PRAY TV

Pray TV began in 1987 in Melbourne. They were one of a number of promising Melbourne bands that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s that also included, amongst others, The Glory Box, Ripe, Autohaze, The Fauves, The Killjoys, The Hollowmen and Sea Stories. The band's early sound was described as 'songs that have a lot of energy and rock along with power, yet they project this depressive mood that most bands can only get by playing slow. It's a neat trick.' The lineup for their first recording was Joe Kennedy (drums), Aidan Halloran (vocals), Matt Scully (guitar/bass) and Matt Kennedy (guitar/bass).

Their debut 7" vinyl was a three-track single ''In My Street / A Foreign Land / Surf Nazis'', along with the 6 track, 12" vinyl EP 'Sure' was released in 1989 on Mr Spaceman. Both of these releases were recorded by Perri and Bo at the Phantom Tollbooth in Carlton, Melbourne. Shortly after these releases, Joe Kennedy joined Ascot Vale band Mr Floppy as drummer but left shortly after. The 7" vinyl only single ''Spent / She Fell'' was released by Au Go Go Records in 1990. Their next EP containing the tracks ''Cold Dog Strew / Lone Stiff / Still Searching / Sounds of Silence'' was released in 1991 on Shock Records and was lifted from their debut album 'Flux' of the same year.

Their second LP 'Paydirt' was released on Shock Records in 1992 now with Damian Percy on bass replacing Matt Scully. The album included a bonus track of the band covering the Hüsker Dü song ''Sorry Somehow'', which was also regularly performed live. The single 'Aftermath' from the album also included the cover track. Around this time Pray TV were signed by US label Radioactive and released the 'Aftermath' EP in the US, followed by a series of shows in New York and Los Angeles with Radioactive label mates Live. In 1992 Pray TV featured on a CD called 'Dress Ups' (Shock Records) with other Melbourne bands The Glory Box and The Fauves, with each band performing a track from the others repertoire, as well as contributing one original track. Melbourne band Ripe were also intended to take part but didn’t due to other recording commitments.

In January 1994 they supported The Smashing Pumpkins at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda, Melbourne. Their third LP 'Swinger’s Paradise' was released on Shock Records in 1995. It was produced by Ed Kuepper, formerly of pioneering 1970’s Australian punk band The Saints. On the 27th of July 1995 they performed on the RMITV show Under Melbourne Tonight Their fourth and final album 'Westona' was released on The Hypnotized Label in 1996 and apart from Halloran and Kennedy, featured a new guitarist Colin Rivenel and drummer Vicky Guglielmo as well as new bass player Russell Baricevic, formerly of Geelong band Bored!. Ashley Naylor of Melbourne band Even occasionally played guitar with Pray TV on studio recordings and also live. Pray TV disbanded in 1997 with a farewell show at the Public Bar in North Melbourne. Martin Kennedy resurfaced in the late 1990s with new outfit All India Radio. 

The 20-track compilation CD ‘Lost Transmissions 1987-1996’ was released in 2010 and contained various tracks from Pray TV’s entire recording career. The band reformed for a one-off reunion show at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford (Melbourne) on the 31st of January 2015. with the line-up of Martin and Joseph Kennedy, Halloran and Baricevic. After 20 years since their last recording, the band released a new album in August 2016, titled 'Horizontal Life'. The album was launched at the Grace Darling Hotel in Collingwood, Melbourne on 10 September 2016, with support from The Glory Box.

Members

Martin Kennedy (guitar/bass), Aidan Halloran (vocals), Matt Scully (guitar/bass), Damian Percy (bass), Russell Baricevic (bass), Joseph Kennedy (drums), Vicky Guglielmo (drums), Colin Rivenel (guitar)

SINGLES
''In My Street / A Foreign Land / Surf Nazis'' 1989 Mr. Spaceman 
''Spent / She Fell'' 1990 Au-go-go 
''In Black'' 1991 Giggle 
''Aftermath / Run / It's Understood'' 1992 Shock 

EPs

'Sure' 1989 Mr. Spaceman

'Cold Doc Stew' 1991 Shock

'Sucker Punch' 1994 Concubine

'All The Way' 1995 Concubine

ALBUMS
'Flux' 1991 Shock
'Paydirt' 1992 Shock
'Swingers Paradise' 1994 Concubine Records
'Westona' 1996 The Hypnotized Label
'Horizontal Life' 2016

References

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