ANGRY ANDERSON

Gary Stephen Anderson was born on 5 August 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria, to an Australian father and Mauritian mother. He has a brother living in Melbourne by the name of Rodney. Anderson's nickname of "Angry Ant" developed "during his youth after his aggressive and volatile nature got the better of him." According to Anderson, his father "was a deeply troubled man... I've dealt with my rage, my pain... I was a very angry boy... When he was around he was a very explosive person." Anderson used his uncle, Ivan, as his role model, he "was a cigarette-smoking, beer-drinking, leather jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding drummer in a swing band." 

Anderson grew up in suburban Coburg and attended Coburg Technical School before working as a fitter and turner in a factory. Initially he wanted to be a blues guitarist, "I wanted to be like all the great blues guitar players, then I wanted to be like Bob Dylan, then of course... John Lennon." Anderson found himself in a band with three possible guitarists and "the other two were much better than me, so the only other thing we needed was a singer... we had to sing 'Twist and Shout' without accompaniment. I just happened to be the best one at it."

From 1971 to 1973, Anderson led rock group Peace Power and Purity and came to wider public notice as the lead vocalist with Buster Brown. He fronted the hard rock and blues rock band from its foundation in 1973, the original line-up included Phil Rudd on drums, who left in 1974 to join AC/DC. In 1975, Buster Brown released an album, 'Something to Say', on Mushroom Records/Festival Records before disbanding in November that year.

In 1976 in Sydney, Rose Tattoo was formed by Peter Wells of the heavy metal band Buffalo. Anderson had relocated to Sydney and replaced the group's original singer Tony Lake. When their drummer Michael Vandersluys departed soon afterwards, he was replaced by Dallas Royall, who had been Rudd's replacement in Buster Brown. Their most popular single on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart was "Bad Boy for Love" from 1977, which peaked at #19. Rose Tattoo's 1981 tour of Europe included an appearance at the Reading Festival, where Anderson repeatedly head butted the amp stacks until his scalp started bleeding.

Anderson's debut as an actor was a minor role in Bullamakanka (1984). In 1985, he appeared as the character Ironbar Bassey in the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Later that year, Anderson joined as a guest vocalist with The Incredible Penguins, for a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", a charity project for research on little penguins, which peaked at #10 in December. In 1987, he played Lenin in the musical, "Rasputin", at the State Theatre in Sydney.

Anderson led Rose Tattoo through six studio albums until disbanding the group in 1987, by which time he was the only member remaining from the early line-up. During 1986, as Rose Tattoo was winding down following the recording of 'Beats from a Single Drum', Anderson joined The Party Boys for an Australian tour, but never recorded with them. By this time Anderson had established himself as an advocate on social issues and made regular appearances on the Channel Nine programs The Midday Show with Ray Martin and then A Current Affair as a human-interest reporter.

In 1987, Anderson had his biggest hit, when the uncharacteristic ballad "Suddenly" from the album, 'Beats from a Single Drum', was used as the wedding theme for the Neighbours episode in which the popular characters Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell married. Mitchell's character was portrayed by pop singer, Kylie Minogue, who had issued her debut single in July as a cover version of "Locomotion." "Locomotion" was at #1 on the Australian charts preventing "Suddenly" from reaching the top spot. 'Beats from a Single Drum' had been planned as Anderson's debut solo release but had initially been billed as a Rose Tattoo album due to contractual obligations; however, after the success of "Suddenly", it was re-released in 1988 as an Angry Anderson solo album. In November 1988, the single reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart after the episode aired there. In 2009, in homage to this moment, the song was featured in the final episode of BBC3's comedy Gavin & Stacey, during the wedding of characters Nessa and Dave.

With the dissolution of Rose Tattoo, Anderson pressed on with his solo career, releasing the album 'Blood from Stone' in 1990 which provided the #11 hit single "Bound for Glory." He performed the song during the pre-match entertainment at the 1991 AFL Grand Final between Hawthorn and West Coast, appearing on top of a Batmobile. According to The Punch's Michael Phelan, Anderson's performance was "a teeth-gnashing, eyeballs-bleeding, nails-scratching-down-a-blackboard rendition" and rates it as the worst pre-game display in Australian sporting history. In 1992, Anderson acted in the Australian arena-style revival of Jesus Christ Superstar as Herod. On Australia Day (26 January) 1993, Anderson was made a Member of the Order of Australia with the citation, "In recognition of service to the community, particularly as a youth advocate." Also that year, Rose Tattoo reunited to support Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour, Guns N' Roses specifically requested The Tatts to support them in Australia. However the reunion was short-lived, and the band's members returned to their solo projects.

From 1994, Anderson has used his contacts in the media to organise a Challenge where a particular charity's project was completed with support of community and business groups. Examples of these Challenges include constructing a playground for handicapped children within 48 hours, assisting drought affected farmers with reserve feed for their stock, organising Christmas presents for socially and economically disadvantaged children and delivering artificial limbs for Cambodian land mine victims.

Rose Tattoo reconvened in 1998 and undertook an Australian tour. The group has continued to perform despite five Rose Tattoo former band members dying of cancer: Dallas Royall (1991), Peter Wells (2006), Ian Rilen (2006), Lobby Lloyde (2007), and Mick Cocks (2009). According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "over the course of a lengthy career, the gravel-throated vocalist ... has gone from attention-grabbing, rock'n'roll bad boy to all-round Australian media star." On 16 August 2006, Rose Tattoo were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.

