Mop and the Dropouts were an Indigenous Australian rock band with a significant impact on the music scene and cultural activism. Formed by a teenage Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon, who grew up in Cherbourg in the late 1960s.[1] Conlon's musical journey began, playing alongside his uncle Doodie Bond and other uncles in band The Magpies, which was a precursor band that eventually evolved into the well-known Mop and the Dropouts.[2] Conlon started the group to help promote "goodwill and understanding between Black and White cultures" through music.[3][4]

History

As a fourteen-year-old Dennis moved to Brisbane and started a new version of the Magpies (also known as Dennis Colon and the Magpies and Dennis Conlon and his band) that would play shows at Open Doors, an Aboriginal-run venue and South Brisbane venue, The Ship Inn.[5]

In the late 1970s, the band played occasional punk shows with bands including, Razar.[5]

The band played many fundraiser shows for Black organisations. In the 80's the Band would be performing Twice a week or so whether it would be around West End, Inala, Woodridge (Logan) Ipswich, Toowoomba.

Music

The band are known for their iconic 1982 song ‘Brisbane Blacks’, that tells the story of the protests First Nations peoples undertook – marching for Aboriginal rights – during the time of the 12th Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.[6] ‘Brisbane Blacks' not only serves as a historical record of those turbulent times but also offers a poignant portrayal of the challenges and experiences faced by Aboriginal individuals in Queensland during that era.[2]

Legacy

Documentary Brisbane Blacks: The Story of Mop and the Dropouts (2015) directed by Ben Carr explores the band’s music and impact.[7][8]

In 2022, Queensland Music Awards as a tribute to Mop and The Dropouts, with Conlon awarded a QMusic Lifetime Achievement Award.[9][10]

QMusic offers the annual Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon Scholarship named in Conlon’s honour for his enormous contribution to the Australian music industries, that provides opportunity to an emerging Indigenous Queensland musician or band to develop and record songs.[11][12][13]

Members

  • Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon
  • Angus Rabbitt[14]
  • Charley "Teapot" Watson
  • Keith "Jet" Jackson
  • Robert 'Bimbo' Duncan - bass
  • Robin O'Chin
  • Richo "Jap" Conlon
  • Ronald ‘Crow’ Conlon
  • Hedley Johnson
  • Billy ‘Yowie’ Gorham
  • Kerry Jackson

Discography

Title Details
'Don't Give In' / 'Brisbane Blacks''[2]
  • Released: 1982 (as Dennis Conlon and The Magpies)
  • Format: 7"
  • Label Sundown Records
Man With A Vision[15]
  • Released: 2005
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent
'Racial Discrimination'[16]

'Mr Moonlight'
  • Released: 2011
  • Format: CD - Best of Koori Classic (The Early Years Aboriginal Collection) compilation

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Anne (2022-09-19). "'Mop' Penned A Black Anthem". southburnett.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mop & The Dropouts' 1982 anthem 'Brisbane Blacks' gave permanence to protest". Double J. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ↑ Mengel, Noel (November 14, 2015). "Album reviews: Undiscovered heart of our own country". News.com.au.
  4. ↑ "Undercover Music". www.undercovermusic.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  5. 1 2 Stafford, Andrew (2006). Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden. Univ. of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3561-0.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Ellie (2022-09-19). "Mop & The Dropouts frontman Dennis Conlon has died". NME. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  7. ↑ BushTelegraph, Workers (2015-08-28). "Brisbane Blacks: the Story of Mop and the Dropouts". Workers BushTelegraph. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. ↑ Carr, Ben (2015-06-05), Brisbane Blacks: The Story of Mop and the Dropouts (Documentary, Short), Tiga Bayles, Kev Carmody, Dennis Conlon, Streetwise Films, retrieved 2023-09-04
  9. ↑ "Let's Talk 2022, Episode 49 Mop & The Dropouts". Murri Country. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  10. ↑ Cribb, Dan. "Revered First Nations Artist Dennis Conlon Of Mop & The Dropouts Passes Away". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. ↑ "Dennis 'Moppy' Conlon". Murri Country. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  12. ↑ Miller, Anne (2023-03-29). "Music Scholarship To Honour 'Mop'". southburnett.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  13. ↑ "Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship | QMusic Network". QMusic. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  14. ↑ Miller, Anne (2016-07-12). "Angus Rabbitt: The End Of An Era". southburnett.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  15. ↑ Roberts, Rhoda (2006). "NFSA - Search the Collection - Deadly Sounds". www.collection.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  16. ↑ Radio, N. T. S. "Mop & The Dropouts | Discover music on NTS". NTS Radio. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
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