Fresh off the release of latest single Rumour Has It, Satisfaction Guaranteed give credit to the albums and musicians who inspire them.
Satisfaction Guaranteed acknowledge that they stand on the shoulders of giants. The Bunbury rock band’s new single Rumour Has It is indebted in some ways to the sounds of the 80s, with Johnny Rogers serving vocals reminiscent of a Freddie Mercury cut. At the same time, the single carves a path that feels distinct, with remaining bandmates Ayden James, Tommy Host and Ethan Robinson continuing a sonic trajectory that aligns with Satisfaction Guaranteed’s string of singles released since their 2020 inception.
The band’s ability to draw from a variety of inspirations is intentional, as Satisfaction Guaranteed cite a diverse spectrum of rock artists among their go-to muses. With a playlist that spans fellow Australian outfit AC/DC to pop royalty like Elton John, the band have ample material to pull from, with their resulting discography flitting between genres with a throughline affinity for rock in all its forms.
Encompassing both “the most powerful psych sound you’ve ever heard,” and “the diverse music and culture of the blues,” Satisfaction Guaranteed’s curated playlist reads like a comprehensive directory through some of the legends that came before them. With new single Rumour Has It under their belt and an appearance at Western Australia’s Nannup Music Festival over the weekend, we caught up with Satisfaction Guaranteed for a run-through of the records and musicians who inform their artistry.
The Doors — The Doors
Ayden: I forget who I have to thank for finding this one, probably my dad. I don’t know what to say, it’s a pure masterpiece. The last track being The End is as beautiful as The Doors pure lyrical horror gets, and of course the major stand out Light my Fire, the Ed Sullivan show usually featured ventriloquists, comedians and even plate spinners, and then a guy with leather pants and long hair freaks them, don’t ever say they’re any less rock n roll than anyone else.
Arzachel — Arzachel
Ayden: From being a simple rock cover band to being a key feature in the Canterbury scene, alongside Soft Machine, The Wilde Flowers and a fair few others. The opening sets the scene for the most powerful psych sound you’ve ever heard, but where I think it hits insanity is with the ten-minute Clean Innocent Fun and the seventeen-minute Metempsychosis, closing out the album. The first and only album of Arzachel to ever exist.
Live at MSG 1973 — Led Zeppelin
You stumble in and push yourself through an almost pitch-black Madison Square Garden in 1973, and it all begins with Bonham, well, I wasn’t there but I would sell my soul to live it. The greatest part of this record is that they have dedicated one whole side of the record to Dazed and Confused. Robert Plant’s entry with John Bonham had and will surprise you. The only recorded live performance of Dazed and Confused to top Madison Square Garden was in Hamburg, a few months earlier.
Powerage — AC/DC
Tommy: From the opening crash in Rock n Roll damnation Powerage cements itself as the most electrifying 40-odd minutes of teeth-gritting rock n roll that ever there was. Bon Scott, unrivalled to this day and forevermore as the greatest lead singer of all time is absolutely on an ear-bursting rampage from start to finish. Angus bends and slashes his way through, all the while the steady metronomic hands of Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams hold it all down preventing the Angus-fueled rocket ship from exploding into a million pieces. This record is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Live In Cook County Jail — B.B. King
The blues have always held a stranglehold like fascination on me. I have a love affair for the folklore and the legends that make up the diverse music and culture of the blues. B.B. King’s playing always had me in a trance-like state but it wasn’t until I picked up Live at Cook County Jail at junction records in Fremantle that I really appreciated the King. The energy and improvisation throughout the whole record are incredible and King’s playing is absolute liquid on the ears. If you keep in mind the audience is some of America’s worst criminals it becomes even more badass.
Hi Fi Way — You am I
Tim Rogers, Mr terminal cool. For me Tim Rogers is the be-all and end-all of songwriting and eccentricity. Hi Fi Way is a culmination of raw rock n roll and a whole lot of feeling. The sound of the record as a whole was something completely unique to my 6-year-old ears and still holds a certain sound that is unreplicable. Pair Tims songwriting with Rusty Hopkinson’s swing and Andy Kents thump and you’ve got yourself a peak 90s sound.
