''Words / Here There And Everywhere'' 1969 Clarion
''Make It, Break It, Take It / Leaving Right Away'' 1971 MCA
(40 YEARS OF RECORDINGS)
Bits of Kids was formed in August 1986 by vocalist/guitarist Don Green (ex-Joyful Killing), guitarist Jed Highton (ex-Moose Effect) and bassist Paul Field (ex-Even As We Speak). Several drummers were trialed throughout the remainder of that year and into early 1987 without any becoming permanent. In March 1987 the band Exserts broke up and Charlie Sammut was recruited as the band's permanent drummer. The band took their name from the single ''Bits Of Kids'' (released in 1982) by Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers
In July of 1987 the band recorded a single ''Sorry Son / They Say'' on Revolution Records which debuted at #9 on the Sydney alternative music charts and was engineered and produced by Alan Thorne at Trafalgar studios in Annandale, NSW. In March of 1989 a 6-track mini-album 'Taste This!' (also, on Revolution Records) was released, this time produced by ex-Radio Birdman member Rob Younger.
Embracing a ‘Do It Yourself’ punk ethos, the band organised their own gigs, printed posters, filmed videos, self-managed and built up a strong fan following over the time they were active. Some of the venues they played at were the Piccadilly Hotel, Frenchs Tavern and The Palace Hotel. They played on the same bill as The Hellmen, Examplehead, The Hummingbirds, The Johnnys and Roaring Jack plus many other bands.
Despite doing well in the alternative charts, achieving #8 with their single over Christmas 1987, and #5 with their mini-album in mid-1989 - as well as video coverage on Rage, Video Hits and SBS The Noise, there was no sustained interest from radio, print media or promoters. A self-funded southern Queensland tour to promote the album in July of 1989 did no more for their exposure and after nearly four years of hard gigging around inner Sydney pubs and clubs, they decided to call it a day early in 1990, with members drifting into other projects within and outside of the music industry.
MembersBill McCormack was born in Belfast Northern Ireland in 1921. Bill served in the RAF during WWII in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. On his return from the war his popularity soon exploded when Bill sang with dance bands all over the British Isles, appeared at all the Moss and Stool theatres in the UK and was the featured singer in the Charlie Chester TV show Pot Luck. In 1952 Bill achieved great success at London's Victoria Palace with the world-famous Crazy Gang. After three years with them he then appeared with Jimmy Edwards and Tony Hancock and the Royal Adelphia Theatre for a bit over two years. He emigrated to Australia in the late 50s and soon after GTV 9 signed him to run his own show Bill McCormack Sings. The show went for three seasons. After the show finished, he featured regularly on the TV show In Melbourne Tonight. He was a prolific recording artist and released many albums on the Galaxy, Astor and W&G labels. Bill McCormack also dabbled in acting appearing in a couple of episodes of Division 4. Bill McCormack died in 1976.
Members
Nigel Kimber (guitar), Anthony Childs (bass), Shane Williams (keyboards), Gerard Reynolds (vocals), Robert Crawford (drums)
Pauline and Jennifer Gottani were born in Ingham in North QLD. Both sisters learned to play instruments quite young with Pauline on guitar and Jennifer on guitar and banjo. Playing at home in Rollingstone (54ks north of Townsville), a small farming community in North QLD, their hobby began to take a hold. The sisters naturally started singing together, with Jennifer slipping into harmony and picking instrumental breaks on the banjo. They mostly played country, with a few ABBA songs thrown into the mix. In the late 1970s their dad Emilio and mum Fay began prepping them with musical equipment and matching stage costumes and they began competing in talent quests, at eisteddfods, fetes and community events.
In 1959 Newman journeyed to England where he auditioned and was accepted for BBC Television. He sang leading roles in two of the Men Behind The Music series. Other programmes he was heard regularly on whilst in the UK were Tuesday Tunetime, Midday Melody Hour, Showtime and At Your Request. After singing in centres around Europe Newman received an offer to return to Australia and star in Bobby Limb's long running television show The Sound Of Music. In addition to his TV duties Newman compared an ABC radio program called We Sing Your Songs during this time.
In 1964 he won a Logie for Best Male Singer On A TV Show. Newman became one of the best-known faces in the entertainment scene and made over 100 appearances on The Sound Of Music. Newman signed with Festival and recorded his first single, ''The World Is Full Of Wonderful Things'' in 1965. His recording output continued until the late 70s with the release of a number of albums.
Adelaide band Just Kidding began as a collaboration between Chris Mills (guitar/vocals) and Steve Phillips (drums) during late 1986. Joined by other core members Bart Bee (bass) and Paul Duldig (keyboards) they became one of the citys most innovative and outstanding bands. Their music developed from raw ska beginnings to a more diverse blend of ska, reggae and funk backed by a dynamic and flexible horn section. Venues they played at were Rox, Limbo's and Club Foote.
The band created its own record label (No Joke) and released two singles and an EP. Following a visit to Adelaide by an associate of Unicorn Records (based in London) the band was offered a place on two European compilation albums. Two tracks from their EP can be heard on Unicorn's 'Skankin' Aound The World Vol II' and 'Planete Ska' on French label Squale Records. In addition, Just Kidding secured a licensing deal with Unicorn for the worldwide release of their 1989 mini album 'Watch The Fires'. They finished up in the 90s.
