Arts / Music
Amyl’s bassist back in Brunny for a break from the road
Gus Romer talks about life as a member of one of the world’s hottest bands
Emma Giles
WHEN he’s not on tour with one of the world’s hottest rock bands, Gus Romer escapes the chaos of life on the road by chilling out in Brunswick.
After a huge year as bassist for Amyl and the Sniffers, Romer is finally back home and is taking time off before the band embarks on a US-UK tour in June.
“We’re taking our first-ever break,” he tells Brunswick Voice.
In 2024-25, Amyl and the Sniffers went international, releasing their third album, the critically acclaimed Cartoon Darkness before embarking on a massive tour.
For the group – which is comprised of singer Amy Taylor, guitarist Dec Mehrtens, drummer Bryce Wilson, and Romer – touring has become second-nature.
Over the past 10 years, they have built up from Melbourne’s pub scene to playing sets at Glastonbury and Coachella. But 2025 was their biggest year yet, with the band winning four ARIA awards, and receiving their first Grammy nomination: Best Rock Performance for ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ (that’s Romer’s bass riff at the start of the song driving its groove). They also supported AC/DC during their recent tour of Australia.
International recognition was never something the band expected on this scale.
“It’s kind of mind-boggling that people all over the world listen and connect with the music,” says Romer. In June, they will hit the road again for a two-month tour beginning in Toronto and winding up in Barcelona.
But until then, Romer is happily back in Brunswick to rest.
“I’m a big creature of leisure,” he says.
Originally from Tasmania, Romer moved to Brunswick five years ago, deeming it relaxed enough for time off from the band’s intense touring schedule.
Brunswick itself is deeply involved in Australia’s music scene. Friday and Saturday nights see bands and musicians of all genres playing in pubs up and down Sydney Road and at venues like Brunswick Ballroom or Howler Bar. It’s not too “hip” but with enough cultural interest for a member of an internationally recognised band.
“I specifically moved here to kind of chill me out a little bit more,” Romer says.
Away from touring, Romer enjoys the time to ground himself in the suburb and take a true break. Locally, his favourite thing to do is just have a walk at night, enjoying the suburb’s nature and streets.
Amyl and the Sniffers are experts at international touring, but they still find it significant to play at home. “I mean nothing’s really quite like playing in Melbourne. It’s kind of the hometown, it’s always gonna be like a special thing,” Romer says.
In December, the group was scheduled to play a free show at Federation Square, but due to overcrowding concerns, the show was cancelled just minutes before they were supposed to play. They are the first group to have had their shows in the square cancelled, despite many large international acts like Robbie Williams playing at the same venue in the past. To thank the Melbourne audience for their support, that night they put $35,000 on the bar of seven inner city venues.
As a true Melbourne band, the group is committed to helping Australian music and believes the local scene to be instrumental in their success. Uplifting local artists with support slots on their tours, including their upcoming North America tour, where they are joined by Sydney band Party Dozen.
Before they continue their now multi-year Cartoon Darkness tour the band’s long-deserved break continues – giving Romer time for “just chilling, cruising around”, his home suburb of Brunswick.
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