By Nana 
In the storied history of triple j’s Like A Version—the Australian institution that has seen hundreds of acts attempt to reinterpret the musical canon—few songs carry as much psychological weight as Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 masterpiece, "The Chain." It is a track defined by its monolithic bassline, its intricate vocal harmonies, and its status as the singular, high-octane centerpiece of one of the best-selling albums in history.
This week, Australian indie-pop outfit The Tullamarines—comprised of Angus Purvis, Lucinda Machin, Josh, and Benny—stepped into the studio to take on that very challenge. Their rendition was not merely a performance; it was a high-stakes tightrope walk that underscored their rapid ascent in the Australian independent music circuit.
Main Facts: A Bold Debut
For their debut appearance on the iconic Like A Version segment, The Tullamarines opted for a path rarely traveled by emerging artists: tackling a classic rock anthem that is widely considered "untouchable."
The band’s arrangement managed a delicate balancing act, honoring the ethereal, folk-tinged intimacy of the song’s opening passages before erupting into the visceral, bass-driven climax that has defined stadium rock for nearly five decades. By leaning into their signature four-part vocal blend, The Tullamarines pivoted away from a direct imitation, instead layering their own indie-pop sensibilities over the song’s raw, "angsty" emotional architecture.
Alongside this ambitious cover, the quartet also performed their original single, "Running On Empty," a track that further cemented their reputation for crafting infectious, emotionally resonant indie-pop.
Chronology of the Cover
The decision-making process behind the cover was, by the band’s own admission, fraught with trepidation. According to vocalist Angus Purvis, the selection process involved a "long list" of potential candidates, but "The Chain" occupied a space of both fascination and intimidation.
"We had a lot of songs that we were thinking about," Purvis remarked during their post-performance interview with triple j. "The Chain came up as an option, and we were very, very scared. There was a genuine feeling among us that we couldn’t do it justice."
However, the creative pull of the track was undeniable. Multi-instrumentalist and co-vocalist Lucinda Machin noted that the band ultimately chose to "give it a go, see what happens." The band spent weeks deconstructing the song’s anatomy, focusing on the shifting dynamics—the tension of the verses and the release of the bridge. They viewed the song not just as a piece of rock history, but as an exploration of the "angsty" interpersonal dynamics that fueled the creation of Rumours itself. By the time they reached the studio, the apprehension had shifted into a focused, deliberate energy, resulting in a performance that felt both respectful of the source material and distinctly "Tullamarine."
The Weight of History: Supporting Data
To understand the gravity of The Tullamarines’ undertaking, one must look at the gargantuan shadow cast by Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
Released in 1977, Rumours remains one of the most commercially successful albums in the annals of recorded music. It spent a staggering 31 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, a record that highlights its enduring cultural dominance. With over 40 million copies sold worldwide, the album is a cornerstone of popular culture.
"The Chain" is the only song on Rumours credited to all five members of the band (Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Stevie Nicks). Though it was never released as a standalone single, it has attained a status higher than many chart-toppers. Its iconic bass breakdown has become a staple of cinema, most notably in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and it remains a constant presence in sports broadcasting and high-stakes television sequences. For an emerging indie band to step into that sonic arena is a daring display of confidence that speaks to their technical proficiency and artistic ambition.
Official Responses and Creative Rationale
The reception to the performance has been immediate and largely positive, with fans and critics alike praising the band for not attempting to replicate the original’s guitar tones, but rather adapting the song’s spirit for a modern, synth-and-vocal-forward aesthetic.
"It feels like it’s been around forever," Purvis observed, noting that the timelessness of the song was both a gift and a curse. By stripping back some of the mid-70s production gloss, The Tullamarines allowed the lyrics to breathe. The "angsty" nature of the writing, which Machin highlighted, was brought to the forefront through their vocal harmonies, turning a rock anthem into a study of modern longing.
The band’s internal dialogue, as revealed in the interview, suggests a maturity that belies their current status as a "rising" act. Rather than viewing the song as a trophy to be conquered, they approached it as a piece of living history, acknowledging that the song’s construction is inherently collaborative.
Implications: The Tullamarines’ Trajectory
The timing of this performance is critical for The Tullamarines, who are currently navigating the transition from indie darlings to household names in the Australian music scene.
Their sophomore EP, Safety Blanket (2025), has been a pivotal release for the band. Nominated for Best Independent Pop Album or EP at the upcoming AIR Awards, the record has showcased a band that is comfortable shifting between genres—a versatility that was on full display during their Like A Version set.
The past 12 months have been a whirlwind of professional growth. From sold-out headline tours to festival slots that have allowed them to hone their live performance skills, the band has steadily built an infrastructure of support. Their recent run as a support act for international heavyweights such as The Vaccines and Everything Everything has exposed them to global audiences, helping them refine their sound to bridge the gap between intimate indie songwriting and stadium-ready arrangements.
The implications of this Like A Version appearance are two-fold. First, it serves as a "rite of passage" that confirms their ability to handle high-pressure environments. Second, it serves as a marker of their identity; by choosing a song as complex as "The Chain" and succeeding, they have signaled to the industry that they are not content with being a niche act.
As they head into the AIR Awards ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall on July 30, the momentum from this cover will likely serve as a catalyst. The Tullamarines have proven that they are not just capable of producing high-quality original music, but that they have the creative courage to confront the titans of the past and carve out their own space in the modern musical landscape.
Whether this performance will be remembered as the moment they truly "arrived" remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: they are no longer scared of the chain. They are the ones holding it now.
Suro Senen 
Raul Delapena Setiawan 
Basiran