Skegss are an Australian surf and garage rock trio originally from Byron Bay in New South Wales, who formed in 2014. The band's line-up consists of Jonny Lani (drums), Kelton Lee (bass) and Ben Reed (vocals, guitar, bass).
Their debut studio album, My Own Mess, was released in September 2018 and peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Album Charts. In October 2020 the group re-released their EP 50 Push Ups for a Dollar on vinyl, which reached number 4. They followed with a double EP as a vinyl compilation album, Holiday Food/Everyone Is Good at Something, re-released in November 2020, which reached number 17.
Career 2014–2017: Formation and early EPs Skegss were formed in Byron Bay in 2014 as a surf music and garage rock quartet by Toby Cregan ( Toby Two String) on bass guitar, Noa Deane on guitar, Jonny Lani ( Johnny Layback) on drums and Ben Reed ( Ben Ben Bograil) on lead vocals and guitar. Lani and Reed were childhood friends and reconnected in 2014, the pair began "playing shows for a hundred bucks and a couple of beers wherever [they] could."
Their debut single, "L.S.D." was released in July 2014, at which time they were described by Stab Magazines writer as, "A band without complex. It's just as you hear, a slack rock band, that remind you of walking bare feet, being sunburned with stiff hair thanks to sea salt." Cregan explained the track's title, "The song is called 'L.S.D' but not like acid, more like, Live.Sleep.Die." They followed with a set of performances in Sydney and southern Queensland in August. Chris Singh of AU.Review opined fans could expect, "a sound which is deceptively casual; a well-crafted ode to those with a more laid-back approach to life."
Their second single, "Rock 'n' Roll Radio", was released in October 2014, which Singh's associate Paul McBride observed, "shows you how easy it is to make a simple and laid-back rock and roll track." By April 2015 Deane had left Skegss to concentrate on his surfing career. The group continued as a trio. They commenced a tour of North America at the end of that month taking dates in California, New York City and Toronto.
Upon return to Australia, in June 2015, they were signed with Ratbag Records, run by Brisbane-based surf musicians, Dune Rats, and distributed by Warner Music. Skegss first EP for the Ratbag label, 50 Push Ups for a Dollar, appeared in October 2015, with a track, "Fun", issued as a single in July.
Skegss' next EP, Everyone Is Good at Something, with seven tracks was released in July 2016. It peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums Chart. James Tait of Howl and Echoes felt, "they look to push their career to further heights with the release of their sophomore EP... [they] happen to be fantastically talented at making punk rock: three honest chords on sun-bleached guitars, chugging rhythms and lyrics reflecting both the debauchery and uncertainty of themselves and the young crowds they manage to wow over on an almost nightly basis."
Kill Your Stereos Peyton Bernhardt rated it at 75 out-of 100 and explained, "[it] plays out as an existential crisis that an indie rock aficionado may have amid a quintessentially Australian social setting... [they] are the Pharrell Williams of Aussie beach-rock, spreading the happiness around like a contagious virus that you'd be goddamn lucky to catch."
The group issued their next single, "Spring Has Sprung", in December 2016, which theMusic.com.aus staff writer opined, "[it] is everything you could want from a raw, DIY punk anthem, with angst-fuelled sing-alongs imminent as we approach festival season." They followed with another five-track EP, Holiday Food, in April 2017. The group combined both recent EPs as Holiday Food/Everyone Is Good at Something and issued it as a compilation double EP in the same month. It reached the ARIA Hitseekers Albums Chart at No. 12.
Its lead single, "Got on My Skateboard", was issued a month earlier, with Andrew Massie of The Rockpit, expressing the view, "Wrapped in driving drums with an instantly memorable hook that'll earworm you for days, [it] bleeds nostalgia of years gone by and the notion that you should take advantage of being young to make sure you don't ever regret things you didn't do, rather than those that you did." They undertook a headlining tour, in June, to promote the album's release. "Got on My Skateboard" was listed at No. 39 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2017.
2018–2023: My Own Mess, Rehearsal and Cregan's departure
In September 2018, the band released their debut studio album My Own Mess, which peaked at number 2 on the ARIA charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, My Own Mess was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Rock Album, losing out to Amyl and the Sniffers by Amyl and the Sniffers.
In August 2019, it was announced that Skegss has signed with Loma Vista Recordings in the United States.
In late 2020, Skegss re-released early EPs on vinyl for the first time, starting with 50 Push Ups for a Dollar in October and the double EP Holiday Food / Everyone Is Good at Something in November. Both debuted and peaked within the ARIA top 20.
