New Race was a punk/proto-punk super-group based in Sydney, formed in April 1981. New Race was a concept band featuring three members of Radio Birdman: Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert, along with their inspirational mentors: Ron Asheton of The Stooges, and Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson of the MC5. New Race played one tour of the East Coast of Australia which consisted of 16 shows. Many of these shows were recorded in anticipation of a live album at the end of the tour, and it was these recordings which formed the band's only official album, 'The First and Last'. A single was released off the album, ''Crying Sun / Gotta Keep Movin''.
There are two quality bootleg albums, also from these recordings, released on French label, Revenge Records. The three albums include Radio Birdman originals, songs from the MC5 and The Stooges as well as songs from Deniz Tek's post Birdman band, The Visitors and Asheton's post Stooges band, Destroy All Monsters along with one original song, "Columbia", credited to the entire band. At the conclusion of the tour both Ron Asheton and Dennis Thompson returned to the United States to pursue new musical avenues. Ron Asheton died of a heart attack in 2009. Dennis Thompson suffered a heart attack in April 2024, and died in Taylor, Michigan, on May 9, at the age of 75. He was the final surviving member of the MC5.
Members
Rob Younger (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Deniz Tek (guitar), Warwick Gilbert (bass), Dennis Thompson (drums)
SINGLES ''Crying Sun / Gotta Keep Movin' 1984 Citadel
The Dead Livers were a country rock band formed in Melbourne in 1978. The band is listed in the Who's who of Australian Rock and the Book of Australian Country Music speaks of the group's distinctive blend of a country rock sound. The original quintet was a finalist at the 3UZ country music battle of the bands in Melbourne in 1978, and a modified lineup achieved top ten status in the inaugural Starmaker Quest in Tamworth in 1979. The band's first single "Grandpa / Ballad of a Dead Liver", was issued in 1979, followed by a self-titled vinyl EP. In April 1980, the band made its first television appearance in Sydney on the John Singleton Show and in July 1980 was the support act for Leon Russell and the Amazing Rhythm Aces.
The Australian Music Directory (published in 1981) reported that "their most extensive publicity and radio exposure came in February 1981 when they recorded a parody of Slim Dusty's national number one hit Duncan. 'I'd love to have a joint with Willie' gained national front page headlines and a hearty endorsement from mentor Willie Nelson, who adopted it as his official theme song for the entire Australasian tour". In 1982, another single "Star of the West / A Stud Like Me" was released, and "Star of the West" was among the final nominations in the best group category at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. From 1980-1984 the band had a string of residencies which included the Aberdeen Hotel North Fitzroy, the Renown Hotel, Fitzroy, the Esplanade Hotel St. Kilda, the Rising Sun Hotel Richmond, and the Sydenham Hotel Richmond.
In 1998, previously recorded material was issued on a CD entitled 'Greatest Misses' to coincide with the band's 20th anniversary. In 2000 a new album, 'Reaching to the Western Sky' was launched, and the band subsequently performed at the 2001 Port Fairy Folk Festival. For the band's 40th anniversary, in 2018, the album 'Greatest Misses' was remastered with the addition of three tracks not previously available in digital format. Dead Livers music also became available on Spotify in that year. On May 12, 2018 the band celebrated 40 years of performing with a concert at the Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne.Whilst live performances became scarce in the 21st century the band reunited for special events (for example Michael Schack's 70th birthday at Mickey Bourke's Koroit Hotel held on Feb. 22nd 2020).Les Gough died in 2021.
Members
Marty Atchison (vocals), Brendan Mitchell (guitar, steel guitar), Michael Schack (bass), Edward Mitchell (guitar), Tony Pizzi (drums). Richard O'Keefe (drums), Warren Keats (guitar), Peter Thorne (guitar), John Berto (guitar), Randy Broughten (pedal steel guitar), Bob Suffern (pedal steel guitar), Rodger Delfos (guitar), Ross Nicholson (guitar, vocals), Craig Reeves (piano), Les Gough (bass), Ron Mahony (drums), Don Farrell (guitar) Mark Meallin (guitar)
SINGLES ''Grandpa / Ballad Of A Dead Liver'' 1979 ''Star Of The West / A Stud Like Me'' 1982 EMI [Custom Pressing]
EPs
'The Dead Livers' 1980
ALBUMS
'Greatest Misses' 1998 'Reaching To The Western Sky' 2001
Del Web Explosion was formed in Adelaide in 1981. Peter Flierl (bass guitar, backing vocals, song-writing) started with an advertisement in the local newspaper ‘want ads’ seeking like-minded musicians to form an eight piece soul/pop band to play a mix of original and cover songs. Drummer Heinz Stein responded early and was clearly attuned to what Flierl had in mind. Frank ''Mankyboddle'' Moeller (lead vocals), Gerry Barrett (guitar) and Raimondo Pasetto (tenor sax) were enlisted shortly afterwards, forming the nucleus of the band. Rehearsals commenced with a handful of early songs written for the band by Flierl together with several soul standards and rounded off with a generous selection of Dexys Midnight Runners songs from their debut release, 'Searching for the Young Soul Rebels'. The band’s initial line-up was rounded off with the twin trumpets of Daniel Clements and Rob Symons. A debut gig supporting local favourites, The Screaming Believers, at the Union Hotel, introduced the band to an appreciative Adelaide audience and from then the ‘Explosion’ proceeded to gig regularly for the approximate 12 months of its existence.
