer Thelma Plum, where he was accused by Plum of physically threatening her; an altercation with trans model Alexandra V. Tanygina; mid-range and high-range drink driving (which nearly stopped them from getting into the US before now-PM Anthony Albanese stepped in ); and an in-band punch-on resulting in criminal charges.

Since King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard announced their withdrawal, Sampa The Great’s team revealed she’s also pulled out of the festival, having withdrawn prior to Bluesfest’s latest artist announcement (which featured both Sticky Fingers and Sampa The Great). According to a statement provided to Double J , Sampa’s team revealed they’d been seeking to have her removed from the bill since February 14.

The statement reads, “We started contact with Bluesfest to inform them of our standpoint within half an hour of receiving the embargoed press release and seeing the remainder of the line-up. We then delivered final confirmation to Bluesfest at 7:36pm AEDT on Tuesday 14 February that Sampa was coming off the line-up, in the hopes they would remove her from all materials before they announced the following day.”

I’m not particularly interested in re-litigating the band’s series of controversies; there’s much discussion on this already. But as a former superfan of the band (and someone who actually interviewed them back in 2016) I can’t help but notice that there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding from some commentators using this situation to smash the “cancel culture” button .

As a former superfan of the band … I can’t help but notice that there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding from some commentators using this situation to smash the “cancel culture” button.

Their responses posit that Sticky Fingers are underdogs in the Australian music scene, which simply isn’t the case. Have a read of Bluesfest’s bio for the band: “Affirmed as one of Australia’s biggest bands, they’ve delivered three straight Top 5 albums, earned ARIA platinum and gold plaques, eclipsed a billion streams, and sold out the continent’s most hallowed venues”. The band also toured nationally in 2022, playing in venues like Melbourne’s Festival Hall (the same venue they played at on their 2016 tour), Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion and Perth’s HBF Arena. And they’ve just sold out a 10,000-capacity show at the Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) in London.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard will no longer play at Bluesfest. Photo by Jason Galea.

Meanwhile, ‘Australia Street’ came in at 15 in the triple j Hottest 100 of the Decade in 2020. Not bad for a band that’s apparently been ravaged by “cancel culture”. People forget just how beloved the band was prior to their public incidents, and they’re still doing just fine. So why do Sticky Fingers, their fans and industry supporters seem to be so determined to paint them as underdogs ?   

How Can Sticky Fingers Be The “Bad Boys Of Australian Music” And Reformed At The Same Time?

Bluesfest director Peter Noble’s choice to include Sticky Fingers in the line-up speaks to a culture that feels rife in the Australian music industry: if it sells, promote it. Who cares what the backstory is? There’s no doubt in my mind that having Sticky Fingers’ name on the bill will sell tickets — their continued success on the live circuit attests to this. But shouldn’t we be aspiring to create a safe space for all at some of the music industry’s biggest events? Every decision is an active choice to either make a space more inviting or more exclusionary. Several of Sticky Fingers’ peers clearly don’t want to go to work alongside them — if this was any other type of workplace, it’s likely that people would be a lot more understanding of their decision to withdraw. 

If we’re being truly honest with ourselves, the backlash isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Bluesfest. Bluesfest has dominated the music news cycle since the announcement, and even pieces that criticise the booking are increasing public awareness. Every official statement made about the band’s continued presence on the line-up is making music news, and for some, it’s just become the hottest ticket in town. What’s the saying about no publicity being bad publicity? Course, this doesn’t mean that holding them accountable is the wrong thing to do — quite the opposite, I think, as it shows those affected that they are supported. 

Everyone is entitled to a second chance, but that doesn’t entitle you to a coveted and lucrative spot on one of Australia’s premier festivals. Sticky Fingers have been left to play their live shows, and that they have done. Why give these guys one of few very valuable spots on a premier festival line-up that could be given to another group whose members haven’t been embroiled in controversy or convicted of criminal behaviour?    

Peter Noble’s since responded to the line-up backlash. After describing the band as “the bad boys of Australian music”, Noble went on to say that Bluesfest would be one of the band’s “all-too-rare shows in Australia”, without any sort of context as to why that may be the case (and also ignoring the fact that they did in fact go on a national tour in 2022, and played in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne).

