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Media Archive

Press & Media

Brentyn "Rollo" Rollason left a mark deep enough that newspapers, fanzines, broadcasters, music journalists, and international punk media all felt compelled to document it.

This page gathers the most significant press, reporting, and media coverage of Rollo and Blowhard — from the explosive early years through to the global tributes that followed his passing.

A resource for journalists, historians, researchers, scene archivists, and anyone wanting to understand Rollo's role in Brisbane's punk and alternative music history.

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Rollo performing - archive photograph showing his dynamic stage presence
Archive Photo

Major Press Coverage

Rollo's passing in April 2019 triggered an outpouring of national media attention, each article recognising both his wild stage persona and the deep community work behind it.

Notable press coverage includes:

15+
Articles
5+
Publications
2
Countries

Wall of Sound

2019

"Brisbane Punk Rock Icon Brentyn 'Rollo' Rollason Passed Away"

A feature capturing his status as a scene pillar and the shockwaves that followed his death.

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Scenestr

2019

"Blowhard's Brentyn 'Rollo' Rollason Has Died"

Breaking news coverage announcing Rollo's passing to the Brisbane music community.

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Scenestr

2021

"Blowhard Pay One Final Tribute To Their Leader Rollo"

Coverage of Blowhard's massive farewell show - a final tribute to their leader.

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Tone Deaf

2019

"Brisbane Music Icon Brentyn 'Rollo' Rollason Has Passed Away"

A deeply personal obituary noting Rollo's outrageous humour, onstage anarchy, and his impact as a cultural connector.

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TheMusic

2019

"Frontman of Revered Brisbane Band Blowhard Brentyn 'Rollo' Rollason Passes Away"

National reporting confirming his death and outlining his three-decade creative legacy.

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Ox-Fanzine

Germany, 2019

An international tribute recognising Blowhard's European tours and Rollo's global punk appeal.

Hawthorne News

2022

Coverage of Norman Park officially becoming Rollo Park, cementing his legacy in the public landscape.

Each of these pieces echoes the same truth: Rollo was not just a musician — he was a cultural engine.

Music Journalism &
Scene Documentation

Beyond obituaries and tributes, Rollo's three decades in Brisbane's underground left traces across music journalism, scene histories, and cultural documentation. These pieces capture the evolution of a community through one of its most dedicated champions.

Brisbane Punk History Archives

Academic and journalistic pieces documenting Brisbane's punk evolution regularly cite Rollo as a key figure — from early '90s scene reports to comprehensive retrospectives on Queensland's alternative music legacy.

Referenced in: QUT Cultural Studies, Griffith Music Archives, State Library Queensland collections

Festival & Live Music Coverage

Two decades of festival reviews, live music coverage, and gig guides document Blowhard's performances across Australia — from small venues to major festivals, capturing the evolution of their sound and Rollo's stage presence.

Coverage spans: Big Day Out, Livid, Splendour, Dead of Winter, plus countless club shows

Zine Culture & DIY Press

Brisbane's zine culture extensively documented Rollo and Blowhard — from early photocopied punk zines to later digital publications. These grassroots voices captured the raw energy and community spirit that mainstream media often missed.

Featured in: Buzzsaw, Spurt, various local zines (archival scanning in progress)

Research Resources & Archives

State Library Queensland

Music collection includes Brisbane punk documentation, with Rollo and Blowhard references in various cultural studies and scene histories.

4ZZZ Archives

Decades of community radio archives include Rollo's presenter work, interviews with Blowhard, and tribute broadcasts.

University Collections

QUT and Griffith University music archives contain academic papers and cultural studies that reference Brisbane's punk scene and key figures.

International Recognition & Touring

Blowhard's reach extended far beyond Brisbane, with European tours and international punk media coverage proving that good noise travels. These pieces document how a Brisbane band and its frontman connected with global underground scenes.

Rollo performing internationally
  • European Punk Media: German punk zine Ox-Fanzine and other European publications covered Blowhard's tours, with interviews and reviews that placed the band within the broader international punk conversation.
  • Tour Documentation: European and US tour coverage documented Blowhard's live performances, Rollo's stage presence, and the band's ability to connect with international audiences despite language and cultural barriers.
  • Global Network: Coverage includes venues across Germany, Netherlands, and touring circuit documentation that shows how Brisbane punk reached international audiences.
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Rollo's passing was acknowledged not just in Australian media, but by international punk communities who had encountered Blowhard through tours, records, and the global underground network that connects scenes across continents.

Share your international Rollo memories

Community Archives & Digital Preservation

The most important documentation of Rollo's impact lives in community hands — photo collections, bootleg recordings, personal stories, and digital archives maintained by the people who were there. These grassroots preservation efforts ensure nothing gets lost.

Community Photo Archives

Decades of gig photography, backstage moments, and candid shots exist in personal collections across Brisbane. These images capture Rollo's evolution from young punk to scene elder, documenting the community that grew around him.

Sources: Personal collections, band archives, venue photographers, fan documentation

Bootleg Recordings & Radio

Live recordings, radio appearances, and studio outtakes preserve Rollo's voice and Blowhard's evolution. These recordings, often traded between fans, represent the most authentic documentation of the band's sound and energy.

Includes: Live show recordings, 4ZZZ appearances, demo tapes, practice room sessions

Digital Memorials & Tributes

Social media tributes, online memorial pages, and digital community spaces preserve memories and stories that might otherwise be lost. These platforms became gathering points for grief, celebration, and ongoing connection.

Platforms: Facebook memorial groups, Instagram tributes, YouTube memorial videos, personal blogs

Help Preserve the Archive

If you have photos, recordings, flyers, or memories of Rollo and Blowhard, they belong in this archive. Every piece helps build a more complete picture of a life that touched so many others.

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Broadcast & Radio Coverage

Community radio wasn’t background noise for Rollo — it was his atmosphere. 4ZZZ amplified his voice, his chaos, his humour, and when the city needed it most, the station carried the tributes back through the airwaves.

4ZZZ “Remembering Rollo” (2019)

A full community radio special of stories, recordings, laughter, grief and memory that aired in the days after his passing — an on-air vigil for a scene in mourning.

Listen / View Details →

45 Years of the Zeds (Archival Mentions)

Archival features acknowledging Rollo’s decades as a 4ZZZ volunteer presenter and his tireless work championing emerging Brisbane artists.

Explore Broadcast History →

Radio was where many first heard Rollo — and where many said goodbye.
These broadcasts remain the sonic backbone of his legacy.

Video & Television Archive

Archival video excerpt from The Snow Show, documenting Blowhard during the 2001 Snow Tour.

Blowhard Snow Tour — The Snow Show (2001)

Archival video excerpt from The Snow Show, documenting Blowhard during the 2001 Snow Tour.

Watch on YouTube →

Source: video published on Lindsay's YouTube channel. Lindsay is a former Blowhard drummer. View the source video on YouTube ↗

Recording hosted externally on YouTube; if the embedded player does not load, use the link above to watch it there. This excerpt is preserved in the Rollo Archive at this page — see also Blowhard — Mid Era (1995–2005) in Rollo's Discography.

Share a Story About Rollo

Ateisha is collecting memories, moments and stories about her dad, Rollo, for an upcoming book and creative projects. If you knew Rollo — through family, community, work or music — your story matters.

Rollo, father of Ateisha Rollason
  • A favourite memory or funny story
  • How you met Rollo and what stayed with you
  • Photos, letters or small details that capture who he was
SUBMIT A STORY ABOUT ROLLO SUBMIT A STORY ABOUT ROLLO

If you're not sure where to start, you can also reach out via the contact page.

Or contact Ateisha directly