Although being integral to scoring brass charts to Flierl’s initial compositions for the band, Pasetto left the band prior to their initial foray into the now defunct Pepper Recording Studios in North Adelaide. Symons had also departed around this time and the band recruited Russell Burton on alto sax and Andy Berrington on tenor to record the band’s debut single ''One Way Love / Going Home''. The single was released on the small local label Empty Dogma Records and proceeded to notch up respectable local sales bringing the band to the attention of a wider audience. The band also self-financed a film clip shot at various suburban locations in Adelaide, to further promote the song. Although not venturing beyond the outskirts of the city, the band maintained a steady gigging profile building its fan base from regular performances at inner city venues like the Tivoli and Angas Hotels as well as regular appearances at the Adelaide University Bar.
A heavy schedule of gigging from the outset created a level of interest from some of the major record labels in Adelaide. However, cracks were beginning to show in the band with some members clearly not having the same commitment as others. It was around this time that Barrett was replaced by John Oldman on lead guitar duties. Although still unsigned, the band decided to foray into the studio a second time to record the Mankyboddle penned ''Gardening as Finer Art'' backed with Flierl’s ''Too Late The Hero''. Funds were tighter this time around for the band which resulted in a ‘live’ rendition of ''Too Late The Hero'' (recorded some weeks earlier at an Adelaide Uni Bar gig) becoming the B-side. The new single was released on local alternative record label, Greasy Pop Records and despite not having a video clip to accompany it, continued to increase the profile of the band with record company representatives. Keyboardist, Glenn Errington also left the band during this period to be replaced by Peter Flierl’s multi-instrumentalist brother, Vic Flierl on keyboards at many ‘live’ performances by the band. Although the band continued to receive praise for their exciting stage performances, the band seemed to have "more factions than a Labor Party conference", largely due to musical differences, commitment and direction.
Only 13 months into its existence and with a recording contract virtually on its doorstep, the band split with Flierl, Stein and Burton departing to form another band, Plan B, while Mankyboddle, Clements, Berrington & Oldman continued without them. The band returned to public performances some four months later under the banner “Del Webb Explosion – Back without Geno”, a clear statement that the earlier Dexys’ influence which was such a major part of Flierl’s basis for forming the band, was no longer in existence. In fact, when questioned about Geno at a show at the Tivoli in 1983, Mankyboddle said "Geno was dead" Even though the final line-up didn't produce any records, it made some very good live recordings in which the new material took centre stage.
According to Mankyboddle, new member Kim Webster (later New Romantics) on keyboards was an important facet of the new direction the band took. Del Webb Explosion Mark III was the attempt to forge, in this kind of band line-up, a more original band from what for a long time was essentially a cover band. The final break up in the end was due to a lack of commitment to go "professional", i.e. interstate, even though the actual band personalities and individual musicianship were much better matched. So, in the end it wasn't so much friction, as the lack of ambition of some of the new members. The reformed band permanently broke up in late 1983.
Members
Andy Berrington (sax), Dan Clements (trumpet), Gerry Barrett (guitar), Glen Errington (keyboards), Frank ''Mankydoodle'' Moeller (vocals), John Oldman (guitar), Peter Flierl (bass), Heinz Steins (drums), Russell Burton (sax), Raimondo Pasetto (sax), Rob Symons (trumpet)
SINGLES ''One Way Love / Going Home'' 1982 Empty Dogma ''Gardening As Finer Art / Too Late The Hero'' 1983 Greasy Pop
Vicky O'Keefe was born into a life of music. Her father, Johnny O' Keefe (JO’K) was Australia’s Pioneer and King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Vicky was raised on a diet of Bill Haley, Carole King, Elton John and Janis Joplin. Vicky kick-started her career after studying classical piano, guitar and singing at age seventeen. Vicky hit the road with her original rock band VOK ROK touring the East Coast of Australia for six years. Performing in major Clubs and Hotels where she developed a strong and loyal fan base.
Vicky landed herself a contract with Warner Publishing and RCA records releasing a number of singles. She went on to support several International Stars including Rick Nelson, Suzie Quatro and America appearing and singing on many high-profile television shows around Australia including Hey Hey It's Saturday. During the mid '90s, Vicky worked with a promoter to perform a Tribute Show to her late father. This resulted in sellout shows at The Moorabbin Town Hall, Star Casino Sydney, Melbourne Crown Casino, Wrest Point Casino, Tasmania and a guest performance at the Perth Cup performing to over 10,000 people. Vicky recorded a Tribute Album with her own interpretations of her father’s greatest hits including 'Shout' and a moving Duet ‘I’m Counting on You’ in the same vain as Natalie and Nat King Cole.
An avid songwriter, Vicky teamed up with her brother Peter O’Keefe to write a special tribute song for her dad, “Keep the Candle Burning” featured on the album ‘I’m Counting on You’ and an emotional highlight of Vicky’s live shows. Invited to perform on “Rock the Boat” cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean, Vicky received standing ovations for her high energy performances and was voted Most Popular Artist. Sharing the stage with Chubby Checker, The Sweet, Aussie Icons Brian Cadd, Russell Morris and Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, Vicky was invited back for a return performance.
Vicky is now signed with US entertainment agency Blackburn International, embarking on a large number of international cruises with Princess Cruise Lines. Vicky also continues performing both Internationally and in Australia wide promoting her latest album 50 Diamonds. Keeping her father’s memory and music alive with her Tribute Shows, Vicky’s passion for singing and performing is supported by a loyal following from all over the World.
