The Original Battersea Heroes were a popular high energy dance band in Sydney and Melbourne that had many members pass through its ranks. It was founded around 1963 as a jug band by Martin James, Dennis Burke, Graham Bennett and Terry Darmody. The band had many rotations of guitarists including Chuck Quinton, Roger Blake, Graham Bennett, Lindsay Hewson (John's brother), Neville Drury, Gavec Nicholson, Bob McGowan, Tony Burkys & Mick Diggles. When Martin James left, Darmody became lead vocalist. Ross J Waters added some real musical class when he joined the band on fiddle.
The band move towards perfecting 'good-time' rock'n'roll (their heroes were the Loving Spoonful, Band, Dylan & 50s rockers & folk roots & jazz musicians). Later on Bob Dames (ex-Purple Hearts) joined on bass for a time, as did Peter Knox and Terry Wilson (ex-Slime Men, Wasted Daze, Magnetics) with Barry X on drums. In the last gasp of the Heroes, Lee 'Fred' Cass - drums & Mick Diggles joined and soldiered on before disbanding in 1973. The band released one album recorded on the Violets Holiday imprint. The lineup for that recording was Terry Darmody, Denis Burke, Tony Burkys, Bob McGowan and Peter Nehill with guest musicians Col Nolan and Tony Buchanan. Terry Wilson has since died.
Members
Martin James (banjo, 6 & 12 string guitars, lead vocal, harmonica & kazoo), Peter Nehill (washboard,tea chest bass, bass guitar). Chuck Quinton (guitar), Roger Blake (guitar) , Graham Bennett (guitar), Lindsay Hewson (guitar), Neville Drury (guitar) , Gavec Nicholson (guitar), Bob McGowan (guitar) , Tony Burkys (guitar), Mick Diggles (guitar), Dennis Burke (washboard), Terry Darmody (vocals/drums), Ross J Waters (fiddle), Peter Miller (bass), Bob Dames (bass), Barry X (drums), Lee Cass (drums)
ALBUMS
'Rock 'n' Roll With The Original Battersea Heroes' 1972 Violets Holiday
Southend a house-techno band was formed in Sydney in 1992 by Stuart McCarthy on synthesiser and keyboards, Melinda Page on vocals, Sameer Sen-Gupta and Steve Younan (both on synthesiser and keyboards). Their debut release was a four-track, 12-inch single, "600 Miles from Nowhere" (1992) via Volition Records. The group issued a six-track mini album, 'Fanatical', in 1993 on Volition Records/Second Nature, which provided another 12-inch single, "Get Down", later that year. The album was recorded at Sony Music Studios (Sydney) and D.T.U., with the group producing. McCarthy provided guitar and programming, Sen-Gupta on machine effects and programming, Page and Younan were both on vocals and keyboards.
"The Winner Is...", a single by Southend with Nik Fish (a.k.a. Nik Vatoff), an Australian trance DJ, appeared in June 1994. It was co-written by McCarthy, Sen-Gupta and Vatoff. The lyrics are based around a sample of the speech by International Olympic Committee chairman, Juan Antonio Samaranch, when announcing the winner of the 2000 Summer Olympics bid, as "Syd-er-ney". The single reached #9 on the ARIA Charts. Southend issued a re-mix album, 'Fanatically Remixed', in 1994 with eleven tracks. The group have performed at the annual Big Day Out, from 1993 to 1996. Sen-Gupta left in 1995 to start his solo career, he was replaced by a guitarist, Justin Frew.
Southend has produced local and international releases for Hoodoo Gurus, Paul Holden, Acid Babies, the Whitlams, Kim Salmon, and Michal Nicholas. They undertook a remix collaboration with Sasha Vatoff on Vagen's track, "Buggin", and a cover of Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy", which appeared on Groovescooter Records' compilation album by various artists, 'Re:fashioned 2'.
After disbanding in 1997, Frew and McCarthy formed Antenna with Dave Faulkner (of Hoodoo Gurus) on lead vocals and guitar, and Kim Salmon (ex-the Cheap Nasties, the Manikins, the Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon) on vocals and guitar in 1998. Antenna's sole album, 'Installation' (1998), was the first release on Mushroom International. That group broke up early in the following year. Southend reformed in 2004 to perform at Utopia on Near Years Eve in Sydney. They were the first band to appear live on Channel V's Room 208. After three tracks licensed by Ministry of Sound (Australia) in 2009, Undercover Music's Yep! Records has released Southend's entire back catalogue (including previously unreleased material) through MGM Distribution and iTunes.
Members
Sameer Sen-Gupta (keyboards, programming, machines), Steve Younan (keyboards, vocals), Stuart McCarthy (programming, guitars), Melinda Page (vocals, keyboards), Justin Frew (guitar)
SINGLES "600 Miles from Nowhere" 1992 Volition "Get Down" 1993 Volition "Take Me Up" 1993 Second Nature "The Winner Is..." [with Nik Fish](#9) 1994 "If You Believe" 1994 Second Nature "Confession / The Dream 1995 Volition "Skylark" 1996 Volition "The Winner Is..." (2000 remix; with Nik Fish)(#69) 2000 "Buggin'" (vs Vagen) 2003 "To Deserve You" [featuring Michal Nicolas] 2004 "Der Grun Apfel" [with Eddie Bech] 2009
ALBUMS 'Fanatical' 1993 Volition 'Fanatically Remixed' 1994 Volition
Born Ellie Jean Mary Therese Lavelle in Kyogle in 1934. She started her career in 1960 and recorded for Sunset Records W&G and EMI. Ellie along with Mick Finn and Johnny Greenwood established the Modern Country Music Association which later became The Australian Country Music Association. She also organised talent for the ABC TV Show Barnstorm which she co-hosted with Johnny Paine and ran a successful entertainment and booking agency. She is now retired but her recordings still sell today with her best seller being "How Far Is Heaven". In 1980 she was inducted into Tamworth’s Hands of Fame.
