GLEN TOMASETTI

Glenys Ann Tomasetti was born in Melbourne in 1929. She bought a guitar in 1956 and set up the Emerald Hill folk concert sessions in South Melbourne in the 1960s. Folk singer Phyl Lobyl recalls ''Glen was a fine singer, an assured and authoritative performer with considerable understanding of the cultural and historical aspects of Folk Music. She always acknowledged the strong influence of Manning Clark on this area of her work. In the early sixties she hosted concerts at Emerald Hill Theatre started by Tom Lazar who also owned the Reata and Little Reata restaurants, which were other venues for folk music. It was at Emerald Hill that I first saw her perform with Martyn Wyndham-Read and Brian Mooney. Later Glen began guitar accompaniment classes in a room above Traynors coffee lounge, another folk music venue in Melbourne''. By the late '60s she had cut a few albums and EPs and had become a household name with a spot-on Channel Seven each week in which she performed a song on such topical issues as equal pay for women.

Australia entered the war in Vietnam in 1962 in support of the USA, and in 1965 began sending conscripted servicemen to Vietnam. Tomasetti became involved in the Save Our Sons organisation, a group of women opposed to military conscription, and in December 1965 she helped to organise the "Songs of Peace and Love" protest concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, described as "the first major response of the folk scene" to Australia's military involvement in Vietnam. 

Another excellent song Glen wrote and recorded in 1966 was ''The Future Is In Your Hands''. Glen stated ''it was written for uni students and owes everything to many speakers who say just that to generations younger than themselves. Those people who try to discredit the word 'protest' wish to ignore the fact that it affirms aspects of life at the other extreme from the thing opposed; I mean smiling babies, flowers, crops, dancing, skies empty of all but clouds and work whose end is neither deception or death''. 

She made headlines in 1967 when she was taken to court after withholding one-sixth of her tax on the grounds that a sixth of the federal budget was used to finance Australia's role in the Vietnam War. Former Victorian premier Joan Kirner met Tomasetti when she was singing at Vietnam War protests. "She became a real figure in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Her songs against the war, and Eric Bogle's, were the music of the movement," Mrs Kirner said. ''Tomasetti was a great promoter of women's rights and her song written about the first equal pay case in 1969 is still sung by the trade union choir'', Mrs Kirner said. 

In her multi-faceted career Glen was musical adviser for the Mick Jagger Ned Kelly film, original cast member of 'Lola Montez' and producer of an ABC Radio series on Folk Music. In 1976 her first novel, Thoroughly Decent People, was published. It dealt with "typical Australianness". It was the first book handled by local publishers McPhee Gribble. Melbourne University academic and poet Chris Wallace-Crabb said ''Tomasetti was a woman of extraordinary diversity and originality." Her novel was one of the break-through novels in portraying ordinary suburban life without a supercilious sneer," he said. "It entered the life of middle Australia with a generosity and imagination." Tomasetti's other published works included Man of Letters and poems, and she had a number of recordings released. She died in 2003 aged 74.

SINGLES

''The Ballad Of Bill White / Do Not Sing The Old Songs / The Army's Appeal To Mothers'' 1968

EPs

'Songs For Christmas' 1963 W&G
'Nursery Rhymes Sung By Glen Tomasetti' 1966 W&G
'The Future Is In Your Hands' 1966 W&G

ALBUMS

'Folk Songs With Guitar' 1963 W&G
'Glen Tomasetti Sings' 1964 East
' Will Ye Go Lassie Go?' [with Brian Mooney and Martyn Wyndham-Read] 1965 W&G
'Gold Rush Songs' 1975 Science Museum Of Victoria
'Labels for Ladies' date unknown WEL

References

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/30/1056825338016.html

DENIS GIBBONS

Denis Gibbons was born in 1932, his father, Alfred Charles Gibbons, was a hotelier. Gibbons grew up in Port Elliot, South Australia, he attended the Sisters of Mercy in Victor Harbour and then Rostrevor College in Adelaide. His early jobs included labouring in Adelaide, selling hardware, managing a bicycle shop, truck driving, working for the PMG and in factories. He started in radio in 1951. While working at 3SR in Shepparton , he was described in August 1953 in Melbourne's newspaper The Argus as a "cheery breakfast and lunch-time announcer on his own programme soon singing folk songs Burl Ives fashion with guitar." By May 1954 he was compère of Time for a Song at 3AW. In November 1955 he married Joan Carey in Shepparton. 

Gibbons first recording ''Jamaica Farewell / The Big Rock Candy Mountains'' was released in 1957 on the Magnasound label. Gibbons moved to the W&G label in the late 1950s where he recorded a few folk singles before his debut album, 'Trads and Anons', which was issued in September 1960. The Australian Women's Weekly's correspondent reviewed the album stating, "the disc is a cosmopolitan collection of folk songs including the Dutch 'Jan Himmerk', the Irish 'Spinning Wheel', the Australian 'Bold Tommy Payne', 'Dying Stockman', and 'Wild Colonial Boy', the English 'Early One Morning', and the Scottish 'Skye Boat Song'." Gibbons continued to record with the label and his album and single releases would last well into the 70s. All in all, he recorded at least ten singles, four EP's and eleven albums and a few of these would be released in New Zealand.

In 1982 he received an Advance Australia Award, for ‘his outstanding contribution to Australian Folk Music’. He had sung Australian folk songs from Simpson's Gap in Central Australia to Government House in Victoria. In the early days of TV he had a regular spot before the news on Channel nine. He sang on Bert Newton's Late Show and appeared with Irish tenor Patrick O'Hagen on ABC TV. He died in 2002.

SINGLES

''Jamaica Farewell / The Big Rock Candy Mountains'' 1957 Magansound
''Marianne / The Money Tree'' 1957 Magansound

''The Fox / Little Mohee'' 1957 Magnasound
''Take A Message To Mary / Cindy'' 1959 W&G
''Here Comes Summer / The Overlanders'' 1959 W&G
''Along The Old Bush Track / Changing Heart'' 1959 W&G
''The Drover's Dream / The Blue Tail Fly'' 1960 W&G
''Michael (Row The Boat Ashore) / The Spinning Wheel'' 1961 W&G
''Tina / The Skye Boat Song'' 1962 W&G
''National Service Blues / Oleanna'' 1966 W&G
''Reedy River'' 1971 Ambassador 

EPs

'Bush Songs' 1961 W&G

'Songs From "The Sundowners" Presented By Denis Gibbons' 1962 W&G

'Shearing Songs' 1962 W&G

'Waltzing Matilda With Denis Gibbons' 1967 W&G

ALBUMS

'Trads And Anons' 1960 W&G
'Australian Folk Songs For Schools' 1961 W&G
'The Denis Gibbons Show' 1962 W&G
'Folk Songs For Schools Volume 2' 1963 W&G
'Folk Songs With Denis Gibbons' 1964 W&G
'Hootenanny Folk Concert' 1965 Strand
'Folk Songs With Denis Gibbons Vol. 2' 1966 W&G
'Folk Songs Of Australia Volume 1 - Convicts And Early Settlers' 1969 W&G
'Folk Songs Of Australia Volume 2 : Immigrants, Gold Miners And Bushrangers' 1970 W&G
'Folksongs Of Australia - The Struggle For Survival' 1975 W&G
'Folk Songs Of Australia Volume 3 - Squatters, Selectors, Shearers & Drovers' W&G

THE WIGGLES

The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. The group are currently composed of Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete and Lucia Field. The Wiggles were founded in 1991 by Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page and Phillip Wilcher. Wilcher left the group after their first album. Page retired in 2006 due to ill health and was replaced by understudy Sam Moran, but returned in 2012, replacing Moran. At the end of 2012, Cook, Fatt and Page retired and were replaced by Gillespie, Pryce and Emma Watkins. Cook and Fatt retained their shareholding in the group and all three continued to have input into its creative and production aspects, while engaging in occasional reunion performances. Watkins departed the group in 2021, with Hawkins taking her place.

