Thanks to their appearances on the ABC's top rating comedy program, The Big Gig, the Doug Anthony Allstars have become the hottest comedians in the country - bursting on the screen with a mixture of violence, knife-edged humour and snappy costumes. Now the multi-talented Allstars have brought out their first book which they've catchily titled Book. Not for the easily shocked, Book mixes humour and surreal cartoons with everything from graphic descriptions of bodily functions to musings on the meaning of life. It's funny, confusing and thought-provoking all at once. In fact, Book is so startling that the British Censorship Board found it obscene, demanded that sections be removed and a warning placed on the cover. DAAS enlisted the help of the same lawyers who defended the Sex Pistol's Never Mind the Bollocks album, and won the right to print Book, warts and all. Obviously this means there's more to the Allstars than their manic act. And indeed, over lunch I discovered that Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and the quiet but debonaire Richard Fidler have very different sides to their personalities.
Cleo: Do you attract groupies?
Paul: No, in fact we go out of our way to discourage them.
Tim: One night when we were doing a show in Melbourne two girls squealed when we came on and at the end of every song. After three songs we kicked them out of the venue. They'll probably hate us forever...but that's fine by me.
Paul: We don't like it when the audience is too friendly. We still busk in the streets and it's horrible to have people watch you and laugh just because you're on television - not because you're good. It softens you.
Tim: Yeah, we much prefer a sceptical audience where we have to get out the knives and flash them about a bit before they're won over.
Cleo: A lot of people see you as hilarious comics, yet your new book is often pretty dark and violent. Are you worried that it will put people off?
Tim (intensely): Book isn't designed to be funny. It's another facet of what we do. I find it quite dark and bleak actually - but we wrote it because we wanted to. Whether it sells or not doesn't concern us. Comedy is a way for us to get a public face. Which means we can do more sculpture and records and pictures and videos. It means that if we ask to paint a tram in Melbourne, they say yes, and if we ask to paint a mural, they say yes.
Richard: It took us about five years to write the books. There are four in all, this is the first of the series. Each book is self-contained but they link together to tell one story as well.
Cleo: You have a tremendous energy on stage. Do you do any warm-up exercises before you go on?
Tim: We don't warm up at all. Our theory is that you're either funny or you're not. You're either energetic or you're not. Leaping around doing deep breathing exercises isn't going to make you any funnier or more talented.
Paul (thickly through mouthfuls of avocado): We're usually just partying backstage. Then we go on. When we were at the Adelaide Festival in '86 it was the first time we'd actually been exposed to theatrical training. Backstage all the groups were stretching and rolling their shoulders. We just ate our dinner and watched them in amazement.
Richard (as if emerging from a trance): We always eat Lebanese food just before we go on stage. Maybe that counts as a warm-up?
Cleo: The act looks pretty violent. Do you ever hurt each other on stage?
Tim (with relish): All the time! We're always covered in bruises and scratches. The other night Paul was meant to whack me in the forehead with his elbow. He turned wrong and got me on the nose instead. You just have to say "He didn't mean it", feel terrible pain for an hour and sing holding your nose for the rest of the show.
Cleo: What do your parents think of your unorthodox careers? Aren't they all in the civil service?
Paul: Mine think it's the best thing that ever happened. When they heard that we're represented in England by the same agency that handles Benny Hill and Dave Allen, they really thought we'd made it.
Timothy: Mine are more military than civil. They've always pressed me to go into a military career. That's why I had the idea to get the uniforms for the group. I wanted to keep my parents happy. This way I can at least say I'm in a uniform!
Cleo: Who's the best-looking in the group?
Paul and Richard: Timothy.
(Tim slips into his stage character, simpering and squirming in his seat.)
Tim: I am. It's hell, damn it. But someone's got to wear the mantle. But Paul's the best in the group and Richard's the most talented... so we've got it all covered. If we were one person you wouldn't be able to stop us.
Paul: Now all we need is charisma.
Cleo: After that, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Timothy: Sex is my adventure.
Paul: Sex is my downfall.
(Richard stares at his plate silently.)
Cleo: Nothing to say on this subject, Richard?
Paul: Richard thinks sex will be nice if it ever happens.
(Much laughter from all three.)