In the early years of the 2000s, Anderson participated in and organised a string of charity events. In 2002, Anderson played with former members of The Angels at the Bali Relief concert in Perth, Western Australia, held in aid of victims of the Bali bombing. Anderson is involved in the Dunn Lewis Youth Development Foundation, which is a lasting legacy of two of the 88 Australian lives lost in the bombings. In 2003, Anderson appeared in a cameo role as the character Kris Quaid in the independent Australian feature film Finding Joy. At the end of the film, he sings his hit "Suddenly."

In 2011, Anderson appeared in a guest role in the Australian movie Suite for Fleur, as Silas, Fleur's father, a carpenter and furniture maker living in Byron Bay. In December, Anderson joined Doc Neeson - The Angels, Mark Gable - The Choirboys, Buzz Bidstrup - The Angels, Phil Emmanuel and Matt Sorum (drummer for Velvet Revolver) on-stage to celebrate the opening of a Hard Rock Cafe in Darling Harbour. In January 2012 Anderson announced that Rose Tattoo would disband – he is a member of the National Party and is considering using his birth name, Gary, for "political expediency" when running as a candidate in the next federal election.

In 2014, Anderson was featured on 7mate's successful television series Bogan Hunters as one of eight celebrity judges. Later that year, Anderson scored a role in the motion picture Fat Pizza vs. Housos. The film will be shown in Australian cinemas from 27 November 2014 onwards. 

SINGLES

Suddenly

13 JUL '87

#2

Bound for Glory

2 SEP '90

#11

Heaven

1991

ALBUMS

Blood From Stone

SEP 1990

#35

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Anderson

DAMIEN LOVELOCK

Damien "Damo" Lovelock (born 1954, Amersham UK) was an Australian musician, sports broadcaster and writer. Lovelock had fronted the hard rock band, The Celibate Rifles, since 1980 as their lead singer-songwriter. The band released nine studio albums. In 1988, Lovelock released his debut solo album, 'It's A Wig Wig Wig Wig World', on which he even abandoned the hard rocking sound to include a version of the gentler "Chilly Winds" that Bill Lovelock had written originally for Nina Simone. In 1990, Lovelock released the single, "Disco Inferno", and in 1991 the album 'Fishgrass', as well as the single "The Dalai Lama". The last of these was written as a result of his raising money for Tibetan refugees and led to Lovelock's meeting with the Dalai Lama on his visit to Australia in 1992. According to the singer, he suggested to His Holiness then "that one way of garnering great support for Tibet in their struggle for recognition on the world stage and to get a little of their share of human rights and (dare we say it) land back from their Chinese landlords, was to get a Tibetan soccer team to play in the World Cup".

The studio band recruited for these solo recordings was made up of musicians from several bands' Among them the bassist Rick Grossman was included for a special reason. Sympathising with Grossman from having gone the same journey as himself many years before, Lovelock supported and encouraged him while he was recovering from addiction to drink and drugs. An earlier Lovelock recording came about during his relationship with the surfer Pam Burridge. In 1984 they appeared together on the single "Summer Time All Round The World" under the name Pam and the Pashions. It was from her international activities too that Lovelock got the idea to take The Celibate Rifles on tour abroad. The first of their visits to the US was in 1986 in the wake of a slump in public interest in the band at home. On a later occasion Lovelock got caught up in an armed bank raid in the Netherlands while on a European tour. Shot in the hand by a stray bullet, he still went onstage for that evening's performance. Lovelock died of cancer in 2019.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Lovelock

CLUB HOY

Formed in Sydney in 1989, Club Hoy was a folk duo, comprising of Penny Flanagan and Julia Richardson. Flanagan and Richardson began performing together at the age of 19, and after a year of writing and performing, released their first single, "On and On," in 1990. Late that year, additional musicians Bernie Hayes (bass) and Vincent Sheehan (drums) joined the band.

In early 1991, their second single, the double A-side "Da Da Da Da / Green and Blue" was released. For this single, Club Hoy enlisted the help of former Go-Between Grant McLennan, who performed on and produced a couple of tracks with Club Hoy; they later returned the favour on one of McLennan's albums. By this time, there was a significant amount of critical acclaim for the band, and they were developing a dedicated fan base, although commercial success was proving elusive.

The first taste of their debut album, 'Thursday's Fortune', was in the form of a single from that album ("House On Fire"). It generated a great deal of interest in the upcoming release, which finally saw the light of day two months after the release of "House On Fire," in September 1991. Greeted with critical praise, 'Thursday's Fortune' saw Club Hoy receive minor commercial success. This was thanks in no small part to extensive touring with the likes of Things of Stone and Wood, Margaret Urlich, the Falling Joys, the Clouds, and the Hummingbirds. One of the strengths of Club Hoy's music lay in their well-crafted songwriting, which produced some of the best folk-pop music of the early-'90s. Richardson and Flanagan's vocal harmonies were another highlight.

Two more singles were released from 'Thursday's Fortune' ("Walk Away" and "Not Like That") in 1992. These were followed by their final recording, the 'Trumpets' EP, which was promoted with the track "You Promised, You Said." This choice as lead single from the EP caused tensions within the group to be exacerbated, and, in 1993, Club Hoy disbanded. Penny Flanagan went on to pursue a successful solo career, while Julia Richardson and Bernie Hayes formed a new group, the Troublemakers.

