HAREM SCAREM

Harem Scarem was formed in Melbourne in 1982 as a blues rock group by Christopher Roy Marshall on lead vocals, his brother Charlie Marshall on bass guitar, and Philip Wales on guitar. Early in the following year Clifford Booth joined on drums and Glen Sheldon was on rhythm guitar. Christopher Marshall, Sheldon and Wales were former school friends. Harem Scarem's first gig was in February. They signed with local label, Au Go Go Records, which issued their track, "Love Attraction", on a various artists' compilation, 'Asleep at the Wheel' (1983). Soon after the line-up was expanded by Kurt Linotner on harmonica and David Moll replaced Wales on lead guitar.

Late in 1984 Harem Scarem released their debut 12" vinyl five-track extended play, 'Dogman', on Au Go Go, which featured "Fever Rock". It was recorded at John Cook's Studio, Melbourne in October with engineer-producer, John Archer (bass guitarist of Hunters & Collectors). Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described "Fever Rock" as "epic and one of "the band's stage favourites", which was issued as a gig give-away 7" single.

In February 1985 Peter Jones (ex-Vince Jones Band, no relation) replaced Booth on drums. In September that year the group were reorganised with Moll replaced by Barry Palmer on lead guitar; Linotner replaced by Chris Wilson on harmonica and saxophone (both ex-Sole Twisters); and Sheldon and Charlie Marshall swapped their instruments. McFarlane described the new ensemble: "Few alternative bands of the day could ever hope to match that line-up for muscular bravado and sheer instrumental firepower".

Harem Scarem's debut studio album, 'Pilgrim's Progress', appeared on Au Go Go in December 1986. It was recorded with Archer as engineer-producer again, but at Herzog Studios in Elwood and The Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda. McFarlane noted that it was a "classic which had received great critical acclaim". Trevor Block of Mess+Noise described the re-issue version from 2008 as a "steaming chunk of urban blues from the Yarra delta". Jarrod Watt of ABC Ballarat opined that the remastering had "taken a dusty, much-loved relic and polished the sound to 21st century standards of fidelity and clarity".

'Pilgrim's Progress' provided two singles, "Hard Rain" (September 1986) and "Miracle Mile" (June 1987), while their cover version of Iggy Pop and The Stooges' "Open Up and Bleed" also appeared on Au Go Go's tribute album to that group, 'Hard to Beat' (1988). In May 1987 Wilson left to start his solo career and, in December, Christopher Marshall left to attend an Art History course at a university. His brother, Charlie took over lead vocals and fronted the group. By 1988 their sound was "tough, lean rock'n'roll" and in May Peter Hall (ex-Head Undone) replaced Sheldon on bass guitar. By that time Palmer had been recruited to join Hunters & Collectors on guitar – alongside Archer – while still a member of Harem Scarem.

The group signed with Sydney-based label, Citadel Records, to issue their second studio album, 'Lo & Behold', in December 1988. It was engineered-produced by Chris Thompson (the Wreckery). By the time the album had appeared Jex Saarelaht had joined on piano (ex-Kate Ceberano and Her Septet alongside Peter Jones). Jeannie Zakharov of The Canberra Times previewed their February 1989 gig where the band "will get a little help from its friends in the form of the horn section from Hunters and Collectors". She gave a brief history: "they started out playing Velvet Underground songs, went through a blues period then moved toward rock and roll with its various line-up changes, has got good reviews for its new album, 'Lo and Behold', and single ''Long Time Between Drinks'".

The group disbanded late in 1989 with McFarlane noting they "became a veritable institution on the Melbourne inner-city scene. In the early days, they played raucous, swampy blues rock fleshed out by wild Stooges guitar riffs. Frontman Christopher Marshall was capable of taking his dynamic voice from a guttural roar to a breathy whisper, and back to an anguished howl in the space of one phrase. Later on, the band tempered the manic riffs somewhat to arrive at an innovative brand of rock". Chris Wilson died in 2019 of pancreatic cancer.

Members

Chris Marshall (vocals), Chris Wilson (harmonica), Charlie Marshall (guitar), Barry Palmer (guitar), Glen Sheldon (bass), Peter Jones (drums), Philip Wales (guitar), David Moll (guitar),
Clifford Booth (drums), Peter Hall (bass), Kurt Lindtner (harmonica), Jex Saarelaht (piano)