S2 E44 MATT JONSSON (Trolla Bolla Snatcha Razoo) Drummer: CLOWNS OF DECADENCE, FESTERED VESTOONS, THE DEADLY CHINA DOLLS, and HOUSE OF BUGS.

BAND IT ABOUT - Podcast Series

Matt Jonsson (Trolla Bolla Snatcha Razoo), joins me in The Engine Room this week to discuss his musical journey and artistic heritage. Born in Sweden, Matt emigrated to Australia with his family in 1972. Matt spent 10 years as the drummer in the popular Punk/Rock Adelaide Band the 'CLOWNS OF DECADENCE', and was for the most part responsible for all the amazing artwork that the band used both in the elaborate stage props as well as on album covers and posters. The band formed in 1988 from 3 former members of 'Festered Vestoons" and one from Toxic Avengers, by June 1990 they were named as 'Clowns of Decadence' and had adopted a performance image of wearing clown makeup and silly clothes to back up their politico-protest leanings, deploying elements of circus, music and performance in their live shows. The group released three extended plays and an album, 'Clowns of a Lesser God' on Homegrown Artists / Siren Records before disbanding in 1998. The band toured extensively all over Australia, sharing the bill with other popular bands of the time including: Front End Loader, You Am I, TISM, Powderfinger, Regurgitator, Beasts of Bourbon, Def FX, Cosmic Psychos, Chocolate Starfish, Fireballs, and Paul Kelly.

The bands circus theme was inspired by Matt's grandparents, who were famous Circus Artists in their 'Traveling Tivoli' in Sweden from 1922 to 1955, Matt's grandfather Anton Tivoli joined the circus at the age of 16, working as an acrobat artist and did a high-wire act, in 1922 he formed his own Traveling Tivoli and became a Knife thrower. Matt's grandmother was blind folded and tied up while his grandfather also blind folded, would throw knives around her. Matt's father Ted Jonsson was the youngest child, he did not embrace the "carnie lifestyle", and instead worked as a carpenter, prior to becoming an Adelaide based sculptor. Matt's sister Marie Jonsson-Harrison is a former successful model, who won ” Miss Summer Spain” 1981,” South Australia Model of the Year” 1982 and “Australian Model of the Year” 1984. The families rich artistic heritage eventually led to her becoming an artist herself, specializing in 'Naïve Art'.

• Matt is a Sculptor/Artist who's work can be seen at various locations around Adelaide including the 'West End Brewery' Riverbank Display's, the 'Magic Cave' at David Jones, 'Blackebys Sweets', the Adnyamathanha sculpture at Wilpena Pound, and in the men’s room at the at The D’Arenberg Cube, which features urinals that double as giant gaping clownlike faces. Matt and his partner Michelle's commercial art business 'Artistic Impact', are currently in the process of expanding their products and developing a new website, once finalised they will be trading under the name of 'ART STUDIOS AUSTRALIA'.
• Music: "Band It About", written and recorded by Catherine Lambert & Michael Bryant. "Alien Sex Romp" by Clowns Of Decadence, was released in 1993 on their EP Kamikaze Karnival and was co-written by Mark Fenech, Stephen Hards, Matt Jonsson, Colin Morris, Craig Spencer, and Craig Stone.
• Links: Artistic Impact https://www.facebook.com/mattandmichellejonsson/
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