SINGLES ''I've Had My Share Of You / Fallen For You'' 1982 RCA ''He Was Really Saying Something / Trapped In A Cage'' 1982 RCA
''I'm Gonna Set You Straight 3:05 / I'm Gonna Set You Straight (instrumental)'' 1986 Warner Bros.
ALBUMS
'Destiny' 1998 Oracle Records
'I'm Counting On You The Duet A Tribute to Johnny O'Keefe' 2001 O'Keefe Records
The Honeymoon was a four-piece Sydney pop/rock band fronted by singer/songwriter Kevin Bennett that formed in the early 80s. The band signed with EMI and recorded four singles and their debut album 'Promise' was produced by Graham Bidstrup, drummer with The Angels and GANGgajang. Following the band's demise, Bennett would go on to join Moving Pictures, appearing on their 'The Last Picture Show', live album. A move towards Country music followed with the bands The Flood and Chasin the Train.
Members
Kevin Bennett (vocals, guitar), Wayne Kellett (bass), David Ferguson (guitar), Peter Heckenberg (drums), Noel Schafer (drums), Bob Spencer (guitar), Geoff Dawes (keyboards)
SINGLES ''Break Your Heart / Looking For The Lights'' 1982 EMI ''Nothing To Do With Love / (You Are) The One'' 1983 EMI ''Love Wakes Up / Osaka'' 1983 EMI ''Just Like Anyone / Written On The Wall'' 1983 EMI
Plays With Marionettes emerged during Melbourne’s underground live music scene in the 1980s. Their unique sound was a collision of post-punk mayhem, big band stings and furiously shifting arrangements. Fronted by Hugo Race’s forceful vocals and hell fire lyrics, these intense qualities demanded immediate attention and divided audiences. Not old enough to buy a drink, founding members Hugo Race and Robin Casinader developed the Plays With Marionette’s sound from their earlier group Dum Dum Fit. Brian McMahon soon joined on sax. They found, and somehow avoided paying rent on a dilapidated-fire-hazard-artist’s-studio they used as their rehearsal room above Chapel Street in Prarhan.
The original line-up launched when drummer Frank Trobbiani and Dave Last, bass, hung around their studio long enough to jam out what would become the material for their first live shows. Living in St Kilda’s, strung out, pre-gentrified, triangle of streets, Plays With Marionettes found its place amongst the local music, arts and film scene and became a regular fixture at Melbourne’s alternative inner-city venues: The Crystal Ballroom, The Tiger Lounge, The Killayoni Club, The Jump Club and The Tote. They honed their performances in front of a daylight-deprived audience, to whom these black-hole venues were a nocturnal social (or anti-social) haunt. Later, Nick Seymour joined on bass and Ed Clayton-Jones added extra guitars.
Members
Hugo Race (vocals), Brian McMahon (sax), Robin Casinader (guitar), Frank Trobbiani (drums), Dave Last (bass), Nick Seymour (bass), Ed Clayton-Jones (guitar)
On their return to San Francisco after an August 1983 Australian tour, Dead Kennedys’ Jello Biafra penned a scene report for punk fanzine Maximum Rocknroll. As well as comparing US and Australian culture, he described a bunch of Aussie punk bands including Public Execution, who supported the Dead Kennedys at Brisbane’s Festival Hall alongside The Johnnys. “Another band who have some American thrashish tunes was Public Execution and were probably the most maniacal of the Australian bands I saw. The singer was a genuine nut on stage, with a really demented look in his eye, something you only usually find in Americans.”
Bassist Terry Devery formed Public Execution, or Pub Ex, on the south side of Brisbane in 1981 with guitarist Steve Playford and drummer Fred Noonan. Formed from the remnants of local garage bands Sabotage and Malicious Joy, the three-piece was influenced by the first wave of US hardcore and played an incendiary Black Flag/early-SST style of punk seasoned with some British sounds (Crisis, Flux of Pink Indians) as well as some good old-fashioned Brisbane yob.
In 1982 they released the single, ''Methadone Slave / S.S. Brigade''. The single sits at the cusp of this scene but, like the Australian murder punk bands of the time (a term coined from 2001 bootleg compilations including the Victims, Razar, the Chosen Few and which could also include local heroes the Left Overs and Psycho Surgeons), it was full of sneering, nihilistic vocals and sped-up, punkified pub-rock riffs. Bass player Lindsay Dalgliesh (ex-Mystery Of Sixes) joined the band soon after and Devery became the vocal frontman. In 2013 a compilation album was released on Shortfuse Records. In 2022 the band released the single, ''American Hardcore / The Deal'' on the Swashbuckling Hobo label with Rod McLeod on bass. Fred Noonan died in 2024.
Members
Terry Devery (bass vocals), Steve Playford (guitar), Fred Noonan (drums), Lindsay Dalgleish (bass), Rod McLeod (bass)
SINGLES ''Methadone Slave / S.S. Brigade'' 1982 Sundown ''Rotting Corpse / TV Suffragette / Merchant Girl'' 1982 Shake Music ''American Hardcore / The Deal'' 2022 Swashbuckling Hobo
Douglas John Mulray (born 1 December 1951, Sydney) is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter. He has released three albums and a few singles with his best being 'I'm A Punk' which charted in 1982. He died in 2023.
