Dick Desert was born on a dis-used chicken farm near Warwick, Queensland, the first and only offspring to a couple of hillbilly weed growers by the names of Gladys and Vernon Desert. To be entirely accurate they no longer grow weed as they've turned the old chicken shed into an amphetamine kitchen to cash in on Dick's current B Side 'Amphetamine Cowboy'. As an only child, Dick learnt many ways to amuse himself including indulging a natural talent for the lagerphone, which he built from bottle tops his parents would pitch at him from the verandah when they were pissed. Never particularly good at school Dick would often skip class and take his latest model lagerphone to the pub where he had convinced the locals (through an intricate moustache disguise) that he was a mute midget lagerphone genius who lived in a nearby secret cave and had devoted his life to mastering the instrument. Dick became somewhat of a local legend amongst the old guys at the pub and immersed himself in the opportunity to jam with some of the best country musicians who came through the pub doors. When Dick began to reach pubescence he realised that he would not be able to fool his growing fan base for much longer and one day 'disappeared' in order to keep his real identity hidden. By now Dick had saved enough money for a guitar, which he kept hidden in some old fungicide bins his parents had dumped down near the creek. After school (Yes, Dick was regularly attending again) Dick would grab his guitar and sit on the veranda next to his passed-out parents and play to his heart's content. Often he would play long into the night serenading his howling dog, Jesus. Although idyllic for some, never one to rest on his laurels, Dick left home and plugged away for many years at all manner of non-descript jobs. In the back of his mind Dick knew that all this 'life-experience' would only further hone his talent as a country music performer. One day one of his fellow work mates heard him singing a quaint little ditti regarding his Dad fucking John Howard back in high school. Chad hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time and promised to hook Dick up with a friend of his, a locally renowned music producer. Due to instant sucess with Big B his Brisbane producer, Dick has continued to record a swag of tunes including his controversial first single My Dad Fucked John Howard. On the live front in the last 18 months Dick has played such institutions as the Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Big Day Out and Straight Out of Brisbane Festival as well as local and interstate premier indy establishments and abroad at the Edinburgh Festival and his rumoured next home - the red light district of Paris. Dick's current all star backing band The Shotgun Country Club featuring psychobilly drumming sensation Slick the Hick, Kaustic Kev's mouth organ madness, 3 Hands Andy on double bass and Farmer Marty Brown driving the sound has cemented Dick’s place at the forefront of contemporary avante garde and alternative country music so catch Dick Desert and The Shotgun Country Club at one of their rare local shows for 2006 at The Valley Fiesta on September 16 at 4.30pm on The Brunswick St Mall Stage, Fortitude Valley. Fortitude Valley Brisbane More details to be announced!