Lifeline

2012 - 2015

Bunurong Country / Brooklyn, VIC

A Heavy Metal Story

Lifeline is a photographic documentary book that relates the behind-the-scenes story of FRANKENBOK, a Melbourne-based thrash/groove metal band, from October 2012 to December 2015.

When photography began, Frankenbok had a future full of possibilities that included moving into a custom studio and recording a new album. Two-and-a-half years later, Frankenbok's situation had changed dramatically: two band members left and the band was on the ropes.

Lifeline documents what happened and why, and looks at the balancing act that is being a band member and being a mate.

Book

December, 2016

134 pages / 108 photographs / Foreword by Michael and Susanne Silver / Postscript by Michael Weinhardt / Softcover / Landscape / 21 x 30 cm / ISBN 9780646960326 / Published in December, 2016 / Limited release of 100 copies

A Pozible crowdfunding campaign was successfully run from October 2016 to November 2016, enabling a special limited edition run of 100 pre-ordered copies to be printed and delivered.

Excerpt

"It was the first rehearsal I went to that made Frankenbok the project rather than a part of it. They were physical and technical, and played with a beautiful, aggressive intensity. I vividly remember the air being punched across the room by Mick’s bass drums, and Dan arching and twisting his body with fervour as he screamed into the mic. It was one of the key music experiences of my life.

During that rehearsal, I also caught my first glimpses of who they were. As individuals, they were an eclectic bunch: Azza was the wise working-class veteran of music and life; Tim, the self-proclaimed born to be mild family guy; Mick, all business and a bit cheeky; Dan, a mesmerising front-man and philosopher, and Yeti, the tough-yet-sensitive Kinglake mountain-man with a million great stories. Their diversity as people made it seem improbable for them to be in the same band.

“We’re musicians. Each of us is fucked up but we fully accept that we’re all fucked up and work with it. It’s how we roll,” said Yeti, irreverently describing what it took to keep them together.

...

It never occurred to me that I would actually document Frankenbok’s collapse instead."