Field and Fatt were members of the Australian pop band The Cockroaches in the 1980s, and Cook was a member of several bands before meeting Field and Page at Macquarie University, where they were studying to become pre-school teachers. In 1991, Field was inspired to create an album of children's music based upon concepts of early childhood education, and enlisted Cook, Page, and Fatt to assist him. They began touring to promote the album, and became so successful, they quit their teaching jobs to perform full-time. The group augmented their act with animal characters Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, and Wags the Dog, as well as the character Captain Feathersword, played by Paul Paddick since 1993. They travelled with a small group of dancers, which later grew into a larger troupe. The group's DVDs, CDs, and television programs have been produced independently since their inception. Their high point came in the early 2000s, after they broke into the American market.

The group was formally consolidated in 2005. They were listed at the top of Business Review Weekly's top-earning Australian entertainers four years in a row, and earned A$45 million in 2009. In 2011, the worldwide recession hit The Wiggles, as it had done for many Australian entertainers; they earned $28 million, but they still appeared second on BRW's list that year. The Wiggles have enjoyed almost universal approval throughout their history, and their music has been played in pre-schools all over the world. They have earned several Platinum, Double Platinum and Multi-Platinum records, as well as sold 23 million DVDs and 7 million CDs, and have performed, on average, to one million people per year. The group has also earned multiple Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) and Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards.

Members

Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, Sam Moran, Emma Watkins, Simon Pryce,
Lachlan Gillespie, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, Lucia Field.

SINGLES

Eagle Rock

The Wiggles feat. Ross Wilson

10 MAR '03

#80

Christmas Single

15 NOV '04

#81

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/

AUTOHAZE

Autohaze was an alternative rock band from Melbourne formed in the early 1990's. Their first lineup Tim Jackson (vocals, guitar), Chris Chapple (guitar), David Lederer (drums) and Kerrie Hickin (bass) recorded their first single ''Undecided / Guess It's More'' on the Summershine label. The reviews were positive. Sometime during their tenure Adam Fennesy replaced Kerrie Hicken and Andrew Nunns replaced David Lederer. The band toured the USA in 1995 including New York. They released two albums: 'Magneto' and 'Counter Clockwise'. A special compilation called 'Stumblebum' was released in the UK in 1993 via Creation Records.

Members

Tim Jackson (vocals, guitar), Chris Chapple (guitar), Adam Fennessy (bass, vocals), David Lederer (drums), Andrew Nunns (drums), Kerrie Hickin (bass)

SINGLES
''Undecided / Guess It's More'' 1991 Summershine 
''Dive Into The Sun / Put It Together'' 1992 Summershine 
''Hanging Around / Coode Island Baby [4 Track Demo]'' 1992 Summershine 
''She Must Be Spanish / Dying Flowers'' 1993 Summershine 

''Way Out There'' 1994 Summershine

''Satellite City'' 1996 Id

EPs

'27 Air' 1992 Summershine

'Mild Steel Flat' 1992 Summershine

'White Bird' 1995 Id

'Light Of The Day' 1995 Id

ALBUMS
'Magneto' 1994 Summershine
'Counter Clockwise' 1997 Summershine

BLOODLOSS

Bloodloss was formed in Sydney late in 1982 as a post-punk, grunge band by Martin Bland on drums (ex-Chaos, Head On, Crawling Eye, Acid Drops), Renestair E.J. [Eric Reynolds] on guitar and saxophone (ex-Head On), Jim Selene on bass guitar (ex-Spell) and Sharron Weatherill on lead vocals and guitar. Bland and Renestair E.J.'s earlier Adelaide-based group, Head On, are described by Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, as "a loud, Detroit-fuelled punk band in the vein of The Stooges and MC5." Renestair E.J. had relocated to Sydney while Bland remained in Adelaide to briefly join Crawling Eye and then Acid Drops before also moving to Sydney.

Bloodloss had a run of temporary drummers prior to Bland joining. AllMusic's Ned Raggett described the group's sound as "loud blues/Vegas/punk craziness." Late in 1983, when Stu Spasm [Stuart Gray] joined on guitar and vocals, the group changed their name to Zulu Rattle. They issued a sole track, "Terror Train", on a various artists' compilation album, 'Strawberry Hills' (1984), via Green Records. In March 1984 Bland and Gray left to form Salamander Jim alongside Tex Perkins and Zulu Rattle disbanded.

Bland returned to Adelaide in 1985 where he rejoined Selene, who was a member of Primevils with Dave Mason on guitar and vocals (ex-Head On, Acid Drops) and Su Severin on guitar (ex-Crawling Eye). That line-up issued a single, "I Saw My Name" (November 1986), which was co-written by Bland, Mason, Severin and J Syrokos. Bland and Gray formed a noise rock group, Lubricated Goat, in 1986 in Sydney. Renestair E.J. joined Primevils prior to recording their debut and sole album, 'Chicken Factory', which was released via Greasy Pop Records in May 1987.

Back in 1986 Renestair E.J. and Weatherhill reformed Bloodloss in Adelaide by recruiting Charlie Tolnay on lead guitar (ex-Grong Grong, King Snake Roost), Andrew Stosch [Andrew Foley] on drums and Chris Wiley on bass guitar (ex-Fear and Loathing). They issued a music cassette, 'Bloodloss', in that year. Bland rejoined Bloodloss in 1987 as second drummer with Stosch. They issued an album, 'Human Skin Suit', in June 1988, which McFarlane opined was "a jazzy brand of pre-grunge noise." Afterwards Tolnay focused solely on his work with King Snake Roost, Weatherhill left and Bland shifted over to lead vocals and guitar.

The new line-up released a single, "Smell Machine", in March 1989 before Wiley left and Selene returned on bass guitar. In 1990 they issued their next album, 'The Truth Is Marching In', before disbanding in the next year. Bland and Renestair E.J. returned to Lubricated Goat in 1990 in Sydney. Then they relocated to Seattle where they resumed Bloodloss in 1993 with Mark Arm on guitar and vocals and fellow Australian expatriate, Guy Maddison, on bass guitar and vocals (ex-Lubricated Goat, Monroe's Fur, Greenhouse Effect). Arm was a member of Seattle-based grunge band, Mudhoney.

Bloodloss released an album, 'Live My Way', in March 1996, on Warner/Reprise which McFarlane observed provided "delta blues by way of Captain Beefheart and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion." Raggett rated the album at four out of five stars and found the group "dedicated to amped-up, brutally trashy fun... Arm steps back from the spotlight except on the hilarious 'The Truth Is Marching In'; otherwise, it's Renestair and Bland's show first and foremost, and they put on a good one." They followed with 'Misty' later that year on Au-go-go Records, it "contained material from 1993–1994 which displayed echoes of Pere Ubu, Thug and all manner of jazz and blues." The group disbanded in 1997. Maddison joined Arm in Mudhoney.

Members

Martin Bland (drums, guitar, vocals), Eric Reynolds [EJ Renestair] (guitar), Mark Arm (guitar, vocals), Guy Maddison (bass), Sharron Weatherill (vocals), Jim Selene (bass), Chris Wiley (bass), Rick Bishop (bass), Jeremy Bender (drums), Duncan Coleman (drums), Yvette Ralph (drums), John Gazzola (drums), Andre Poublon (drums), Andrew Stosch [Andrew Foley] (drums), David Creese (drums), Stu Spasm [Stuart Gray] (guitar, vocals)

SINGLES
''Nutbush City Limits' 1988 B Side
''Smell Machine / Shake Your Leaves'' 1989 

ALBUMS

'Bloodloss' 1986 Greasy Pop Records
'Human Skin Suit' 1988 Greasy Pop Records
'The Truth Is Marching In' 1990 Aberrant Records
'Misty' '1996'  Au-go-go Records

References

Bloodloss - Wikipedia

RUPTURE

Rupture was a hardcore punk band from Perth, Australia, that formed in the 1980s and were active until around late 2001, when vocalist Gus Chamber died. During this time, they released split EP's with many bands including Brutal Truth, Dropdead, Spazz, Extortion and Antiseen as well as individual album releases such as 'Corrupture' and 'Sex Drugs and Rupture'. 

