Inspired by a performance of Japanese taiko drummers, Witer formed Big Pig: "When I saw them, the key to it was orchestration – that each guy had his own part. There was no improvisation at all. So from that point on, I knew how to do it. It was just a matter of getting the right people". The initial incarnation involved eight or nine drummers with Witer trying to sing over the poly-rhythmic din, while members of the band came and went. At an early gig Witer's former bandmate, Sherine Abeyratne, attended and subsequently joined the ensemble. As a vocalist, she had been a member of various groups: Grand Wazoo, The Editions, Bang, Big Choir, Bob Starkie Shape Up, Gospel Truth, Jo Jo Zep Band, Black Coffee, Dianna Boss and The Extremes, and The Rock Party. In 1988, Sherine recalled "I started joining bands eight years ago, as long as the music was high-energy, really strong, that was the criterion". She had also toured with INXS as a backing vocalist. Another early member was Nick Disbray on vocals and percussion.
Witer and Sherine were previously together in a Melbourne-based band, Bang, which Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described as playing "Grace Jones-styled funk". Witer wanted an edgier, more experimental sound that also retained Bang's funky rhythms and, when his visa ran out, he returned to Melbourne. Late in 1985, Big Pig consisted of Abeyratne on lead vocals and percussion, Tony Antoniades on vocals and harmonica, Neil Baker on drums, Disbray on vocals and percussion, Tim Rosewarne on vocals and keyboards (also ex-Scratch Record Scratch and then Bang with Witer), Adrian Scaglione on drums, and Witer on vocals and percussion. McFarlane felt the new group's sound used a "more avant-funk-meets-disco route while still retaining a feel for pop economy".
Big Pig made its concert debut in February 1986 and soon recorded a self-financed, independently distributed three-track, self-titled extended play, which was released in May. It was co-produced by Etienne Conod and Big Pig. Two of its tracks were "Hungry Town" and "Money God". They signed with Mushroom Records' imprint White Label Records, which re-released their debut EP in October as a double-12" with bonus dance mixes of "Hungry Town" and "Money God". In November that year, Polyanna Sutton of The Canberra Times reported that the group had postponed plans to return to London pending interest from the United States. Antoniades told her "The dance mixes are just for clubs, really. The other thing is: say it did well on the American club scene, it is a strong inroad into cracking some of the American market". Sutton noted that as they "do not use guitars there is a strong reliance on the harmonica to fulfill what the lead guitar would do, playing either riffs or solos".
"Hungry Town" peaked at #18 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. In March the following year it reached #22 in New Zealand. Witer won an award for Best Cover Artist for the artwork on the Big Pig EP at the first ARIA Music Awards of 1987. They were also nominated for ARIA Award for Best New Talent and ARIA Award for Best Video for "Hungry Town" by Julie Stone Productions. The video was directed by Richard Lowenstein (INXS, Hunters & Collectors) and was filmed by Andrew de Groot at a Melbourne dance club.
Their debut studio album, 'Bonk', was recorded at Metropolis Studios in Melbourne, Rhinoceros Studios in Sydney and Townhouse Studios in London, in 1987, with producer Nick Launay (Public Image Ltd, Midnight Oil, Models). 'Bonk' was mixed in London later that year and issued in May 1988. 'Bonk' reached #5 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. It went platinum in Australia. Due to their dominant use of drums, harmonica and vocals, along with the absence of guitars, the band established a unique place in Australian music. Sounding unlike contemporary groups, they also adopted their signature look wearing black waterproof aprons, similar to those worn by blacksmiths, which gave their stage presence a distinctly industrial feel. The group toured the US in May where Justin Mitchell for The Spokesman-Review noted that "Although five of the members sing, vocalist Sherine (no last name) and harp player [Antoniades] handle most of the front work".
The album provided three singles, the Chuck Jackson cover "Breakaway" which reached #8 (February 1988), "Big Hotel" (June) #40, and "Iron Lung" (December). In the US, 'Bonk' was released by A&M Records in March 1988 and peaked at #93 on the Billboard 200 with "Breakaway" reaching #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, and #7 on the related Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. "Money God" was used as the theme for the BBC-TV's DEF II's Rough Guides show with Magenta Devine hosting, whilst tracks from 'Bonk' were used for Miami Vice episodes in the late 1980s. "Hungry Town" and "Boy Wonder" both featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film, Young Einstein. "Breakaway" was used in the opening sequence of comedy-road film, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989).
Big Pig's second album, 'You Lucky People', was produced by Hawk Wolinski and Daddy-O, and released on 15 November 1990. Witer told Shane Walker of The Canberra Times that "At the end of our Bonk episode we took time out to rest before spending a lot of time on writing ... this album has been more of a band effort, with everyone chipping in ... we're still searching for and evolving the possibilities there are in our instrumentation". Walker felt the album was "more subtle and rounded" showcasing their "blend of thumping bass, strong vocals, blues harmonica and, of course multitudinous drummers".
Fellow journalist Penelope Layland opined that 'You Lucky People' showed a "simple, funky rhythm threading its way through the tracks, but a sprinkle of other sounds have found their way into the picture, a smattering of harmonica and a deft, sparing dose of keyboards". They toured in support of the album, then in February 1991, Big Pig played for the last time at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl. They issued a single, "King of Nothing", on 18 March 1991 and disbanded soon after.
Mushroom Records re-released "Hungry Town" in June 1998 to celebrate the label's 25th anniversary. In 2007, "Breakaway" was covered by US House Diva Inaya Day. "Hungry Town" featured in the first episode of Channel 9's, Underbelly: The Golden Mile on 12 April 2010.
Members
Sherine Abeyratne (vocals, percussion), Tony Antoniades (vocals, harmonica), Neil Baker (drums), Nick Disbray (vocals, percussion), Tim Rosewarne (vocals, keyboards), Adrian Scaglione (drums), Oleh Witer (vocals, drums)
''Hungry Town (#18) / Hungry Town'' 1986 White Label
''Boy Wonder (#59) / Hellbent Heaven'' 1987 White Label
''Breakaway (#8) / Hellbent Heaven'' 1988 White Label
''Big Hotel (#40) / Fine Thing'' 1988 White Label
''Justifier (#73) / Taste'' 1990 White Label
''King Of Nothing / Bound'' 1991 White Label
''Hanging Tree / Lost Reason'' 1991 White Label
'Big Pig' 1986 Big Pig Music
'Bonk' (#5) 1988 White Label
'You Lucky People' 1990 White Label
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Pig
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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