The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock band, formed in 1988 by D.D. Meanie (a.k.a. Dennis DePianto) on lead guitar, Link Meanie (a.k.a. Lindsay McLennan) on vocals and guitar, Ringo Meanie (a.k.a. Mark Hobbs) on drums, and VB Meanie (a.k.a. Dave Christopher) on bass guitar and vocals. These days the line up is Link Meanie, Ringo Meanie, Jaws Meanie (Jordan Stanley) – lead guitar (2008–present), Wally Meanie (Roderick Kempton) – bass guitar and vocals (1989–1996, 1998–present)
Australian musicologist, Ian MacFarlane called them “the undisputed kings of the inner-city/all-ages circuit. The band’s frantic, Ramones-inspired power pop and hyperactive live shows drew capacity audiences of alacritous fans. The Meanies were also one of the most productive independent recording bands of the day.” Chris Johnston of Rolling Stone opined that their songs, “will all be short, between two and three minutes every time. Each burst of savage punk/pop noise will also be a potential anthem; an unclean riff with a beating heart of pure melody.ited them as one of their five influential bands.
The Meanies have performed with such international luminaries as Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, Redd Kross, Superchunk, Fugazi and the Hard-Ons and performed at festivals including the Big Day Out, Livid, Push Over. The Meanies also toured through Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland in their heyday and have been gigging steadily ever since.