Peter has since described the attempts to hold Sticky Fingers accountable in a statement as follows: “ I believe an attempt to victimise this man and his band in the circumstances is cruel and unforgiving. This cruelty and lack of compassion are foreign to my values, as is the attempt to suppress the band’s artistic expression. I was and remain proud to give the band a chance at rehabilitation. Bluesfest hopes that the public will understand, respect, and hopefully, on reflection, agree with the position my company and I have taken. Forgiveness is critical to helping people with mental health challenges continue functioning in society.” 

What Does Accountability Actually Look Like? 

Anyone who’s passionate about Australian music in any capacity (which, judging by the commentary around King Gizzard’s withdrawal from Bluesfest is just about everyone) should want to actively strive to create a safer scene for all. When people talk about artists that are making the scene unsafe , reformation is the goal. This starts with acknowledgement. Peter Noble doesn’t actually get to decide whether Sticky Fingers are reformed, nor does the band themselves. Those who Sticky Fingers have wronged are the ones that get to decide whether there is a genuine sense of contrition, and they are not obligated to be part of that process.  

No amount of pithy Instagram comments pretending not to know who King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are will change the fact that they and Sampa The Great have put principles over profits.

The status quo protects those that are content in their behaviour, and King Gizzard’s withdrawal represents a type of allyship that should be applauded, not condemned. No amount of pithy Instagram comments pretending not to know who King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are will change the fact that they and Sampa The Great have put principles over profits. This is a stance that’s harder than ever to make in an industry where touring is becoming prohibitively expensive, even for acts as big as Animal Collective and Santigold . In a statement released on her socials, Santigold wrote about a cancelled 2022 tour, saying, “As a touring musician, I don’t think anyone anticipated the new reality that awaited us. After sitting idle for the past couple years, [musicians] rushed back out immediately when it was deemed safe to do shows.” 

“We were met with the height of inflation, many of our tried-and-true venues unavailable due to a flooded market of artists trying to book shows in the same cities, and positive [COVID] test results constantly halting schedules, with devastating financial consequences… Some of us are finding ourselves simply unable to make it work.” Touring has never been more difficult, or more precarious, which is why decisions like those taken by Bluesfest organisers to include Sticky Fingers in their line-up hold even more weight. 

Where To From Here? 

Judging by everything that’s been said publicly to date, Sticky Fingers are set to take to the stage as part of Bluesfest. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Sampa The Great are not. Allowing for the most generous of interpretations, involved parties clearly didn’t expect that booking Sticky Fingers would raise the ire of so many, and have had to rush to justify their position following the decision. Continuing to double down means they are further wed to the band’s presence at the festival. 

Sampa The Great also withdrew from the Bluesfest line-up.

Music is inherently political, and trying to separate the art from the artist strips away part of the beauty of the craft. I’m somewhat blown away by the suggestion that musicians should, essentially, shut up and play. As artist Jaguar Jonze recently shared on Twitter, “everyone has a duty of care to ensure safe and respectful environments in their work”. No one deserves to be criticised for not wanting to work in conditions they don’t deem to be safe . We owe it to ourselves and others to push for change and accountability, and to celebrate those that go against the grain when it’s not easy to do so. 

The easy choice here would have been to say nothing, and to perform while ignoring the elephant in the room. Here, artists speaking out, like King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Sampa The Great, Kira Puru , and Jaguar Jonze have pushed for an Australian music scene that protects everyone, not just those deemed worthy by those in charge. It’s something we should all push for every time we involve ourselves in any community, publicly or privately. Otherwise, what are we all doing? 

This is an opinion piece written by Ben Madden, a Melbourne-based music writer. You can follow him on Twitter at @benmaddenwriter and Instagram at @benmaddenwriter.

Editor’s note: Junkee reached out to Sticky Fingers’ management team for comment, and did not receive a response by our deadline. Since this piece was filed,  artists including The Soul Rebels, GZA and Talib Kweli, and Big Freedia  have confirmed they are not playing at this year’s Bluesfest.

Hero image credit: Getty.

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Bluesfest Has Now Removed Sticky Fingers From Its 2023 Lineup

By Music Feeds

Following a storm of backlash and multiple artist withdrawals , Byron Bay’s Bluesfest has announced the decision to remove controversial Sydney band Sticky Fingers  from its 2023 event.

In a statement to the media this afternoon, festival organisers said, “We are sad to announce that Bluesfest has decided that Sticky Fingers is to step off the Bluesfest 2023 line-up”. 