SINGLES ''I'm A Punk'' (#26) [with The Rude Band] 1982 Oz ''You Are Soul / Smoke Two Joints'' [with The Rude Band] (#34) 1986 Raw Prawn
EPs
'Werewolf' (#77) 1993 Columbia
ALBUMS 'What A Rude Album' [with Ken Stirling] (#22) 1982 Oz '2 Rude' [with Ken Stirling] (#24) 1983 Oz 'Nice Legs Shame About The Fez' (#32) 1993 Columbia
Lin Van Hek (born 1944 as Lyn Whitehead) (aka Lin Van Hecke) is an Australian writer, member of the Society of Women Writers and is the co-founder of a literary-music group called Difficult Women. Van Hek was born in Melbourne, residing in Europe and India for some years. Van Hek is a singer, songwriter, novelist, poet and a painter. She co-wrote and sang the song ''Intimacy'' for the film, The Terminator. She recorded a solo CD 'River of Life' featuring songs of New Zealand writer, Kath Tait. Lin Van Hek has worked for over two decades with a group of women in North Vietnam designing, manufacturing and trading in ethical, non-exploitative hand-embroidered silk garments and textiles. She is an advocate of handmade houses and also lives half the year in a stone house on the Brass Knocker Creek near the Wadbilliga River and state forest in the southeastern corner of New South Wales.
SINGLES ''Ain't Been Missin' You / Walking The Dog'' 1981 Full Moon Records ''Intimacy / Intimacy'' 1982 White Label
ALBUMS 'Shaddap You Face' [with Joe Dolce Theatre] 1981 Peerless 'Pundulumura: Two Trees Together' [with Joe Dolce, Gnarayarrahe Waitaire and Ponjyflydu) 1991 Dolceamore Music 'Difficult Women' [with Joe Dolce] 1992 Difficult Women 'Difficult Women: Black Pepper with a Hint of Violets' [with Joe Dolce] 1995 Difficult Women - 'Flower' [with Joe Dolce] 2000 Difficult Women 'Live at Poet House' [with Joe Dolce] 2019 Difficult Women
Punk band The Mansons originally flourished in the city of Newcastle, 120kms north of Sydney from 1981 to 1983. Starting as a series of jam sessions at the house of Monkee Manson in mid-1981, Harry and Monkee had been school chums from Marist Brothers High School and together decided to change the face of Novocastrian music for ever. After leaving school Monkee became a metallurgist for BHP and met Curlee Manson, who was also in the same field of study.
Providence begat them a drummer one day when a 14-year-old boy came jumping over the fence for a ball. He became enlisted as Donny Manson, later changing his name to Donny Anarchy. The line up now consisted of Harry Manson on vocals and wig wearing, Monkee Manson on guitar, Curlee on bass and Donny on drums. They played their first gig at the Grand Hotel on the 26th of September 1981 supporting another Novocastrian band, the Nonchalence, later embarking on a series of pub and club gigs that are now legendary.
They were the only band ever to be thrown out of Norths Leagues Club, (which had the reputation at the time of totally supporting the fringe punk and alternative music), because of an altercation one night between Harry and the club manager, along with several huge bouncers. "I still don't know why we set up on the floor that night, as opposed to the stage" recalled Monkee in an interview in 1995, "it happened at the end of the night and we all thought we were going to die." They were thrown out, told they would never be Newcastle's foremost punk band, and told never to return.
With no place to play, the band was forced to go under a series of alternate names such as "Harry M" , "Tate's Mates" and the "Beatles" to get work. With no wives and kids to feed, it didn't really matter. Finding themselves at a loose end one day they decided to record a single entitled "I Died Four Times" on the Angelwood label. The initial inspiration for the song came from a phone conversation with a old school chum, Greg 'Chook' Coleman, who was lamenting that a mutual friend was taking far too long to die of a series of diseases, "You know he's died four times...but he doesn't want to talk about it!", and so the song was born.
The song became notorious, being played by the famous John Peel on Radio London who was rumoured to have announced that it had just as much chance as anything else at achieving success. It even reached top ten in Yugoslavia, or so it was reported by Kerb McCorrison, who became the Mansons de facto manager during those turbulent times. Kerb became manager after he persistently said he would from the back of a bus one rainy day. They met on a magnificent trip in a double decker bus carrying The Mansons and most of the Newcastle punk scene (almost like a magical mystery tour), through the beautiful Hunter Valley to bring 'punk to the people'. Kerb later toured Europe and was never seen again.
They played some great, and some not-so-great gigs around town. Highlights included fantastic shows at Belmont 16 footers, The Castle, South Newcastle Beach Pavilion and many parties. Some rare recordings came to light after almost 20 years and display the rare energy and fun of the period. The Mansons continued for a time to progressively fragment and later disintegrate until the end came at the beginning of 1983, just prior to Donny Anarchy leaving Australia for a solo tour of Europe. They were officially pronounced dead on the 13th March 1983 closing transmission on Sunday night at 11:08pm precisely.
Harry was to later re-emerge in the Ramjets and the Marones with Newcastle fun king Pucko, finally becoming a schoolteacher. Curlee set about populating the earth with his seed and political science and Monkee became a Hipslinger, an Elvis impersonator, a Wooser Bottom, librarian and archivist. Donny performed from time to time with various punk acts such as Skazoo, Raw War and Cash From Chaos. The Mansons finally received International recognition in 1997 with their inclusion in the punk exhibition "Punkulture" at the Australian Museum along with Sex Pistols and the Clash. The band reunited in 2016 for a one-off gig in Newcastle.
