AREA 7

Ska punk band Area-7 formed in 1994 from the ashes of Madness cover band Mad Not Madness. In 1994 three members, Dugald McNaughtan on keyboards, Charles Thompson on guitar and Dan Morrison on drums left the group and began to write their own songs. In 1994, Area-7 self-released a cassette titled 'Demo Tape 1994' featuring eight tracks with Walter Eskdale on vocals, Ivan Downing on backing vocals and percussion, Alistair Shepherd on sax, Toby Dargaville on trumpet and Rohan Pacey on bass. In 1995 and they released their debut studio album 'No Logic'. John Stevens replaced Eskdale before the group released 'Bitter & Twisted' in 2000, which at the ARIA Music Awards of 2000 was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Rock Album. It reached #6 on the album charts.

In approximately 2002 and 2003 there was a lineup change with Paul West (trombone) Matt Sanders (trumpet), James Law (keys) and Chris Meighen (bass) joining the band. Meighan was soon replaced by Andy Gardiner (bass), Law was replaced by David ‘DJ’ Jackson (keys), Dennis ‘Ocker’ O’Connell joined on sax and Warren Lenthall also joined on trumpet after Matt Sanders departure. The band played dozens of major festivals and numerous national tours and were regularly seen on national television over the course of their career. Drummer Dan Morrison died in 2020.

Members

Charles Thompson (guitar), Dan Morrison (drums), Walter Eskdale (vocals), Dugald McNaughtan (keyboards), Alistair Shepherd (sax), Rohan Pacey (bass), John Stevens (vocals), Toby Dargaville (trumpet), Christopher Alan Meighen (bass), Paul West (trombone), Matt Sanders (trumpet), Ivan Downey (backing vocals and percussion), David Jackson (keyboards), Andy Gardiner (bass), Dennis O'Connell (sax), Warren Lenthall (trumpet), Aaron Shultz, Dean Gilboy, Chris Meighen (bass), Matt Sanders (trumpet), James Law (keyboards)

SINGLES
"Bitter Words" (#59) 1998 Rapido
"Second Class Citizen" (#29) 1999 Trademark
"Start Making Sense" (#37) 2000 Trademark
"Bitter Words / Himbo" (#67) 2000 Trademark
"Leave Me Alone" (#38) 2001 Trademark
"Individuality" (#90) 2001 Trademark
"Nobody Likes a Bogan" (#46) 2002 Trademark
"Big Issue" (#92) 2004 Shock

EPs
'Demo Tape' 1994 
'Road Rage' 1997 Care Factor Records

ALBUMS
'No Logic' 1995 Moon Ska 
'Bitter & Twisted' (#6) 2000 Trademark
'Say It to My Face' (#36) 2001 Trademark 
'Torn Apart' 2005 Shock

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area-7

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