Members

Penny Flanagan (vocals, guitar), Julia Richardson (vocals, guitar), Bernie Hayes (bass),
Vincent Sheehan (drums)

SINGLES

The Other Side of You Trumpets [EP]

22 NOV '92

#88

You Promised - You Said  Trumpets" [EP]

22 NOV '92

#88

References

Jonathan Lewis

CURIOUS (YELLOW)

Curious (Yellow) was formed in Sydney in 1987 by Karin Jansson as a pop, alternative rock band. Jansson was a guitarist in Swedish feminist punk band, Pink Champagne from 1979 to 1984. That group had released two full-length albums, 'Vackra pojke!(Beautiful Boy!') in 1981 and 'Kärlek eller ingenting (Love or Nothing') in 1983. She relocated to Australia in 1986 and was the domestic partner of Steve Kilbey – vocalist and bass guitarist of Australian alternative rockers, The Church. Jansson recorded demos of her own songs and others she wanted to perform live.

The first line-up of Curious (Yellow) was Jansson with Mike Knapp on drums, and Phil Hall on guitar – both formerly of the punk band Dropbears – and Les White (aka Lez White) of New Zealand pop-rock group Th' Dudes on bass guitar. In March 1988, Curious (Yellow) released an EP 'I Am Curious' on Red Eye Records. Both the band's name and the EP title are a reference to the 1967 Swedish film "I Am Curious (Yellow)". The EP was produced by Kilbey, who also provided keyboards, programming, guitar and backing vocals. The group performed locally and then toured Australia's east coast with fellow Red Eye artists The Bhagavad Guitars, The Crystal Set, and The Mexican Spitfires. Jansson and Kilbey co-wrote The Church's hit single "Under the Milky Way" (February 1988), and Curious (Yellow) often included their version in live performances. After Hall joined the Lime Spiders in December, the first line-up disbanded.

By 1990, a second line-up had formed with Jansson and White joined by Mike Caen (ex-Dragon) on guitar, Jim Bowman on guitar and Mark Dawson on drums. They released two singles, "Taken By Surprise" (August) and "Love Itself" (November), and an album 'Charms and Blues' in September. It was produced by the band and Kilbey and issued on Red Eye Records and Polydor. In the Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop, Ian McFarlane described the album as "combined airy ambience with melancholy pop". The CD version of the album included "Down the Wishing Well" as a bonus track.

Members

Karin Jansson (vocals), Mike Knapp (drums), Phil Hall (guitar), Les White (bass),
Mike Caen (guitar), Jim Bowman (guitar), Mark Dawson (drums)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curious_(Yellow)

MR FLOPPY

Mr Floppy was formed in Ascot Vale, a suburb of Melbourne, in 1989 by Tim Aylward on guitar (ex-The Swarm); Mick Carroll (aka Michael Kuarroll) on guitar; Paul Johnson on bass guitar and lead vocals and Joseph Kennedy (ex-Pray TV) on drums. The band's name comes the fourth and final series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder, Blackadder Goes Forth, "Mr Floppy" being one the Trinity College Tiddlywinkers mentioned by Lt George. They set up their own label, Zombie Penis Death, which was distributed by Waterfront Records. Sometime before the release of their first single, Kennedy left the band and was replaced with a drum machine, dubbed "Bonecrusher Roland" by the band.

Their debut single, "100,000 Morrisseys", appeared in late 1989, which was written by Aylward and Johnson. The lyrics deal with English rock group The Smiths' front man, Morrissey. The single received many negative reviews but was played on John Peel's radio show. It uses a sample of the beginning of "This Charming Man" and samples other Smiths' songs (including "William, It Was Really Nothing" and "Accept Yourself") throughout the track. It was seen by Jason Heller of The A.V. Club as an anti-Morrisey song where the lyrics ask listeners to "imagine a nightmarish apocalypse where the fearful question on humanity's lips is 'What shall we do? / What shall we do? / When 100,000 Morrisseys come marching over the hill?'". In mid-1990, they signed to Waterfront, who reissued "100,000 Morrisseys".

Late in 1990, they issued a six-track EP, 'Firm and Fruity', which had been recorded in that October at Whirled Records Studios. For a 'Firm and Fruity track', "Stir Fry Baby", Australian blues musician, Chris Wilson, guested on harmonica. Nick Radford of Tharunka felt, "they have come up with a few more funny, irreverent tasty ones and it's not bad value. The sort of thing you play before going out on a stupid, drunken night on the town."

Carroll left the band at the end of 1990 and was replaced by Bernard Blake. On 16 December 1991, Mr Floppy released their debut studio album, 'Breakfast' which included three cover versions of Australian Crawl's 1983 single, "Reckless" written by James Reyne, parodied as "Breakfast". Also included was the entire contents of 'Firm and Fruity'. "Breakfast" peaked at #5 on the 2XX Independent Chart in March 1992. In early 1992, Blake quit the band, who decided to continue as a two-piece. Later in 1992, Mr Floppy issued a seven-track album, 'Gratuitous'. In April, that year the group supported a gig by pub rockers, v. Spy v. Spy and Canadian folk-rockers, Crash Test Dummies. This turned out to be their last release on Waterfront – they left the label shortly after and got a distribution deal with Mushroom Distribution Services. The band also headlined a show at the Lansdowne in Sydney on 29 April, from which three songs would be included on their next album.

In July 1993, the band released their third and final album, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead', which included two cover versions of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights". The track "Boring Fart" from this album was used by Silverchair to open up their first tours in the mid-1990s. The band split up in 1994. Some of their final performances took place between 4 and 7 March of that year at Club O in Perth. Johnson formed a new band called Poontang* that year, reusing the old Mr Floppy PO Box. They played 24 concerts and released one album in October 1998 before disbanding.