Members
Harry Manson (vocals), Monkee Manson (guitar), Curlee Manson (bass), Danny Anarchy (drums)
SINGLES ''I Died Four Times (But I Don't Wanna Talk About It) / What Is Her Name ?'' 1982 Angelwood
References
The Mansons - Newcastle's Foremost Punk Band (geocities.ws)
In 1982, AuGoGo records released this little gem, ''The Emperor's New Clothes / Bloodlust''. The label was a beacon in Melbourne and released bucketloads of great alternative bands. Gothic rock band Dorian Gray was one of them - but they never did anything after this single. Vic Bolgarow (ex-Fiction, Little Murders), Marshall Butters (ex-Microfilm), Charles Meo (ex-The Ears) were members.
Members
Vic Bolgarow (drums), Marshall Butters (guitar), David Mast (guitar), Charles 'Chuck' Meo (drums), Shane Middleton (percussion), Gordon Pitt [Gordon Blake] (bass, vocals)
SINGLES ''The Emperor's New Clothes / Bloodlust'' 1982 Au-go-go
Punk band The Kelpies lasted for just under a year and a half but, from March 1981 to August 1982, emerged as one of the most frenetic–and notorious–bands to hit the punk scene in Sydney. Given so many of the band’s membership had already earned their stripes in a multitude of earlier acts (including the Bedhogs, Suicide Squad, Swankers, Aftermath, Vic Vomit and the Varicose Veins and Black Runner), this put them in good stead with the gig-going public, but from the outset their shows were frequently plagued by violence, resulting in the band often being banned from venues just as quickly as they had sold them out. In 1982 they cut a single on the Phantom label, ''Take Me Away / Second By Second''. In 2003 the Kelpies held a reunion show at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney. A compilation album 'Television' was released in 2003.
Members
Jim Atkins [James Gelding] (vocals), Mark Easton (guitar), Brian Conolly (guitar), Con Murphy (bass), Ashley Thomson (drums).
SINGLES ''Take Me Away / Second By Second'' 1982 Phantom
The Gap is a suburb in Western Brisbane named after the hole in its inhabitants' aesthetic sensibilities. It takes just one person to break the cycle and that person was Gap High student and guitarist, Brett Myers. ''I used to play bass in high school bands. The End started in late 1979, I had just bought my first electric guitar. I had a friend called Andrew Massey who was a bass player and he lived in my street. He came over and asked me if I wanted to join a band. I said as long as it wasn't with the guy down the road. I used to hear him playing Led Zeppelin songs!''
That guy was drummer Colin Barwick, who with Massey on bass and Murray Davis on keyboards formed the first line-up of The End. Myers said: ''I wasn't into jamming, so to play anything I had to teach them all these Velvets songs. We played lots of parties, but we'd finish an average of about one song out of ten. It was a real thrash but it was coming from a different direction to everyone else. In those days no one was playing the sort of music I liked. If there had been another band playing it, I probably wouldn't have started. We used to do a lot of Stooges stuff as well, and New York Dolls. Then I saw the Fun Things and they were doing that stuff really well, so we stopped''.
The new, "wimpy" End started exploring space and dynamics rather than power. In most cases such a development would have us running fast in the other direction, but if there was one guitar player whose non-obvious choices we enjoyed the challenge of watching through the eighties, it was Mr Myers. The End took on Malcolm Cole on violin and keyboards, and swapped Massey for Johnathon Liekliter on bass and recorded their only single ''My Confession / White World''. Myers moved to Sydney in 1982 and reformed the band with new members: David Rowley on drums, Jonathan Purcell on guitar (ex-Moving Parts) and Cameron Hume on bass. Citadel released a compilation album in 2013 '...Was The Beginning'. Brett Myers would later become a member of Died Pretty.
Members
Brett Myers (vocals guitar), Colin Barwick (drums), Andrew Massey (bass), Murray Davis (keyboards), Malcolm Cole (violin keyboards), Johnathon Liekliter (bass), David Rowley (drums), Jonathan Purcell (guitar), Cameron Hume (bass)
SINGLES ''By Now / Fooling You'' 1980 Coin Language ''My Confession / White World'' 1981
Daryl Paul Somers OAM (born Daryl Schulz 6 August 1951 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia), is a triple Gold Logie award-winning recipient, who is best known as an Australian television personality and musician. The son of a dairy farmer and a cabaret singer, Somers rose to national fame as the host of the long-running comedy-variety program Hey Hey It's Saturday and continued his television celebrity and status as host of the live-performance program Dancing with the Stars. Somers recording career included a couple of singles and three albums.
SINGLES ''What's Forever For / Can I See You Tonight'' 1981 Full Moon ''Don't Want To Share Your Love / You Look Just Like A Heartache To Me'' 1985 Avenue
ALBUMS 'Hey! Hey! It's Daryl & Ossie' 1975 Hammard, 'Keep Smiling With Daryl & Ossie' 1976 Hammard 'Songlines' 2005 Now Hear This!