Hard-rocking band U-Turn formed in Sydney in 1976, comprising vocalist Chris Fitzgibbon (who was clearly influenced in the coiffure department by Rod Stewart), guitarists George Steffe and Shane Pacey, bassist Shane Rogers and drummer Geoff Full. During 1977, the band released the ultra-catchy glam-infused single ''Traffic Lights'' and their sole album 'Living In The City' (1977) which spawned a single of the same name. All releases were on the Laser label and produced by Sherbet's producer, Richard Lush. The band appeared on Countdown several times. After they disbanded Shane Pacey would wind up in the legendary Bondi Cigars. As for the others I have no idea.
Members
The Blue Beats were formed in Sydney in 1964 and managed by 2GB disc jockey John Melouney (who managed other bands at the time including his nephew's Vince Melouney's band The Vibratones). Led by guitarist Mick Gibbons their brand of R&B was hugely popular wherever they played. They were one of the few bands that were sponsored by an amplifier company that being Moodys. Signed by Festival they released their first single ''She's Coming Home'' in 1965, a cracking garage rocker written by the bands lead singer Wayne Poll. This single is worth a fair bit of money these days. The song has made its way on to many compilations eg 'Ugly Things #2', 'Before Birdman Flew Vol 2' and 'So You You Wanna Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star'.
Their second single ''Dr. Feelgood'' was an excellent cover of the Johnny Kidd and The Pirates track. The band toured all the over the east coast including all the major venues in the capital cities like the Thumping Tum and Biting Eye in Melbourne and the Bowl in Sydney. They supported The Rolling Stones on their 1965 tour. After the band called it quits Brian Patterson joined Tony Worsley's band The Fabulous Blue Jays in 1966. Gibbons was offered the guitar slot in the newly formed Dave Miller Set in 1967 but he didn't last long being replaced by future Blackfeather guitarist John Robinson. Gibbons moved to WA and died in 2015.
Members
Wayne Poll (vocals), Mick Gibbons (guitar), Brian Patterson (guitar), John Peters (drums), Barry Dessaux (bass)
Kenny Arnott was born in Horsham, Victoria on June 19th, 1937. On his tenth birthday his Dad gave him his first guitar, and being left-handed he was self-taught. He wrote his first song at 13, titled ''Christian Cowboy''. Kenny was a promising young footballer in his hometown of Horsham, recruited by Horsham’s Seconds. However, he had ended up in hospital due to an accident on the field. He was equally involved in music, which he eventually took up as a career. Kenny’s first public performance was with his father in a prominent local Mouth Organ Band. This built the foundation of his musical career.
References
The State (band) - Wikipedia
The Madmen were formed in Townsville in 1988 with the lineup of Tim Steward (vocals, guitar), Bruce Gardner (guitar, vocals), Tony Blades (drums) and Jeff Johnson (bass). In 1989, Cam Hurst replaced Johnson on bass guitar and Gardner departed. The Madmen toured Queensland numerous times, before relocating to Brisbane in 1989. The band released the following on vinyl: ''Almost Past Caring / That's O.K. With Me'' on grey vinyl (1988), the EP 'Thunderegg' (1989), ''Tower / End Of This Day″ (1989) and ''Cool Kinda Kid / Walking Through the Village'' (1990). Recorded in Brisbane and Townsville studios, these records show a band in its infancy; they sound innocent, naive, fresh and young. The playing and singing weren't perfect, but the tracks were simple, direct, to-the-point energetic pop songs. When Hurst was replaced by Kellie Lloyd, the trio became pop/indie rock band Screamfeeder.
Members
Tim Steward (vocals, guitar), Bruce Gardner (guitar, vocals), Tony Blades (drums), Jeff Johnson (bass), Cam Hurst (bass)
This Australian duo, built around a creative core of Tom Kristensen (guitar) and Madeleine King (vocals), formed in 1995 after both partners had experienced varying degrees of success in other bands. As Kristensen told the press, ''We were sitting in our lounge playing songs together when a friend suggested we should get out and do them in public.'' Writing principally in a melodic country blues vein, the group signed to MDS Records. In addition to Kristensen and King, the group featured other members Barry Turnbull (John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong, Widdershins), David Orwell (Golden Rough), Mandy Pearson (Craven Fops, The Jackson Code) and Richard Boxhall with each participant playing at least three different instruments. This helped lend Kristensen’s songs a crisp, eclectic sound quite unlike anything in their genre.
Their self-titled debut mini-album, produced by You Am I guitarist Tim Rogers, was voted album of the year by many Australian roots music critics. The album featured Amanda Brown (ex-Go Betweens) on violin and Chris Abrahams on keyboards. More albums followed: Fuel (1997), Jubilee Park (1999) and Greedy Hen (2002). The band held down a residency for several years at The Sandringham Hotel in Newtown and toured nationally. Mandy Pearson died in 2023.
Members