“We apologise […] for our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built.” 

Sticky Fingers off the Bluesfest lineup: pic.twitter.com/CtnNNqZl9s — Jules LeFevre (@jules_lefevre) March 2, 2023

The statement continued: “Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built.”

However, despite caving to public pressure and ousting Sticky Fingers, Bluesfest continued its defence of the band.

“The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn’t deserve the continued public scrutiny he’s being given,” the festival’s statement said.

“We thank everyone who has contacted us and advised their support in this matter, especially those suffering from a mental illness who feel they cannot have their illness supported in a manner whereby they feel included in society.”

Bluesfest’s statement also drew attention to Sticky Fingers’ apparent beneficence, albeit without providing concrete details. “Sticky Fingers has done so many good deeds that have never been reported, including building and funding recording studios and music education programs in disadvantaged regional communities.”

The festival’s statement concluded: “We will now move on, put this behind us and continue to plan and present our best-ever edition of Bluesfest… proudly.”

The controversy stems from Sticky Fingers’ history of alleged antisocial behaviour, including accusations of racism, sexism and transphobia made against singer Dylan Frost, as well as incidents of  violence  and  disorder , and the band’s perceived lack of accountability or contrition.

Zambian artist  Sampa the Great   quietly exited Bluesfest’s 2023 lineup after learning of the band’s involvement, while King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard took a public stand and withdrew from the lineup in protest.

Bluesfest 2023

• Sampa the Great
• Sticky Fingers
• A Heartfelt Tribute to Uncle Archie
• Jerome Williams
• Clarence Bekker Band
• Daniel Champagne
• Dog Trumpet
• Electric Cadillac
• Frank Sultana
• Frank Turner
• Hussy Hicks
• Lisa Hunt’s Forever Soul
• Loose Content
• Ray Beadle Stax of Blues
• Round Mountain Girls
• Steve Poltz
• Steve ‘n’ Seagulls
• Paolo Nutini
• Ash Grunwald
• Backsliders
• The Bros. Landreth
• Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges
• Trombone Shorty & The Orleans Avenue
• Allison Russell
• Counting Crows
• The Doobie Brothers
• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats
• St Paul & The Broken Bones
• Vintage Trouble
• Beth Hart (Exclusive)
• The Black Sorrows
• Bonnie Raitt
• The Cat Empire
• Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
• Elvis Costello & The Imposters
• Eric Gales (Exclusive)
• Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
• Gang Of Youths
• Greensky Bluegrass (Exclusive)
• Jackson Browne
• Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
• Joe Bonamassa (Exclusive)
• Joe Camilleri Presents a Star-Studded Tribute to The Greats of The Blues
• Jon Stevens
• Kaleo (Exclusive)
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
• Lachy Doley And The Horns Of Conviction
• Lucinda Williams
• Marcus King
• Mavis Staples
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• Nikki Hill (Exclusive)
• Robert Glasper
• RocKwiz Live
• The Soul Rebels & Friends with Special Guests Talib Kweli • GZA • Big Freedia
• Southern Avenue (Exclusive)
• Spinifex Gum Feat. Marliya
• Steve Earle & The Dukes
• Tash Sultana
• Xavier Rudd

Dates & Venue

Thursday, 6th April–Monday, 10th April – Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah NSW

Tickets are on sale now via the  official website .

Further Reading

Bluesfest Boss Issues New Statement Following Sampa the Great Withdrawal

Sampa the Great is the Latest Artist to Pull Out of Bluesfest

Bluesfest’s Peter Noble Releases Statement Regarding His Decision to Give Sticky Fingers a “Chance at Rehabilitation”

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Cancel Bluesfest Performance

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‘Difficult to accept’: Bluesfest removes Sticky Fingers from lineup following boycotts

Bluesfest has announced that controversial sydney band sticky fingers will no longer play at its 2023 event, after some artists cancelled their performances..

Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost, who has previously been accused of threatening behaviour. Source: Getty / Mark Horton/WireImage

• Bluesfest organisers have confirmed Sticky Fingers will not perform at this year's festival.
• It comes after two acts withdrew from the festival over Sticky Fingers' inclusion in the lineup.
• Bluesfest said the decision to remove Sticky Fingers was "difficult to accept".

