A Brief History of Agency Dub Collective…

1999

ADC is born when a collective of friends from different musical backgrounds begin jamming with an idea to create something original. Salient features of the resultant genre-defying music are elements of dub, hiphop & rock with a strong revolutionary and political focus to the lyrics. Part of a lively underground scene playing wild parties in Canberra and Wollongong.

ADC launch into playing venues with their first official show in November 1999 @ Finnigans, Dickson: “A Night of Dub-Hop Mayhem” – a mix of dub, hiphop, rock and craziness combining live instruments, decks, synths and samples. Line-Up: O’Zak, Fideos (now known as Dub Ninja), Wulong (nka Rondos), Elliot, Turnock, D-Mon.

1999/2000

New Years Eve @ The Channon, Northern NSW. Big Millenial party in the country. ADC play alongside North Coast hiphop legend Krisdafari and the ever-tasty engineer and host SinDen.

2000

Beginning in Janaury, ADC independently record and mix their first album “7th Listen” onto analogue tape, using whatever limited equipment is to hand.

ADC play numerous shows in Canberra with line-up varying show to show, true collective style, around the core of O’Zak/Wulong/Fideos. The style morphs towards a smoother funk-influenced dub fusion sound with horns (Hacking Lung Neruda) and turntables (Lethal Leeroy).

In late 2000, ADC record their first live album “The Institute of Happiness” at the now-defunct Gypsy Bar. Line up for this album is: O’Zak, Fideos, Wulong, Leeroy and Neruda.

2001

ADC play their first Melbourne gig at the now-defunct Punters Club sometime in Jan/Feb 2001, at which Neruda falls off stage, breaks his arm and is off to hospital in an ambulance shortly before playing, but the show goes on, minus sax.

Melbourne has an immediate impact upon O’Zak and he soon leaves the Crapital and moves there, forming a pure dub outfit called The Cabal.

ADC goes through a quiet phase following the exit of the strong front man and organizer. Remaining members experiment with live drum’n’bass and involve themselves with some other projects, including Skyfarmer, the phoenix-like reincarnation of earlier band Optimus Prime.

2002 (our populist era of party funk)

ADC comes back into effect with a new hybrid sound of funk/hiphop with a strong party vibe and less emphasis on dub and politics. During this time, ADC is a vibrant crew with two front men, rapping and singing, with lots of vocal harmonies. This line-up records ADC’s debut “official” release LP “Rhymes from the Bubble”. Line-up: Jamie, Kahl, Kurt, Rondo, Rojo (aka Dub Ninja) & Pablo, with overdubs by Lee & Shae.

2003

The band relocates to Melbourne. Rojo also joins The Cabal, re-uniting with O’Zak. ADC spends time writing & rehearsing new material in Sunbury, and recruits new members. First gig as a Melbourne band is at The Evelyn in Fitzroy, April 2003, following by numerous live shows throughout Melbourne.

2004

Significant year of changes. First East Coast tour of Oz, followed by loss of front man / manager. Resurgence of strong dub flavour with political edge. New EP born out of turbulent times and breaking chains: “Digging Under Babylon”, featuring 3oB, Rojo, Rondo, Kurt, Paul, Turnock. Jono becomes an integral part of the live sound of ADC as regular dub engineer.

2005

Yet again further changes to line-up. Sound evolves towards a more cohesive dub/dancehall/roots style. Busy year of regular local shows, festivals and more interstate touring. Recording of second Melbourne EP begins in October 2005 (@ Toora).

Monster Dub Insurgency tour of the East Coast (NSW/ACT/QLD) Dec 05 – Jan 06

2006

Work is completed on the new EP “Insurgency”. ADC cuts its first EP to vinyl. Launch of CD & vinyl versions takes place at Bar Open, Fitzroy, Victoria on 24th April 2006. Sydney & Canberra launches will take place in Spring 2006. Further interstate tours on the cards for Summer 2006.

Current line-up: Dub Ninja, Rondos, 3oB, T-Rev, G-Fresh, Turnock, Jono