Members

Tim Aylward (guitar), Mick Carroll (guitar), Paul Johnson (bass/vocals), Bernard Blake (guitar),
Joseph Kennedy (drums)

References

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Floppy

SCRAP METAL

Scrap Metal were a band from Broome, Western Australia who played rock music with elements of country and reggae. The members had Aboriginal, Irish, Filipino, French, Chinese, Scottish, Indonesian and Japanese heritage. They released their first album 'Just Looking' in 1987. This was followed by 'Broken Down Man' (1987). Signed to ABC Records their third album 'Scap Metal' was released in 1990. The band toured nationally as part of the Bran Nue Dae musical and with Midnight Oil, and were the first Aboriginal band to sign an international publishing deal. An ABC TV documentary From Broome to the Big Smoke was made about them. Scrap Metal won the 'Best Indigenous Act' award at the 1992 West Australian Music Industry Awards. After Scrap Metal Alan, Stephen and Phillip Pigram joined up with their brothers David, Colin, Gavin and Peter to create The Pigram Brothers. In 2006 Stephen and Alan Pigram were inducted into the Western Australian Music Hall of Fame.

Members

Alan Pigram (guitar), Stephen Pigram (vocals/guitar), Phillip Pigram (drums), Paul Mamid (bass),

Michael Ambi (vocals), Michael Teh (bass), Johnny Albert (vocals)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrap_Metal_(band)

MARY-JO STARR

Kaarin Fairfax (born 30 September 1959) was a vocalist for Wild Blue Yonder, a Sydney-based band from 1985 which had a varied line-up but had no known recordings. In the late 1970s she was part of a comedy vocal trio The Droolettes which also included Gina Riley and Gina Mendoza with Geoff O'Connell on piano. During 1989–1991 she supplied backing vocals on tracks by Paul Kelly & the Messengers. In 1990, under the name, Mary-Jo Starr, she released three singles and an album, 'Too Many Movies'. She was nominated for the 1991 ARIA Award for Best New Talent and appeared on the 'Breaking Ground - New Directions' in Country Music compilation which was also nominated for Best Country Album. She joined Truckasaurus in 1993, a Melbourne-based Grungey/country band which released 'Truckasaurus' in October.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaarin_Fairfax

INTERSTELLAR VILLAINS

After the Scientists, Tony Thewlis formed the Interstellar Villains, going off in a musical direction much more rooted in '60s rock, psychedelia and surf music. Signed to Timberyard their first release was a three track single ''Sex Kitten /I Want A Gun / Lost Cause'' in 1989, closely followed by the mini-LP 'Right Out Of The Lobster Quadrille'. Two more singles followed and an LP 'Revlover'. Alison Handley joined the band to cut the single ''My Boyfriend Is An Outlaw / I Love You She Said'' but the legacy of this band (which unfortunately was never to publish anything else) took too long to be heard. 

 
Members

Tony Thewlis (vocals, guitar), Richard Walsh (bass), Alan Hislop (drums), Nick Potts (keyboards), Alison Handley (vocals)

GOD

God was formed in Melbourne in 1986 as a punk rock quartet by Sean Greenway (AKA Sean Scorpion) on guitar and vocals; Tim Hemensley (AKA Meatcleaver Boy) on bass guitar, drums and vocals; Joel Silbersher (AKAJoel Rock'n'Roll) on guitar and vocals; and Matthew Whittle (AKA Matty Mustang) on bass guitar, drums and vocals. All four were 15-16 at the time. Hemensley had been a member of Royal Flush (with Roman Tucker, later of Rocket Science), Greenway and Whittle were members of Foot and Mouth, and Silbersher was a DJ on community radio, 

Bruce Milne of Au Go Go Records, who also ran a shop front to sell recordings, met the group's members. He signed them to his label, which issued their debut 7" single, "My Pal", in January 1988. It was written by Silbersher, and received favourable reviews, which sold in the thousands to become, "an enduring Australian underground classic." Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, observed, "they had an alternative #1 hit on their hands before they were even old enough to get beer riders at their gigs! 'My Pal' was the third biggest selling alternative single for 1988."

Andrew Stafford, writer of Pig City: from the Saints to Savage Garden, listed "My Pal" at #24 of his "Australian Songbook" in December 2011. He described how, "Silbersher had this song's circular five-note riff in his head for years before one day, in the shower, the lyric came in a rush: 'You’re my only friend / You don't even like me!' Recorded when most of the band were 17 (the video above captures Silbersher with braces still on his teeth)." Stafford felt, "it was such a towering feat that, unfortunately, it overshadowed everything else they ever did." Cover versions were recorded by several artists: Magic Dirt (1997), Violent Soho, Peabody, Bored!, A Death in the Family, the Hollowmen, and Bum (from Canada). Andrew Mueller of The Guardian declared, "it started out as an obscure 7" single and ended up revered as a garage band classic, the Aussie equivalent of 'Wild Thing'."

God released an eight-track extended play, 'Rock Is Hell', in December 1988, it appeared in four different cover designs, one by each band member, due to the members' inability to agree on a cover. McFarlane felt, "it suffered from slop-bucket production values, but was another statement in God's quest for the ultimate so-bad-its-good trash ethic." 

Their full-length studio album, 'For Lovers Only', appeared in December 1989, via Au Go Go Records which, "boasted stronger production and songs." Although God had disbanded by that time, it was released on vinyl in Europe. The band's last gig was at the Central Club on 30 July 1989. Au Go Go later released, 'For Lovers Only', on CD with "My Pal" and most of Rock Is Hell, as bonus tracks.