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Review: Sticky Fingers @ The Riverstage (Brisbane)

• Sticky Fingers

Just as the moment everyone had been eagerly awaiting approached, Sticky Fingers member Seamus Coyle (lead guitar) came out on stage to a roar.

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Sticky Fingers Cancel Brisbane Show As Dylan Frost Hospitalised

Sticky Fingers cancel Brisbane show at the last minute as Dylan Frost falls ill.

Sticky Fingers (Supplied)

Sticky Fingers Brisbane show at the Riverstage was cancelled tonight as singer Dylan Frost was taken unexpectedly ill and rushed to hospital.

The rest of the band took to the stage to tell patrons the bad news.

“As best we know he’s ok,” said Freddy Crabs . “Obviously this was a short time ago so we can’t do the show. Sorry to put you out like this. This is one of the best venues in Australia, we love coming here. We love you all. It’s killing me right now. We know when you go home tonight, please, I know this is a frustrating moment for all of you. Please, just be respectful. We are so sorry and we’ll keep you updated. It’s going to be alright. We’re sorry. We’re really really sorry.”

“We’re going to reschedule the show,” said Paddy Cornwall . “The good new is we’re going to do it all again. If you can look after each other on the way out. We’re f*cking devastated.”

Frost’s health has been in question across the band’s chequered career, with multiple mental and physical heath issues he has battled.

Despite the issues, the band has continued to perform to sold out crowds across Australia and the world, with their most recent Lekkerboy tour playing to fans across Europe, Australia and the UK.

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Updates on Frost’s health are expected from the band over the next few days as Brisbane fans await news of the rescheduling of the show.

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Sticky Fingers: Kiwi singer Dylan Frost storms off mid-concert in Melbourne

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Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost stormed off stage at Melbourne concert last night. Photo / Supplied

Controversial Australian band Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost admitted he "lost control" when the lead singer sensationally stormed off in the middle of a concert last night in Melbourne.

The band was seven songs into its set when New Zealand-born Frost appeared to become upset onstage. Video footage captured by a concertgoer and uploaded to social media shows Frost striking the microphone and throwing his guitar to the ground.

The rest of the band – Paddy Cornwall, Seamus Coyle, Beaker Best and Freddy Crabs – then followed him offstage.

According to the Herald Sun, a faulty microphone may have triggered the tantrum during the song "Not Yet Done". Boos could be heard from the crowd.

Another 10 minutes passed before it was announced that the show had been cancelled.

On Sunday afternoon, Frost posted a statement to Facebook apologising to fans.

"I'm really sorry for last night in Melbourne," he said.

"I've been working hard on myself and will continue to prioritise my health, but I still let a lot of you down.

"I want to apologise to the fans and my band, our crew and venue staff.

"The tour has been amazing so far and we wanted to end it big, but I just didn't have it last night and I lost control. We're working on a new date to make it up to everyone or refunds for those who want them and we will let you know plans soon."

The Saturday night Festival Hall gig was the last performance of Sticky Fingers' Australian tour. The band had played on Friday night in Melbourne without drama. It's expected the band will still perform in New Zealand next month.

An audience member told the Herald Sun, "The atmosphere at the gig initially was great. But then we only got three songs in and Frosty cracked the s***s, stormed off and cancelled."

Other concertgoers took to Facebook to express their annoyance.

Per the Herald Sun, a fan named Jordan Patrick wrote on social media, "Unbelievable, I've been waiting for tonight for years, was so excited and absolutely devastated they ditched the show like that.

"So disrespectful to the fans who have stuck by them and waited to see them after such a long time."

Other fans said they had flown to Melbourne specifically for the show.

Sticky Fingers was previously engulfed in scandal when Indigenous artist Thelma Plum alleged Frost had in 2016 racially abused and threatened her. The accusation sparked a raft of boycotts.

Frost and the band denied the allegations but later issued a mea culpa around unspecified "unacceptable" behaviours and claimed that alcohol addiction and mental health issues were contributing factors.

Frost wrote in 2016 that he would seek therapy and rehabilitation and that he was "truly sorry to the people that have been affected by my behaviour" and that he hoped to "one day make amends for my actions".

Frost isn't the only band member to be embroiled in public spectacles. Bassist Cornwall had to issue an apology for 2019 rantings against ABC's youth station, Triple J.