The Zorros were formed in Brunswick in 1979 as a punk rock band by Nic Chancellor on lead vocals, Greg Pedley on drums, Darren Smith on lead guitar and Alex Zammit on bass guitar. They played their first gig at the Champion Hotel, Fitzroy in January 1980. Nic Chancellor was previously a roadie for 1970s punk band, the News, and a doorman at Bernhardt's Nite Club. Darren Smith played in the Proles. Andrea Jones of Rolling Stone felt that the group members were "very cynical about the softening of the new music. They are adamant that it will be rapidly followed by a resurgence in aggression and when that happens, The Zorros will be the front runners." Chancellor told her that "We get more of a kick out of playing. Hopefully we'll be round long enough to make a record. But it's a big thrill to play for an audience. It'd be an even bigger thrill to play and make money"
The Zorros were popular in the Melbourne music scene of the early 1980s, playing at numerous local venues such as the Crystal Ballroom, Bombay Rock, Brunswick and The Esplanade, St Kilda. Alex Zammit quit the band and was replaced by Craig Russell. In October 1981 released a single on Au Go Go Records, "Too Young / Let Me Love You'' written by Chancellor and guitarist Darren Smith. It was produced by Andrew Callander and engineered by Tony Cohen (The Birthday Party), which went to #3 on the Melbourne 3RRR charts. During the 80s there were many lineup changes in the band. In 1988 they released a self-titled, eight-track, EP via Funnel Web Records and Dreamtime Software on a music cassette with Daniel Smith on drums (ex-21 Faces) and Alex Zammit back on bass.
They played at the final live performances at the Crystal Ballroom on 31 October 1987 and played at inner city venues such as Prince of Wales and the Esplanade until 1994. Evolving from Melbourne's indie rock scene, The Zorros played with other bands such as INXS, Rose Tattoo, 21 Faces, Z Cars, Marching Girls and La Femme. They played original independent music for 16 years with over 500 performances and over 500 songs written by Darren and Nic. In 2022 Fantastic Mess released an EP 'Live 1980' comprising four tracks from their live performances at the Seaview Ballroom in 1980.
Members
Nic Chancellor (vocals), Darren Smith (guitar), Alex Zammit (bass), Craig Russell (bass), Greg Pedley (drums), Daniel Smith (drums), Phil Bryant (drums), Scott Ferris (bass), Christine Paris (bass), Tim Dexter (bass), Mark Fleming (drums), Gary Williamson (drums)
SINGLES ''Too Young / Let Me Love You'' 1981 Au-go-go
What kicked it all off, was an invitation extended to Ivan Zar (harmonica) and John Hood (guitar) to get a group of musicians together to perform at a birthday party in Cottesloe, Western Australia. Their Chicago Blues style performances were much sort after and the other musos asked to join. They performed to rave reports under a parachute decorated main room in a house. The rest indeed is history. The name they used was the King Bee.
Vocalist Terry Serio was responsible for coming up with a new name and it was then changed to the Elks. With a new line-up, they quickly gathered a vast popular cult following and played regularly to capacity rooms pleasing their many fans at the Shenton Park Hotel, Charles Hotel, Alberto's Tavern, Rivervale Hotel, Herdsman Hotel, White Sands plus the South West and other country venues.
The word got around and even the eastern states of Australia demanded their performances in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. A live cassette recording was released, laid down at the Melbourne University called 'FM Live!'. An album soon followed called 'Refer To Drawer' in 1978, released on Missing Link Records and produced by former Chain member Matt Taylor. In 1981 they released a single ''Party Girl / Fast Buck'' on the Parole label. Terry Serio became an actor playing recurring roles in several television series, including Blue Heelers, Halifax f.p. Ocean Girl, All Saints, Young Lions, Home and Away and Janet King. He played the lead in the film Running on Empty. He won a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance in Keating!
Members
Terry Serio (vocals), Dave Brewer (vocals, guitar), Howard Shawcross (bass, vocals), Ivan Zar (harmonica, guitar, vocals), Reg Zar (drums, percussion), Keith Jacob (bass), John Hood (guitar, harmonica, mandolin), Bob Patient (keyboards)
Sweet Jayne was the original Australian all girl hard rock band. Guitarist Cris Bonacci and bassist Sally Zylstra formed Sweet Jayne, in early 1975 in Melbourne with Robyn Clark on drums. They advertised for a lead singer and found Chris Scheri who also played the flute. The band performed over 700 gigs in six years, playing a mix of hard rock and heavy metal covers and a repertoire of over 50 original songs, written by Chris Scheri and Cris Bonacci. After Robyn Clarke and Sally Zylstra departed they were replaced by male musicians John Zaffarese (late 1979), Brendan O'Shea (1980), Fab Versace (1981) and Billy George (1982).
The band released a five-track vinyl EP after winning the Yamaha Australasian Battle of the Bands in 1978. They recorded Chris Scheri's "Images Fantasy King" as a soundtrack for the documentary Changes in which they made a cameo appearance in 1979. Other releases were on cassette format, the first engineered by Mark Moffat at TCS CH9 recording studios in 1977 and 1978. Their self-titled EP was issued in January 1980 and had five tracks, "Ambiguous Girl", "Omniscience", "Some People", "State of Mind" and "Crushed and Crazy". Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined that it "highlighted Bonacci's crunching guitar riffs offset by Scheri's melodic vocals and lilting flute lines." Record label Cleopatra released a single "Icarus / State of Mind" in 1981 produced by Gil Mathews. The band split up in 1983 after Mike Oldfield saw the band play at the Manzil Room in Sydney and offered Chris and Cris airfares to London to work with him in the UK.