"My Pal" appeared on the Underbelly soundtrack for the TV series of the same name. It was used on the Australian TV film, Underground – The Julian Assange Story. God's self-titled double CD reissue was released on Afterburn Records in February 2010. BMA Magazine's correspondent described the group, "they sounded like a ten train smash-up in Tin Railroad Town. They were trying to encapsulate stadium rock and their ‘monster riffs’ often sounded like a playgroup had broken into the bottle recycling bin combined with that siren song of crap amps buzzing and wheezing you sometimes hear just before they blow up." Sean Greenway died of a heroin overdose in 2001, aged 30. Tim Hemensley died of a heroin overdose in 2003. 

Members

Joel Silbersher (guitar, vocals), Tim Hemensley (bass, vocals), Sean Greenway, (guitar, vocals), Matthew Whittle (drums, vocals)

 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_(Australian_band)

RIPE

An alternative rock/shoegaze band from Melbourne. The initial lineup was Mark Murphy on vocals/guitar, Peter Moran on guitar, Tony Cleaver on bass and Ewan McCartney on drums. They released two albums, 'Filterfeed' in 1990 on Polyester Records and 'The Plastic Hassle' in 1993 on Beggars Banquet. They split up shortly after their second album. They reformed adding Katie Dixon on bass and Darren Seltmann on drums replacing Cleaver and McCartney. They would continue to release singles until 1993. In 2006 they released an EP, 'Galaxies And Stars', on Timberyard Records and did some touring. However, they disbanded again in 2007.

Members

Mark Murphy (vocals, guitar), Katie Dixon (bass), Peter Moran (guitar), Darren Seltmann (drums),

Tony Cleaver (bass),, Ewan McCartney (drums)

WHITE NOISE

White Noise was a skinhead band that formed in Perth around 1985. Ex members of The Quick and The Dead and Headbutt 100 formed the nucleus of the band. Their music had right wing and nationalist white power overtones right out of a KKK handbook. Lyrics about kicking heads, stabbing people and getting pissed were also included. There was no compromise with this band. It was in your face hardcore punk. White Noise recorded several singles on the Street Rock ‘N’ Roll label (an imprint of German label Rock-O-Rama) ''Sick Mind / Rebels'' (1989); ''Clockwork Violence / Head Kicked In'' (1989); ''Ace Of Spades / Thinking Of You (1990); ''On The Streets / Violence'' (1990). They released two LPs 'The First Assault' and the live album 'Reckless Aggression' on the Rock O Rama label before disbanding.

Members

Glen Sheridan (guitar), Jamie (bass), Dave (drums), Jim King (vocals), John (bass), Matt (drums)

ROSS WILSON

Ross Andrew Wilson (born 18 November 1947, Melbourne, Victoria) began his musical career in 1964 and formed his first band The Pink Finks with thirteen-year-old Ross Hannaford (guitar and vocals), who would become his long-time musical partner, whilst both were still at school. They released a cover version of "Louie Louie" on the very rare Mojo label in 1965. It reached #16 on the local charts. The band signed with W&G and recorded three more singles. At about this time he met Patricia Higgins (future Pat Wilson) whilst working at the Department of Supply. The Pink Finks was followed by the more progressively oriented The Party Machine (1967–69) still with Hannaford but included Mike Rudd on bass (later in Spectrum).

Compensation for his earlier car accident was received by 1969, which enabled Wilson to travel to England with Pat. He had been invited by friend Brian Peacock (bass guitar) to join his band Procession. Whilst there, Wilson married Pat, recorded an album Procession with the band and wrote the song "Eagle Rock". Wilson returned to Australia later that year and formed Sons of the Vegetal Mother (1969–70), again including Hannaford and Rudd. In 1970 Sons of the Vegetal Mother formed a side-project called Daddy Cool. The original members were Wilson, Hannaford (vocals and guitars), Gary Young on drums (ex-Rondells) and Wayne Duncan bass (ex-Rondells), other members that joined, included saxophonist Jeremy Noone and guitarist Ian Winter.

Known for their "good time" image, Daddy Cool's repertoire mixed covers of 1950s R&B and doo-wop classics with original compositions mostly written by Wilson and influenced by the work of Frank Zappa. The band signed to the independent Sparmac label, co-owned by producer and former child prodigy guitarist Robie Porter. Daddy Cool became very popular in Australia and their records also gained a following in the USA and Canada in the early 1970s. They scored a nationwide #1 hit in Australia in mid-1970 with the single "Eagle Rock" and their debut LP, 'Daddy Who? Daddy Cool', also reached #1 to set a record as the biggest selling Australian album to that time. The "Eagle Rock" promo was directed by Chris Löfvén who had earlier that year directed the video for Spectrum's single "I'll Be Gone".

Around this time Ross and wife Pat both appeared naked in a short film directed by Chris Löfvén titled The Beginning which is an extra on the DVD release of Oz. After Daddy Cool broke up late in 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived Mighty Kong which included former Spectrum drummer Ray Arnott and Company Caine guitarist Russell Smith. They recorded only one LP, 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock' released on Porter's new label Wizard Records, but the band broke up soon after. Whilst performing with Mighty Kong, Wilson was impressed by a fledgling Melbourne band called Skyhooks and signed their main songwriter Greg Macainsh to his publishing company.

Daddy Cool made a surprise reformation for the January 1974 Sunbury Pop Festival and remained together until late 1975. Also performing at Sunbury in 1974 were Skyhooks and, despite being booed off stage, Wilson recommended the band to Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski. In June / July 1974 Wilson took time off from Daddy Cool and produced Skyhook's breakthrough debut album 'Living in the Seventies', which overtook Daddy Cool's first album to become the biggest-selling Australian LP. He went on to produce their next two albums, 'Ego is not a Dirty Word' (1975) and 'Straight in a Gay Gay World' (1976), both of which were also successes in Australia.

