Short lived Melbourne band formed in the late 70s. Signed to the Au Go Go they released a single in 1981 ''Can I Go Home / The Howling Life''. Guitarist Peter Tulloch and drummer Neil Osborn went on to join The Zimmerman in the mid 80s. Peter Tulloch died of cancer in 2006.
Members
Peter Tulloch (vocals guitar), Mick McGinley (vocals/guitar), Keith Nunn (bass), Neil Osborn (drums)
SINGLES ''Can I Go Home / The Howling Life'' 1981 Au-go-go
Clint Small was a contemporary of Rowland S. Howard and Au Go Go label chief Bruce Milne at the Swinburne Community School. His first named band, apart from the various freeform jam bands that played at the school, was Tootho and the Ring Of Confidence, shortened to TATROC, in 1975, with Howard on sax and Graeme Pitt of Champagne Edge on bass. Small played in an early lineup of the Little Murders. As a soloist he released a couple of EPs on the AuGo Go label and a couple of mini albums and a single on Fourth Floor Records in the 80s and then disappeared.
SINGLES
''Crack In The Wall / Have You Got The Feeling? / Wyvern Parsons, Where Are You?'' 1979 Au-go-go ''On The Fourth Floor / Daeng / (I'm) Hep Up To Here'' 1980 Au-go-go ''Love Has Taken Me / While You Sleep'' 1988 Fourth Floor
Formed in 1976 Yasmin and The Tea Leaves played a mixture of styles with a combination of vocal harmonies, string band arrangements and cabaret sensibilities. In 1980 Yasmin and the Tea Leaves recorded their first album 'Yasmin and the Tea Leaves' on the Pumphandle label and received great reviews from Rolling Stone and other music magazines. They disbanded in 1983.
Members
Yasmin Shoobridge (vocals), David Wayman (vocals guitar), Anthony Leonard (guitar vocals)
Hailing from Araluen, NSW, singer/songwriter Roger Thwaites was educated at Tudor House in Moss Vale and Scots College in Sydney. As a young man he travelled the world and wiped the dust off his shoes in Ankara, Istanbul, Allepo, Damascus and Baghdad. His first album '200 Years' featured two legends of aussie music: Dave Bridge (guitar) and Bryce Rohde (keyboards). Over his musical journey he recorded on the RCA, Columbia and Pumpkin labels. He also wrote a book with his father Lindsay, The History Of Araluen which was published by the Braidwood & District Historical Society.
SINGLES ''My Country's Not For Sale / Here I Go Round Again'' 1972 RCA ''Baby Song / Willesfield Girl'' 1973 Pumpkin ''Daddy Frank / I Wish I Could Show You Love Again'' 1974 Pumpkin ''Wailin' Jenny / Poppa Jim And Momma Snow'' 1974 Pumpkin
ALBUMS '200 Years' 1970 Music For Pleasure 'North By North West' 1970 Columbia 'Age Of Time' 1971 Sound Unlimited 'Ladies Love Outlaws' 1974 Pumpkin 'Bound For Glory' 1981 Aussi-Tal
Saltbush formed in 1971 with Bernie O’Brien (ex The Rondells/Tamlas), on vocals, lead guitar, dobro and fiddle. Harold Frith (ex-Thunderbirds), vocals and drums, Paul Pyle (ex-Johnny O’Keefe Band), vocals and double bass and Ross Nicholson on vocals and guitar. In 1973 Saltbush played as the session band on all the tracks on Kevin Shegog’s 'Rodeo Man' released on W&G. In the mid 70s, country music broadened its appeal in Australia when artists such as Saltbush, Suzanne Prentice, Jean Stafford, Anne Kirkpatrick and Lindsay Butler joined the established stars on the Tamworth Awards stage.
Saltbush had two tracks ''Brown Bottle Blues'' and ''Redneck Mother'' on the compilation album,'Live At The Station Hotel', released by Lamington Records. The album was a snapshot of Melbourne's pub scene from the 70’s. Saltbush released their first album, 'At Twin Rivers' on the Rainbird label in 1976. The following year Saltbush won the Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards for New Talent of the Year with their song ''Sassafras Gap''.