SINGLES
''Let Bygones Be Bygones / Crying In The Chapel'' 1963 W&G ''How Far Is Heaven / I've Been Lonely Lately'' 1965 Sunset ''My Mother's Prayer'' [with Johnny Greenwood] 1966 Sunset ''How Far Is Heaven / Jambalaya'' 1971 Columbia ''Memory Number One / Amigo's Guitar'' Sundown 1986
Mike and Pete Hayes were born in Henley-on-Thames in England in the early 1940′s. They moved to Australia in the late 40′s, living in Bacchus Marsh for seven years before moving to Melbourne. Mike Hayes remembered ''We had an old wound gramophone covered with floral cushion material and all the kids would gather round and play country records and all the old Weavers 78's whenever we could. When we came down to the city, we got ourselves guitars and bashed out all the old classics of rock. However, whenever our repertoire got thin, we always found ourselves throwing in a few of the old tunes we learned off the gramophone, and we sounded a lot better doing them. Somewhere along the line Peter picked up his banjo and played Earl Scruggs like by accident. It was then we decided to go bluegrass full time''.
Their first major public performance was at the 3UZ Hootenanny in 1963. They then became regulars on scores of national and local TV shows and travelled far and wide across the country. They formed a backing band called The Bluegrass Ramblers with fiddler Roy Taylor, guitarist George Harris and bassist Allan Pope. In 1967 they were a sensation at the Port Philip Folk Festival. They released two albums on the W&G label and are widely recognised as the first bluegrass band to perform in Australia.
Another family band at the time, The Hawking Brothers featured Russ and Alan Hawking. Pete Hayes also sang with the Hawking Brothers band for around two years, after the death of Russ Hawking in 1976. Pete Hayes settled in Melbourne in 1978, and he and his brother were inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame. Pete Hayes continued to record with a range of local and international artists including, The Hawking Brothers, The Howie Brothers, Saltbush, Lee Conway, Lionel Rose, Johnny Chester and Charlie Pride. Mike Hayes and his wife Janet began an ABC radio series, The Prickle Farm from their property at Gundaroo, near Canberra. The popular radio program translated into a successful TV series.
In the late 90s Pete recorded 'Life Goes On', a solo album on which he played every instrument and sang every note. With fellow Victorian musicians Bernie O’Brien, Laurie Allen and Harold Frith, Pete recorded an album, 'Nite Trane' as the Rockabilly, Beatin’ Boogie Band. Pete wrote the song, ''Everything To Me'', and contributed vocals, bass, banjo and fiddle. The band played a couple of gigs in Tamworth during the festival, entered and won a talent quest, which thrilled the Victorian veterans no end. The group disbanded after returning from Tamworth. Pete returned to Tamworth, playing in Andy Baylor’s Cajun Combo and with the band, Hillbilly Lovechild. Mike Hayes died on the 10th of February 2003 and that same year his brother Pete died on the 1st of December.
Members
Mike Hayes (guitar, mandolin, dobro), Pete Hayes (banjo, guitar), Roy Taylor (fiddle), Alan Pope (bass), George Harris (guitar), Doug Wallace (guitar)
SINGLES
''Rambling Boy /What'Cha Gonna Do'' [with Doug Owen] W&G 1964
Have You Lost All The Love You Had For Me / Hot Corn'' 1968 W&G
Frozen Doberman formed in 1988, smack-bang in the middle of the halcyon days of the Sydney thrash/hardcore punk scene. Originally from the Central Coast of NSW, Frozen Doberman quickly became favourites on the Sydney live metal scene, playing regularly with thrash and punk stalwarts Mortal Sin, Addictive, Cromok, Hard Ons, Armoured Angel, White Trash and Detriment. Frozen Doberman were no sneaker-staring band. Their shows raised the energy levels of already highly charged gigs. Doberman released an album and a couple of EPs – all independently – and were featured on five compilation albums. They also supported Metallica and Sepultura on their Aussie tours.
Members
Adam Marsh (vocals), Reddo (guitar), Tim West (bass), Shaun Barry (drums), Peter Fortune (guitar), Jason Garito (drums)
EPs 'Dying Phase' 1991 Machine Head 'Beautiful Day' 1995 Oracle Distribution Service
Nunbait was formed in Sydney in 1989 by Shaun Butcher on guitar, Jay Doherty on drums, Ian Fraser on vocals and Mark Guthrie on bass guitar and vocals. Butcher and Guthrie had been in bands in Townsville; Guthrie then joined Fraser's Brisbane proto-grunge 1960s garage punk-inspired combo Dementia 13 (1984–1988). In the late-1980s, Butcher, Fraser and Guthrie had each migrated separately from Queensland to the Sydney suburb of Newtown, where they formed the band with Doherty, a native of Mudgee, who took up drums despite limited experience. Doherty named them as Nunbait as a pun on jailbait. Their music was referred to as "acid-psych" and "noise rock". Doherty died in 1990 and was replaced by Mathew Fante on drums.
The band's first release was 500-copy run of a self-pressed single, "Track Trauma" (June 1990) on Masterbait Music Inc. After winning a battle of the bands at Sydney's Lansdowne Hotel, Nunbait secured a contract with local underground label, Waterfront Records, and released the mini album, 'The Hub' (named after a Newtown porn theatre), in the same year, which was produced by Stu Spasm (Lubricated Goat, Beasts Of Bourbon). It had six original tracks, albeit one, "The Melting Hour", had its origins in Dementia 13 days. Jack Marx of Drum Media described the EP as "a blisteringly nasty little piece of rock and roll work."
Nunbait supported gigs by Butthole Surfers (Burland Hall Newtown, 1991), Mudhoney (Phoenician Club Sydney, 1990), Einstürzende Neubauten and The Beasts of Bourbon (Phoenician Club Sydney 1991), Nirvana (Selinas, Sydney, February 1992), Helmet (1991), Fugazi (1991) as well as performing shows with Superchunk and fellow local underground acts Tumbleweed, Cosmic Psychos, and the Celibate Rifles. Shane Danielson of The Sydney Morning Herald described their style as "not for the faint-hearted. Loud, intense and confrontational, theirs is a wild, lurching noise that hurls itself against you."
A follow-up single, "Nowhere Fast", mixed by Sub Pop's Jack Endino and Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, was released on Waterfront in 1991, charting at #3 in the independent street music charts. Local label Survival issued a four-track EP, 'Spinout', in June 1992. The band's final release, on tiny Melbourne label Hippy Knight, was a hastily mixed album, 'Busted', the production of which left the members extremely dissatisfied. They disbanded soon after. The band reformed for a short tour (with The Hard Ons) in 2010.