Contractual problems with Porter's Wizard label, to whom Wilson was signed at the time, forced him to wait out the end of his recording contract. He turned to producing records for Skyhooks on Mushroom Records and Company Caine on his own label Oz Records. When his contractual obligations ended, Wilson also scored Chris Löfvén's 1976 film, Oz, inspired by The Wizard of Oz but set in Australia. Wilson performed "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (also released as a single), "The Mood", "Greaseball", "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" and "Atmospherics", with fellow ex-Daddy Cool members Gary Young and Wayne Burt; he produced the soundtrack which also featured the film's stars Joy Dunstan and Graham Matters singing a track each and two tracks by Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons. Jo Jo Zep, containing Young and Burt, were also signed to Oz Records and released the single "Beating Around the Bush" from the soundtrack.

His next venture, Mondo Rock went through several incarnations but the best known line-up included bassist Paul Christie (ex-Kevin Borich Express, later in The Party Boys), guitarist and songwriter Eric McCusker, (ex-The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band), drummer John Hackett (ex-Stars) and James Black on keyboards and guitar. Wilson produced the band's first single in 1978 "Fugitive Kind" and first album, 1979's 'Primal Park' for his own Oz Records label. Greatest singles success was with 1980's "State of the Heart", 1981's "Chemistry" and "Cool World" all from their award-winning second album 'Chemistry' released in 1981 on Avenue Records. 1980s teen-idol Rick Springfield recorded "State of the Heart" in 1985, making the U.S Top 40. McCusker had written "State of the Heart", co-written "Chemistry" with Christie, and Wilson had written "Cool World". Mondo Rock released 'Nuovo Mondo' in 1982 which included their track "Touch of Paradise" written by Wilson and Gulliver Smith (aka Kevin Smith, ex-Company Caine) this became a 1986 hit when covered by Australian pop singer John Farnham (ex-Little River Band).

In 1983, Wilson wrote a song, "Bop Girl" for his then wife Pat Wilson aka "Mummy Cool" when writing for Go-Set magazine back in 1971–1972. As a single, it featured Ross on backing vocals, and became an Australian #2 hit and even gained recognition internationally. It also had a video directed by Gillian Armstrong, which featured not only Ross, but the actual screen debut of Nicole Kidman. Mondo Rock released further albums including 'The Modern Bop' in 1984, which had their best charting single "Come Said the Boy" (#2 on National singles chart) and "The Modern Bop"; and 'Boom Baby Boom' in 1986, 'Aliens' (EP) in 1987 and 'Why Fight it?' in 1990. The later albums and singles had little chart success. Wilson's most successful solo release was 1989's "Bed of Nails" which reached #25 on the National singles charts. It was released from his July 1989 solo album 'Dark Side of the Man' on WEA.

Wilson returned to performing in the late 1990s and he has released two albums of new material plus a two-CD retrospective covering his entire career, including many rare tracks.) He has also collaborated with children's group The Wiggles, singing on their re-recording of "Eagle Rock" and playing the part of "King Mondo" in the video "Space Dancing". Wilson also appeared as "King Mondo" on the 2004 video "Santa's Rockin'!" singing This Little Baby Is Born Again. In 1996 Wilson was part of the pre-game entertainment at the ARL Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium, with other famous Australian music acts, The Del Tones, Glenn Shorrock, Christine Anu and Kate Ceberano. Wilson sang "Eagle Rock", which would ironically later be adopted by the winners of the Grand Final, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, as their team anthem.

Wilson was approached in early 2006 by St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss to re-write the St Kilda theme song "When The Saints Go Marching In". Ross Wilson has appeared as a judge on the Seven Network celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two in both 2006 and 2007 series, and was featured in the ABC interview series Talking Heads with Peter Thompson on 9 July 2007. In 2008, Wilson was invited to Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California to perform the song "Eagle Rock" at the Eagle Rock Music Festival. In August 2009 Wilson celebrated 45 years in music with the commemorative "5 Decades of Cool" concert at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda, Melbourne.

SINGLES

Living in the Land of Oz

23 AUG '76

#46

Bed of Nails

12 JUN '89

#25

Dark Side of the Man

28 AUG '89

#57

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Wilson_(musician)

WIDDERSHINS

Widdershins was an Australian indie pop band, active from 1987 to 1989. After The Lighthouse Keepers disbanded in early 1986, Greg Appel and Juliet Ward went on to form the Rainlovers which became Widdershins in 1987 with the addition of James Cruickshank, Peter Timmerman and Barry Turnbull (ex-John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong). Three years of sporadic playing around Australia to a small, devoted following and a number of releases on vinyl including the album 'Ascension' earned them the respect of critics throughout the country. Widdershins called it a day after a final performance on 30 March 1990 at Sydney University. British label Egg Records released the compilation album 'Good Songs 1987-1989' in 2005. James Cruickshank died in 2015.

Members

Greg Appel (vocals, guitar), Barry Turnbull (bass), Peter Timmerman (drums),
James Cruickshank (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Juliet Ward (vocals)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdershins_(band)

BUSTER BROWN

Buster Brown was formed in Melbourne in 1973 with Gary 'Angry' Anderson on lead vocals (ex-Peace Power and Purity), John Moon on guitar, Paul Grant on guitar, Phil Rudd on drums, Ian Ryan on bass guitar (ex-Ash, Chook) and Chris Wilson on keyboards. They enjoyed local notoriety and played at the 1974 Sunbury Festival in January. Later that year, Mushroom Records released a Various Artists live album, 'Highlights of Sunbury '74 Part 1' which included the group's tracks "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Buster Brown". Early in the year, Geordie Leach replaced Ryan on bass guitar. Along with Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe, Madder Lake and Chain, they were supported by suburban-based sharpie gangs.