He initially said in an expletive-laden video posted to social media, "Triple J, f**k you and your f**king artist repertoire. We don't f**king need you. We don't want you because you play your f**king bullshit and you're a bunch of f**king maggots."

A year later, Cornwall apologised for his words. He conceded that the relationship between Sticky Fingers and Triple J had fractured due to his actions.

He said in May 2020, "I was outta my head, not dealing with personal battles of my own, I'm sorry to the people I hurt at the station, as well as my own team.

"I ain't the same derailed, angry person you saw last year. I'm not where I want to be yet but I've been doing a lot better, dealing with my demons. I hope sharing this helps find a resolve on the situation."

In 2019, Frost and Cornwall were arrested for a violent punch-up between the pair at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney. It occurred after the band members had been drinking for six hours.

Cornwall was in 2021 sentenced to 18 months, to be served in the community.

News.com.au contacted Sticky Fingers' management for comment.

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Sticky Fingers is a band hailing from Sydney, Australia who formed in 2009. The quartet is as famous for their eccentric personalities and sometimes destructive concert behaviour as they are for their eclectic and raucous blend of psychedelic rock, reggae and indie rock.

One of the most common criticisms of modern rock bands is that they have no personality. That too often, the biggest rock bands of the day will be vacuous, media trained pretty boys who are more likely to say things like “we just like to make music for ourselves and if anyone else likes it, then that’s a bonus” than anything actually interesting. And heaven forbid that they ever smash up a hotel room. Now, there’s an argument to be made that if the music’s still good, then that’s no real problem. Yes, it might be cool to read about it in an interview, but you’re not the one cleaning it all up. However, one of the main possible reasons that bands have a lack of personality these days is because all the personality in music is being shared between Kanye West and Sticky Fingers.

Between the two, it’s difficult to know which one is more like the rock stars of yore. Kanye might have the ego and the chart success, but Sticky Fingers have the stories, and my god do they have them in spades. Even the story of how they formed is outlandish; since it begins with the mother of all chance encounter between lead singer and guitarist Dylan Frost and bassist Paddy Fingers. Frost was doing that most soul sucking of musical chores, busking, on one of the high streets of Newtown, a suburb in New South Wales. Fingers just so happened to be walking past Frost and the club he was busking outside of, and just as Frost was packing away to leave, one of the bouncers implored Frost to “give the bloke some coin, brew!?”

With that, Frost and Fingers started talking and became friends, bonding over their shared love of music and weed. The duo roped in some friends of theirs to play lead guitar, drums and the keyboards and started playing live whenever and wherever people would let them. However, it was back on the same turf that the band had formed on where they really started to get people’s attention. In 2011 they played the Newtown Festival in Newtown’s Camperdown Park, which band and fans alike consider to be a watershed moment. The moment where they evolved from being a garage band that sounded a bit like The Clash to genuine contenders.

The gig offers came thick and fast after that and over the next couple of years the band didn’t say no to any of them. It was then that they picked up a reputation for being utter hellraisers both on and off stage, a reputation that might have dimmed slightly as the stages have got bigger and bigger but each show does still have more than a hint of danger and unpredictability to it. They became cult heroes before their album had even come out and by the time 2013’s “Caress Your Soul” came out, they managed to cash in that buzz for some genuine cult success, even landing the title track on Triple J’s hot 100 songs of the year for good measure.

Since then they’ve began to spread their live mastery all the way over to Europe and beyond, and their getting better and better with every show. Sticky Fingers might be one of the most honest and unpretentious bands we have right now, they’re a bunch of lads from suburban Australia and they down pretend they’re anything else, on record, on stage or off. The difference with them is that they’re also one of the more eclectic and straight up fun bands around right now as well, and they come highly recommended.

Live reviews

You would not think a band name as awesome as Sticky Fingers would have remained vacant all the way until 2009. Sydney reggae fusion/indie outfit claimed it over five years ago and have been creating a warped, genre bending sound ever since. They have had pretty great response unanimously so far by fans and critics alike who praise their musical ingenuity and ability to bring together genres and sounds that do not necessarily fit together well.

The live show is something of curiosity as the exterior production techniques help to bring sound together on a record yet on stage there really is nowhere to hide. Luckily the five men onstage are skilled instrumentalists and have come together brilliantly and know how to react to each other onstage so the overall outcome is succinct. The crowd cheers wildly as they play the cult anthems of 'Clouds and Cream' and 'Australia Street'. There is a lot of potential here but its pretty difficult to say exactly where the band will go next as sometimes it feels as though even they aren't quite sure.