Saltbush played as opening band for the Marty Robbins 1978 Tour of Australia and toured with Slim Dusty. The band released their second album self-titled 'Saltbush' on the EMI label. It was produced by Mark Moffatt, who played some great pedal steel and mandolin on the album. Saltbush were mentioned in the Sep 2, 1978, issue of Billboard magazine as Australia’s representative at the second annual Tulsa International Music Festival spotlighting artists from the Jim Halsey Corporation’s roster including Tammy Wynette, Don Williams, Rick Nelson, Roy Clark, Reba McEntire and The Oak Ridge Boys plus acts representing nine countries, including Saltbush. The band won another award at The Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards for Best Vocal Harmony with their song ''Stranger''.
Saltbush played the pub band in Tim Burstall’s film The Last of the Knucklemen. By 1980 the dynamics of the group were changing, and as part of a transition artists such as Noel Watson joined to revitalize the band, but even adding players of such calibre was not enough. In 1981 Saltbush disbanded as a group. Ross Nicholson died in 2021. Harold Frith died in 2025.
Members
Bernie O'Brien (vocals, guitar, dobro, fiddle), Paul Pyle (bass, vocals), Ross Nicholson (guitar, vocals), Harold Frith (drums) Noel Watson (vocals, guitar)
SINGLES ''Whatcha Gonna Do / Annie Johnson'' 1976 Rainbird ''Blue Hills / Sassafras Gap'' 1976 Rainbird ''Stranger / Fiddler Man'' 1978 EMI ''Razorback Mountain Blockade / Born For The Night Life'' 1979 Infinity
Nola Hirst was born in 1938. Nola was involved in the music scene from the late 1950’s through to the 1980’s. She had looks, personality an outstanding voice and a fine presence and rapport with the audience. Nola was in demand on the Sydney club scene performing with all the named artists of that time, and for a number of years with Bill Kelly’s Country Ramblers Band. Nola only recorded a few singles and an EP. She regularly appeared on television music shows. In the 1970’s she formed a trio with her brother Allan, and sister, Christine, called The Hirst Trio and performed on the Australian club circuit. At the height of her career, she suddenly gave it all away to live a simple life. In 1984 she was inducted into the Country Hands of Fame. Nola died in 2016.
SINGLES
''Three Ways / Meet Me In The Chapel'' (#63) 1958 Festival ''Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (#76) / Blackhills Of Dakota'' 1958 Festival ''Comfort In The Chapel [with Alan Hirst] / Cimarron (Roll On)'' 1958 Festival
''Green Grow The Lilacs [with Alan Hirst] (#78) / Tears Are Only Rain'' 1959 Festival
''One More Year To Go / Forever And Ever [with Alan Hirst]'' (#81)' 1959 Festival ''The Ballad Of Lover's Hill / When The Sun Says Gooday To The Mountain'' 1976 Bunyip
Formed in the early 90s The Verys emerged and enjoyed critical acclaim and many new fans, but the band was short lived. Fronted by Tim Oxley (ex-Sunnyboys) with Greg Hitchcock on guitar (ex-Neptunes, Bamboos), Bazz Barnett (ex-Brady Bunch Lawnmower Massacre) on bass and Greg Wales on drums they released one album 'Twentieth Century Fix' and a number of EPs on the Red Eye label.
