Formed in 1990 as HOTLINE, this band has been a popular rock outfit around the local music scene.

As well as playing extensively in the pubs and niteclubs of Townsville, Cranky Pants have also been very fortunate to play support to many top touring artists that have passed through the region such as The Baby Animals, The Choirboys, The Radiators, Hoodu Gurus, Daryl Braithwaite, Mental As Anything, John Paul Young and James Reyne. The highlight of these supports would be playing with Tom Jones in 1993 at the Breakwater Entertainment Centre.

In 1999/2000 Cranky Pants completed a two season run of the rock musical Return To The Forbidden Planet, joining forces with the North Queensland Opera Music Theatre Company to packed houses and rave reviews. In 2008 they rocked the stage in a return season of the musical due to popular demand.

The band plays a wide repertoire of oldies to current hits and has a very loyal following of Townsville supporters.