The band was formed by three
Japanese students who were studying English in
Perth, in 1996. After touring extensively, Mach Pelican moved to
Melbourne in 1998. In eleven years, Mach Pelican played 800 shows, touring with bands such as
The Buzzcocks,
Radio Birdman,
Rancid,
The Hard Ons,
Butthole Surfers,
Guitar Wolf,
Supersnazz,
The Donnas,
You Am I,
The Spazzys and
The Porkers. 2006 was a significant year for the three musicians with their 10-year anniversary, release of their third studio album
Radio Action on newly formed label
Bop Records, touring Japan, as well as their frequent coast-to-coast shows across Australia. Mach Pelican opened the 2006
Falls Festival in Lorne to a crowd of over 15,000 attendees. The band also played at half time in the 2007
Community Cup in
St Kilda to a crowd of over 20,000 spectators. The band's split in 2007 was a result of personal differences and immigration problems. On 17 May 2009 they re-formed for a one-off performance at the
Tote Hotel as a support for The Gimmes. On 10 April 2011 the band reformed and played at a
benefit concert for victims of the
Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami at the
Esplanade Hotel in
St Kilda. The band announced a one-off gig for 7 June 2019 at the Prince Hotel in St Kilda supporting
Area-7 and The Porkers. In 2024, the band played a series of concerts in Australia to promote the re-release of the
Radio Action album and to raise funds to support victims of the
2024 Noto earthquake. They have played regularly throughout Australia in 2025, supporting touring bands such as
The D4,
Guitar Wolf and
The Queers. ==Band lineup==