Members

 Gus Chamber [Andrew Sheen] (vocals), Stumblefuck [Matt Weiland] (guitar), Zombo del Rapeo (bass), Dirty Dick Diamond [Brad Diamond] (drums), Mikko 47 (drums), Brendon Poof Davros Wroblewski (drums), Kim Benjamin (guitar), Jean-Paul Jimeno (guitar)

SINGLES

''I'm The Man'' 2001 Snapshot Records

EPs
'Righteous Fuck' 1991

'Elektra Complex' 1995 Fudgeworthy
'Rupture Meet The Scroungers' 1993 Yeah Mate! Records
'Total Hard Core ExtremP' 1994 Yeah Mate! Records
'The Great Australian Fuckwit EP' 1999 Snapshot Records

ALBUMS

'Mass Slaughter Permit' 1990 
'Corrupture' 1992 Yeah Mate! Records 
'Sex, Drugs And Rupture' 1995 Yeah Mate! Records 
'Australia Day' 1997 Yeah Mate! Records

GODSTAR

Godstar were a psychedelic pop band which formed in 1991 in Sydney with Nic Dalton (ex-The Plunderers, Sneeze) on guitar and lead vocals; John Encarnacao (ex-Flies) on lead guitar; Alison Galloway (ex-Jupiter) on drums; and Tom Morgan (ex-Sneeze) on bass guitar. This line-up recorded a handful of songs and never played live. Dalton took the name from United Kingdom video art and music group, Psychic TV's 1986 single of the same name. Before the end of the year Galloway and Morgan formed an indie pop band, Smudge, while Dalton was also involved with jangle pop group, The Hummingbirds. In 1992 Godstar's line-up of Dalton, Galloway and Morgan were joined by Robyn St Clare (also in The Hummingbirds) on bass guitar and vocals. They recorded two EPs, 'The Brightest Star' (November 1992) and 'Chemcraze '(May 1993), before Dalton flew to join United States alternative rockers, The Lemonheads from mid-1992. Both EPs were issued on the Dalton-owned Half A Cow record label. Dalton and Morgan had co-written material with The Lemonheads' founder Evan Dando.

In August 1992 while The Lemonheads were touring the US, Godstar recorded their debut studio album, 'Sleeper', in Boston. Aside from Dalton, Galloway, Morgan and St Clare, other musicians used were Dando on drums (for three tracks) and Rachael King (The Cake Kitchen and Bob Weston (Juliana Hatfield Band) on bass guitar. The album was produced by the band and released in August 1993 in Australia on Half a Cow / Regular Records and in October for the US-Canadian market on Taang! Records with two bonus tracks. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, observed it was "full of rough-hewn and basic, yet boisterous, psychedelic pop". AllMusic's Stewart Mason commended Dalton's "affably plain punk-pop voice", on "songs that are unpretentious but extremely catchy" which showcased the group's "wave of distorted guitars and righteously sloppy drumming". During September the band, with Dando on board, promoted the album on an Australian east coast tour. During 1994 they issued two EPs, 'Glasgow' and 'Four Seventy', followed by a compilation album, 'Way Out Jim', and another EP, 'Single'.

In July 1995 Godstar issued their second album, 'Coastal', which McFarlane found "mixed feisty pop and psychedelic sound collages with dancefloor grooves". AllMusic's Richie Unterberger described it as "a reasonably engaging 1990s alternative rock record with a guitar pop slant, though not one that stands out in the pack of a genre in which many bands sound rather similar to each other". The group followed with another national tour but disbanded by the end of the year. 

Like many other Half a Cow bands, Godstar had a long list of recording musicians. On most tracks, the only common members were Dalton and Morgan. The number of people on any particular track varied and belied the simple pop punk nature of the songs. In 1997 a compilation album, 'September', was issued by The Godstar Reminder; it was a collection of otherwise unreleased tracks, including some solo work by Dalton. In February a 2× CD version of 'Coastal' was reissued with bonus tracks, and a bonus disc, 'Before and After Coastal', comprising unreleased recordings, rare tracks, and a live show from November 1995.

Godstar reformed for one show in October 2015 at the Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney when Half A Cow Records celebrated their 25th anniversary. Billed as 'The Godstar Rewinder', it was Godstar's first appearance in twenty years and the band's line-up consisted of Dalton, along with Tom Morgan, John Encarnacao, Tania Bowers, Alison Galloway and guest vocalist Alannah Russack from the Hummingbirds.

Members

Nic Dalton (vocals guitar), John Encarnacao (guitar), Allison Galloway (drums), Tom Morgan (bass), Robyn St. Clare (bass, vocals)

SINGLES
"Table for One" 1995
"Seeing Stars" 1995
"Has She Got Your Time Now" 1996 Note: Released as by The Godstar Reminder

EPs
'The Brightest Star' 1992 Half A Cow 
'Lie Down Forever' 1993 Half a Cow 
'Bad Bad Implications – The Chemcraze E.P' 1993 Half a Cow
'Four Seventy' 1994 Bus Stop 
'Take the Money and Run' 1996 Elefant Records Note: Released as by The Godstar Reminder in Spain.

ALBUMS
'Sleeper' 1993 Half A Cow 
'Coastal' 1995 Half a Cow 

References

Godstar (band) - Wikipedia

DROP CITY

Matthew Tow (ex-Splash) formed Drop City also known as Drop City Three, in Sydney at the beginning of 1993. The other members were Chris Cobb on drums and Connor Grennan on bass. Later that year they recorded their first album 'A Revolution Of Purely Private Expectations' which was released on the Red Eye label through Polydor in 1994. 'Magic Transistor Radio' followed in 1995. David Owen and Serge Luca joined after the departure of Chris Cobb. Albums that followed were 'This Heavenly Machine' (1997), 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' (1999) and The New Situation' (2000). After five well received full length LP's, a handful of EPs, two Big Day Out appearances and tour support for artists such as The Stone Roses, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo and Manic Street Preachers, Drop City disbanded in late 2000 amid what Tow described as a ''tidal wave of disinterest''.

Members

Matthew J. Tow (vocals, guitars), Connor Grennan (bass), Lucas Steuerwald (drums), Chris Cobb (drums), David Owen (keyboards/bass), Serge Luca (drums), Chris Peak (guitar/keyboards)

SINGLES
''Apple Tree'' 1995 Red Eye Records 
''Setting Sun'' 1995 Red Eye Records
''Cool Times'' 1996 Red Eye Records

EPs

'Chiaroscuro EP' 1994 Polydor
'Fools Rush In' 1996 Red Eye Records
'Living In The Machine' 1997 Red Eye Records
'Secret Riots' 1997 Rayman Recordings

ALBUMS
'A Revolution Of Purely Private Expectations' 1994 Red Eye Records
'Magic Transistor Radio' 1995 Red Eye Records 
'This Heavenly Machine' 1997 Red Eye Records
'Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow' 1999 3rd Stone
'The New Situation' 2000 Rayman Recordings

WARUMPI BAND

The Warumpi Band were formed in 1980 in Papunya – an outback settlement about 240 kilometers north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory – as a country and Aboriginal rock group. Neil Murray was a Victorian-born schoolteacher and labourer who was working in the region. He met local brothers Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka and Sammy Butcher Tjapanangka of the Luritja people; and were joined by Sammy's brother-in-law George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga (aka George Djilangya), visiting from Elcho Island's Yolngu people. Murray provided rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Gordon was on drums, Sammy on guitar and bass guitar, and Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo. 'Warumpi' derives from the Luritja word for a "honey-ant dreaming site", which lies near Papunya. 

Over the years, many different people played in the band at various times. The only consistent elements were Murray and Burarrwanga, with Sammy Butcher generally being available when band commitments did not take him too far from home for long. The group began by playing cover versions of rock 'n' roll standards and toured the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. In 1983 at the Aboriginal Country Music Festival, they were voted as best band and by that stage they were playing more original material. In October that year they released their debut single, "Jailanguru Pakarnu" (Luritja for Out from Jail) on the Hot label. It is the first song released in a rock music format which uses an Aboriginal language, Luritja. For the single they were joined by another Butcher brother, Brian, on bass guitar.