Members
Ian (Ivan) Fraser (vocals), Shaun Butcher (guitar), Mark Guthrie (bass), Jay Doherty (drums), Mathew Fante (drums)
SINGLES ''Track Trauma / Blow Me Away'' 1990 Masterbait! ''Nowhere Fast / Head In The Jam'' 1991 Waterfront
EPs
'Spinout' 1992 Survival
ALBUMS 'The Hub' 1990 Waterfront 'Bu$ted' 1993 Hippy Knight Records
The Particles name began in the mid to late 1970s and the original band, albeit a loose outfit was formed during the very earliest stages of the new punk music scene that was sweeping Britain and Eastern USA at the time. News of this phenomenon spread quickly to Australia and within a few months there were bands forming in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The rawest examples of this were coming out of a small block of flats in Berry Street, North Sydney. The building was a crumbling mess, inside and out, but it was Sydney's centre of punk music with bands rehearsing regularly. Some of the bands which visited Berry Street included The Cleaners, The Last Words, and from Brisbane, The Saints. In one of the flats there were The Particles, initially formed by Peter Williams and Mick Smith. The building not surprisingly was condemned, and the tenants evicted. The Berry Street flats have since been pulled down and replaced by a shopping mall.
After leaving North Sydney in 1977, Peter and Mick moved to Darlinghurst which was closer to the only venues which would let them perform. Here they were joined by Michael Wood and Steven Williams and together found work at venues like Frenches (Darlinghurst), Blondies (Bondi Junction), The Fun House (Taylor Square), Rags (ex Chequers, City), Civic Hotel (City), and The Grand Hotel (Railway Square); performing with bands such as Kaos, Rejex and The Thought Criminals to name but a few. The band suffered a split later the same year when Michael Wood left the band. Almost immediately, Astrid Spielman filled the front spot.
The band went through a number of lineup changes in its seven- or eight-year history with perhaps 20 or more musicians claiming 'particle-status' but the most stable line-up which lasted three years had the following members: Peter Williams on guitar & vocals, Mick Smith on bass, Steven Williams on drums and Astrid Spielman on lead vocals.
The above line-up independently released a 7" EP entitled 'Colour In' in 1979. Despite the obvious low budget nature of the recording, it was quickly included on radio stations playlists including Melbourne's 3RRR-fm as a pop classic. In fact, the band quickly gained a healthy following in Melbourne. Back home in Sydney, the band's following grew slowly but surely thanks to a weekly residency at the Sussex Hotel in the city where the band played three sets every Wednesday night. Afterwards, the band went through another line-up change in 1980 with Mick Smith leaving for good and Steven Williams leaving as drummer and staying on as manager.
The Particles released two more EPs, 'Advanced Colouring' in 1981 and 'I Luv Trumpet' in 1982. By this stage, Peter & Astrid, in collaboration with others, had experimented extensively with drum machines, tape machines, brass instruments and keyboard sounds. They always maintained an element of '80s bubblegum' throughout their evolution. The band also toured extensively to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and many regional centres. By the time the band stopped working in 1985, they had played in of front countless people, travelled countless miles and left behind a legion of fans. In 2023 a compilation album '1980s Bubblegum' was released on Chapter Music. Astrid Spielman died 9th of March 2015
Members
Peter Williams (guitar/vocals), Simon Bonney (vocals), Don McLennan (drums), Mick Smith (bass), Steven Williams (drums), Michael Wood (vocals), Astrid Spielman (vocals/keys/percussion), Ian Bowie (drums), John Vender (keys/bass), Mel ? (drums), Phillip Egan (drums),Alex Hamilton (bass/trumpet), Stephen O'Neil (bass), Nicole Menzies (trumpet), Michael Dalton (harmonica/guitar), Anna Schinella (bass), Panos Kouros (bass), Rock Shipton (vocals)
EPs
'Colour In' 1980 Certain Music 'Advanced Colouring' 1981 EMI Custom 'I Luv Trumpet' 1983 Waterfront
Bobby James started out as the lead vocalist in Adelaide band The Vibrants. They cut two singles for EMI's Columbia imprint, "Jezabel" in 1965 and ''I've Learned'' the following year. After the second single release, James left to form the Bobby James Syndicate. As the Bobby James Syndicate, they released records through the Go!! and the Festival label and were a sought-after act on such television shows as the Graham Kennedy Show, The Ernie Sigley Show and Hey, Hey It's Saturday. The band toured Vietnam in the late 60s. For the next 20 years the band continued to perform but went through many lineup changes before calling it a day in the late 80s.
Members
Bobby James (vocal), Kelvin Monaghan (keyboards), Darryl Feddon (drums), Doug Sterling (bass), Lindsay Shah (guitar), Carmel Chayne (vocal), Sue Bradley (vocal), Leonie Bradley (vocal), Gary Dewer (drums), Chris Young (drums), Joey May (keyboards), Don Nieman (bass), Alan Sterling (keyboards), Ron Cork (bass), Bayne Russell (guitar), Ken Semple (sax), Rod Murray (keyboards), Glen Suckling (bass), Paul Adamson (bass), John Ballard (guitar/sax), Wayne Bonner (drums), Danny Drum (keyboards), Ken Leroy (bass), Andrew Franz (guitar), Dave Sudholtz (bass), Noel Beare (bass), Phil Bowen (guitar), Mal Ronay (drums), Rick Puchala (drums)
SINGLES
''Hey, Hey, Hey / Short Sam'' 1967 Go!! ''Living Life / Destiny'' 1973 Festival
Slava Grigoryan (born 21 January 1976) is an Australian classical guitarist and recording artist of Armenian heritage. He was born in Kazakhstan to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violinists. His family emigrated to Australia in 1981, and he was raised in Melbourne. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his father at the age of seven. By the age of twelve he was already performing professionally, and he made his solo debut in Sydney at fourteen. He attended Caulfield Junior College (Then known as CNCS-Caulfield North Central School) and St Michael's Grammar School during which time he studied with Ron Payne, and the Victorian College of the Arts.
