Danny Yao - Just Ace: The 90s Australian Alternative Music Scene Book

Australian music in the 90s went through an alternative explosion. This is the story of how the spark was lit, and the fallout that followed.

Part history, part documentary and part memoir, Just Ace adapts the scripts from the first two seasons of the acclaimed podcast series about the 90s Australian alternative music scene - whatever the hell that means.

How a generation bands, artists, labels and people made a decade of music. How that music mixed and clashed with political and technological change. How smart people made up new rules, started new labels, new magazines, new festivals and more. How not selling out and integrity became the model for a scene – a scene that crashed by the end of the decade.

This first volume features bands such as Ammonia, The Clouds, The Cruel Sea, Falling Joys, Frente, Dave Graney, Died Pretty, The Hummingbirds, Jebediah, The Lucksmiths, Magic Dirt, Silverchair, Smudge, Tumbleweed, Underground Lovers, You Am I and many more.

“Danny Yau delivers Just Ace with forensic research and the enthusiasm of a Labrador puppy.” Barry Divola, The Sydney Morning Herald

“I totally love Just Ace. Danny Yau’s incredible passion and exhaustive, nerdy research is a thing of wonder.” John O’Donnell, Founder, Murmur Records

“Just Ace reminds me of what it’s like in those moments before your favourite Aussie band takes to the stage in your favourite local pub. All anxiety and sweat, expectation and excitement. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to be at the show but doesn’t want to leave the house.” Luke Hanigan, Lo-Tel

Part history, part documentary and part memoir, Just Ace is written by Danny Yau who was teenage music fan in the 90s. He would go on to work in the music industry for many decades. Through it all, Danny tells his story of how it felt to be there.

Just Ace adapts the scripts from the first two seasons of acclaimed podcast series. This first volume features Ammonia, The Clouds, The Cruel Sea, Falling Joys, Frente, Dave Graney, Died Pretty, The Hummingbirds, Jebediah, The Lucksmiths, Magic Dirt, Silverchair, Smudge, Tumbleweed, Underground Lovers, You Am I and many more.