Fred Noonan, the drummer of Brisbane punk band Blowhard and swamp rock outfit Six Ft Hick, has passed away after recurring experiences with cancer.
Earlier this month, Six Ft Hick guitarist Dan Baebler was posting about Noonan’s declining health on social media, and as of Tuesday (14 May), the band have shared a tribute shirt in the drummer’s honour.
As well as his contributions to Blowhard and Six Ft Hick, Noonan’s experience in the Brisbane music scene began in the 1980s, and one of his earliest-known bands, Public Execution, supported Dead Kennedys on tour in 1989.
Blowhard announced Noonan’s passing on social media last week (9 May).
“In the early hours of this morning we lost original BH drummer and dear mate Alan “Fred” Noonan following a recurrent battle with cancer,” Blowhard’s tribute reads.
Calling the drummer a “Brisbane punk rock legend”, Blowhard also mentioned Noonan’s formation of his country-meets-punk side project, The Fred Band. “As is often the Bris-punk way, the side-project endured, and provided Fred with a career highlight when the Fred Band supported his beloved Canadian HC pioneers DOA in 2014,” the tribute continued.
“Fred was also instrumental in maintaining Brisbane punk’s status on the international stage. He undertook several overseas tours with Six Ft Hick and The Jim Rockfords, finding a second home in France’s Brittany region. Of that French-Celtic enclave, Fred would say ‘Brittany is French for Queensland’.
“Additionally, Fred periodically manned the drum stool for Elvis and the Burger Kings, and more recently was a member of Surfari Krishnas, RL Crocodile and 57 Below.
“Fred’s legacy is surpassed only by that of his already-departed mate Rollo. The pair are now reunited in the punk rock afterlife, where the beer is always fine. Our thoughts are with Caitlin, Hector, the extended Noonan clan, and Fred’s bandmates through the years.”
On Wednesday (15 May), Six Ft Hick announced that pre-orders for a Fred Noonan tribute t-shirt are now open, with the printed decal making note of the drummer’s achievements in music. You can pre-order a shirt here.
From 1:45 am this morning, fans can tune into rage for a special celebration for Noonan, with the plan to showcase the Six Ft Hick music videos for Daddy’s Home, Oysters and Beat Myself, as well as others.
