Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Scared Weird Little Guys (also referred to as SWLG or The Scaredies) were an Australian comedy music duo formed in July 1990, comprising John Chaplin-Fleming (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Rusty Berther (vocals, guitar, banjo). The Scaredies performed their last ever live show in Brisbane in May 2011.
History
In 1987 John joined Four Chairs No Waiting, an a cappella group comprising David Holmes, Ramsey Collins and Rusty. The group performed aboard a Fairstar cruise as well as touring RSL clubs around Sydney. They performed during most of Expo 88 in Brisbane. In 1989 Rusty and John joined The Phones, one of Australia's top a cappella groups, which boasted members such as Paul Keelan, Michael Dalton and Reg Ellery. Performing at comedy and cabaret venues around Australia, the group also held a regular TV spot on Channel 7's Bert Newton Show. Following the group's break-up in 1990, John and Rusty teamed up and moved away from a cappella to concentrate on musical comedy routines.
The duo has had much success touring Australia, as well as more than 20 tours of festivals and college campuses in North America, and three tours of the UK in 1997, 1998 and 2001.
The name "Scared Weird Little Guys" comes from a line in the Al Pacino movie Cruising.
The Scaredies announced on 1 August that the act would be coming to an end after 21 years. They will embark on a national farewell tour named 'Enough Already', which will run until mid 2011. The duo have released a final CD entitled "Enough Already" which includes recordings from their Mount Gambier, Horsham and Warrnambool shows.
The Scaredies performed their final show in Brisbane on 22 May 2011.
Albums & Releases
Scared (1994)Macadamia (EP)Bloody Jeff (EP)Death Lounge (EP) (1998)Live At 42 Walnut Crescent (2000)Bits And Pieces (2004)The First 15 Years (DVD) (2005)Scared Weird Little Songs (2009)Mindless Stupidity for the Thinking Person (2010)Enough Already (2010)Notable Performances
The Scared Weird Little Guys have performed regularly at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Adelaide Fringe Festival as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Spiegeltent. They featured at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, warming up the 90,000 strong crowd for 45 minutes.
They have also made noteworthy appearances as The Scared Weird Little Guys Superband. This usually consists of John and Rusty with the addition of a full rock band including horn section. The Superband has been a fixture at the Melbourne Comedy Festival for many years and features guest appearances from international and local comedians singing cover songs. Guest singers have included Ross Noble, Rich Hall, Maria Bamford, Rove McManus, Jo Stanley, Jimeoin, Lano and Woodley, Bob Downe, Alan Brough and Adam Hills.
Awards
The duo have won several awards throughout their career, as well as being nominated for various high-profile awards.
Winner
Victorian Campus Activities Association "Best Comedy Act" 1994Canadian Organisation for Campus Activities "Best Variety Act" 1994-5US National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) "Best Comedy Act" 1995Mo Award "Comedy Group Of The Year" 2000ARIA Award "Best Comedy Release: Bits and Pieces" 2004ButNominations
Mo Award "Comedy Group Of The Year" 1994-1999, 2001–2004ARIA Award "Best Comedy Release: Scared" 1995Mo Award "Best Comedy Act" 1997US National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) "Entertainers Of The Year" 1995Media appearances
The duo have performed regular spots in both television and radio since 1990.
Television appearances
The duo have performed on almost every live Australian television show, some notable examples include:
Hey Hey It's SaturdayGood Morning AustraliaThe NRL Footy ShowSale Of The Century A personal favourite of the group, who appeared in the giftshop.The Micallef Programme Appeared as the mystery guests of the week. When Shaun opens the door to them, and they appear to be ready to perform a song, except Shaun shuts the door in their faces.You May Be Right The show's houseband.Rove liveRadio Appearances
The Scared Weird Little Guys have been appearing weekly on Triple M's breakfast radio show The Cage in Melbourne and Sydney since 2001. They finished up on Triple M in July 2007 and can currently be heard most Fridays on ABC 774 Melbourne as part of the Drive program with Lindy Burns. "Stump The Scaredies" is One Song To The Tune Of Another, where listeners send in requests to hear one song performed to the tune of another. This segment appeared on Triple M's drive program The Shebang in 2003-04, but moved at the beginning of 2005 to the Breakfast shift. The "Song of the Week" is a wrap-up of current affairs, sport, culture, celebrity news and more, often performed to the tune of a relevant song.
The Scaredies' 2004 album Bits and Pieces contained examples of both of their radio segments as well as some original material.
In 2005, 2006 and currently (2007), The Scardies' have also been performing weekly on the Western Australian Radio show Botica's Bunch, Mix 94.5. On Tuesdays they perform their "Stump The Scardies" and on Friday, their "Take On The Week".
On Triple M's Adelaide show John Blackman and Jane Reilly, The Scared Weird Little Guys have been appearing Weekly on Monday's and Wednesday's for "Stump the Scaredies" and Fridays for their "End o' week song"