SCANDAL

Scandal formed in Adelaide in February 1976 and by the end of the year had signed a deal with the Mushroom label. The band’s stylish UK-centric sound drew on influences such as Supertramp, Bryan Ferry and David Bowie for inspiration. Mushroom issued Scandal’s debut single ''Best Deal in Town'' in March 1977, followed by ''Harry'' in August. The band enjoyed its best national chart success with a cover of the smooth soul/pop track ''How Long'' (originally by British band Ace). Scandal’s version reached #45 nationally in Australia in 1978. They supported tours by 10cc and Electric Light Orchestra.

Their self-titled debut album was also released in May and produced the band’s fourth single ''She’s a Lady''. It was to be the band’s final release and they broke up in December. Kerrison, Harriot and Watson formed a group called The Extractors but by August 1979 had revived the Scandal name for a new band with Adrian Dessent on guitar, Greg Trennery on bass and Nat de Palma on drums. The new line-up was not successful, and they disbanded.

Bass player Michael Smith added further comments: Stuart Kerrison didn't leave the music industry; he just opted to go the other side of the recording/mixing desk, producing a single for Sydney-based all-girl band Vixen and live sound for Wendy & The Rockets. He went to the UK with them and stayed when they returned home, eventually picking up the FOH gig for acts like Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, touring the US with them. These days he runs a recording studio in Norway!

Drummer Aldo Civitico went back to Adelaide, hooked up with singer Stuart Cave and ex-Punkz bass player Felix Maslin and as Fat Lip gigged around before Cave was replaced by Allen Fryer, Maslin was replaced by Laurie Marlow and guitarist Bradford Kelly - just Kelly really - and relocated to Sydney. On the eve of signing with Deluxe Records and changing their name to Heaven, Aldo dropped out (having read the contract!). Staying in Sydney he popped up again in 1975 in a band called Pat Drummond's Skooldaze, which included me, Michael Smith (ex-Scandal) on bass. 

As for me, loads of bands between Scandal and, in 2006, The Atlantics (see Delightful Rain CD), but no one would know them. Spent the past near 40 years as a music journalist as well as musician, associate editor of Sydney free street press music weekly The Drum Media for 25 of those years, currently playing in Burgess Burgess, fronted by Denny Burgess (ex-The Throb) and his brother Colin (ex-The Masters Aprentices). Cheers 

Members

Stuart Kerrison (vocals, percussion), Peter Watson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Chris Harriott (vocals, keyboards), Michael Smith (bass, vocals), Aldo Civitico (drums, percussion), Adrian Dessent (guitar), Greg Trennery (bass), Nat de Palma (drums)

SINGLES

''Best Deal In Town'' (#57) / Mountain Legend'' 1977 Mushroom
''Harry (#73) / Read All About It'' 1977 Mushroom
''How Long (#45) / My Lady's Chamber'' 1978 Mushroom
''She's A Lady (Edited Version) / Best Deal In Town'' 1978 Mushroom

 

ALBUMS 

'Scandal' (#50) 1978 Mushroom

References

http://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-s/scandal/

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/