Following his win at the Tokyo International Classical Guitar Competition, where he was the youngest finalist in the history of that competition, Grigoryan was signed by Sony Music Entertainment in 1995 for whom he released four solo albums 'Spirit Of Spain' (1995), 'Dance Of The Angel' (1997), 'Another Night In London' (1999) and 'Love In Recital' (2000). During that time he toured extensively in Europe, North America and Asia, making his New York City debut in 1997.
He changed labels to ABC Classics in 2001 and released a solo album 'Sonata's And Fantasies' and an album recorded with his younger brother Leonard Grigoryan. A frequent collaborator, they perform as 'Grigorian Brothers'. Together they have released five albums, all of which have been nominated for AIRA awards. In 2014 Grigorian Brothers released 'This Time' which has been well reviewed. Some of the brother's previous releases include 'The Seasons' and 'Distance'. He has also joined with fellow Australian musicians Anthony Field, Karin Schaupp and Gareth Koch to release albums under the group name Saffire (Field has since been replaced with Leonard Grigoryan).
In addition to his achievement in the Tokyo International Classical Guitar Competition, he has won a number of awards including Young Australian of the Year for the Arts in 1998, the Mo award for Instrumentalist of the Year in 2001, and the ARIA for Best Classical Album in 2002 (solo) and 2003 (as part of Saffire). In 2000 he appeared as a soloist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and also was part of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Arts Festival. Slava Grigoryan won the ARIA Award for Best Classical Album for 'Sonatas & Fantasies' in 2002, for 'Bach: Cello Suites Volume I' in 2017 and for 'Bach: Cello Suites Volume II' in 2018.
ALBUMS 'Spirit of Spain' (#93) 1995 Sony 'Dance of the Angel' (#35) 1997 Sony 'Another Night in London' (#90) 1999 Sony
Influential punk/melodic hardcore band formed in Melbourne in the early 90s. First known as Downfall, they changed their name to One Inch Punch. They released two studio albums 'Lost In What We Lack' (1995) and 'Ignorant Bliss' (1996). They were never a commercial success, but they were recognised internationally as the best Australian punk band at the time, and they were a success where it mattered: in the hearts of dedicated punkers. The band found out there was another band called One Inch Punch, so they changed their name again, this time to the name of one of their songs, ''Mid Youth Crisis'' in 1997. The band broke up in 1998. The album 'Lost In What We Lack' was re-released in 2013 on Midnight Funeral Records. Adrian Lombardi would go on and form rock band Blue Ruin in 1999.
Members
Steve Milligan (vocals), Adrian Lombardi (guitar), Dave Collins (bass), Jay Jones (drums), Heath McNally (guitar),
ALBUMS 'Lost In What We Lack' 1995 Lifetime Records 'Ignorant Bliss' 1996 Shock
No Reason was a punk band formed in 1989 in Newcastle. Their sound was eclectic, ranging from punk rock to melodic and indie influences. Their music was reminiscent of GBH, Poison Idea, Husker Du, The Afghan Whigs, and Archers of Loaf. Their first release 'Someday' on 7" vinyl was full of great tunes like the angst ridden 'Hate Fuel'. Their 1994 debut album was entitled 'Way Splattered Youth'. Their second release was 'Above All' in 1997 which included the songs "Saviour Song" and "The Rain Home". Some say that 'Above All' is one of the best albums to come out of Newcastle. The mid-90s was a prolific time for punk in Newcastle, with bands like Disengage, Anomie, Pitfall, and Angry Earth Mutha.
Members
Michael Cornish (vocals, bass), Peter Flood (drums), Theren Saxon (guitar, vocals), Luke Williams (drums)
SINGLES ''Someday'' 1993 Life After Latex
ALBUMS 'Way Splattered Youth' 1994 Life After Latex 'Above All' 1997 Spent Music
Charles Lothian Lloyd Owen was raised with two older sisters, both became visual artists. His father was a captain in the navy, he gave Owen preliminary piano and guitar lessons. His mother was a visual artist who tried to teach him to paint "Jesus how embarrassing, when all my friends were off trying to find cigarette butts to smoke and that... painting bloody pictures, but that was just what we did". At about eight or nine-years-old he formed a duo, Hot Dogs, with a neighbour to play for their parents, they only knew part of "Walk, Don't Run", a surf-jazz instrumental by The Ventures. While he was still at primary school the family moved to Canberra and, at age 12 or 13, with an older friend he played at a youth club, Griffin Centre. His biggest influences were Django Reinhardt's "irreverence" and John Coltrane's "reverence".
Owen and his family then moved to Brisbane, where he was ''a bit lonely and just sat around in my room playing guitar''. He formed a group with a saxophone player from music class at secondary school. Another group was OME (aka Original Music Ensemble), which was an improvisation group – most of his early playing was in musical theatre and jazz. He was also in Fabulous Dingo Family, co-founded by jazz composer David Pyle, and named after Azaria Chamberlain.
In 1982 he was in Ninja Skill, a rock band, alongside Charlie Aber, John Caskey, Rick Caskey, Stephen Marskett, and Larry Ponting. He left in 1984 and relocated to Sydney. In 1985 he played with Tango Bravo which had Tracy Bartelle, Tony Buck on drums, Dave Dwyer, Steve Harris, Mauro Rubby and John Sharp. He described the group as a "commercial pop thing" and initially he had no particular concerns about the group's direction, however "we'd gotten some deal to make a single and I just went, 'No, this shit's too much'" – he suddenly left the band.
Owen's earliest recorded work was for Meera Atkinson, a performance poet, on her album, 'This Is the Planet' (1987), which was produced by Rob Younger (Died Pretty, Lime Spiders, The Stems). Other session musicians included Brett Myers, Ron Peno, and Louis Tillett. By February 1987 Owen was invited by Younger to join a reformed version of The New Christs on lead guitar. With Younger on lead vocals, the line-up also had Jim Dickson (ex-Railroad Gin, Survivors, Passengers, Barracudas) on bass guitar and Louis Burdett (ex-Powerhouse, Ed Kuepper Band) on drums. Owen co-wrote their fourth single, "Another Sin" (June 1989), with Dickson, Younger and Nick Fisher (ex-Wet Taxis) – Burdett's replacement.