Cris Bonacci joined Girlschool in 1985 and toured and recorded with the band for 10 years. She toured America with Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult and played guitar for Robert Plant. She also worked with Toyah Wilcox and Marc Almond and was manager and musical director for Samantha Fox for several years. Chris Scheri set up recording studio 7 in South Melbourne in 1986. That same year, Scheri and Bonacci produced a film clip for Scheri's "Pictures on The Wall", which was aired repeatedly on Basia Bonkvsky's Music Video show and released as a single through Rondor Music and Possum Records. The B-side "Heartbeat" was used as part of the soundtrack for Robert Herbert's film, He and She and reproduced in Holland by Mink DeVille. Zaffarese was later in Rosanna's Raiders.
Members
Cris Bonacci (guitar), Chris Scheri (vocals, flute), Sally Zylstra (bass), Robyn Clarke (drums), Brendan O'shea (bass), Johnno Zafferese (drums), Fab Versace (drums), Billy George (drums)
SINGLES ''Star Spinner / Bike Rider'' 1978
''Something To Believe In / Captives / Going Down'' 1981
Jonathan Harry Coleman OAM nicknamed "Jono" (born 29 February 1956 in Hackney, London, UK), was an English-born television personality, radio announcer and writer and performer of comedy. Coleman lived in North London from 1990 until his return to Australia in 2006. He resided in Sydney until his death on 9 July 2021, aged 65, from prostate cancer.
SINGLES ''You Are What You Eat / Dandruff And Beer'' 1981 Luxury
''Aussies On 45 / Aussies On 45'' (#66) 1981 WEA ''Built For Comfort (I Ain't Built For Speed) / Off The Record (Theme)'' 1983 WEA
ALBUMS 'Jonathan Coleman's Polka Project' 1984 Really Big Records
Formed in 1980, Equal Local was a popular, albeit short-lived instrumental ‘synth’ band comprising various figures from the Melbourne post-punk scene - most notably Dean Richards and Philip Jackson who were ex-members of synth-punk band Whirlywirld. For a brief period, circa 1980 to 1981, they were the "Next Big Thing" on the Melbourne inner-city/Crystal Ballroom circuit and were referred to by Clinton Walker as "The most important band to emerge from Melbourne in the wake of the Birthday Party's relocation to London." The band's pioneering brand of post-punk jazz-rock was bright, inventive, intricate and irresistible.
Utilising a funky pulse-lie beat as a base, the band was free to lay hypnotic textures and a rich tapestry of styles over the top. The band also used as its drums a computer, designed and built by Robin Whittle, which was very likely the first programmable drum and sequencing software used live in the world, predating the fair light CMI's "page R" by a couple of years. Missing Link issued the EP 'Madagascar' and the single ''12 Ways / Yank'' in 1981. 1982 saw the release of their album 'How Did We Miss These?'. The band toured interstate and began picking up interest further afield but having decided that the concept had run its course. Equal Local disbanded in 1982. Richards went on to expand on his side project, the neo-big band Hot Half Hour.
Members
Dean Richards (guitar/bass), Philip Jackson (synthesizers/beat programs), Melissa Webb (synthesizers/piano), Bryce Perrin (bass), Robin Whittle (computer drums), Mick Hauser (sax), Ian Cox (sax)
SINGLES
''12 Ways To Go / Yank'' 1982 Missing Link
EPs 'Madagascar' 1981 Missing Link
ALBUMS 'How Did We Miss These?' 1982 Rash (Decisions)
Originating from a satellite suburb of western Sydney called Green Valley, the band originally formed so that they could get into gigs for free. At the time most of the band was still at school so they could only play gigs on the weekend. With minimum solos and maximum energy the Lonely Hearts always had the crowd on their feet dancing. They were one of the best value live bands of the time often supporting major acts like Cold Chisel, the Angels, the Oils and Mentals to name a few. It wasn’t too long before they could hold their own as a headline act.
The original lineup consisted of the Rooney brothers John (vocals) and Michael (bass), Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Brabeck (drums) and Anthony Bautovich (guitar) and at their first inner city gig they upstaged Midnight Oil at the Sydney Cove Tavern. This was the multiple encore type show that was soon to become the norm for the Lonely Hearts. They went on to take the inner city by storm attracting attention with their pink PA and army of followers who would often arrive just before they played and leave soon after. They played as many gigs as they could without missing too much school and even put down some demos at Festival. Regular Records among others began to take interest along with numerous publishing offers but the band resisted urges to sign any deals and in late 1979 drummer Steve Brabeck resigned, and Phil Edwards (ex-Elm Tree, Jupiter) took his place.
The guys were always taking the mickey out of everyone, never took anything seriously and no effort was spent having a great time. Rehearsals could be almost unbearable as they told one rock writer that the band members consisted of Johnny & Mickey Heart, Tom & Bob Phantom and Phil Eruption and even rang one potential manager to drive out from the city in his Bentley to pick them up to take them to the Skippy milkbar in Liverpool for hot chocolate!