The track created mainstream media interest, and the group travelled to the interstate capitals of Melbourne and Sydney for gigs and TV appearances. Warumpi Band built up a loyal following in Sydney's northern beaches pub rock scene, and played as a support act to Midnight Oil. In 1985 the band signed with Midnight Oil's Powderworks label and released their debut album, 'Big Name, No Blankets' in April. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, felt although "grounded in early American R&B and boogie as it was, the album was nevertheless an honest, enduring and bare-boned slice of indigenous country music". 'Big Name, No Blankets' featured the single,"Blackfella/Whitefella", which appeared in October. The group undertook a national tour as well as playing in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In 1986, Midnight Oil and Warumpi Band embarked on the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour which reached some of the country's remotest locations. In July, while on tour, "Blackfella/Whitefella" was re-released as a track on the B-side of Midnight Oil's 12" shared single, "The Dead Heart", and included tour mate Coloured Stone's track "This Land".

After the tour the Butcher brothers left and the group signed with Festival Records' imprint Parole Records. In October and November Burarrwanga and Murray were joined by Kenny Smith on bass guitar and backing vocals, and American-born Allen Murphy on drums to record their second album, 'Go Bush!'. It appeared in April 1987 and Murray Cook had joined on keyboards. In February that year they issued their next single, "My Island Home", which had been written by Neil Murray about visiting Burarrwanga's homeland on Elcho Island. The tour had inspired Midnight Oil's album, 'Diesel and Dust' (August 1987), which was an international hit and brought the issues of land rights and aboriginal reconciliation into the national spotlight. For Warumpi Band the strain of balancing family commitments with the group took its toll and they were unable to capitalise on the groundswell created by the tour and their second album.

By the end of 1988 Murray had embarked upon a solo career, although the band periodically reformed whenever it fitted in with their other activities. Murray issued his debut album, 'Calm & Crystal Clear', in 1989. In 1995 Christine Anu (former backing singer in Murray's touring band, The Rainmakers) covered "My Island Home". Soon after Burarrwanga, Sammy Butcher and Murray reconvened Warrumpi Band for a European tour. In April 1996 they released their third album, 'Too Much Humbug'. The album was produced by Mark Ovenden (Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil, You Am I). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 the track, "Stompin' Ground", was nominated for 'Best Indigenous Release'.

In the following years, reunion gigs were sporadic, generally for festivals and other one-off appearances. In 2000 Murray resigned from Warumpi Band and concentrated on his solo career which had already provided three further albums, 'These Hands' (1993), 'Dust' (1996) and 'The Wondering Kind' (1999). Burarrwanga continued to perform as a solo artist, and released a reggae album, 'Nerbu Message' (2004), which included his version of "My Island Home" as "Ronu Wanga", sung in his native Gumatj dialect. In 2007, he returned to his 'Island Home' on Elcho Island where he died from lung cancer on 10 June of that year. Sammy Butcher remained involved in music with a recording studio in Alice Springs, providing recording opportunities for outback youth. He recorded his own album of instrumental guitar tracks.

In 2015, Festival Records released the 'Warumpi Band 4 Ever' box set, containing the band's three albums plus bonuses across two CDs. CD1 contained 'Big Name, No Blankets' and 'Go Bush', whilst CD2 contained 'Too Much Humbug' and the following bonus tracks: an unreleased live recording from the band's final concert in Broome in 2000, the non-album A-side "Sitdown Money" that was later added to the Parole Records releases of 'Big Name, No Blankets', the original recording of "Jailanguru pakarnu" released as a single in 1983 and four demos recorded in 1981.

Members

George Rrurrambu (vocals), Neil Murray (guitar), Sammy Butcher (bass), Gordon Butcher (drums), Brian Butcher (bass), Murray Cook (keyboards), Alan Murphey (drums), Kenny Smith (bass), Bill Heckenberg (drums), Bill Jacobi (bass), Denis Minor (bass), Hilary Wirra (bass)

SINGLES
''Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail) / Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore)'' 1983 Hot 
''Breadline / Wiima Tjuta (All The Kids)'' 1985 Powderworks 
''Blackfella / Whitefella / Fitzroy Crossing'' 1985 Powderworks 
''Sit Down Money / Waru (Fire)'' 1986 Powderworks 
''My Island Home / Didjeridoo Blue'' 1987 Parole 
''No Fear (Re-arranged Version) / Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad And Lonely)'' 1987 Parole 
''Stompin' Ground" 1996 CAAMA Music

ALBUMS
'Big Name, No Blankets' 1985 Powderworks 
'Go Bush!'  1987 Parole Records
'Too Much Humbug' 1996 CAAMA Music

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warumpi_Band

GLIDE

Singer-songwriter William Arthur and his band Glide were always on the edge. Formed in Sydney in 1991 with Jason Kingshott on drums, Tim Scott on guitar and Marc Lynch on bass the foursome quickly released the EP 'Pretty Mouth'. It was followed by the much praised second EP 'Shuffle Off To Buffalo'. Recorded in late 1992, which received Australia wide radio exposure and critical acclaim that started the Glide ride. Guitarist Paul McDonald replaced Tim Scott in 1993.

Waiting for the major record companies to wake up to William and Glide’s vision was a painful process but after a third independent release, the catchy and unnerving single ''Wake'', Glide was set to record the first album. Glide set about recording their debut album 'Open Up And Croon' in late 1994 that was released in Feb 1995. Marc Lynch was replaced by Andy Kelly before Glide recorded their sophomore album, ironically entitled 'Disappear Here' in 1996. The album was full of lush guitars and well-honed sculpted walls of sound and harmony. A major lineup change occurred in 1997. Jeremy Smith, Andrew Kentler and Brendan Wixted joined the band replacing Andy Kelly and Jason Kingshott. 

Glide’s singer, songwriter and guitarist William Arthur died on the 18th of August 1999 and the band called it quits in 2000, after they released their third and final album, 'Last' which was dedicated to William Arthur.

Members

William Arthur (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jason Kingshott (drums), Tim Scott (guitar), Marc Lynch (bass), Paul McDonald (guitar), Andy Kelly (bass), Jeremy Smith (drums), Andrew Kentler (guitar), Brendan Wixted (bass), Marti Doo (drums)

SINGLES
''Wake'' 1993 MDS
''Why You Asking?'' 1994 The Hypnotized Label
''Something'' 1995 The Hypnotized Label
'Here She Comes / Tangled' 1996 The Hypnotized Label
''What Do I Know?'' 1996 The Hypnotized Label 
''Surfaced Euphoric'' 1996 The Hypnotized Label
''Something Of Me Inside'' 1997 The Hypnotized Label

EPs 

'Pretty Mouth' 1991 MDS
'Shuffle Off To Buffalo' 1992 MDS

ALBUMS
'Open Up And Croon' 1995 The Hypnotized Label
'Disappear Here' 1996 The Hypnotized Label 
'Last' 2000

JOHN WILLIAMS

John Christopher Williams (born 24 April 1941) is an Australian classical guitarist renowned for his ensemble playing as well as his interpretation and promotion of the modern classical guitar repertoire. In 1973, he shared a Grammy Award win in the Best Chamber Music Performance category with Julian Bream for 'Together' (Works by Lawes, Carulli, Albéniz, Granados). Williams is noted for a technique that is often described as virtually flawless. Guitar historian Graham Wade has said: "John is perhaps the most technically accomplished guitarist the world has seen." Williams' first professional performance was at the Wigmore Hall in London on 6 November 1958.

Since then, he has been performing throughout the world and has made regular appearances on radio and TV. He has extended the repertoire by commissioning guitar concertos from composers such as Stephen Dodgson, André Previn, Patrick Gowers, Richard Harvey and Steve Gray. Williams has recorded albums of duets with fellow guitarists Julian Bream and Paco Peña. Williams is a visiting professor and honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Williams mostly uses Greg Smallman guitars after using Spanish Fleta during the 1970s  He also plays a guitar by Paulino Bernabe II.

