NEWSLETTER

Photographer: Travis Hogg
Stylists: The models

Andy wears Levi’s, crest knit polo, original Conte cardigan, shoes model’s own.

Andy Smith I had a natural ability for starting cars without keys, which meant that from the age of 16, I would drive a lot of the guys around. I’d steal a car and take everyone to the dance at the Q Club or wherever. After we’d used the car, I’d normally ditch it in the Yarra. There was one particular spot that I favoured because there was some soft grass where I could roll out before the car hit the water. One time, the car went into the river but instead of sinking, it just sat on the surface of the water. I eventually figured out that it must have been on top of the 15 or so other cars I had dumped there. It’s pretty surprising I was never killed because people did carry and use guns and I had at least three cars shot up while I was driving. Another time there were some Sharpies hiding behind cars who were shooting at some bouncers across the road who had thrown them out of their club. I didn’t realise and was walking towards the club when the guys started shouting my name and telling me to duck. All I remember is diving into the gutter and when I heard them start their car, I ran and they pulled me in as they drove off.

Chane wears Staggers jeans, adidas runners and his own braces.

Chane Chane I lived on friends’ couches most of the time so moved around a lot and ended up being in quite a few gangs as a result: the Frankston Sharps, Melbourne Sharps, West Road Sharps and the Oak Park Boot Boys. I was generally in trouble, in a few garage bands and would steal the equipment and get in fights and stuff. I was the youngest and smallest of the group so they’d make me go up to surfers and hippies at the pub to ask for money. Whether the long hairs gave me money or not, we generally beat them up anyway. One night I went home to find a bunch of rival Sharpies had broken into my house and were armed and waiting to kill me—it was a real Sharpie stand-off. I managed to distract them until I got outside and ran for my life. The next day, a guy called Peter Rossi, who was in a great band called the Teenage Radio Stars, contacted me and told me they had got rid of their singer and wanted me to replace him. We formed La Femme and it was the reason I got out of violence and am alive today probably.

Terryann wears Blackburn South Sharps cardigan available at Fat. Other clothes model’s own. Graeme wears Lee jeans, New Balance runners and on original Conte.

Terryann Appleby I was 15 or 16 when I met some of these guys. The first night we hung out, we drove around throwing eggs at people on the street and I remember having so much fun. Sharpie girls would wear really short a-line skirts, massive wedge shoes, tiny cardigans and really heavy make up. We’d meet the guys at the dances on Saturday night. The dancing was really distinctive—with the guys there was a lot of elbow action and the girls would all stand in a circle, shuffling around with our hands in our pockets. It’s funny to think about now but at the time there was an electric air about it all. Graeme Penton We were really the second generation of Sharpies but the way we dressed was much more defined than the generation before. I grew up in Camberwell and spent heaps of time at the junction and outside the bowling club there. We were always just hanging out or driving round in a car full of like 12 people. I had a camera and took a lot of the photos of the guys that you see today. (For more information on the whole thing call Sam Biondo on 0411 410 737)

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