The band's first single, "Buster Brown/Rock And Roll Lady" was issued in July 1974 by Mushroom Records. Guitar legend Lobby Loyde produced their debut album, 'Something to Say' which was also released in December but by the end of the year the group had split with Rudd joining an early version of AC/DC. A second single, "Something to Say/Let Me In" was subsequently released in January 1975. From April to June 1975 the line-up resumed as Anderson, Leach and Wilson with Dennis Millar on guitar and Trevor Young on drums (ex-Coloured Balls). In July, Anderson formed a third version of the band with Ken Firth on bass guitar (ex-Tully), Billy Miller on guitar and vocals, Dave Springfield on guitar and drummer Dallas 'Digger' Royal (ex-Band of Talabene).

The group disbanded in November 1975, Anderson initially tried to form a band with Loyde. Firth, Miller and Springfield regrouped as The Ferrets. In late 1976 Anderson joined Sydney-based rockers Rose Tattoo which later included former Buster Brown band mates, Geordie Leach on bass guitar and Dallas 'Digger' Royall on drums. According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, Buster Brown were "one of the most notorious street level/ boogie outfits of its day they built up a solid following around the pubs, and among the skinheads on the suburban dance circuit". In 2005, Aztec Music remastered 'Something to Say' on CD with six bonus tracks. Dallas Royall died in 1991. Trevor Young died in 2014. Ken Firth died in 2018.

Members

Gary "Angry" Anderson (vocals), John Moon (guitar), Paul Grant (guitar), Ian Ryan (bass),
Mick Leach (bass), Chris Wilson (keyboards), Phill Rudd (drums), Tony Lunt (drums),
Trevor Young (drums), Dennis Millar (guitar), Billy Miller (guitar, vocals),
Dave Springfield (guitar), Ken Firth (bass), Dallas "Digger" Royal (drums), Billy Bourke (sax)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Brown_(Australian_band)

THE PRIMAL SCENE

Primal Scene was a four-piece band originally from Brisbane. They played mostly originals, but did include Ramones, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and Barracuda covers in their set. In 1987 they recorded ''Livin' Hell / Pay Me Some Mind'' as their first single release. It was released on Waterfront and produced by Radio Birdman's Rob Younger. Simon Lonergan reviewed the single in B Side, issue 22. "Y'know the band's name their song titles and cover art ain't exactly pigeon-hole defy-ers, but somehow, against all indications, their actual sonic shit rocks in some slightly left field somewhere. Multiple guitar happenings as opposed to rent-paying riffs, unpredictable rhythm, sorty moody, regulation R Younger production, a decent enough singer, which all up is not earth-shattering in itself. But the band mix up this potion somehow, and the resulting concoction is kinda hard to pin down. And pretty good." After the release of their single it is unknown how long the band continued.

Members

Stanley Cremona (vocals, drums), Jeff Cole (guitar), Derek Haas (bass), Andrew Hellen (guitar)

References

http://www.discogs.com/Primal-Scene-The-Livin-Hell/release/2685410

THE WHIPPER SNAPPERS

Pop band The Whipper Snappers was formed in Sydney in 1986 by Annette Crowe (vocals/bass), Joy Howard (guitar/vocals), Tim Eaton (guitar) and Frank Zaknich (drums). Melodic, smooth guitar pop was the weapon of choice for the band who issued their debut single, "You Never Look / Love Elixir," in June 1988 on the Green Fez label. They played gigs around Sydney before appearing on the ABC-TV show The Money or the Gun where bands traditionally performed a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." That track was released as a single. Later that year they contributed a new original song ''The Christmas Song'' to 'Rockin' Bethlehem' a 14 song compilation album by aussie indie bands in support of the Camperdown Children's Hospital. The track was written by Crowe and Howard.

 

Brad Shepherd from the Hoodoo Gurus replaced guitarist Tim Eaton for their next single, "Sure Know Something," released as part of the Kiss tribute album 'Hard to Believe' in 1990. Dave Steel replaced Shepherd as a live guitarist and in 1990 they covered Russell Morris's "Sweet, Sweet Love" for 'Used and Recovered By... RRR'. Late in 1991, Joy Howard left the band and a new lineup of Steve Waters (keyboards), Christian Powers (guitar), Lara Goodridge (backing vocals, violin), and Tim Seckold (drums) released the EP 'See My Finger, See My Thumb' in August 1992. Their final EP, 'Dragster', was issued in December 1993.

Members

Annette Crowe (bass, vocals), Joy Howard (guitar, vocals), Tim Eaton (guitar),

Frank Zaknich (drums), Brad Shepherd (guitar), Dave Steel (guitar), Steve Waters (keyboards) Christian Powers (guitar), Lara Goodridge (violin), Tim Seckold (drums)

References

Brendan Swift

JOHN SCHUMANN

John Schumann was born on 18 May 1953 and attended Flinders University studying Philosophy, English and Drama for his Bachelor of Arts. In 1975 he contributed to a radical politics in art project, convened by Professor Brian Medlin with fellow students Michael Atkinson and Verity Truman. The three students went on to form political folk band Redgum and began performing in local pubs and campuses. An 'underground recording' of their music was made at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) studios in Adelaide by Darc Cassidy - the tapes went on to become popular on campuses across Australia and on independent radio.

