PLUNDERERS

The Plunderers formed in May 1984 in Canberra with Nic Dalton on bass guitar and vocals; Lindsay Dunbar on drums; and Stevie Plunder [Anthony Hayes] on guitar and vocals. Dalton and Plunder had been members of Get Set Go, a folk-pop band, with Suzie and Jenny Higgie. Suzie later recalled "down at Commonwealth Park there used to be a tunnel with a power point ... My first band with Nic Dalton and Stevie Plunder – we wrote most of our songs down there". The Plunderers' early sound was described by Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, as "a punky brand of power pop that mixed frantic guitar riffs, sharp harmonies and diamond-hard pop melodies".

Dunbar soon left and the group went into hiatus for six months. In June 1985 Dalton and Plunder were joined by The Gadflys' drummer Peter Velzen (using the alias Peter Pillage), who also provided lead vocals. This line-up released their debut single, "Strange Affection / Into The Ice" on their own label, Rattlesnake Records. It had been recorded in August with the group self-producing at Trafalgar Studios. They then recorded the mini album 'Let's Go Surfing'. The group moved to Melbourne in October and added Andy Lewis on keyboards, guitar and harmony vocals. They released two music cassette albums, 'No Era Is Safe' and 'Half A Cow' both in 1986.

By the end of 1986, they relocated to Sydney and performed at inner-city venues. Andy Lewis left the band in 1987. In June 1988 they issued a five-track mini-album, 'Trust Us', which was produced by Charlie Owen (guitarist, pianist for New Christs) on the Green Fez label. They followed in November with another single, "I Don't Mind / Dying", produced by Rob Younger (ex-Radio Birdman, vocalist for New Christs). In January 1989 Velzen was replaced on drums by Geoff Milne (ex-Eastern Dark). The group issued their next three track single, "I Didn't Even See Them at All / Clean Hands / Trouble Stuck", in June 1989 on Citadel Records. In April the following year they issued the EP, 'Sarah's Not Falling In Love', which was produced by Younger. In November another single, "Christo / Peggy", appeared, which was followed in July the next year by the EP, 'Home Movie', produced by Younger. McFarlane noted their sound had started to "explore a more tripped-out kind of psychedelic revivalism".

In 1992 The Plunderers released the compilation album, 'Banana Smoothie, Honey', on Citadel and an eight-track live album, '13.7.91 Live! Live! Live!' on Club Records. In 1992, Dalton joined US band The Lemonheads and Lewis and Plunder formed The Whitlams, so the band was put on a break. On 26 January (Australia Day) 1996, Stevie Plunder was found dead at the bottom of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, at the age of 32 years. The Plunderers would be no more after this event. On 12 February 2000 Andy Lewis died, at the age of 33 years. In 2008 Dalton issued a retrospective album, 'Last Seen Near Trafalgar 87-89', which included original versions of early The Plunderers material. 

Members

Nic Dalton (bass, vocals), Stevie Plunder [Anthony Hayes] (guitar, vocals), Lyndsey Dunbar (drums), Pete Pillage [Peter Velzen] (drums), Geoff Milne (drums), Andy Lewis (keyboards, guitar, vocals)

SINGLES

''Strange Affection / Into The Ice'' 1985 Rattlesnake 
''I Don't Mind / Dying'' 1988 Green Fez 
''I Didn't Even See Them At All / Clean Hands / Trouble Stuck'' 1989 Citadel 
''Christo / Peggy'' 1990 Citadel 

EPs
'Sarah's Not Falling In Love' 1990 Citadel
'Home Movie' 1991 Citadel

ALBUMS
'Hot August Knights' 1985 
'Let's Go Surfing With...' 1985 Rattlesnake 
'No Era Is Safe' 1986 Rattlesnake 
'Half A Cow' 1986 Rattlesnake 

'Trust Us' 1988 Green Fez
''13.7.91 Live! Live! Live!' 1992 The Plundee Club

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plunderers_%28band%29