At a time when everyone is bunkering down – staying indoors… everyone’s favourite rock’n’roll rabbit, King Bunny – aka Andy Walker, has decided not to hold back, but to digitally release Bunny Racket’s popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Animals along with two brand new music videos on YouTube, to give parents of mini rockers a little salvation during lockdown. Or as Bunny Racket call it… rockdown!
‘We have been demoing a heap of music lately,’ says Andy, or King Bunny ‘we are sitting on three albums worth of stuff. We were waiting for all the stars to align with a good team, and after our last meeting we decided… everyone is at home, all this stuff is finished, so let’s just give it away!’
Rock’n’Roll Animals was created a couple of years back in a burrow in the southern Californian desert, and features the work of some pedigree rock rabbits, such as Brant Bjork (Kyuss, Fumanchu), taking on drums and backing vocals, Robby Krieger of The Doors joining the studio line-up as lead guitarist, and Sam Cutler, legendary tour manager for The Rolling Stones, and the Grateful Dead, adding spoken word. It’s the ultimate rock’n’roll starter record!
‘We’re releasing 18 tracks that have only been available via vinyl – just through a UK label – they sold out a while back, and we were trying to find the best way to get the songs out there. [Then we thought] there are so many kids at home, let’s release our clips and our tracks out there – because who knows what the music industry is going to be like when we come out of this!’
Bunny Racket is the noisy junction between Black Sabbath and Sesame Street, with a live lineup featuring members of The Vines/Wolfmother and Goons of Doom. It’s a wrack of rabbits that brings a fusion of punk rock’s do-it-yourself ethic, with a tickle of youthful exuberance. They found a niche where no one had found a niche before… that’s why they have been so busy – up until all the gigs got cancelled.
‘Our shows have really taken off,’ says Andy. ‘It’s been amazing. We have been playing everything from over 18 club shows, to schools, to music festivals, to birthday parties, to corporate stuff. We could play a pre-school, and then a metal festival, and it would be fine!’
Bunny Racket are keen to support their industry – aware that many music workers and artist crews will be facing an uncertain future. All profits from the sale of Bunny Racket merch will be donated to Sound of Silence, a Support Act initiative to support the music industry through these times.
To access the album, or merch, follow the links in their YouTube clips, or go to bunnyracket.com