Unley High School friends Mick Michalopoulos and Jim Mountzouris formed Gladiator Tortoise in 1972, mainly influenced by the Beatles. Noel Forth (drums) joined in 1975 and, soon after, the band was renamed Tortis. The band gained radio support from Bazz & Pilko (Barry Ion and Tony Pilkington) after Forth delivered an acetate of their song ''Baby, Let Me Tell You'' to 5AD in 1979. The renamed Vertical Hold’s first record release was "Jimmy The Man" on ABC’s 'Patchwork' LP. With Hilary Frost joining on cello and keyboards, Vertical Hold played live at the Festival Theatre in the 1980 SAFM Summer Search finale. Soon after, they were signed by RCA Records.
In 1981, Daddy Cool/Mondo Rock’s Ross Wilson heard Vertical Hold’s debut 45rpm record and recommended to RCA that ''My Imagination'' be the A side. It went to #3 in just three weeks in Adelaide and, aided by gigs/airplay/videoplay, stayed there for three weeks. The single peaked at #50 nationally. Vertical Hold played in front of more than 20,000 at Adelaide’s Greek Glendi Festival and an ABC Countdown live appearance was Vertical Hold’s first interstate trip.
WEA Records A&R manager Gibson Kemp flew down in 1982 to see Vertical Hold play live. Impressed, he signed them worldwide. Alan Mansfield (ex Robert Palmer/Bette Midler) produced Vertical Hold’s second single ''Tears Of Emotion'' that soared to #3 on the South Australian charts (#58 nationally). Vertical Hold finally ventured interstate for gigs in New South Wales then Victoria, supporting Mi-Sex, Models, Mondo Rock, Moving Pictures and Hoodoo Gurus.
In 1983 WEA commissioned an expensive 16mm film clip (not video) directed by Adelaide’s Scott Hicks for their choice of ''Shot Down (In Love)'' as Vertical Hold’s third single (going to #28 in South Australia and #85 nationally). The clip was played worldwide but aired first in Los Angeles, with Vertical Hold receiving record sales royalties from as far away as Switzerland.
The 1984 'Vertical Hold' LP (released with their fourth single ''This Must Be Love''), hitting #1 on the 5MMM LP chart. The album produced by British producer Jon Kennet was acclaimed as a pop classic, but it was not promoted east of the South Australian border. Their fifth single ''United States Of America'' was used extensively on national TV during the Los Angeles Olympic Games, and Vertical Hold played a US Independence Day show at Paddington Green, Sydney.
With radio station SAFM seeking the next big Adelaide band in 1985, Noel Forth, without Mick Michalopoulos and Jim Mountzouris knowing, sent in a cassette of Mick’s solo four-track homemade demo of ''Strange Love'' (made as The Gladiators). It became one of the six winners. Mick and Noel rerecorded the song for the SAFM Brewing album (produced by Men At Work’s Jim Barbour) with Mick’s wife Maria and cousin Chris Moutzouris. (Hilary Frost had left and Jim Mountzouris was overseas). Vertical Hold’s penultimate live public appearance was 1985’s Come Out concert with other bands from Brewing. The 1988 Glendi Festival was Vertical Hold’s final public appearance, and their final show ever was a December 1995 private party. Vertical Hold never reformed. Mick Michalopoulos died, aged only 60 on Nov 18, 2016.
Members
Mick Michalopoulos (vocals, guitar), Jim Mountzouros (bass/vocals), Hillary Frost (cello, keyboards), Noel Forth (drums)
Mick Michalopoulos (vocals, guitar), Jim Mountzouros (bass/vocals), Hillary Frost (cello, keyboards), Noel Forth (drums)
SINGLES
References
My Imagination
| 9 NOV '81 | #50 |
Tears of Emotion
| 25 OCT '82 | #58 |
Shot Down (In Love)
| 5 DEC '83 | #85 |
References
Adelaide's Vertical Hold pop band scores 1980s local and national hits from a Greek Unley High School start | Adelaide AZ
https://www.top100singles.net/
https://www.top100singles.net/
NB Lead singer (& songwriter) Mick Michalopoulos has sadly died, aged only 60 on Nov 18 2016. Btw, 45 "Tears Of Emotion" only got to No.3 on SA charts (not No.1) & #58 nationally. Bio is missing a founding member of Vertical Hold, the drummer Noel Forth (who also co-wrote their 1st ever song released, "Jimmy The Man" from the ABC "patchwork" LP in 1980), Gladiator Tortoise 1975-1980, Vertical Hold 1980-1985. In 1985, Hilary left & V.Hold added 2 members, then they released a song on the "SA Brewing" LP. The actual recording of Mick's song "Strange Love" for the LP only featured Mick, Noel, (Mick's wife) Maria & Chris Moutzouris, renamed as "The Gladiators" 1985. They also issued a self titled LP and 2 more singles (all on WEA) in 1984. Vertical Hold appeared on Countdown several times & were the only South Australian based band (i.e. still living in SA) to ever have a No.1 SA hit single. All other great SA bands like Zoot, LRB, Cold Chisel (remarkably) never, ever had a SA #1 hit (Fraternity had a No.1 SA 45 with "Seasons Of Change" while the band while briefly lived in Adelaide, but they were a Sydney formed band). Plenty of SA bands had top ten hits too, like The Vibrants (#6), Scandal (#9), Mississippi (#3), Redgum (#3)...but most were living in Melbourne by then. Two SA bands did have SA No.1 hits, but they were both achieved after moving to Melbourne e.g. The Master's Apprentices "Buried And Dead (SA#1 June 1967) & "Living In A Child's Dream" (SA#1 Sept 1967)...plus...The Twilights ("Cathy Come Home" SA#1 Dec 1967). Incredibly, only one male SA singer ever hit the No.1 spot in Adelaide and that was Andy Upton, with a cover of "Stop In The Name Of Love" (SA#1 for 2 weeks in Nov 1977)...and he was still working at Buttercup Bread at Forestville when it hit No.1. As far as female SA singers goes, Sister Janet Mead takes the crown as the only SA based female singer to have a SA No.1 single with "The Lord's Prayer" (No.1 for 2 weeks in 1974)...Bev Harrell came close with a No.2 hit "What Am I Doing Here With You" in Jan 1967.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the extra information. Noel Forth's name is there under members
DeleteI collect charts from way back, I've just read this and checked my charts and "My Imagination" actually went to No.1 (!) for 3 weeks. "Tears Of Emotion" did go to No.3 though. Their other 2 singles "This Must Be Love" & "United States Of America" didn't chart nationally. only locally. Great Aussie music site, thanks!
ReplyDelete