THE BACKSLIDERS

In the early 1980s, Dom Turner and harmonica player Rex Hill began gigging around Sydney as an acoustic blues duo. After returning from the United States in 1986, enthused by the idea of blurring the lines between rural and urban blues, Dom began rehearsing a new rural blues band concept with drummer Peter Burgess in duo mode, which moved to the inclusion of Rex Hill on harmonica. The sound drew inspiration from the Mississippi Fred McDowell records where Fred was accompanied by a drummer, or a rural blues version of the sound Beausoleil achieved without bass guitar. The name Backsliders came from a Library of Congress recording of Lead Belly singing "Backslider Fare you Well".

After a short stint of rehearsals, and a run of early local gigs, the newly formed band was offered a live performance at the Sydney Town Hall for radio station 2MBS FM (host to Stormy Monday blues Program) by blues DJ Austin Harrison scheduled for August 1987. The band played in duo mode (Dom and Peter) and directly after the performance was approached by the station label manager with an offer of an album release to be the first blues album on the 2MBS FM music label. The debut album 'Preaching Blues' was released in 1988. The band continued to gig locally in Sydney, particularly around the Balmain/Rozelle area of Sydney including a residency at the Bridge Hotel, Rozelle. In 1989 Rex Hill resigned from the band.

As both Dom and Pete were fans of Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Jim Conway was contacted as replacement for Rex. Jim agreed to join on harmonica (Jim had filled in for a Rex at a number of gigs in late 1988). A follow-up album 'Sitting On A Million was recorded and released in 1989 and the band quickly moved onto the Australian music festival circuit beginning with the Port Fairy Folk Festival, The East Coast Blues Festival and the Woodford Folk Festival as well as touring Australia, in particular travelling to Melbourne and regional Victoria as a strong live blues music circuit had developed in that region of Australia.

Throughout the 1990s the band continued on the touring circuit as well as playing a number of residency gigs in Sydney, including the Rose Shamrock and Thistle Hotel in Rozelle. The band also took advantage of the various television opportunities available to independent music acts in the 1990s, performing live on a variety of daytime and evening news and variety programs. In 1991 the band released its third album 'Hellhound' followed by 'Live At The Royal in 1992 'Wide Open' in 1995 and 'Poverty Deluxe' which was nominated the ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album.

After meeting at a 1996 recording session Dom became friends with Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst, who was asked to join Backsliders. A very brief rehearsal followed, and Rob and Dom agreed, officially joining in 2000, with the understanding that there were to be some upcoming Midnight Oil commitments. Drummers Angus Diggs and Ashley Davies filled the drum role during Rob's occasional absences. However, with the disbandment of Midnight Oil in 2002, Rob was able to focus on touring, writing and playing with Backsliders. In 2000, drummer Peter Burgess resigned. In 2006, Jim Conway resigned from the group. Broderick Smith (Dingoes, Big Combo) and Ian Collard (Collard Greens and Gravy) took the harmonica role at alternate gigs. In 2010, Joe Glover (ex-Shelley's Murder Boys) added to the harmonica team.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, 'Starvation Box' was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album. Their 2020 album, 'Bonecrunch', was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as "in the hands of these vets the blues element isn’t staid, but is led down different, swampy paths to create something new and, indeed, hopeful." 

Members

Dom Turner (vocals, guitar), Peter Burgess (drums), Jim Conway (harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Ashley Davies (drums)

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backsliders