Although Williams is best known as a classical guitarist, he has explored many different musical genres. He was a member of the fusion group Sky along with fellow Australian guitarist Kevin Peek. He is also a composer and arranger. At the invitation of producer Martin Lewis he created a highly acclaimed classical-rock fusion duet with celebrated rock guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who on Townshend's anthemic "Won't Get Fooled Again" for the 1979 Amnesty International benefit show The Secret Policeman's Ball.

The duet featured on the resulting album and the film version of the show – bringing Williams to the broader attention of the rock audience. Williams recorded "Cavatina" by Stanley Myers. The piece originally included only the first few measures but, at Williams' request, it was rewritten for guitar and expanded by Myers. After this transformation it was used for a film, The Walking Stick (1970). In 1973, Cleo Laine wrote lyrics and recorded it as the song "He Was Beautiful" accompanied by Williams. The guitar version became a worldwide hit single when it was used as the theme tune to the Oscar-winning film The Deer Hunter (1978).

SINGLES

''Pomegranate / Bach Changes'' 1972 Cube
''Rodrigo / Caprice No. 24'' 1980 CBS
''Cavatina / Serenade For Guitar And String Orchestra'' 1982 CBS

ALBUMS

'Columbia Records Presents John Williams' 1964 Columbia
'Virtuoso Music For Guitar' 1965 Columbia
'John Williams Plays Two Guitar Concertos' 1968 CBS
'John Williams Plays Spanish Music' 1970 Columbia
'More Virtuoso Music For Guitar' 1972 CBS
'Together' [with Julian Bream' 1972 RCA
'20 Studies For Guitar' 1972 The Record Society
'The Height Below' 1973 Cube
'Panorama Of The Guitar, Vol. 16' 1974 The Record Society
'Panorama Of The Guitar, Vol. 17' 1974 The Record Society
'Together Again' [with Julian Bream] 1974 RCA
'Rhapsody' 1974 CBS
'Best Friends' [with Cleo Laine] 1976 CBS

'John Williams And Friends' 1976 CBS
'Plays Guitar Music From England Japan Brazil Venezuela Argentina & Mexico' 1978 CBS
'Travelling' 1978 Cube'
'Manuel Ponce' 1978 CBS
'Live' [with Julian Bream] 1979 RCA
'John Williams Plays Bach & Scarlatt' 1981 Decca
'Portrait Of John Williams' 1982 CBS
'The Guitar Is The Song' 1983 CBS
'Let The Music Take You' [with Cleo Laine' 1983 Interfusion
'Echoes Of London' 1986 CBS
'The Seville Concert' 1993 Sony
'From Australia' 1994 Sony
'The Guitarist' 1998 Sony
'The Magic Box' 2001 Sony

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_%28guitarist%29

fEEDTIME

Rick Johnson and Allen Larkin had met at a Parramatta secondary school in the early 1970s. They formed feedtime, in December 1979, as a duo with Johnson on guitar and lead vocals and Larkin on bass guitar and vocals. The band's name is stylised with a lowercase 'f'. They were soon joined on drums by Dave Carter who was replaced, in turn, by Nella Mobbs and in 1982 by Tom Sturm.

The group's debut album, 'feedtime', was independently released late in 1985. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt their "music mixed grinding guitars and driving beats with an unsettling ambience." John L. Murphy of Pop Matters opined that they "approached maximum if not R&B than blues-punk. Certainly raw, they reissued sound oddly spacious within unsettling digital clarity. Allen's frazzled bass, Rick's churning 'electric slide guitar', and Tom's primal drums thud like their names: no nonsense, no added frills." Ned Raggett of AllMusic described the album, "From the opening hoarse crawl and gargle of 'Ha Ha,' feedtime on its debut sounds like its members were out to not merely perforate eardrums, but flat out bludgeon skulls."

Their debut single, "Fractured", was issued in September 1986 via Sydney-based label, Aberrant Records. It presaged their second album, 'Shovel' (February 1987), which, along with the subsequent Aberrant albums, was also released in the United States via Rough Trade Records. AllMusic's John Dougan felt it was "perhaps their best album, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Simplistic, crudely played, thuddingly repetitive rock muck punctuated by harsh vocals with some of the most extreme music to be considered rock & roll ever conceived." Robert Christgau opined that they were a "little slower and more old-fashioned than the IRT the Ramones/Dolls came in on, which definitely doesn't mean they're slow or old-fashioned. Just an art band cum power trio that's spent nine years perfecting its sonic wisdom."

In May 1988 they issued their third studio album, 'Cooper-S'; according to McFarlane it "featured all cover versions done in the inimitable feedtime style of raw and heavy thrash." Christgau felt "Most cover albums trip over their own roots – self-conscious simplicity is too neat a trick to bring off a dozen times running." Trouser Press' Andrea Enthal and Ira Robbins observed that it "applies Feedtime's noisy shredder to cover versions... with its tuneless spirited roar, feedback slide experiments and an occasionally untuned bass. Without casting aspersions on Feedtime, it's safe to assume that none of the songs' authors would be able to recognize their handiwork in these rumbling renditions."

A fourth studio album, 'Suction' (early 1989), appeared prior to the group's disbandment in February. Raggett opined that the "last album of their 1980s existence makes for one hell of a farewell. Whether or not it was the exercise of the covers album 'Cooper-S' that found the trio letting its hooks come forward more than ever, Suction easily challenges (and often beats) the Jesus and Mary Chain when it comes to the 'melody + noise' equation."

The group had been planning their first US tour when emotional and psychological issues resulted in their breakup: Johnson "later admitted having suffered a nervous breakdown." He recalled, "I got to the point where I would either kill myself or commit murder." He later clarified that feedtime "broke up because I was having a breakdown, that's all. There was a lot of anger and darkness that underlaid a lot of feedtime's makeup. I had to remake myself or die. Allen felt that he might have to do some repair work as well. ... Some stuff about feedtime involves very hard stuff and needs to be left alone."

McFarlane declared that they were "one of the most uncompromising and influential groups to emerge from Sydney's early 1980s inner-city scene... there was only one other band that could match them for sheer sonic force and rhythmic density: the notorious X."

feedtime reunited in 1995 with Johnson and Larkin joined by the latter's younger brother, John Larkin on drums. In April 1996 the trio released their fifth studio album, 'Billy' via Black Hole Records in Australia and Amphetamine Reptile in the US. They supported US group, Unsane for a tour of the Australian east coast, followed in April 1997 with an Australian support slot for UK group, the Damned, alongside fellow Sydney-siders, X.

The mid-1980s line-up of Johnson, Larkin and Sturm reunited in 2011 for two shows in Sydney and one in San Francisco, for the tenth anniversary of S.S. Records, followed by a US tour the following year, in conjunction with Sub Pop's reissue of their first four albums as the compilation, 'The Aberrant Years'. On 3 April 2012, they performed their first ever in-studio live radio performance on WFMU, a community radio station in New Jersey. In October 2015, the reunited Johnson-Larkin-Sturm line-up recorded their sixth studio album, 'Gas', with Mikey Young of Total Control. The album was released on In the Red Records in March 2017.

