Cane Toad Muster video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n0PUbV0Q_U

By DANA LYONS

I was taking a break during a gig at a club in Kununurra, WA, when a slightly inebriated man came charging up to the stage.  “I have the answer to the Cane Toads!” he shouted.  While I was tired and not in the mood, I listened to this man describe a brand new sport where tourists from all over the world would come, be issued special uniforms and air pellet guns, to go out and hunt the cane toad.  Prizes would be awarded.  It would be great for business, and wipe out the toads, he explained.  And eventually would become an official sport in the Olympics.  I thought “this guy is a little crazy but that’s a pretty good idea”.  He then introduced himself as the Shire President.

Lee Scott-Virtue, the executive director of The Kimberley Toad Busters, had asked me to write a song about the cane toads, and in a weak moment I had agreed.  Lee proceeded to inform most of the radio stations in Western Australia about the upcoming song, and I was asked about the new song at every radio interview I did in the WA.  It quickly became apparent that I had no choice but to write the song. After being woken up at 4am by howling dingos while camping in a deserted gravel pit outside of Derby, WA, I wrote Cane Toad Muster, based on the Kununurra Shire President’s sports idea.  The following day I called ABC Broome and asked if I could come in for an interview.  “Is the Cane Toad song finished yet?  Finish it and we’ll put you on the air.”  I finished the song and later filmed the music video with Darwin musician Jack Tinapple.