Hipslingers formed in late 1983 at the BHP Steelworks in Newcastle, when three metallurgists, John Di Gravio, David Brett and Stuart St Hill decided to make music with an insurance seller Tom Masi. The first song they ever worked on was Them's "I Can Only Give You Everything", being recorded on a four track. After a few of these recordings they came under the attention of Sydney Decade Records Chief Peter Montford, who declared they should record a single. The songs chosen were ''State of Mind'' and ''Schoolgirl'', the old unrecorded Mansons classic. Recorded in the early hours of the new year 1985 in Paradise Studios in Sydney, this single marked a momentous time for the young band. It felt like a shining star was beginning to rise, the feeling captured by a great riff and thundering drums.
Their second single "Heavenly Blue" was written in the dark room on the BHP Steelmaking Plant in Newcastle. The magical "Wilderness" on the B side was largely composed by David Brett with some chorus work by John Di Gravio. Their third single ''Pilgrim'' marked an exit point for the band from their comfortable 60s pop niche into more unfamiliar ground.
The Hipslingers'; magnum opus was recorded at Kings Lane, Sydney; a small 8 track studio that is no longer extant. Engineered by Brian Hall, this album marked a coming of age for the band. Their third album 'Somnium' was the last release of the Hipslingers. A loss of hope had set in and ate to the very core. A very successful enterprise after Triple J placed "Love will Remain" on high rotation and featured the band on its famous "Live at the Wireless" spot. The Hipslingers played their last show at the Cambridge Hotel in early 1992 after producing a body of work which they could be proud to say pushed all of the boundaries hitherto reached by any band in this country.
Members
John Di Gravio (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stuart St Hill (trumpet), David Brett (bass),
Tom Masi (drums), Frank Rosetti (drums), Nick Cecire (drums, percussion), Darren Rowe (bass), Michael "Hooly" Thompson (bass), Kyri Frame (bass), Garry Kosky (trombone)
References
http://www.geocities.ws/dig_ravio/hip.html
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