Drag

Drag is a rock group from Australia, based in Brisbane, and active from 2000 until its end. The lineup includes Darren Middleton on guitar and vocals, Mark McElligott on drums, Sean Hartman on bass and Matt Murphy on keys.

Background

The group forms around Middleton and McElligott, who are described as old mates, with McElligott also a long-time member of the Finger’s travelling party. Hartman and Murphy come from the Brisbane music scene. Drag sits alongside a number of other acts that have used the name, but this Brisbane band is the one associated with those members and that origin.

Style and themes

Drag is described as an energetic sleazy-punk band with explicit live performance and songwriting themes. Its songs address eating disorders, gender issues and self-harm, and the band is noted for a defiant stage presence. The act is also identified with female-fronted band nights and Ladyfest appearances, with a strong emphasis on female visibility on stage.

Releases

The band independently releases material on its own label, Sleazy Punk Records. Its second EP, Homemade Plastic Surgery, appears on that label and is released digitally through major platforms. The debut album, Neurotica: A Commpendium Of Tales Regarding Body & Mind, is funded through Kickstarter and also released independently on Sleazy Punk Records.