Members

Rick Johnson (guitar, vocals), Al Larkin (bass), Tom Sturm (drums), John Larkin (drums), Nella Mobbs (drums), Dave Carter (drums)

SINGLES
''Fractured / Safari / Rumble'' 1986 Aberrant 
''Don't Tell Me / Small Talk'' 1987 Aberrant 
''Weekend Warrior'' 1996 Black Hole
''Flatiron / Stick Up Jack 2015 Sub Pop

ALBUMS
'feedtime' 1985
'Shovel' 1986 Aberrant
'Cooper-S' 1988 Aberrant
'Suction' 1989 Aberrant
'Billy'1996Amphetamine Reptile
'Gas' 2017 In The Red

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feedtime

MAGIC DIRT

Magic Dirt was formed as Deer Bubbles in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria with Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Srsen and Turner were romantically involved at that time. By 1992, they started a new band, The Jim Jims, with guitarist Daniel Herring. The Jim Jims provided a cover version of The Velvet Underground's "Heroin" on 'Check This Action ... Let the Fun Begin', a compilation CD of local Geelong bands released in 1992. After the addition of drummer Adam Robertson, they became known as Magic Dirt. Srsen told a fanzine in 1996, "The way we formed was that Dean and I used to be going out together, and before we used to be in a band before Magic Dirt called Deer Bubbles. Dean knew Daniel from skating, and then he moved in with us, and we'd play like one song for forty minutes, we just loved it. Then we wanted to find a drummer, and we went through about five, then we found Adam through a mutual friend and that was it. We only used to have three songs we used to play for an hour".

Early in 1993, the band supported Sonic Youth and Pavement on their Australian tours. Later in the year, the band issued its debut single, "Super Tear", for Fellaheen Records. By the time of its release in July, the band had broken up. However, they soon regrouped and signed with Au Go Go Records in November. Their first EP, 'Signs of Satanic Youth' appeared in December, with the track "Redhead" receiving airplay on Triple J radio.

In April 1994, Magic Dirt split when Srsen and Turner's romantic relationship ended. However, the group again reformed and released a second EP, 'Life Was Better' in November. The EP included the tracks "Ice" and "Amoxycillin" and debuted at #1 on the Australian alternative music chart. It remained on that chart for 75 weeks, eventually selling 20,000 copies. 'Life Was Better' went on to receive four nominations at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995.

In early 1995, the band performed on the Big Day Out festival tour across Australia, with Hole (Magic Dirt also supported their other Australian shows) and Silverchair. The success of 'Life Was Better' had attracted international attention and Geoffrey Weiss, of Warner Music in the United States, travelled to Australia to see the band perform at the Big Day Out. Weiss negotiated a deal with their manager, Gavan Purdy and the band signed a two-album deal with Warner. In August 1995, Daniel Herring left the band. His final recording with the group was the 10" vinyl single, "I Was Cruel", which featured the words "Thankyou, Daniel. Goodbye" etched onto the vinyl. Dave Thomas, of fellow Geelong band Bored! who had managed Magic Dirt at the early stages of their career, was recruited as Herring's replacement on guitar.

In February 1996, Dirt Records released the band's debut album in the US. The album was a compilation of their first two EPs, along with the track "Goofy Gumb", and titled simply 'Magic Dirt'. In March, Magic Dirt began recording their debut album proper, 'Friends in Danger', in Sydney with Paul McKercher (You Am I) producing. The music style was a reaction to the accessibility of their earlier material. While Warner had expected more songs in the vein of "Ice", the band offered tracks like the 8-minute "Bodysnatcher" – a chilling tale of child abuse. Warner was less than impressed and went so far as to offer the band additional time and money to re-record the album. The band refused, and when 'Friends in Danger' was released in September, the label put little effort into promoting it. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "it matched the band's fearless experimentation with a dark, unhinged sound that went from moments of eerie near-silence to full-tilt guitar noise". 'Friends in Danger' peaked at #25 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and went on to sell 10,000 copies in Australia, helped along by "Sparrow", the album's most accessible track and only single.

The group toured North America supporting Archers of Loaf and promoting 'Friends in Danger' later in 1996. Warner still refused to promote the album and they were dropped by the label. Since the band had a two-album deal, Warner paid them for the second album, despite the fact that they did not release it.

In January 1997, Magic Dirt again performed on the Big Day Out tour. In July, Thomas left and his replacement on guitar was Spanish-born Raúl Sánchez – former front man of Melbourne band, Muffcake. The group began recording its second full-length record, 'Young and Full of the Devil', at Birdland Studios with producer Lindsay Gravina. They followed with a three-week tour of the United Kingdom (where they appeared on John Peel's BBC radio show) and continental Europe in the latter half of the year. Subway Records in Germany released an updated version of the band's US debut, with new artwork and two additional tracks. The group ended 1997 with a new single, "Rabbit with Fangs", and a national tour supporting Silverchair, playing large arenas around Australia.

April 1998 saw the release of 'Young And Full of the Devil', which failed to reach the top 50., stalling at #98. The album continued the unsettling, fuzzy sound of the debut, and sold 10,000 copies in Australia – Turner later claimed on the band's website that it was the band's lowest selling album. Another single, "She-Riff" was released – in a new and more polished recording – with a video depicting Srsen re-enacting a scene from the 1975 Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock.

'Young And Full of the Devil' was the last release by the band on Au Go Go Records. Turner and Srsen undertook two side projects. The first was Seaville - a project with Mérida Sussex from The Paradise Motel, which issued the 'Swan Song' EP in 1998. The second project was with Ronin System, which resulted in the single, "Expectations" in 1999. Without a label, the band supported themselves by touring throughout much of 1999.

In 2000, Magic Dirt signed a recording contract with – ironically – Warner Music Australia, and began recording their third album, 'What Are Rockstars Doing Today' with Phil Vinall (Placebo) producing. Released in October, 'What Are Rockstars Doing Today' reached the top 40. It signaled a dramatic shift in the band's sound. Gone were the fuzzy guitars and feedback. In its place was slick production and poppy hooks. Longtime fans of the band weren't sure what to make of lead single, "Dirty Jeans", with its hand claps and sing-along chorus. Tracks such as "Pace It" and "City Trash" proved that the band could still rock, however they did receive some backlash, with some fans labelling them "sell-outs". Triple J put "Dirty Jeans" on high rotation, and it reached #12 in the year's Hottest 100. The year ended with national tour supporting Powderfinger and Jebediah.

2001 and 2002 saw the band touring in the wake of 'What Are Rockstars Doing Today'. They launched their Love Ya & Leave Ya Tour - the largest the group had done up until that point – which saw them on their first trip to New Zealand. The City Trash Tour with The Nation Blue and Girls Against Boys followed in June–July 2002. They started recording demos for a fourth album early in the year – tracks such as "Love Me" and "Sarah May" from these sessions were later released as B-sides. Later that year, the band made its second trip to the UK, where 'What Are Rockstars Doing Today' had been released on Cargo Records. In 2002, Magic Dirt appeared on the "World of Instruments" segment of John Safran's Music Jamboree, where they played "Dirty Jeans" using Indonesian gamelans – struck instruments including metallophones and xylophones.

In early 2003 Magic Dirt started recording its fourth album, 'Tough Love', at Birdland Studios in Melbourne, again produced by Lindsay Gravina. It was released in August and peaked at #15. It carried on the band's new slicker sound, although tracks like the epic "Brat" recalled the band's early days. Originally, no commercial singles were to be released from the album. After the success of the radio-only singles "Vulcanella" and "Watch Out Boys", Warner commercially issued "Plastic Loveless Letter". It became the band's biggest hit to date, reaching #16 on the ARIA Singles Chart. 'Tough Love' was nominated at the ARIA Music Awards of 2003 for 'Best Rock Album'. It was re-issued in 2004 as two-disc set containing their Live at the Wireless session on Triple J in 2003.

In September 2005, Magic Dirt released their fifth album, 'Snow White', which peaked into the top 30.  It received critical acclaim, as a combination of the band's pop sound, their noisy early material, and new elements such as acoustic guitars. Lead single "Locket" made an impact on radio and music video channels, but its exposure was limited due the explicit language in the song's chorus. "I Love the Rain" followed as the second single from the album. Neither single charted into the top 50.

After leaving Warner, Magic Dirt created their own label, Emergency Music in 2006. In October, Srsen announced the band's future activities, in an interview on Triple J's breakfast show. The band would release an EP, a mini-album, and then an album. A report in Sydney Street press Drum Media, indicated that the EP would be given away at shows and sold in selected independent music stores. The EP featured covers of The Scientists' "We Had Love" and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Stagger Lee", as well as a live re-recording of "Mother's Latest Fear" from 'Snow White'.