Members
Greg Hitchcock (guitar), Tim Oxley (guitar vocals), Greg Wales (drums), Bazz Barnett (bass)
EPs 'That's A Moray' 1993 ID 'Pushes' 1994 Red Eye 'Colour Blue' 1994 Polydor 'No Landing Gear' 1995 Red Eye 'Freewheelin' Surgical Monster' 1995 Red Eye
Tex, Don and Charlie is an Australian super group formed by Tex Perkins from The Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon and others, Don Walker from Cold Chisel and widely respected guitarist Charlie Owen. The band was founded in 1992 as Tex Perkins relates: "I saw Charlie and thought 'Jesus Christ'. He was easily the best rock guitar player I had seen. He was really dexterous, but gutsy. Not flashy. I think it had a lot of jazz in him as well. I made a mental note that I'd like to work with Charlie and about one year later I heard he was playing with Don Walker in Catfish. Then somebody suggested I do something with Don Walker and I said 'Sure, as long as Charlie Owen is there'." In early 1992, the as yet unnamed band performed an acoustic live performance for alternative radio station JJJ with James Cruickshank also contributing guitar.
Six months later, Perkins proposed to Walker that they record an album together. Walker described the recording as a number of informal afternoons spent jamming in the studio. "It wasn't an album approached with any sort of seriousness. It wasn't until we had it all done that, we started to realise we might have something special." The album, 'Sad But True' spent 6 weeks in the Australian top 40. A live album was released in February 1995 titled 'Monday Morning Coming Down.' Over the next 10 years they all went separate ways but remained in contact.
In March 2005 Tex, Don and Charlie had been talking about a second album for four years; swapping songs in the mail for three; nailing them together over various stolen rehearsal sessions for nearly two. 'All is Forgiven' was released in August 2005 and a successful tour followed. The song "Harry was a Bad Bugger", was described by Chris Johnston as, "the Australian song of the year", and by Mess & Noise as, "one of the finest Australian compositions of the last 20 years." The album was shortlisted for the inaugural Australian Music Prize. In October 2010, 'Sad But True' (1993) was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums. In May 2017, Perkins announced via his Facebook page that new music from Tex, Don and Charlie would be coming in 2017. The following week, a national tour was announced alongside the news of a new album from the trio, 'You Don't Know Lonely'. A new single, "A Man in Conflict with Nature," was released on the same day. The album, released in June, peaked at #14 in the national charts.
Members
Tex Perkins (vocals, guitar), Don Walker (vocals, piano, keyboard, organ), Charlie Owen (guitar, dobro, lap steel, backing vocals, bass pedals), Shane Walsh (bass, double bass, backing vocals), Jim White (drums, backing vocals), Garrett Costigan (pedal steel, backing vocals)
SINGLES
'What I Done To Her' 1994 Red Eye
"A Man in Conflict with Nature'' 2017 EMI
ALBUMS 'Sad But True' (#40) 1993 Red Eye 'All Is Forgiven' (#58) 2005 Universal Music 'You Don't Know Lonely' (#14) 2017 EMI
Deniz Tek (born November 10, 1952) was born to a Turkish father and an American mother and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a university town near Detroit where Tek was exposed to Motor City music icons such as MC5, The Stooges and The Rationals. In the late '60s Ann Arbor became somewhat of a nexus for rock music, hosting festivals which drew performers from all around the world such as Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter, Captain Beefheart, and a personal favourite of Tek's, The Rolling Stones. Headlining world acts such as The Rolling Stones aside, Tek was heavily influenced by the mushrooming local underground scene of Ann Arbor, which included bands such as The Frost, Mitch Ryder, Carnal Kitchen with Steve Mackay, The Up, The SRC plus jazz greats Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef. In 1971 Tek left the rock metropolis of Ann Arbor to pursue his medical studies in Sydney, Australia.
In late 1972 Tek had joined the band TV Jones as lead singer/guitarist along with Chris Jones on guitar, Gerry Jones on drums (brother of the now successful jazz trumpet player Vince Jones), Giles Vanderwerf on bass. TV Jones had a fanatical cult following in Wollongong, to the point where things got crazed and dangerous where by in 1974, the group fled north of the city. The band was hopeful of success, but amid disastrous engagements at Chequers and the Whisky A Go Go, ran afoul of both the police and organised crime simultaneously. After unsuccessful album recording sessions in North Sydney, the group began to disintegrate, sacking Tek from TV Jones as a negative influence.
