HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FROM 1960 UNTIL 2000: SEVEN BALLERINAS

Sunday, 4 December 2016

SEVEN BALLERINAS

The Seven Ballerinas were an Australian indie rock band from Queenland's Gold Coast, active from 1981 to 1984. The original members were John Smethurst on vocals and guitar (ex-Ratpak), Michael Palmer on guitar, (ex-The Strand), Mario Spina on bass (ex-Ratpak), Nigel Baker on keyboards (ex-Ratpak) and Billy Pommer Jr on drums. They were a significant contributor to the alternative rock music scene on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney, being one of the first bands from the Gold Coast to perform original material to audiences Australia wide. Nigel Baker left the band in 1981 and John Hippocrates replaced Billy Pommer Jr on drums in the same year. Their early work received recognition by independent radio stations in Brisbane and Sydney, notably 4ZZZ and 2JJ. As their influence grew, commercial FM radio also played the Ballerinas, as evidenced by their inclusion on 4MMM's 'Homegrown Volume One' LP of local South East Queensland bands in 1982. The track was ''Sometimes I Feel''.

The Seven Ballerinas recorded their first independent single in Sydney in 1981. It was a double “A” sided self-produced 45 on the EMI Custom label, consisting of two originals ''Circles'' and ''Sometimes I Feel''. In 1982 the band again entered the studio, this time under the guidance of a record company and producers to record what was intended to be their first commercial single release, ''Falling Tear''. By the mutual agreement of the band, producer and record executives, the single was not released. The band continued to record independently from 1982 to 1984. The final recordings were done in 1991 with John Smethurst (vocals and guitar), Michael Palmer (guitar), Chris Bailey (bass ex The Angels),

JJ Harris (drums).

The Ballerinas also performed at several festivals, including the Summer Jam Festival on the Gold Coast in January 1983 where they performed the single ''Alone on a Bridge'' to an audience of several thousand. From 1981 to 1984 the Ballerinas performed at various venues along the East coast of Australia. On the Gold Coast, they appeared at the Playroom, Bombay Rock and The Jet Club. In Brisbane, they performed at The New York, The Aussie Nash and 279 Club. In Sydney, it was the Manzil Room in Kings Cross, Bondi Tram, Stranded, The Governor’s Pleasure, Trade Union Club and Carmen's at Miranda. The Ballerinas also supported a number of touring international acts, including Simple Minds, The Birthday Party and Ultravox. In 1984, by mutual agreement the band decided to cease regular live performances, however they continued to record and perform the occasional one-off show. Mario Spina died in 2004.

Members

John Smethurst (vocals guitar), Michael Palmer (guitar), Mario Spina (bass), Nigel Baker (keyboards) Billy Pommer Jr (drums). John Hippocrates (drums) Chris Bailey (bass),
JJ Harris (drums)