During 1987 Owen also provided guitar, with Burdett on drums, for Louis Tillett's (ex-Wet Taxis) debut solo album, 'Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell' (November). Also on the album were Penny Ikinger on guitar (Wet Taxis) and Diane Spence on saxophone (Wet Taxis & Great White Noise); and Lenny Bastiaans on bass guitar (Great White Noise). Stuart Coupe from The Canberra Times described the album as "a wonderful mixture of jazz, blues and rock'n'roll. Above all it's a spirited, passionate and diverse performance from a little known figure on the fringes of the rock'n'roll scene".
Owen also worked with Tillett in the group, Paris Green, which "covered material ranging from Mose Allison to John Coltrane, Ray Charles to Nina Simone, and on any given night there was as many as nine or ten musicians on stage". In June 1988 Owen was the record producer for The Plunderers five-track EP, 'Trust Us'. As a member of New Christs, Owen supplied guitar, piano and organ, as well as co-writing, for their debut album, 'Distemper' (August 1989). Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described the album as "the definitive statement on the band's sound and style. It contained a wealth of powerful tracks". However later that year the group disbanded.
Owen completed session work on Penguins on Safari's 'Normal Soon' and Tony Buck's 'The Shape of Things to Come' (both 1989). Also that year Owen joined ex-Cold Chisel pianist and keyboardist, Don Walker, in a blues rock band, Catfish; which toured Australia. In 1990 Owen teamed with Tillet again, in Louis Tillett and His Cast of Aspersions, both produced the group's album, 'A Cast of Aspersions' (April). McFarlane noted that it was "eclectic set of material driven by Tillett's booming baritone voice and smouldering organ, Owen's jagged guitar lines and the swinging brass arrangements".
Owen resumed work with Catfish, he appeared on their second album, 'Ruby' (October 1991), and toured in support of its release. Also in 1991 Owen joined Divinyls on tour promoting their self-titled album issued January, Owen played rhythm guitar on 'Divinyls Live' (1991) alongside founding mainstays, Chrissy Amphlett on lead vocals and Mark McEntee on lead guitar, together with Lee Borkman on keyboards, Jerome Smith on bass guitar, and Charlie Drayton on drums.
Late in 1992 Tex Perkins (of Beasts of Bourbon, The Cruel Sea) contacted Owen and Walker to work together on four live-to-air tracks for a broadcast by national radio station, JJJ. It was recorded as JJJ Live at the Wireless. The trio made a "vague promise to do something more" in the future. Six months later Perkins and Walker contacted Owen again, and they formed Tex, Don and Charlie to record their debut album, 'Sad But True' (November 1993). For the album Owen supplied guitar, dobro and lapsteel. It reached the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
The Canberra Times' Mike Gee noted that most of the material was written Perkins and/or Walker but "that isn't to overlook Owens' guitar work and his swampy instrumental ''Dead Dog Boogie'". McFarlane described the album as a "rootsy collection of acoustic, country-blues songs full of steel guitar and sparse piano". While fellow journalists, John O'Donnell, Toby Creswell and Craig Mathieson, listed it in their book, 100 Best Australian Albums (October 2010). They felt it contained "stories plucked from the night or passed along on back verandahs" and that "Dead Dog Boogie" was a "rambunctious, psychedelic country fair instrumental".
Also in 1993 Owen, on dobro, lapsteel, banjo and organ, joined Maurice Frawley and Working Class Ringos, a rootsy country-blues band. With Frawley on lead vocals and lead guitar, were Des Hefner (The Birthday Party, The Slaughtermen) on drums, and Shane Walsh on bass guitar. Walker described the group as "the best after-midnight band in the world". Owen called them "the bad boys of folk" who played "the most passionate, beautiful, rollicking, cheeky, heartfelt music you could ever hear".
In June 1993 Owen, Chris Wilson, and three former members of The Triffids: David McComb, Robert McComb and Graham Lee guested on Acuff's Rose's debut studio album, 'Never Comin' Down'. In December that year Owen rejoined Divinyls for another tour of Australia. Working Class Ringos released an extended play, 'Whoop Whoop' in 1994 and followed with their debut album 'Livin' Lazy' in May 1995.
In 1994 Tex, Don and Charlie toured Australia and recorded a live album, 'Monday Morning Coming Down', and a related single, "What I Done to Her", which were issued in September. The track was co-written by Owen and Perkins, it was used on the soundtrack for the 2002 film, Australian Rules. Owen was a session musician on albums: Robert Forster's 'I Had a New York Girlfriend', Spencer P. Jones' 'Rumour of Death' (both 1994); The Cruel Sea's 'Three Legged Dog' (April 1995); and Perkins' solo album, 'Far Be it from Me' (1996). Owen joined Perkins in a reformed line-up of the latter's group, Beasts of Bourbon, in September 1996 alongside Brian Henry Hooper on bass guitar, Jones on guitar and Tony Pola on drums. This line-up recorded the group's fifth studio album, 'Gone' (January 1997), which reached the Top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The group disbanded again by the end of that year.
Back in 1994 Owen was also on guitar, bass guitar, piano, organ, drums and percussion in a duo with Joel Silbersher (ex-God, Hoss, Sabotage) on lead vocals, guitar, drums, harmonica and keyboards. The duo issued an album, 'Tendrils', in the next year. They adopted the album's name for their duo and as Tendrils issued another album, 'Soaking Red', in 1998 on Half A Cow Records. The label promoted the album as "organic, darkly beautiful, sparse & intense". NME's reviewer found "tales of lives gone violently awry, set to elusive, near-impressionistic folkadelic orchestration. Organs proffer a narcotic balm, while guitars are picked with pointed economy, like the jibes of an estranged friend". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999 it was nominated for Best Alternative Release.
In 2000 Owen appeared on Steve Prestwich's 'Since You've Been Gone' and Conway Savage's 'Nothing Broken'. Also that year he produced and provided guitar for Perkins' second solo album, 'Dark Horse's and joined Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses to promote its release. Also in the line-up were Silbersher, Murray Paterson, and Scritch. In March 2005 Tex, Don and Charlie reconvened to record their second album, 'All is Forgiven' (August 2005). It was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. The trio promoted the release with a national tour into early 2006. Also during 2006 Owen provided acoustic guitar for Walker's second solo album, 'Cutting Back' (July).