On 16 September 2020, the band released the single "Fantasising". Following its release, Skegss were accused of music plagiarism, with various commentators likening the guitar riffs in the song to "By the Way" by Adelaide punk rock duo Teenage Joans. Skegss later apologised to the duo and called the similarities unintentional.
On 26 March 2021, Skegss released their second studio album Rehearsal, which had been preceded by five singles. The album peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Charts.
In April 2023, the band announced that bassist and vocalist Toby Cregan would be exiting the band following a final show at that year's Splendour in the Grass.
2024: Pacific Highway Music On 16 August 2024, the Skegss released " Out of My Head" and announced their third album Pacific Highway Music will be released on 18 October 2024. It'll be the first as duo of Reed and Lani. Band members Current members Ben Reed – lead vocals, guitar (2014–present) Jonny Lani – drums (2014–present) Kelton Lee – bass guitar (2024–present)
Past members Noa Deane – guitar (2014–2015) Toby Cregan – bass guitar, backing and lead vocals, guitar (2014–2023)
Public image In an interview with Skegss, David James Young of Mixdown Magazine said the band "come across as standard loose-unit garage rockers with thrashing manes." Life Without Andy said the band has a "youthful energy and [an] infectious sense of humour". Time Out described the band as "DIY, beer-drinking and self-producing maniacs from the surf coast", whilst James Tait of Howl and Echoes has described them as "just three fun-loving dudes from Byron Bay who enjoy a cold beer."
Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown Title Details Peak chart positions AUS Note: lists the compilation album re-released in late 2020 as Holiday [EP] My Own Mess Released: 7 September 2018 Label: Ratbag, Warner Music Australasia (RATBAG014CD) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 2 Rehearsal Released: 26 March 2021 Label: Loma Vista Recordings (LVR01832) Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download, streaming 1 Pacific Highway Music Released: 18 October 2024 Label: Loma Vista Recordings (LVR04518) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 4
Compilation albums
+List of compilations, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown Title Details Peak chart positions AUS Holiday Food/Everyone Is Good at Something Release: 7 April 2017 Label: Ratbag/ Warner (RATBAG012LP) Formats: LP 17
Extended plays +List of EPs, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications AUS Skegss / Glow in the Dark Released: April 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming — 3 Songs We Recorded with Adam When We Were in Melbourne Released: February 2015 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming — 50 Push Ups for a Dollar Released: 16 October 2015 Label: Ratbag, Warner Music Format: digital download, streaming, LP (2020) 4 Everyone Is Good at Something Released: 15 July 2016 Label: Ratbag, Warner Music Formats: CD, digital download — Holiday Food Released: 7 April 2017 Label: Ratbag, Warner Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — ARIA: Platinum Triple J Live at the Wireless Released: 24 April 2020 Label: ABC Music Formats: digital download, streaming — Top Heavy Released: 27 June 2025 Label: Skegss, Loma Vista (LVR05066) Formats: LP, digital download, streaming — Skegss and The Mariachis Released: 16 October 2026 Label: Skegss, Loma Vista (LVR05886) Formats: CD, digital download, streaming —
Footnotes
Singles +List of singles, with year released and album shown Title Year Certifications Album "L.S.D." 2014 ARIA: Platinum Skegss "Rock'n'Roll Radio" "Fun" 2015 50 Push Ups for a Dollar "Eat It" "My Face" 2016 Everyone Is Good at Something "Mustang" ARIA: Gold "Spring Has Sprung" Holiday Food "Got on My Skateboard" 2017 ARIA: Platinum "Up in the Clouds" 2018 ARIA: 2× Platinum My Own Mess "Smogged Out" ARIA: Gold "Stop" "Here Comes Your Man" 2019 rowspan="2" "Save It for the Weekend" ARIA: Gold "Under the Thunder" 2020 ARIA: Gold Rehearsal "Fantasising" "Wake Up" "Valhalla" 2021 "Bush TV" "Bunny Man" rowspan="2" "Stranger Days" 2022 ARIA: Gold "Spaceman" 2024 Pacific Highway Music "Out of My Head" "High Beaming" "So Excited" 2025 Top Heavy "Hawaii" "If It Makes You Happy" "Stranger" (Mariachi) 2026 Skegss and The Mariachis
Awards ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Skegss have received one nomination.
! |- | 2019 | My Own Mess | Best Rock Album
| 2021 | Chris Collins for Rehearsal by Skegss | Engineer of the Year
Rolling Stone Australia Awards The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.
! |- | 2022 | Rehearsal | Best Record
References