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Ex-Smith Street Band Drummer Auctioning Off Merch to Raise Funds for Indigenous Legal Services

Chris Cowburn left The Smith Street Band a few years back, but is selling off some of his old memorabilia in an effort to help those in need.

Former drummer of The Smith Street Band, Chris Cowburn

"I have no affinity with [The Smith Street Band] anymore, but I do have some unique stuff which might be of value to some people, that I wanna use to do some good with," Cowburn said.

Instagram

Chris Cowburn, former drummer of Melbourne outfit The Smith Street Band, has taken to eBay to auction off old merch to aid in raising funds for Australian Indigenous legal services.

Having left The Smith Street Band back in 2017, Cowburn took to Instagram over the weekend to announce that he would be selling some old memorabilia from his time with the band, including two drum heads from the band’s More Scared of You than You Are of Me tour, and artwork for their Sunshine and Technology album, created alongside Andy Johnson.

Announcing his decision following a heartfelt post about the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the necessity to use white privilege to dismantle systemic racism, Cowburn urged his followers to donate money to a number of Australian Indigenous legal services.

View this post on Instagram

Been thinking a lot about the death of George Floyd, systemic racism and domination, the current protests around the world and what I can do to be a better ongoing ally to the BIPOC community. I don’t know enough and I’m committing to learning more– but this short passage from @scottwoodsrules said a lot to me. I want to acknowledge my white privilege and the part I play as a white person. That I’ve been afforded a privileged life due to generations of others’ suffering. It’s not enough to simply be anti-racist. Apathy fuels racism. As my pal @jamiekhay said “Having the choice to remain silent is a foundation of my privilege.” Im guilty of and sorry for that. I plan to continue to educate myself and implore others in a similar situation to do the same. Pls share any good resources! @ckyourprivilege @commongroundaustralia #aboriginallivesmatter #solidarity –– DONATION! I have no affinity with @thesmithstreetband anymore, but I do have some unique stuff which might be of value to some people, that I wanna use to do some good with. I just put up three auctions of one-of-a-kind SSB stuff on eBay. 100% of money raised will be donated to the organisations listed, and I’m gonna match the total amount raised with my own money. LINK IN MY BIO. –– Also a quick shout out to my bosses @stuharvey and @instagroops for their enthusiasm in creating space where we can discuss how @cookingvinylaustralia can help in an ongoing way at a business level. –– Finally, I cant go to the protest tomorrow, but if you are going, power to you! stay peaceful and wear a mask!

A post shared by Chris Cowburn (@cow_burn) on

“I have no affinity with [The Smith Street Band] anymore, but I do have some unique stuff which might be of value to some people, that I wanna use to do some good with,” Cowburn, who now plays in the Melbourne three-piece LOSER, wrote.

“I just put up three auctions of one-of-a-kind SSB stuff on eBay. 100% of money raised will be donated to the organisations listed, and I’m gonna match the total amount raised with my own money.”

At the time of writing, the drum heads (one in good condition, and another featuring a hole made by Smith Street Band frontman Wil Wagner’s guitar) have brought a collective total of $1,035 in bids, while the artwork is creeping closer to $300.

Interested fans can check out the auctions via the link in Cowburn’s Instagram page, before they end on Friday afternoon.

In recent news, The Smith Street Band achieved their first chart-topping album in April when Don’t Waste Your Anger, their first record without Cowburn on drums, managed to hit #1 on the ARIA charts, just one month after their Live at The Triffid album reached a peak of #4.