In May 2009 band mate, Maurice Frawley, died of liver cancer. Owen worked with another of Frawley's band mates, Paul Kelly, to organise a tribute album, 'Long Gone Whistle – The Songs of Maurice Frawley' (August 2010). Also appearing on the 3× CD release were Amphlett, Perkins, Walker, The Drones, The Kill Devil Hills, Megan Washington and Dan Sultan. A follow up concert in late August launched the album and raised money for one of Frawley's causes, Rochester Secondary College's music program. In May 2012 Australian Guitar magazine listed Owen in the Top 40 of Australia's best guitarists. In 2016, Owen collaborated with Paul Kelly on the album, 'Death's Dateless Night'. The album peaked at #16 on the ARIA charts and at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017 it was nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album.
ALBUMS 'Vertigo and Other Phobias' 1994 Red Eye 'The Ugly Truth' [with Louis Tillett] 1994 Return to Sender 'Midnight Rain' [with Louis Tillett] 1995 Return to Sender 'Live At Northcote Social Club' [with Tex Perkins] 2007 New Found Frequency 'Death's Dateless Night' [with Paul Kelly] 2016 Gawd Aggie
Trout Fishing in Quebec was a funky/jazz band formed in Sydney in the early 90s who had somewhere between 5 and 11 members, depending on what night you caught them. The band released three albums 'Where Are They Now?', 'Pissing In The Wind' and 'Incentivation'
Members
Dave Aston (drums), Kylie Burtland (flute), Andy Ford (trombone), Julian Burton (guitar), Tim Newsom (bass), Silvester Molnar (drums), Jasmine Monique Gufford (flute), Kyls Burtland (flute), Jan Goldfelder (percussion), Peter McNeil (trombone), David Jensen (sax), Pete Neville (percussion), Pete Batt (keyboards), Brad Madigan (guitar)
SINGLES ''Ooh La La'' 1995 WEA ''Baby I Love You (But I've Got To Play Pinball)'' 1996 Ra Records ''Corduron (Go The Cheese)'' 1997 Ra Records ''Bad Boy For Love'' 1999
EPs 'New Shoes' 1993 Spiral Scratch
ALBUMS 'Where Are They Now?' 1994 Ra Records 'Pissing Into The Wind' 1996 Ra Records 'Incentivation' 1999
Australian grunge band Budd, originally from Brisbane, released two of the most brain-pulverizing records of the 90s, 'Yakfat' (1993) and 'Naf' (1994). Budd was formed by Jeremy 'Jez' Finlayson, Gaz [Gary Linaker[, and Nico [David Nicholson] (ex-Baton Rouge) in 1991, joined by drummer Ian Mossom, originally from Townsville. Budd's first few shows were at house parties in Brisbane's suburbs, followed by their first pub show, at the Gladstone Hotel in Toowoomba. By late 1991 Jon [John Morris] had replaced Ian Mossom, and the band recorded and self-released a cassette, 'Fuzzgutzn'. In 1992 the single ''Helpmeswell'' came out as the first release on the new Fellaheen label, run by Waterfront founder Steven Stavrakis. They released the seminal 'Yakfat' EP on Fellaheen in 1993. Some early material was compiled by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and released to the American market on his Ecstatic Peace label, as the self-titled 'Budd' double 10" vinyl album.
In 1993, both Gaz and Nico left Budd, moving to rural areas. Subsequently, Jon introduced bassist Ngakau Luke-Harris (ex-Spiral-I), and Budd continued with this three-piece lineup. They released the mini-albums 'Naf' in 1994 (including the fan-favourite track ''Petrol''), and 'Ovit' in 1996. Budd toured nationally with bands such as Shellac, Fugazi and The Beastie Boys, performing at festivals including The Big Day Out, Livid, New Year's Revolution at the Dromana drive-in, and at Fisherman's Wharf with Mudhoney, Iggy Pop and Beasts Of Bourbon. Four of Budd’s records released by Fellaheen Records entered the ARIA Alternative Top 20 charts. The third Budd album 'Prana' was released on Fellaheen through Shock in 1998 and featured in the lineup at the time siblings Nadia Markovic on bass and Lenny Markovic on drums (both ex-Christbait).
Budd went through quite a few personnel changes over the next few years, with previous members Gaz, Ngakau and Lenny rejoining the band at various times, as well as the lineup including musicians Campbell Robinson (The Mark Of Cain) on drums, Nathan Smith (Warped) on bass, Finn McCarthy (Blood Duster) on guitar, Matt 'Tanzie' Tanner (Giants Of Science) on guitar, and Peter Lee on drums. In 2005 Jeremy joined up with guitarist Craig Westwood (ex Christbait, Dern Rutlidge), and drummer Tom 'TJ' Jackman (ex-Ricaine, Hurdy Gurdy, Ruck Rover, Slurper), and in 2009 released the Budd album 'Jawa'. The band continued to tour nationally, including with Clutch, until both Tom and Craig left the group to concentrate on their individual business careers.
In 2015, the Brisbane-based record label Tym Records (run by Tym Guitars principal Tim Brennan) re-released the 1993 Budd record 'Yakfat' on vinyl. To commemorate the release, early members Jez, Gaz, Nico, and Jon regrouped to play a showcase at the Tym Guitars shop. Only 200 copies of 'Yakfat' were pressed on vinyl, and such was the demand that all copies sold out within just two days. Over the next few years Budd played more shows with this lineup, including the Sonic Masala event in August 2016, and a tour of Melbourne. The lineup changed again a few times, some new material was worked on, and an album’s worth of demos were recorded. However, in 2019 Jeremy took a hiatus from music, for personal reasons.
Budd contributed the 1995 track 'Kneecap' to the 2021 'Loud As Ever' compilation, part of the 'Sound As Ever' compilation series, curated by broadcaster and music journalist Jane Gazzo. Upon returning to music after an extended break, Jeremy asked drummer Cris Wilson (Warped, Hoss, Johnny Casino, Legends Of Motorsport) and bassist Kez [Kerrie Hickin] (ex-Holocene, Autohaze, Sunset Strip, Magnolia Strip) to play. At the end of 2023, the then-new trio played two warm-up shows as The Fogmen, and from January 2024 were playing as Budd, performing material primarily from the 'Naf', 'Ovit', 'Prana' and 'Jawa' releases, as well as new works. Former members Tom Jackman and Craig Westwood have guested with the band at live shows during that year. Budd recorded four new songs, with one of these to appear on a split single with Geelong band Smoke Witch, to be released in 2025. A deluxe vinyl re-issue of 'Ovit' is also planned, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of its recording.