The Rolling Stones — Sticky Fingers
Ethan: I have LOVED The Rolling Stones for as long as I can remember, growing up singing to Loving Cup and Tumbling Dice in my Dad’s Landcruiser as a kid. It’s a nearly impossible task for me to choose a favourite album out of the Stone’s catalogue, but I couldn’t go past Sticky Fingers. Sticky Fingers is the Rolling Stones. Keith and Mick are on fire here, with Mick Taylor contributing soulful leads, and Charlie and Bill steering everything with their impeccable rhythm, as well as the other incredible musicians who contributed.
Of course everyone loves classics like Brown Sugar and Wild Horses, but Sticky Fingers shines with it’s deeper cuts; the hard rocking Sway, the dark bleakness of Sister Morphine, the country swing of Dead Flowers, and my personal favourite Moonlight Mile, a hauntingly beautiful and melodic song that is the least Rolling Stones sounding song on the album, yet sounds like a song only the Stones could write and perform. Sticky Fingers is an unrivalled classic in every way.
Shake Your Money Maker — The Black Crowes
I flew to Brisbane from Perth just to see The Black Crowes play Shake Your Money Maker in its entirety on their tour last year, and it was a spiritual experience. I cannot express in words the excitement and pure euphoria I felt seeing one of my favourite albums being played live with such incredible precision and power, even having the privilege of having a pick thrown at my face by the band.
This album is one of, if not the strongest debut album of all time. Every song rips and shakes you to your core. Twice as Hard opens the album with huge powerful chords, Jealous Again is infectiously catchy, Seeing Things hits you in your soul, and Stare It Cold closes the album on a huge high that you can’t help but dance to. And that’s not even half of this incredible album. The Black Crowes showed that real rock and roll wasn’t dead with this album, and it’s left an impression on me ever since.
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? — Oasis
I’m still only new to Oasis, having only begun listening to them last year, but I was missing out for ages. Morning Glory opened my eyes to what a rock and roll band could be. Noel proved all throughout this album, what an incredible songwriter he is, writing huge choruses with simple but innovative chord sequences, where Liam effortlessly swaggers throughout the entire album with his immediately recognisable style of singing.
Hello starts the album with a huge bang, Don’t Look Back in Anger and Some Might Say are impossible to not sing to, Cast No Shadow is beautifully melodic, and Morning Glory and Champagne Supernova rock and roll classics. Wonderwall is obviously the most well-known song off the album and is hard to avoid these days, but its immense popularity is a testament to the incredible songwriting talents of Noel Gallagher. This album is an incredible example of good songwriting.
Grace — Jeff Buckley
Johnny: I’d only been singing for a couple of years when I first listened to Grace. I couldn’t f****ng believe what the voice was capable of! And I’d never heard music so haunting yet beautiful. Jeff Buckley sings with the most intense passion I have ever heard, seemingly without a limit in range. Matt Johnson’s drums are also so apart from anything I’ve heard but not over complicated. Without this record, I wouldn’t be the musician I am, which is still not half of what Jeff accomplished.
Pet Sounds — The Beach Boys
The only album [Pet Sounds] whereupon my first time listening, I felt every song was written for me (minus Sloop John B, I hate that song) The songwriting is revolutionary, Brian Wilson changed the face of music. The catchiest melodies ever written accompanied by some of the most beautiful harmonies to grace one’s ear, I never tire of this record. It is an infinite source of inspiration for any songwriter.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — Elton John
Elton John is a King and a Queen. An absolute individual whose songwriting is unmatched. This record, like Pet Sounds, is one of the most inspired albums I have ever heard. Elton proved to me what could be done with a Piano performance-wise and in songwriting, while in turn introducing me to Little Richard.
