Unwritten Law Are Still Writing Their Own Rules

Things have never been all that easy for So-Cal punk veterans Unwritten Law but then again, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“This band has always been exciting. There was never a dull moment in this band,” lead guitarist Chris Lewis says.

“This band is like the Bad News Bears, and it's funny because we're brothers and best friends and sometimes we have to punch each other in the face. It’s taken everything in each of us to keep it going and that's what I think is kind of beautiful about us, is that we weather through the storm.”

Making a name for themselves in the bustling San Diego music scene of the early ‘90s, Unwritten Law became a staple of Southern California punk rock that, for many, constitutes the quintessential sound of the late ‘90s and early noughties.

Over the past 30-odd years, the band have not only enjoyed success off the back of 6 studio albums but have also endured the pressure being in a band applies to personal and professional relationships. “We have stories upon stories that would make a normal band cry and quit music,” Chris continues.

“We've had our tour bus roof ripped off while we were driving; we’ve seen some sh.t, man, and we keep going. I’m not sure if it’s insanity or pleasure, or it’s just what our lives have become.”

At the 30-year mark, Chris, along with bandmates Scott Russo and Jonny Grill, inevitably face the reality of Unwritten Law becoming, for better or worse, a nostalgia act.

“I’m very honoured to be a nostalgic anything,” vocalist Scott says, “however I do feel that with this band in particular – because we all have different bands – every time we create something, it is new and fresh and it’s not like what we've done before, so it does have that new-band feel.”

Hot as this summer has been already, temperatures are set to soar when the Hotter Than Hell tour makes its way around the country with Unwritten Law featuring as headliners alongside Everclear.

Already regular visitors to Australia, Chris is relishing the opportunity that HTH presents them to play regional areas outside the well-trod metropolitan circuits.

“We've gotten more into this idea that us going out and playing these suburbs and other places that aren't just the major cities is really cool for our band,” he says.

“It’s kind of where the people who grew up listening to Unwritten Law have moved to,” he laughs, “not living in the cities anymore but they've moved to the suburbs, settled down and had kids and it's kind of awesome because these shows are almost 100 per cent these hardcore Unwritten Law fans, which makes it absolutely amazing for us. The energy is unreal.

“We get told a lot 'you guys are honorary Australians', and you feel like that's how the tour is, especially with sideshows this time. This is a tour that Australian bands want to do and that makes us feel really good about coming back to Australia.”

Hotter Than Hell 2020 Tour Dates

Sat 1 Feb - Coopers Alehouse (Adelaide)

Everclear
Unwritten Law
The Grates
Frenzal Rhomb
Area 7
Young Offenders

Sat 8 Feb - York On Lilydale (Melbourne)

Everclear
Unwritten Law
The Grates
Frenzal Rhomb
Cosmic Psychos
Chasing Ghosts

Sat 15 Feb - Kirwan Tavern (Townsville)

Everclear
Unwritten Law
The Grates
Frenzal Rhomb
Area 7

Sat 22 Feb - Dunsborough Tavern

Everclear
Unwritten Law
Frenzal Rhomb
The Superjesus
Motor Ace
Axe Girl

Unwritten Law 2020 Tour Dates

Fri 31 Jan - Chelsea Heights (Melbourne)
Sun 2 Feb - Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne)
Tue 4 Feb - Kambri at ANU (Canberra)
Wed 5 Feb - UoW Uni Bar (Wollongong)
Thu 6 Feb - The Cambridge Hotel (Newcastle)
Fri 7 Feb - Ettamogah Hotel (Sydney)
Sun 9 Feb - The Barwon Club (Geelong)
Wed 12 Feb - Parkwood Tavern (Gold Coast)
Thu 13 Feb - The Back Room (Brisbane)
Fri 14 Feb - The V Room (Sunshine Coast)
Thu 20 Feb - The Carine (Perth)
Fri 21 Feb - Leisure Inn (Rockingham, WA)