Members:
Jeremy Finlayson (vocals, guitar), Gaz [Gary Linaker] (vocals, bass, guitar, drums), Nico [David Nicholson] (guitar), Jon [John Morris] (drums), Ngakau Luke-Harris (bass), Peter Lee (drums), Matt 'Tanzie' Tanner (bass), Craig Westwood (vocals, bass), Tom Jackman (drums), Campbell Robinson (drums), Nadia Markovic (bass), Lenny Markovic (drums), Ian Mossom (drums), Peter Lee (drums), Nathan Smith (bass), Finn McCarthy (drums), Owen Kruse (drums), Cris Wilson (drums), Kez [Kerrie Hickin] (bass)
Charlie Marshall is a singer songwriter guitarist from Melbourne. His songs are poetic, romantic meditations on life, love, science, philosophy and the universe. He writes with passion, soul and thought, and his playing style migrates from gentle, lush moments to raging, beguiling intensity when in full flight. Charlie has been the guitar-slinging backbone for many of Melbourne’s finest bands over the past four decades. He formed much loved cult band Harem Scarem with his brother Chris in the 1980s along with blues harp genius Chris Wilson and Barry Palmer (Hunters and Collectors). Together they were a dynamite force performing songs in the key of punk blues with a ferocity unlike many others.
In the 90s he delved into more indie rock terrain with The Body Electric along with a dream team of band members - Jim White and Warren Ellis from The Dirty Three, and Brian Hooper from Beasts Of Bourbon. As if that wasn’t enough, later Body Electric lineups featured the incredible pedigree of members of legendary outfits The Avalanches, Silver Ray, Moodists and Dumb Earth. His latest songs explored the wonders of science and nature with the band The Curious Minds comprised of Clare Moore (Dave Graney 'n the Coral Snakes), Bryan Colechin (Hugo Race True Spirit), Tim Deane (Ron Peno & the Superstitions) And Andrew Watson (Slow Dissolve).
EPs 'Making My Way To You' [with The Body Electric] 1999 Way Over There
ALBUMS 'Charlie Marshall And The Body Electric' 1994 White 'I Don't Want It' [with The Body Electric] 1996 Way Over There 'Story Of Us' [with The Body Electric] 2000 W. Minc
'Travel Easy' 2006 Homo Sapien Records 'Inordinate Fondness For Beetles' [with The Existentialists] 2010 Homo Sapien Records
'Almighty Carousel 2014 'Sublime' [with The Curious Minds] 2017
In 1992, Caroline Kennedy-McCracken formed indie pop four-piece The Plums with guitarist Steve Moffat and drummer Shamus Goble; all three had previously played in the band Jack and the Beanstalk. They were joined by Pete McCracken on bass guitar. According to rock music historian Ian McFarlane, "The Plums mixed strident guitar riffs with melodic pop roots. Kennedy was the band's focal point with her tough-but-graceful presence, opinionated views and emotion-charged, if imperfect, vocals". The band released two EPs on Mushroom's Temptation label, 'Au Revoir Sex Kitten' and 'Read All Over'. The album 'Gun' followed in 1994. The band's final recording was the 'Heavenly' EP, released in 1995. The band broke up the same year. In 1995, Kennedy-McCracken joined pop group Deadstar as vocalist.
Members
Caroline Kennedy-McCracken (vocals), Steve Moffat (guitar), Peter McCracken (bass), Shamus Goble (drums)
SINGLES ''Why Don't You Say'' 1994
EPs 'Au Revoir Sex Kitten' 1992 Temptation Music 'Read All Over' 1993 Temptation Music 'Find This Anywhere' 1994 White 'Heavenly' 1995 White
Allegiance was formed in Perth in 1990 as a thrash metal group by Tony Campo on guitar, Dave Harrison on bass guitar, Steve Hidden on guitar, Conrad Higson on drums and John Mihos on lead vocals. After a few months of performing Mihos left and Higson switched to lead vocals, Glenn Butcher replaced Dave Barry on drums and Jason Stone replaced Hidden on guitar.
In 1991 the group recorded a four-track extended play, 'Make the Pledge', as a music cassette, which was self-funded: with $250 from their live shows. It was released in October; its straightforward thrash metal sound helped it to sell 2000 copies. In the next month Allegiance won the Most Popular Band category at the West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMI Awards) for that year.
In February 1992 Allegiance played at the annual Bindoon Rock outdoor concert festival for the first time to a crowd of 10,000 people. In March they released their second EP, 'Torn Between Two Worlds', on a seven-track cassette. The recording featured improved production and song writing, which demonstrated the band's progress. The EP sold 3500 copies, won the 1992 local industry award for most popular WA cassette. It was praised as one of the most impressive tapes of 1992 by magazines, fanzines and radio shows in places like Japan, Argentina, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Germany, Canada, United States and the United Kingdom.
In July 1992 Allegiance won the state final of the Yamaha Rock competition and flew to Melbourne to represent their state in the national final, where they received the Juke Magazine-sponsored Encouragement Award. They competed against seven other unsigned acts; the final was broadcast nationally on MTV. The band headed to ABC studios in August 1992 to record five tracks live-in-the-studio: in one take with few overdubs. These were released as their third EP in October, 'Studio Live'. It was limited to 500 copies, which sold out in one day and became a sought-after collectors item.
In September 1992 the group performed at the Australian Metalfest at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney and provided the track, "Twisted Minds", for a CD sampler. Reviews stated Allegiance to be the most impressive bands on the bill which helped to establish their reputation as a live act outside their home state. At the end of the year, some of their tracks were selected for inclusion on the Def Records Australia Metal compilation and local talent showcase, 'The Western Front', compilation CD’s. Allegiance was voted the ninth best Australian band and fifth best new band in Hot Metal Magazine's annual readers poll. The band again ended the year by winning the Most Popular Band category at the 1992 WAMI Awards.
