QUAN YEOMANS: MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH – REFLECTING ON 30 YEARS OF REGURGITATOR
Regurgitator’s Quan Yeomans sat down with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips to look back on the band’s origins, their creative evolution, and the strange, colourful ride that’s shaped their 30-plus year career as our Musician of the Month for December 2025. Photos by Jason Rosewarne. Studio hospitality by Empire Music Studios, Heidelberg. Jukeboxxin’ tour dates below.
MORE ABOUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH QUAN
Quan recalls first meeting bassist Ben Ely not on a bus, as the mythology sometimes goes but when Ben dropped by his mum’s house to buy pot. At the time, Quan was experimenting with riffs on a four-track recorder, some of which would eventually form the foundation of Regurgitator. Their musical tastes weren’t exactly aligned, Ben leaning into reggae and punk like Bad Brains, while Quan absorbed hip-hop and classic rock guitar heroes like Hendrix and Zeppelin but early drummer Martin Lee acted as the bridge, introducing them both to new worlds, from Prodigy to Dr. Dre.
Quan shared some of the contemporary artists inspiring him today, including Indigenous rappers Barkaa, JK, and Tasman Keith, as well as punk outfit Bad Nerves and modern rockers Turnstile. They’re also clearly into Dem Mob, after seeing them deliver an unforgettable show in regional South Australia and have now employed them as support on the upcoming Jukeboxxin -RETROSPECTIVE OF SINGLES tour.
Reflecting on the band’s early days, Quan told the story of how their demo tape wound up with Warner A&R man Michael Parisi thanks to Ben’s connections, resulting in a five-album deal. The band name itself was chosen from a dictionary, mostly because it sounded like it belonged to a ’90s metal band, despite their intentions to never really play metal.
Quan looks back fondly on the pre-internet era, when Brisbane’s creative scene was small enough that everyone crossed paths organically at gigs or on buses. He misses that word-of-mouth culture, but takes the modern landscape as it comes. One constant through the decades, though, has been their manager Paul Curtis, who Quan describes as loyal, principled, challenging, and irreplaceable, particularly when compared to horror stories he’s heard from other bands.
On the international front, Regurgitator largely avoided the classic “label nightmare” scenario by keeping expectations low and staying cautious with overseas touring budgets. He recalls odd but endearing experiences in Japan, and one bizarre brush with the excesses of the Kiss machine, who they supported for a single show. Weezer side gigs during the same period were a bonus.
Discussing songwriting, Quan contrasts the combative, friction-fuelled creativity of the early years with the more family-like dynamic the band shares today. Ideas now tend to come in more fully formed, and while he admits the group “writes worse music” than in their volatile youth, he believes they play live far better than ever. Quan personally writes using a Jimmy Webb-style approach-starting from a strong song title, whereas Ben writes dozens of tracks then filters down.
Quan also talked about his minimalist home studio setup, anchored by a powerful Mac Studio, Studio One Pro DAW, UAD Apollo interfaces and very little outboard gear. He prefers simplicity and admits he never quite knows when a song is finished, more that it’s eventually abandoned. Because band members live across different states, songs rarely evolve much in rehearsal, though he wishes they had more time together to develop ideas before recording.
Across the conversation, Quan is reflective, candid, and quietly amused by the twists of the band’s history, still driven to create, still saying something with every song, even if the process looks very different three decades on.
JUKEBOXXIN’ – with a fistful of fizzers
2026 retrospective singles tour PART#2? with special guests DEM MOB and more…
Tickets from Regurg OZTIX outlet and usual outlets this morning sometime.
https://regurgitator.oztix.com.au/
FRI 6 FEB SA – mt gambier berrin THE GLOBE (outdoors)
Plus special guests DEM MOB and TONIX. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/a2c653bf-df8c-4ca0-a071-bbaa96101486
SAT 7 FEB SA – adelaide tarntanya THE GOV
Plus special guests DEM MOB and TONIX. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/04fe3d37-92cd-4fcf-baa1-88701e18cd72
SUN 8 FEB SA – port lincoln galinyala PORT LINCOLN BREWING CO
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/d74f68df-484c-4761-935d-77998a456512
FRI 13 FEB TAS – hobart nipaluna ALTAR
Plus special guests DEM MOB and THE SUBCULTURE CLIQUE. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-2025-retrospective-singles-tour-/187389?skin=AltarBar
SAT 14 FEB TAS – launceston kanamaluka DU CANE BREWING
Plus special guests DEM MOB and MANKIND. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-with-a-fistful-of-fizzers-2025-retrospective-singles-tour-/184061
SUN 15 FEB TAS – ulverstone THE PIER (doors 3pm)
Plus special guests DEM MOB and GOLDEN SUNBIRD. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-with-a-fistful-of-fizzers-2025-retrospective-singles-tour-/184062
FRI 20 FEB VIC – san remo yallock bulluk beek WESTERNPORT
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://westernporthotel.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/77bc8fc4-1b6b-4f2a-8801-0a5c12125419
SAT 21 FEB VIC – ballarat VOLTA
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/b1c2f5b1-5e7a-43a8-ba9d-2346ae3aeea0
SUN 22 FEB VIC – bendigo dja dja wurrung ALL SEASONS
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/1ace030e-679d-43d1-b5e3-c894eacea0dc
THUR 26 FEB QLD – byron bay cavanbah GREAT NORTHERN
