Born and raised in the hotbed of Australia's 80s and 90s surfing, skateboarding, art and music scenes. We were so excited to hear the news that one of our all-time heroes at the time had passed away. Artist, illustrator, and musician Ben Brown released the entire back catalog of his skate-punk band Hellmen on Spotify and Apple Music just last month. For those living outside Australia (or born after 1993). Ben Brown was the frontman of Hellmen and was also well known for his grotesque and insane artwork, an extension of the band's frenetic approach to music production.
The Hellmenn burst onto the music scene in 1986 with a style of chaos and mayhem. They performed in pubs and dirty clubs and supported the likes of Henry Rollins on their Australian tours. They were young and brash, with a rawness synonymous with raw energy. He also speaks bluntly! They openly question the establishment in their lyrics and shows, which is more than you'd expect from four teenagers in the 1980s.
From 1986 to 1994, The Hellmen released four full-length albums and eight singles/EPs, finally calling it quits in April 1994. It was a fulfilling 8 years of noise making.
As the years went on, music took a backseat to Ben's artistic career, where he became even more known for his iconic illustration style, and was a member of some of the biggest musical groups to ever play the stadium. It has been featured on many album covers and tour posters. Along the way, his illustration work also contributed to the brand's direction, filling the pages of surfing and skating publications with his flashy, confrontational visuals.
By the late 2000s, Ben had evolved into an Australian art icon. That's when he created our first can graphic for Monster Hold Pomade, featuring a brutal rendition of Frankenstein (affectionately named “Frankie”).
Grab a beer, pour yourself a coffee (or whatever beverage you drink), and enjoy the playlist and album catalog of Hermen's best work below. And crank it loud!