 
Chris Timms (also from Flinders University) joined the group in 1976 and they toured to Melbourne as a part-time group. Schumann was by then teaching English and Drama at Marion High School and performing on weekends and school holidays. By December 1980, they decided to become a full-time band. Schumann wrote their biggest hits including "Long Run", "The Last Frontier", "I Was Only Nineteen" (March 1983) and "I've Been to Bali Too" (1984). In 1985 Redgum toured overseas performing at major festivals across England and Europe including the Edinburgh Festival and in war torn Belfast in Northern Ireland. The band had a strong following in Scandinavia.

Schumann left Redgum (late 1985) due to continual pressure to tour and to spend more time with his young family in the Adelaide Hills. He embarked upon a solo career with CBS, where he released several singles and the albums 'Etched in Blue' (1987), and a children's record, 'Looby Loo' (1989). The 1987 single "Borrowed Ground" from 'Etched in Blue' was given the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Most Performed Australasian Country Work Award in 1988. In 1992 he recorded a single for Sony entitled "Eyes on Fire", this was followed by an album for Columbia Records in 1993, 'True Believers'.

Schumann used his public profile and became involved in social justice issues: rallying against Queensland's Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen; the 'Save The Franklin River' campaign including as a member of Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble (contained members of Goanna and Redgum) to record a single "Let the Franklin Flow" in 1983 and seeking justice and compensation for Vietnam Veterans in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2005 Schumann invited a number of musicians (including ex-Redgum members Hugh McDonald and Michael Atkinson) to play and sing on an album, 'Lawson', which comprises songs Schumann wrote based on poems by Australian poet Henry Lawson. 'Lawson' was credited to John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew and released by ABC Music.

Schumann and Redgum were bought back to public attention in 2006 when Australian Hip-Hop group The Herd covered "I Was Only 19" with Schumann supplying some vocals. On 18 August 2006, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew performed in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tân. The concert was broadcast nationally by ABC radio. In 2007 John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew provided the music for a stage play, Lawson, starring Max Cullen as Henry Lawson.

After refusing to appear live on the 1980s ABC music-TV show, Countdown, Schumann appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia in August and September 2007. He sang the Redgum hit "I Was Only 19" only. From late 2007, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew have appeared at major music festivals around Australia. Schumann signed a new multi-album deal with ABC Music and 'Behind the Lines', an album of songs related to Australians at war, was released in August 2008.

Schumann has performed for Australian forces overseas several times. In December 2009 he visited East Timor to play for Australian and New Zealand troops stationed there, in September–October 2011 he played for Australian troops in Afghanistan and in July 2013 he played for Australian troops and Australian Federal Police in the Solomon Islands.

In 2011 Schumann worked with the Defense department on "Dents in the Soul", a project designed to help soldiers deal with post traumatic stress disorder. In 2015, Schumann recorded "Kokoda – Only The Brave Ones", a duet with Lee Kernaghan for his album 'Spirit of the Anzacs'. In 2015 he was commissioned by the Australian Army to write "Every Anzac Day", a song about aboriginal soldiers who served in the Australian military. It was released in April 2015 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Schumann

LIVING WITH ROBERT

Living With Robert (1985-93) was an independent three-piece band from Sydney. Its members were Greg Hassall (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Tony Locke (bass, vocals) and Rob Shannon (drums, vocals). Their first release was an EP 'Three Songs' released on Big Home Productions in 1987. Their EP 'Tales From The Kitchen was released in 1989 and the single ''Painted Blue / Mother Of Disappointment'' in 1990. All three members were also in the first line-up of The Godbotherers, which was fronted by Daniel Morphett from The Craven Fops. Awkward but alluring combination of pop and stuff.

Members

Greg Hassell (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Tony Locke (bass), Rob Shannon (drums)

References

http://beta.last.fm/music/Living+With+Robert

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVY

Fred Negro left The Editions in 1983 to form punk rockers, I Spit on Your Gravy on vocals and drums. Initial line up included Jason "The Big J" Banner on guitar, Mark "Sausage Fingers" Carson on bass guitar, and Scotti "Stix" Simpson on vocals and drums. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their early performances as "shambolic, drunken affairs, replete with on-stage brawls and members barely able to stand upright, let alone play their instruments". Negro was often dropping his pants in public and would deliver other on-stage obscenities.

In February 1985 the group issued their debut six-track EP, 'St.Kilda's Alright', which they co-produced with Paul Elliott for Man Made Records at York Street Studios. It included a ten-page booklet, "Suck This Fred Nile", that local police declared was "obscene" and confiscated all available copies due to Negro's "debauched" cartoons and photocopied pornographic images. As for the music itself, McFarlane declares it was "desperately inept and sounded like it had been recorded at the bottom of a dam". Also in 1985 Phil "Grizzly" Miles joined I Spit on Your Gravy on rhythm guitar and vocals. 

The band was signed by Virgin and they recorded the album 'Fruit Loop City' in 1987 which was co-produced by Miles and Peter "Poyt" Walker. The single lifted from the album was ''Piranha / Mans Not A Camel''. They disbanded in the next year, Negro and Miles promptly formed Gravybillies, as a country music, spoof band.

Members

Fred Negro (vocals, drums), Jason Banner (guitar), Mark Carson (bass, vocals), Phil Miles (guitar), Robbie Watts (guitar), Scotty Simpson (drums, vocals), Di Jones (vocals), Sindy Virtue (vocals)

References

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Negro