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/bdbfe80a-b96c-4517-85c9-e15c3bdba4e9
FRI 27 FEB QLD – gold coast kombumerri MIAMI MARKETTA
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/de636900-e790-4e2f-a9e8-64d94a6d9b60
SAT 28 FEB QLD – sunshine coast kabi kabi NORTONS
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/70e11a17-4538-46cc-90e8-5aa7aadadc3a
FRI 6 MAR WA – fremantle walyalup PORT BEACH GARDEN BAR*
Plus special guests. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/9fc6a901-ceaa-43c4-a56f-1f9762a324e8
SAT 7 MAR WA – dunsborough wardandi DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN*
Plus special guests. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/ed5df021-c1fb-48c6-b470-ea95ebc65604
SUN 8 MAR WA – perth boorloo THE CARINE* (doors 5pm)
Plus special guests. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/921bc353-2eae-47b6-a102-9d4143f5ac91
FRI 13 MAR NSW – ulladulla MARLIN TAVERN*
Plus special guests. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-ulladulla/187142
SAT 14 MAR ACT – canberra kanberri THE BASO*
Plus special guests. Tickets from oztix
https://thebaso.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/55204c40-1527-4b8e-81bc-ffe5ef88980d
SUN 15 MAR NSW – albury bungambrawatha SS&A CLUB*
Plus special guests. Tickets from eventbrite
https://ssaclub.com.au/events/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-tour/
FRI 20 MAR NSW – wollongong woolyungah LA LA LA’s
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-tour/186980
SAT 21 MAR NSW – newcastle mulubinba KING ST
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://kingstreet.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/48d09ee5-e589-4fd0-a58b-a70d83953db6
SUN 22 MAR NSW – sydney gadigal CROWBAR – ALL-AGES (doors 4pm)
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/467108e8-48a1-4c3d-b0ac-f02172b6002b
FRI APR 10 VIC – melbourne naarm 170 RUSSELL
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-tour/187064
SAT APR 11 VIC – melbourne naarm THE CROXTON
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from oztix
https://thecroxton.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/9d4e4c12-34d7-44a5-9306-17856ff55bcc
FRI APR 17 NQ – cairns gimuy TANKS ARTS CENTRE
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from ticketlink
https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/popular-music/regurgitator-jukeboxxin-tour-2026
SAT APR 18 NQ – townsville gurambilbarra THE WAREHOUSE
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from oztix
https://avc.live/wiyo
SUN APR 19 NQ – mackay yuwibara McGUIRES HOTEL
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/32b1e25d-0d02-41ed-bacf-2f8f5704e82d
FRI APR 24 QLD – brisbane meanjin THE TIVOLI
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from ticketmaster
https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/1300635B38A43970
SAT APR 25 QLD – brisbane meanjin THE PRINCESS – ALL-AGES (doors 3pm)
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from ticketmaster
https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/25006359410B3128
APR 26 QLD – toowomba tawampa THE EMPIRE – ALL-AGES (doors 4pm)
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from QZtix and oztix
https://empiretheatre.com.au
https://regurgitator.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/c93e046c-f18f-4252-a22f-6456423614a0
FRI 1 MAY NSW – sydney gadical LIBERTY HALL
Plus special guests DEM MOB and more. Tickets from moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/regurgitator/187145?skin=libertyhall
SUN 3 MAY NSW – springwood oryang-ora BLUE MOUNTAINS THEATRE (doors 4pm)
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from ticketsearch from NOV 5.
https://bmth.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/155881
JUKEBOXXIN’ in the 21st century! AND ALREADY ANNOUNCED FOR 2025:
FRI 14 NOV darwin garramilla MAYBERRY
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from moshtix and oztix
SAT 15 NOV alice springs mparntwe ALICE BREWING CO
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
THUR 20 NOV belgrave wurundjeri SOOKI LOUNGE
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets SOLD OUT!
FRI 21 NOV castlemaine dja dja wurrung THEATRE ROYAL
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix SELLING FAST!
SAT 22 NOV & SUN 23 NOV (arvo) sale gunaikurnai LIVEATTHEBUNDY*
Plus special guests LAURA & THE HELL CUTZ. Tickets SOLD OUT!
FRI 28 NOV warrnambool WHALERS HOTEL
Plus special guests DEM MOB and DISGRUNTLED CIVIL SERVANT. Tickets from oztix
SAT 29 NOV torquay wadawurrung TORQUAY HOTEL*
Plus special guests THE WELLINGTONS. Tickets from oztix SELLING FAST!
SUN 30 NOV frankston bunurong SINGING BIRD* (all-ages)
Plus special guests TONGUE DISOLVER and RUB.
Tickets from oztix FINAL TICKETS!
FRI 5 DEC port macquarie guruk FINNIANS
Plus special guests DEM MOB and MEDIOCRE SUNRISE.
Tickets SOLD OUT!
SAT 6 DEC coffs harbour gumbaynggirr THE HOEY MOEY
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from oztix
FRI 12 DEC woy woy EVERGLADES
Plus special guests DEM MOB and RITZY KIDS.
Tickets from moshtix and oztix
SAT 13 DEC avalon beach garigal AVALON BEACH RSL
Plus special guests DEM MOB. Tickets from moshtix FINAL TICKETS!
Also playing:
SAT 1 NOV adelaide tarntanya ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
with GRINSPOON and MOLLY ROCKET
Tickets SOLD OUT
SAT 8 NOV perth boorloo RED HILL AUDITORIUM
with GRINSPOON, BAD/DREEMS and LONESOME DOVE
Tickets from https://www.redhillauditorium.com.au/
www.regurgitator.net
http://regurgitator.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/regurgitators
www.youtube.com/user/Regurgitators
https://www.instagram.com/regurgitators/
https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/regurgitator/18222978
