Ray Ahn from The Hard-ons

Ray Ahn, bass player from the Hard Ons once said to Sydney punk fanzine ‘B-Side’, “being misunderstood is half the fun. It’s such a shit stir. I mean, calling a band The Hard-Ons. When you think about a hard on you think of big macho men with bulging muscles and a big hard on between their legs. We’re not a macho band. We like taking the piss out of macho people. In Punchbowl, where we come from, every second dude’s got a Ford Falcon with mag wheels and burns up and down the street impressing the girls…We’re not like them. We’re puny migrant kids into punk.”

What were you doing in the 1980s (your job/where you were living, etc)?

I went to school at Punchbowl Boys’ High then to The University of Sydney from 84-87. I joined Hard-ons at the end of 1981 and that band played right throughout the 80s. I did not have any job for the whole of the 80s, I relied on money made from the Hard-ons to live.

What are your strongest impressions of the 1980s?

The absolutely shithouse drum sounds on most records and the moronic dress sense and haircuts. Acid wash…what the hell is that?

What historical event of the 1980s has most resonance for you? Why?

To me, nothing beats the Dead Kennedys’ tour of Australia in 1983. I loved their records but seeing them live was something else.

What was an event/party/gig of the 80s that stands out?

See above.

Any memories (fond or foul) of what you were wearing in the 1980s?

I used to like stretch black jeans, a lot of kids into heavy metal were wearing them. Also white basketball shoes by Nike. Then I discovered that Nike used slave labour. So I switched to Vans as they were made in USA at the time and although they were hard to find they were very durable (at the time) so were worth looking for. We toured USA in 1988 and 1989 so I stocked up when we got there.

What music/movies/TV engaged you in the 1980s (and did you take sides on VHS versus Betamax), and now?

TV: I liked Married With Children.
Movies: Everything.
Music: I liked thrash metal, speed metal, power metal, some hair metal and most hard-core and punk. I hated a lot of indie pop. The things in the charts sickened me, except Debbie Gibson.

What were you listening to – and was it on a Walkman?

I had a Walkman and I listened to all the things mentioned above, as well as 60s psychedelic rock, acid rock, classic rock, 70s punk, folk-rock etc.

What did you do for entertainment/leisure then and now? (Did it include computer games or the Rubik’s Cube?)

I never had anything to do with Rubik’s cubes or computer games. I loved pin-ball machines, and mainly, watching live bands, shopping for second-hand records. We spent many months on tour so that took a lot of my time.

What do you think are the main differences between the 80s and how the world and/or your life is today?

80s were completely carefree for me. Not a worry in the world.

What event (personal or public) in the 1980s would you either revisit or undo if you could?

We played Europe and USA in 1988 and 1989 and met Hard-ons fans from other countries, for the first time in person. It was a great humbling experience and made me realise how universal rock n roll music is. I’d like to relive those tours.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about your 1980s?

Parramatta Eels 1981, 82, 83, 86.

Check out The Hard-ons on iTunes.