In late 1986 they issued their debut album, Reverberations, and soon after relocated to Adelaide and signed with local label, Greasy Pop Records.
In December 1988 they released an eight-track extended play, Bloody Convicts, Ian Wettenhall on bass guitar and Nick Bruer on drums.
Their full-length album, Lifestyles of the Wretched and Forgettable, appeared in November of the next year on Dog Meat Records and they had moved to Melbourne.
In September 1992 they disbanded and Lucas, Tabert and Wettenhall joined ex-GOD member, Sean Greenaway in a new group, The Freeloaders.
[1] From April to June 1988 they recorded an eight-track extended play, Bloody Convicts, with Doug Thomas producing, which was issued in December.
[7] After staying in Sydney for a year, playing more gigs touring outside NSW than in, the group moved to Melbourne where they signed to the local Dog Meat label.
[1][2][8] In 1992 The Philisteins played their last gig at The Doghouse hotel in a quickie farewell tour of Hobart, with Lucas, Tabert and Wettenhall joining Sean Greenaway to form a garage rock group, The Freeloaders.
[12] I-94 Bar music website's reviewer described their work as "stellar brand of psychedelic garage punk" and felt the first disc to be better with "songs [that] are rock solid and Guy Lucas' talent as a vocalist and distinctive guitar player is well evident".