'Roky's Room', an experimental noise album featuring no vocals, no melodies and no percussion, was released by Magic Dirt in June 2007. The mini-album, titled 'Beast' was released in July, featuring tracks previewed on their November 2006 East Coast tour. Now free from a major label, 'Beast' harked back to the band's earlier, rawer material and featured original guitarist Herring on two tracks ("Horror Me" and a re-recording of "Sucker Love"). The single, "Bring Me the Head Of...", made little impact on radio, including Triple J, which had previously supported the band. The group spent the remainder of 2007 touring in support of Beast, including an East Coast tour with The Beasts Of Bourbon – who were often joined on stage by Srsen – and Roland S. Howard.

In November 2007, the band began recording their sixth full length album, 'Girl', which was released in July 2008. The album debuted at #7 on the Australian Independent Music chart. However, it did not reach the ARIA Albums Chart top 50. "Romy", lead single from the album, also failed to reach the related singles chart top 50. In support of the album, the group embarked on the No Sleep Til Christmas Tour, starting in July and ending in December 2008. The tour included dates in all major Australian cities, and a number of shows in regional centres. Playing bass on this tour was Melbourne musician Matt Sonic, as Turner was too ill to tour. To coincide with the tour, the band released a limited-edition tour EP, available only at the shows. The second in a series of tour EPs (the first being the giveaway EP from 2006), the disc featured a cover of Hard-Ons' "Suck N Swallow", a collaboration with Gareth Liddiard of The Drones, two outtakes left over from Girl and a track recorded at Birdland Studios in 2003.

Dean Turner, died on 21 August 2009 of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, a rare form of tissue cancer. He was 37 years old. Turner had been diagnosed nine years earlier. After Turner died, the band released a statement: “ For nine years, Dean battled an extremely rare form of soft tissue cancer called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This cancer became life-threatening after it began to metastasize and cause various fatal tumours. Being a very private man, Dean chose to fight the cancer in a quiet and dignified manner. He displayed great courage and incredible stoicism. And above all else he had an unshakeable, positive attitude throughout his long ordeal. His composure and grace during this time will never be forgotten and are an inspiration to us all. ”—Magic Dirt, Official Website

Following Turner's death Magic Dirt performed a final tour in honour of his memory. They also released a six-track EP, 'White Boy', in October, as a tribute. In February 2018, Magic Dirt played a surprise small set at the end of an Adalita solo show at the Barwon Club in Geelong. In June 2018, the band were announced as a part of the 2019 Hotter Than Hell concert tour alongside Spiderbait, Shihad, Bodyjar and 28 Days. The band played their first official show since 2010 on November 18, 2018, at the River Rocks Rehab festival at the Barwon Club in Geelong.

In December 2018, the band were inducted into the National Live Music Awards Hall of Fame as the inaugural Live Legends. At the event, they told the crowd it was the first award of their career. February 2019 saw the band play alongside You Am I at Taronga Zoo Sydney, and in March as part of Golden Plains Festival with The Jesus and Mary Chain, Liz Phair, Happy Mondays and Four Tet. In late 2019, the band toured as part of the Scene and Heard festival alongside The Dandy Warhols, Jebediah, Wolfmother and Eskimo Joe.

The band were scheduled to perform at several festivals across Australia in 2020 and 2021, but many of these were cancelled or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band later performed at several dates of the 2022 Spring Loaded Festival. With a large portion of their back catalogue out of print, the band also announced in November 2018 that they would be reissuing their 'Signs Of Satanic Youth' EP, on vinyl, CD and digitally, in January 2019. The reissue campaign continued with 'Life Was Better' (available on vinyl and streaming services for the first time) in January 2020, a 20th anniversary edition of 'What Are Rocks Stars Doing Today' in October 2020, and 'Friends In Danger' in July 2021. The reissue of 'Friends In Danger' reached #10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, their highest chart entry to date. 'Young And Full Of The Devil' was reissued for its 25th anniversary in April 2023, #78 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

In July 2022, the band embarked on their On The Road tour, their first headlining tour since reforming in 2018. The tour saw the band play several shows in New South Wales, along with dates in Canberra, Melbourne, Torquay and Adelaide. In June 2023, the band announced a tour commemorating the 25th anniversary of Young and Full of the Devil. Dave Thomas died of cancer in 2020 aged 56.

Members

Adalita Srsen (vocals, guitar), Dean Turner (bass), Raul Sanchez (guitar), Adam Robertson (drums), Daniel Herring (guitar), Dave Thomas (guitar), Steve Patrick (bass), Dan McKay (drums)

SINGLES
''Super Tear / Sea'' 1993 Fellaheen 
''Eat Your Blud / Touch That Space / Redhead / Choker / Fearless Fly'' 1994 Au-go-go Double Pack 
''Sparrow / Total Control / Pristine Christine / Redhead'' 1997 Au-go-go Double Pack
''Supatear ('98) / The Influence'' 1998 Fellaheen
"Expectations" [Ronin System featuring Magic Dirt] 1999 
"Dirty Jeans" (#68) 2000 Warner
"Pace It" (#72) 2001 Warner
"Supagloo" 2001 EastWest
''Magazine / I Want A Dog'' 2001 7" Club
"City Trash" 2002 EastWest
"Vulcanella" 2003 EastWest
"Watch Out Boys" 2003 EastWest
"Plastic Loveless Letter" (#34) 2003 EastWest
"All My Crushes" 2004 EastWest
"Locket" (#51) 2005 Warner
"I Love the Rain" 2005 Warner
"Bring Me the Head Of" 2007 Emergency Music
"Romy" 2008 Emergency Music
"White Boy" 2008 Emergency Music
"(I'm) Stranded" 2023

EPs
'Signs of Satanic Youth' 1993 Au Go Go 
'Life Was Better' (#26) 1994 Au Go Go Records 
'Magic Dirt' 2006 Emergency Music 

'White Boy' 2009 Emergency Music

ALBUMS
'Friends in Danger' (#10) 1996 Au Go Go (ANDA206)
'Young & Full of the Devil' (#76) 1998 Au Go Go
'What Are Rock Stars Doing Today' (#35) 2000 East West 
'Tough Love' (#15) 2003 East West 
'Snow White' (#24) 2005 Warner 
'Roky's Room' 2007 Emergency Music
'Beast' 2007 Emergency Music 
'Girl' 2008 Emergency Music

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Dirt

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/

TEX PERKINS

Tex Perkins (born Gregory Stephen Perkins on 28 December 1964 in Darwin) started his musical career in Brisbane cowpunk outfit Tex Deadly and the Dum-Dums, before moving to Sydney in 1982, garnering considerable attention in the Sydney independent music scene and also touring Melbourne, before the departure of guitarist Mark Halstead ended the band. He later formed Salamander Jim with Kim Salmon from The Scientists and Richard Ploog from The Church. Due to touring commitments for Ploog and Salmon, Perkins formed a different line up with Stu Spasm [Stuart Gray], Lachlan McLeod and Martin Bland. In 1985 this line-up recorded and released their only record, an EP titled 'Lorne Greene Shares His Precious Fluids' on Red Eye Records.

Perkins and Peter Read formed Thug in Sydney in 1987 when Read's flat mate had a fascination for collecting and amassing electronic equipment. After using some of the gear on initial recordings in Read's home studio, Perkins was eager to take it to the stage. With the help of Lachlan McLeod and others, Thug became one of Sydney's most unusual and confrontational live acts. Thug's live sets would last twenty to twenty-five minutes, featuring dancers, theatrics, bizarre electronic equipment and—at one performance—an entire audience showered in flour. Each Thug gig would end with its members mock brawling amongst themselves; audience members also would participate from time to time. Sometimes it would get out of hand, during one such mock brawl, Perkins required stitches after landing on a broken glass someone had thrown onto the stage.