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IT was the most legit concert I've ever been. It will never be the same listening to their music after this. The guys vibes made it feel like heaven. We were all so into it, as to the band and the fans. Before the show, once they arrived to sound check, they came up to us who were in the line and have a chat. Very focus down to earth chill guys. Just what I expected, never believed in the bluff of the media. Dizza was so happy, always clapping and smiling. PADDY is a maniac! He opened up all the atmosphere. FREDDY came out... As FREDDY. Half naked. And beaker killed the drums. All guitar solos were absolutely SURREAL. No other concert has made me feel so complete. It had a bit of everything, played a couple petition songs and said goodbye being GREATFUL. Total class this guys. I'll try to never miss a concert of them. I highly recommend them.

I saw sticky fingers in Glasgow and it was disappointing.

I was really looking forward to seeing the band and travelled from Edinburgh for the concert. I had to pay £80 for a hotel for the night and £20 for the train trips there and back.

The quality of the vocals was poor. You couldn't hear a word, everything was just buzzing loudly. The band only played 6 songs, before leaving without even thanking the crowd or saying the the show was over, leaving everyone standing and yelling for more, which the did not deliver. We were then told by the security team that the show was over and we had to leave.

The band did not even play most of their popular songs.

It seems the show was cut short, but nobody was given an explanation as to why!

That audio quality was a shame and I regret having to spend over £100 to be let down by this poor act.

One of the best atmospheres at a concert - everyone there was a huge fan and waiting in the standing area before they came on, me and my mate were chatting to loads of people, exchanging social medias, generally just getting hyped for the performance. The opening act were great and got the whole crowd dancing, then when sticky came on everyone lost their minds. The set, the music, the mosh, the sweat - if u wanna lose ur mind to some great music with hundreds of other people, this is the place u wanna be.

There was heavy moshing at the beginning, collective dancing to their lower tempo songs like Rum Rage, heart-wrenching vocals and guitar solos, and a finish of How to Fly.

Brissy Riverstage was unreal, so good, played so many new n old songs, with so many awesome tracks, always gonna be some I missed. Few Fav's were gold snafu, yours to keep, laser head with an amazing brilliant light show. Absolute rippa moment was when Dylan and Paddy played front n centre acoustic, the unreleased track; cyclone, that song has everyone's hearts! Felt so lucky to hear it live, busting with joy. Freddy in his undies, all the boys and thier stage presence, there for the fun. Will never forget, Dylan screaming "we're gonna keep playing till they kick us off the stage!" Melted my heart. Stickys love music, many stories to tell, fans love them. Much love always!

Really fun concert, such great energy from the crowd and band. Although I have to say I really wish the band hadn't been so f#$@ed up!! slurring their words and falling around. I know, I know it's the rock star lifestyle!! But The show would have been 85% better if they had of been half as messed up! And if the show was longer then 45-60 mins long....

Even so I Can't wait to see them again :) Nice work stinky fingers ;) keep it sober xo

Best gig I have ever been to!! Friendly staff and got pictures and high fives with the Fingers themselves! Nice guys, they showed us they're one of us :)

This is the second time I have seen them, last time was in London o2 last year. Small club gigs are so much better than arena ones, you just feel at home and so close to the guys. I am definitely going to see them next time they tour!!!

It was really cool in my opinion because it was a Schubas (small Chicago venue).

You could barely hear the vocals, which is kind of like 50% of what their songs involve.

I don't know if it was crappy equipment that the band brought, a pompous/insecure sound guy, or just too much sound for a small venue.

Nonetheless, Sticky Fingers is awesome.

Fucking shit, so shit, my dumbass bought tickets off a scammer, fucking kill myself dude. Fucking ended up at south bank and heard liquorlip loaded gun from riverstage and that fuckkkkingg broke my heart dude, invited a lady friend and everything, so disappointed in myself. Smh

WHAT A SHOW!!

These guys are awesome performers. A lot of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Honestly, I might have to say they are better live than on their tracks! They are just such great musicians. I would strongly recommend seeing them. I would love to see them again some day!

Posters (23)

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• Sticky Fingers (1321)
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