After breaking up in August 1981 three of the founding members John and Michael Rooney and Tom Watson, reformed with drummer Greg Ohlback (or as they called him Jimmy Olsen) (ex-Reporters) and Guilio Mariani (ex-QVs) in November 1981. Over 60 gigs, a tour of Melbourne and some demos at Clive Shakespeare’s studio and four months later in February 1982 Ohlback and Mariani had left. This wasn’t all bad as Phil Edwards had returned from England and was available to play drums. By March they were in EMI 301 studios which resulted in the double A side single ''Don’t Feel Safe / Last Kiss'' which as Jules Normington of Phantom records puts it is “one of the greatest 45s ever released in Australia”. The single rapidly sold the 1,000 copies which were pressed and in September 1982 ''Down Around the Corner'' which was also recorded at EMI 301 was released on the 2UW 'Homegrown' album.
David Guest then joined the band on keys and guitar in early 1983. By March they were back in the studio this time at Alberts and in June the band released another self funded single ''Ambition'' backed with ''Tonight'' on the Waterfront label. Later in June 1983 ''Down Around the Corner'' was then released on a Waterfront Records promotional EP and given away at a gig at the Trade Union Club on the 25th of June 1983. After several years of intense gigging, some demos at Atlantic studios and further self funded sessions at Alberts the band broke up again in February 1984.
In 1989 the band reformed with Dale Steedman replacing an unavailable Michael Rooney on bass and Anthony Bautovich rejoining on second guitar. In 1990 they released ''The Spell'' backed with ''Last Chance'' on Regular Records and in 1992 the Lonely Hearts finally called it quits leaving behind numerous demo tapes and other recordings which were eventually compiled by the Buttercup label and released in 2017.
Members
John Rooney (vocals), Michael Rooney (bass), Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Brabeck (drums), Anthony Bautovich (guitar), Phil Edwards (drums), Jimmy Olsen [Greg Ohlback] (drums), Guilio Mariani, David Guest (guitar, keyboards), Dale Steedman (bass)
SINGLES ''Last Kiss / Don't Feel Safe'' 1982 Half An Arc ''Ambition / Tonight'' 1983 Waterfront ''The Spell / Last Chance'' 1990 Regular
Sardine V (or just Sardine) was a post-punk band, formed in 1980 by Ian Rilen (ex-X, Rose Tattoo) on guitar and vocals, and his then-wife, Stephanie Rilen on lead vocals and keyboards. The band formed after Ian Rilen bought a keyboard for his children. "I didn't know Stephanie played until I bought a keyboard for the kids, and I was writing songs in my room at the house. She just walked by and played a line on the keyboards. I said Do that again."
Sardine V were managed by SCAM (suss city artist management), which also looked after The Sunnyboys, Machinations, Tablewaiters and Local Product. Lobby Loyde, part owner of SCAM, was involved as producer on Sardine V's first single, "Sabotage / Sudan". Although hard-working and popular live (playing to crowds of 800-1000), the band's recordings were never up to suitable quality, and they failed to make it big. A video of 1982 version of Sardine performing "Sudan" (written by Falconer) on ABC-TV's Countdown is available on YouTube and shows Ian Rilen on guitar, Stephanie Rilen on keyboards and lead vocals, Johanna Pigott on bass guitar and Barton Price on drums. A five track EP 'I Hate You' followed in 1983 released on Phantom Records with the lineup of Ian Rilen, Stephanie Rilen, Stuart Dunlop (bass) and Craig Rossi (drums), They disbanded in 1983.
Their influence was still felt. Hunters & Collectors covered "Stuck On You" (written by Ian and Stephanie) on their 1986 album 'Human Frailty' and added it to their set, and both tracks from the single featured on compilation albums. The Deadly Hume covered "I Hate You" on the Phantom Records tenth anniversary compilation 'Assorted Desecrations And Magnificent Mutations' (1988). Ian Rilen died in 2006 from bladder cancer.
Members
Ian Rilen (guitar, vocals), Stephanie Rilen (keyboards, vocals), Phil Hall (bass), Greg Skehill (drums), Michael Skinner (drums), Barton Price (drums), Johanna Pigott (bass), John Lloyd (drums), Stuart Dunlop (bass), Andrew Garton (sax), Craig Rossi (drums)
From September 1979 to June 1980, Shy Impostors shook up Sydney's inner city live music scene. Fronted by singer-songwriter Penny Ward and with guitarist Richard Burgman, bassist Peter Oxley and drummer Michael Charles they played infectious, raucous and melodic pop music. In late 1979, Dare Jennings and Jules Normington had the idea for the Phantom label when they realised they were surrounded by talented musicians who were unsigned. Their girlfriends Penny Ward and Julie Mostyn, respectively, were lead singers in bands: Shy Impostors (were about to record) and The Flaming Hands (had already recorded tracks), as had their friends The Passengers.
In February of 1980 the band recorded seven songs at Palm Studios, Sydney. Two of these tracks, ''At The Barrier / Seein' Double'', was posthumously released late in 1980 on Sydney's Phantom label. The other five tracks languished in the vaults. Shy Impostors dissolved shortly after these recording sessions were completed in early 1980. Guitarist Richard Burgman and bassist Peter Oxley then teamed with drummer Bil Bilson and Oxley’s talented kid brother Jeremy on guitar and vocals to form the Sunnyboys. During 2016 all seven tracks were restored from original master tapes and mixed by producer Jason Blackwell. The resulting self-titled CD released on Citadel was a long overdue retrospective giving yet another intriguing insight into the formative years of Sydney's post Radio Birdman indie music explosion.
Members
Richard Burgman (guitar), Michael Charles (drums), Peter Oxley (bass), Penny Ward (vocals)
SINGLES ''At The Barrier / Seein' Double'' 1981 Phantom
