Ray Ahn: Hard Ons and Skate-Punk Synchronicity (Ep. 261).

Ray Ahn: Hard Ons and Skate-Punk Synchronicity (Ep. 261).

Author: Shan June 30, 2025 Duration: 1:41:44

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This week, I sit down with Ray Ahn, founding member and bassist of the iconic Aussie band Hard-Ons. From their early days tearing up Sydney’s underground scene to their lasting impact on alternative and skate culture, Ray shares stories from the road, reflections on identity and art, and the resilience it takes to stay true to your craft for over four decades.

We talk about the band's bold decision to bring Tim Rogers on as lead vocalist, life lessons learned along the way, and why Hard-Ons’ music has always been a perfect match for skateboarding and DIY culture. Recorded on location at their Marrickville studio, Ray told me, "This will be the last podcast I ever do." I hope not—he’s a kind, humble, and one-of-a-kind human with a deep well of wisdom to share.

Enjoy,
Shan

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Music credits:

(Intro) Music by Def Wish Cast.
Song: Forever
Album: The Evolution Machine
www.defwishcast.com.au
https://defwishcastofficial.bandcamp.com/ 

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/avbe/night-in-kyoto

License code: BUWOJ51XIZRYYQJ2

(Outro) Music by Athron (for THT)



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You'll find a particular kind of honesty in the conversations on Terrible. Happy, a podcast that sounds like a late-night chat in a backyard after a long day at the skatepark. Host Shan sits down with a rotating cast of characters from the Australian skateboarding scene and beyond, but the talk rarely stays on just tricks and terrain. It naturally veers into the messy, funny, and deeply human stuff that happens off the board: the struggles with fitness, the odd jobs that pay the bills, the mental health ups and downs, and the pure, alternative comedy of everyday life. This isn't a polished production; it's the raw audio of community, capturing the specific voices and stories that make this culture tick. Listeners will hear genuine interviews that feel more like catching up with an old mate, punctuated by the occasional chaos of THT Radio segments. It’s about finding the connection and the laughter in the grind, whether that's on four wheels or just trying to get through the week. The result is a uniquely Australian show that’s less about sports commentary and more about the shared, sometimes terrible, often happy reality of the people within it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 267

Terrible. Happy
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