In 1993 Allegiance continued touring including a second appearance at the annual, Bindoon Rock festival, performing in front of 15,000 people at the national Big Day Out festival as well as touring nationally supporting Kreator and Fear Factory which furthered their reputation as a thrash metal band. Allegiance had tracks included on the Roadrunner records Australasian compilation 'RedRum' and Studio 52's 'While My Guitar Gently Kills Your Mother' and Polygram heavy metal promotional cassette. Ex-Judas Priest front man, Rob Halford, took an interest in the band. He made statements in the international metal press claiming Allegiance to be a dynamite band. His company, Entertainment Management Advisory Services (EMAS), were managing the band to increase international exposure.
In March 1994 Allegiance toured nationally with Halford's new band, Fight. Allegiance placed in ten different categories in the HM Magazine readers' poll, including tenth best band of all time! In April the group secured a deal with the ID Phonogram label. Their debut album, 'D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n', was recorded in Australia by American producer, Dave Pinsky. They had met Pinsky whilst supporting the Beastie Boys with whom he was working. The album was mastered in the Netherlands by Attie Bauw who has worked with both Fight and Judas Priest.
Campo later reflected "when Rob Halford's EMAS got interested that's when we thought we were going places... He did nothing really for us, I think he just wanted to prop up his Fight tour of Australia. We were recording D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n at the time. His company said it was a bit heavy for them to do anything with. Although when it charted in Oz he was quick to take credit... Before he came to Oz he did press saying he couldn't wait to meet us. When we toured together, he never even watched the band or talked to us. When he returned to the States, he never contacted us again."
In May 'D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n' was released and although it received no mainstream radio or video exposure, it went straight into the W.A. mainstream ARIA chart at #1 and remained in the top 5 for three weeks. The band continued touring with their own headlining Destitution Tour across state capitals and then touring nationally with Australian hard rock band, The Poor. The 'D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n' album topped local metal charts in the country and has been one of the best-selling, home grown, hard music releases in many years.
In July Allegiance appeared on the cover of HM magazine. 'D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n' started to receive positive reviews in the overseas metal press including a rating of KKKK by UK publication, Kerrang!. They shot two music videos which aired on several music video programs. In November the band recorded 'Time To React – Live!', a special live recording at the ABC's JJJ studios to an audience of die-hard Allegiance fans. It contains no overdubs and shows the uncompromising raw power of the band in the live environment. 1995 was a busy year for Allegiance with the release of 'Time To React – Live'! and touring big names such as Slayer, Biohazard, Machine Head and Channel Zero. They also appeared at the Big Day Out concert festivals in both Australia and New Zealand.
At this stage, Allegiance was the undisputed biggest metal band in the country. In 1996 the band started work on their next album, 'Skinman'. The album title was inspired by the tragic suicide of a member of Allegiance's road crew whose nickname was "Skinman". It was recorded in Western Australia on 48 track digital and was produced by John Villani who handled their debut. The album showed a progression in Allegiance's sound but still retaining raw power that made them popular in the first place. It was released in November through the Mercury label and debuted on the ARIA charts at #11. In 1997 the band was continuing to tour, playing shows and festivals with many big-name international bands. However, tension between band members began to arise and while shooting a video for the track "Give Yourself" from the 'Skinman' album in late '97, Dave Harrison left the group. Allegiance disbanded soon after.
Fans were not happy with the break-up of the band, so the legacy of Allegiance continues on to this day. In November 2000, Allegiance did a massive "one-off" reunion concert in Perth and showed that the band's popularity had not dipped over the years. In 2003 Allegiance returned with another re-union for the 'NYE Kikstart' concert and were also inducted into the Western Australian music hall of fame. Allegiance re-united again in 2004 to play with KISS at the WACA and again in 2021.
Members
Dave Harrison (bass), Glen Butcher (drums), Conrad Higson (vocals, drums), Jason Stone (guitars), John Mihos (vocals), Tony Campo (guitars), Steve Hidden (guitar), Dave Barry (drums)
ALBUMS 'D.e.s.t.i.t.u.t.i.o.n' 1994 Id ' ....time to react LIVE!' 1995 'Skinman' 1996 Id
What became clear was that the original T-Bones - songwriting collaborators and life-long mates Andrew "Pip" Pupillo and Charlie Wilde - grew up writing songs, not covering them. Sure, they tipped their hats to the greats, but they didn’t bother copying them. Before Barnsey tried and failed, the Boners were Australia’s Springsteen or Cougar/Mellencamp celebrating provincial ordinariness, finding poetry in the dusty blue-collar existence of 45-degree heatwaves, shot-up road signs and speed-baked truck stops, traversing the contradictory lure and alienation of cities, marveling at the eternal mystery of women, and despairing at the violence in men.
Before ABC-TV discovered the slide guitar as the motif for stories about the bush, the T-Bones had already defined an aural image of drought, shimmering horizons and cooked engine blocks. Before John Fogarty sang about playing ''Centrefield'', the T-Bones were singing about footy – the frozen mud trudge to the ‘G in July, the Melbourne Bitter taste of defeat, the inevitable fight in the pub, the woeful and beloved Tigers getting smashed week after week. (In fact, footy historians might like to track the parallel fortunes of the T-Bones and the Richmond Football Club. The Tigers since have won three flags since the T-Bones began playing to the cocksure roustabouts and backpacker grape-pickers at the Robinvale Hotel back in the late 1980s.)
Over time, the T-Bones created their own unique anthems that would become cult classics in their adopted town of Melbourne, and which helped spawn a new breed of uniquely Melbourne roots music that married rockabilly, country and blues, and embraced the themes of Australiana that were once reviled as kitsch and decidedly uncool. Sure, not having a trusty repertoire of standards made some gigs pretty tough. (The band was once chased out of Tamworth because the crowd didn’t get these long-haired city boys playing what is ironically only now being celebrated at the so-called Country Music Festival – original, unapologetic, distinctly Australian music.)
Members
Andrew ‘Pip’ Pupillo (vocals/guitar), Charlie Wilde (guitar), James Stewart (guitar), Alics Gate-Eastly (bass) Miles McNicol (drums) Helen Cattanach (bass), Rob Lastdrager (drums), Garret Costigan (pedal steel)
ALBUMS 'Red Dust Rain' 1993 'Cannot Settle Down' 1995 Corduroy '5 Days Gone' 1997 Corduroy
