The Uncanny X-Men got their name from the Marvel comic Uncanny X-Men of the same name. Uncanny X-Men were originally a four-piece band formed in the late 1970s and consisted of Brian Mannix (vocals, guitar), Michael Helm (bass), Nick Matandos (drums) and Ron Thiessen (guitar) and were a regular Wednesday night attraction at the Pier Hotel in Frankston and many other venues around the city like Club Chevron, Doncaster Inn and also played a birthday party at the Tyabb Public Hall. They were the support act for Cold Chisel at the Pier Hotel on a very hot Sunday night which was the night Cold Chisel walked off stage after a few songs, apparently because security would not let anyone else in the venue.
In 1981 they became a five-piece when Helms left and was replaced by Steve Harrison on bass guitar and Chuck Hargreaves joined on guitar. Mannix became known for his mischievous and comical send-ups of other artists. The band were signed by Mushroom Records late in 1982 and released their six-track debut EP, 'SaliveOne!' in November, which peaked at #40 on the Kent Music Report. It had been recorded live-in-the-studio at Melbourne's AAV studios and radio stations featured its track, "Pakistan". They toured Australia in support of United States rock act Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.
Early in 1983 Harrison was replaced on bass guitar by John Kirk and Uncanny X-Men released their single "How Do You Get Your Kicks" in March. It was written by Greg Macainsh of Skyhooks, who also co-produced the track with David Briggs. In late March 1983 they performed it on Australian TV pop music show, Countdown. Craig Waugh (ex-Primal Tears) replaced Matandos on drums and they released another single, "Time Goes So Fast", in August. They toured through 1984 and released another EP, 'Beach Party', in July, with its popular track, "Everybody Wants to Work".
"The Party" was released as a single in March 1985 and peaked at #18. In June 1985 the group released their debut studio album, 'Cos Life Hurts, which reached #3. Its second single, "50 Years", appeared at #4. Uncanny X-Men performed two songs for the 1985 Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program) – "Everybody Wants to Work" and "50 Years" on 13 July. It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network) and on MTV in the US. A third single "Still Waiting" from their debut album was released in August, the song becoming the unofficial anthem for Channel 9's popular Wide World of Sports program during the latter 1980s. Kirk, Mannix and Thiessen joined as guest musicians with The Incredible Penguins in 1985, for a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", a charity project for research on little penguins, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report in December.
At the Countdown Australian Music Awards of 1985, which were held in April 1986, Uncanny X-Men were nominated for Most Popular Australian Group and Mannix for Most Popular Male Performer. Music journalist, Anthony O'Grady, described how the group's fans were "screeching dismay and derision every time their heroes were denied a prize. Finally, when INXS were announced Best Group and Michael Hutchence walked towards the stage, X-Men fans unfurled a 2 metre banner reading: '@*l! OFF POCK FACE'." Fans of both groups scuffled during the TV broadcast and as a result the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) decided to hold their own awards ceremony in the following year.
Thiessen had left early in 1986 and briefly joined Kings of the Sun, he was temporarily replaced by Joey Amenta on guitar (ex-Taste, Redhouse, Russell Morris Band, Wendy and the Rockets) and more permanently by Brett Kingman (ex-Adventure). The band signed with CBS Records in May 1986 and released "I Am", which had reached #18 in May, ahead of their second album, 'What You Give Is What You Get', which peaked at #19 in November 1986. Further singles provided Uncanny X-Men with little chart success, and they disbanded in 1987.
In 1998 Uncanny X-Men reformed for a brief reunion with the line-up: Mannix, Thiessen, Hargreaves, Kirk and Waugh. In April 2006 the band reunited for a 'one-night only' concert at Crown Melbourne, the gig coinciding with their appearance on Channel 7's TV show, Where Are They Now? They reunited again in March 2011, Mannix told Paul Cashmere of undercover.fm that the band hoped to record new music. On 23 November 2011 Uncanny X-Men closed out the final episode of popular ABC music quiz show, Spicks and Specks, playing a shortened version of "50 Years", which merged into "Everybody Wants to Work".
On 9 February 2014 Mannix appeared on Melbourne radio station Triple R's The Party Show and played the band's new song "Take It from Me", which they had debuted live at two Melbourne gigs in March 2011. In January 2017 the group played at the Rock in the Vines concert at Sutton Grange Winery, Victoria. In July 2009 founding member Steve Harrison died of cancer.
Members
Brian Mannix (vocals), Chuck Hargreaves (guitar), Michael Helms (bass), Steve Harrison (bass), John Kirk (bass), Nick Manthandos (drums), Craig Waugh (drums), Ron Thiessen (guitar), Joey Amenta (guitar), Brett Kingman (guitar)
''How Do You Get Your Kicks (#51) / Superhero'' 1983 Mushroom
''Time Goes So Fast (#63) / Up To You'' 1983 Mushroom
''The Party (#18) / The Slug'' 1985 Mushroom
''50 Years (#4) / Best Looking Guy'' 1985 Mushroom
''Still Waiting (#43) / Time Goes So Fast (Live Version)'' 1985 Mushroom
''I Am (#18) / Treat Me Nice / Kill The Children'' 1986 CBS
''Don't Wake Me (#31) / Truckin' On Into Alice'' 1986 CBS
''Nothing Touches My World (Edit) (#97) / Playing The Titanic'' 1986 CBS
''Start Believing (#63) / Sullivans'' 1987 CBS
'SaliveOne! (#40) 1982 Mushroom
'Beach Party' (#32) 1984 Mushroom
'Cos Life Hurts' (#3) 1985 Mushroom
'What You Give is What You Get' (#19) 1986 CBS
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_X-Men_%28band%29
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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