Thug, along with Lubricated Goat and Kim Salmon and The Surrealists spearheaded a very overlooked and underrated era of Australian music in the late 1980s. This output was released on the Red Eye Records offshoot Black Eye Records. Thug's debut 7" single was the legendary "Dad / Thug", an electronic affair which was an assault on the ears. The tracks from the 'Mechanical Ape / Proud Idiots Parade' EP and the 'Electric Woolly Mammoth' album were later released on CD as 'Everything Is Beautiful In Its Own Way'. Another early group, The Bumhead Orchestra, was revived in 2005 for performances at festivals such as What Is Music? and Big Day Out. The group usually consists of roughly 20 members, and Perkins acts as a conductor.

The Beasts of Bourbon grew from a simple side project to a true supergroup of the Australian pub rock scene. Forming in Sydney in 1983, the original Beasts lineup comprised Perkins, Spencer P. Jones, James Baker, Kim Salmon and Boris Sudjovic. The band's first album, 'The Axeman's Jazz', was an underground success, but the Beasts continued to be just a side project for its members until 1988 when the Beasts reformed to record 'Sour Mash', followed by 1990's 'Black Milk' and 1991's 'The Low Road'. In 1993, the group toured extensively to support the double album 'From the Belly of the Beasts', then disbanded temporarily. They reformed to release 'Gone' in 1997, which received lukewarm reviews, but produced a minor single called "Saturated". In 2003, they reformed to record a live album, 'Low Life', released on Spooky Records. In 2006, they reformed to play the Big Day Out Festival around Australia and New Zealand.

In late December 2006 it was announced that Albert Productions had signed an exclusive worldwide recording deal with the band and on 23 April 2007, released their new album 'Little Animals'. ''The Alberts label releases have been a huge influence on the Beasts of Bourbon, so to be signed to this legendary label is not only a great honour and the start of an exciting new chapter in the bands history, it feels like…..Destiny – Tex Perkins

After toying with different band members, The Cruel Sea came into fruition in 1988 with the union of Ken Gormley on bass, Jim Elliot on drums, Danny Rumour on guitars and James Cruikshank on keyboards and guitars, taking their name from the 1960s surf instrumental group, The Ventures. In 1989 Perkins (their then-lighting technician) started joining them onstage. This sparked an interest from Red Eye Records, and the band was signed and released a 1989 album 'Down Below' featuring Perkins on vocals. They received an ARIA award nomination in 1993 following the release of their second album, 'This Is Not the Way Home'. The instrumental single "4" and the title track received high rotation play on independent and commercial radio.

The group's third album, 'The Honeymoon Is Over' (1993), and its title song, won five ARIA Music Awards of 1994. They followed with a high-profile world tour. 1995 saw the release of the hugely successful 'Three Legged Dog' album, which spawned the hits "Better Get a Lawyer" "Just a Man" "Anybody but You" and "Too Fast for Me". They claimed another ARIA award in 1995 for 'Best Group' with their work on 'Three Legged Dog'. The band then took a three-year break during which time Perkins released his first solo album, 'Far Be it From Me'. The Cruel Sea returned to their instrumental roots and embarked on a series of gigs without Perkins. In 1998, The Cruel Sea released 'Over Easy' and again a rigorous touring schedule supporting their Takin all day national tour. After the success of his first album, Perkins released his second solo album 'Dark Horses'.

Tex, Don and Charlie is an Australian super group formed by Tex Perkins, Don Walker from Cold Chisel and widely respected guitarist Charlie Owen. Their first album 'Sad But True' was released in 1993. Their potent, distinctively Australian country-blues cocktail matured on stage, as faithfully reflected in their heady live album of '95, 'Monday Morning Coming Down'. The band was founded in 1992 as Tex Perkins relates: "I saw Charlie and thought "Jesus Christ". He was easily the best rock guitar player I had seen. He was really dexterous, but gutsy. Not flashy. I think it had a lot of jazz in him as well. I made a mental note that I'd like to work with Charlie and about I year later I heard he was playing with Don Walker in Catfish. Then somebody suggested I do something with Don Walker and I said "Sure, as long as Charlie Owen is there". Over the next 10 years they mostly went separate ways, but remained in contact. Charlie Owen worked with Perkins and the Dark Horses during this time. In March 2005. Tex, Don and Charlie had been talking about a second album for four years; swapping songs in the mail for three; nailing them together over various stolen rehearsal sessions for nearly two. 'All is Forgiven' was released in August 2005 and a successful tour followed.

Originally part of a solo project to fulfil a recording contract, the Dark Horses had formed into a band by the release of the second album 'Dark Horses' in 2000. Like much of Tex Perkins' musical past, Charlie Owens was a big part of the Dark Horses project. Other Dark Horse collaborators were Jim Elliot, Joel Silbersher, Murray Paterson and Skritch Needham. In August 2006 Perkins commented on ABC2's Dig program that the Cruel Sea and Dark Horses were no more. On 10 June 2011, Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses released a new, self-titled album, and in September and October 2011 they conducted a national tour to launch the album. Band members for the 2011 tour were Charlie Owen, Joel Silbersher and two new members, bassist Steve Hadley and drummer Gus Agars.

What started out as a bit of a joke, drew enormous interest and triggered a US and European tour in September 2006. After only a handful of shows together and 6 months songwriting (though many years friendship), Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins (T'n'T) quickly recorded a debut album in August 2006. With neither of them strangers to studio time, this debut album, 'My Better Half ' was released in September 2006. The first single was "Everybody Hates You When You're Popular".

Consistent with his history of less serious bands, in 2008 Tex Perkins formed a new group to release an album of covers featuring duets with other Australian musicians such as Nic Cester, Suze DeMarchi, Adalita and Jimmy Barnes. Covering popular songs from the 70s and 80s by acts such as Dr Hook and Hall and Oates, "No 1s and No 2s" was followed by tour of non-traditional rock music venues such as Sydney's Star City Casino. Perkins has since dismissed this album as a contractual obligation - Universal Music wanted him to record a covers album, and the Ladyboyz were his passive-aggressive response.

In 2010 and 2011, Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four (Shannon Bourne, guitar; Shane Reilly, guitar; Steve Hadley, bass; Dave Folley, drums) performed a series of shows in Australia and New Zealand. Titled The Man in Black - The Johnny Cash Story, the show featured two hours of Johnny Cash’s music interwoven with the story of his rise to stardom, his fight for survival and his eventual redemption. Tex Perkins (a baritone, as was Cash) and Rachael Tidd (as Cash's wife June Carter Cash), performed faithful renditions of Cash's songs while telling Cash's story in the third person between songs. During the show, Tex humorously emphasises the name of Cash's guitarist Luther Perkins. Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four performed a further series of shows in 2013 and 2014.

In 2015 Perkins and The Tennessee Four performed Far From Folsom at the now closed Parramatta Correctional Centre, to recreat Cash's concerts at Folsom State Prison. Perkins collaboration with The Steel Springs on "One Minute's Silence", released on Anzac Day, 2015, to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Anzac Cove. The track, written by author Matthew Hardy, features The Welsh Choir and a spoken word performance by Australian rules football legend Ron Barassi. Perkins has a cameo role in the 1998 Australian film, Praise. He appeared on Battle of the Choirs on the Seven Network in Australia in 2008. He has hosted RocKwiz numerous times. He voiced a cartoon shark in the 2011 Movie Extra animated series "Shaaark".

ALBUMS
'Far Be It from Me' (#43) 1996 Slick
'Dark Horses' (#24) 2000 Slick
'Sweet Nothing' (#34) [with Dark Horses] 2003 Slick
'My Better Half' (#31) [with Tim Rogers] (AKA TnT) 2006 Liberation 
'No. 1's & No. 2's' [with & His Ladyboyz] 2008 Universal
'Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses' [with Dark Horses] 2011 Dark Horse Records
'Tex Perkins & The Band of Gold' [with The Band of Gold] 2011 Tex Perkins & The Band of Gold
'Everyone's Alone' [with Dark Horses] 2012 Dark Horse Records
'Tunnel at the End of the Light' (#52) [with Dark Horses] 2015 Dark Horse Records
'Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band' [as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band] 2021 Source Music
'Other World' [as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band] Released: 2023 Source Music

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Perkins