After being dismissed from TV Jones, Tek proceeded to form a new band with longtime friend Rob Younger, with the addition of Chris Masuak, Warwick Gilbert, Pip Hoyle and Ron Keeley, and called themselves Radio Birdman, after a misheard Stooges lyric. Radio Birdman were arguably the most successful band that Tek was associated with, despite the band's initial shunning from the Australian music scene. The Radio Birdman sound was unconventional and raw and echos the Motor City influences of Tek's youth.
Birdman are often attributed with the initiation of the Australian indie rock scene, as after being repeatedly rejected from various clubs and bars in the Sydney area, Birdman took it upon themselves to record and release their first recording 'Burn My Eye' which was a four track EP and distribute it out the back of the band members' station wagons. Radio Birdman began a world tour in 1977 travelling to England and playing a few shows around London as well as recording their second album 'Living Eyes', until in 1978 the band broke up mid-tour due to "personality conflict".
Following the demise of Radio Birdman, Tek proceeded to experiment musically in several different bands. From 1978 to 1979 Deniz dabbled in a band called The Visitors with Deniz on guitar, Mark Sisto on vocals, Ron Keeley on drums, Pip Hoyle on keyboards and Steve Harris on bass. The band being 3/5ths Birdman members was often compared to the early sound that Birdman had, but with a new twist of the Sisto vocal which likened the sound to that of The Doors. During these years Tek had also committed to writing the songs for Angie Pepper's new band The Angie Pepper Band after the breakup of her more successful band The Passengers.
What has often been hailed as the ultimate Motor City supergroup New Race, was formed by Tek with fellow Birdman members Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert, along with guitarist from The Stooges, Ron Asheton, and the drummer of MC5, Dennis Thompson, for a once off tour along the east coast of Australia in 1981. The band performed to sold out shows and many bootleg recordings of the shows were made, which resulted in the formation of several bootleg releases. The only official live recording of the shows was released in 1982 by Birdman's Trafalgar Studios as 'The First and Last'.
Tek then moved back to America where he became a licensed physician, specialising his qualifications in emergency and aerospace medicine. When in America he is based in Montana. He served time as a Navy flight surgeon with the US Marines, and flew back seat in F4 Phantoms in the squadrons VMFA212 and VMFA232. His callsign of "Iceman" was noticed by producers of the Top Gun film during a research visit to the squadron and may have been appropriated for Val Kilmer's character in the film.
Encouraged by his friend and ex-Birdman compadre Chris Masuak, Deniz came back to Australia in 1991, intent on renewing himself musically. He began extensive touring in 1992 and, following a near career destroying disaster on the Take It To The Vertical tour of 1992 initiated a line-up that became known as The Deniz Tek Group. This line-up spent the next few years touring Europe, Australia and the USA, while releasing an EP and several albums.
Geographical difficulties became untenable in late '96 and the group split up. Deniz then continued with US based lineups and recorded albums with Wayne Kramer (MC5) (Dodge Main), skateboard stars Art and Steve Godoy (Golden Breed, The Last Of The Bad Men), a Montana-based trio (Equinox), an experimental electronic duo with Jimi Hendrix's sidekick and amplifier designer Dave Weyer (Glass Insects), east coast hard rockers (Deep Reduction and DR2 featuring Rob Younger), and live work including tours and live albums with the Rationals' Scott Morgan (Three Assassins, Powertrane) and surviving members of Sonic's Rendezvous Band (Getting There Is Half The Fun).
Deniz and wife Angie Pepper (Passengers) recorded her album 'Res Ipsa Loquitor' in 2001. Deniz continued to record and tour extensively in the late '90s, while Radio Birdman reunified and began to work again. Radio Birdman reformed in January 1996, with all original members, touring Australia extensively- including their headlining of the 1996 Big Day Out Tour. Critics and fans old and new expressed the belief that they more than lived up to the legend.
They recorded a "live" album, performed to an exclusive, invited audience of 24 and released this on CD as 'Ritualism'. Initially it was only available by mail order on their own Crying Sun Records label, a low budget, but high-quality DIY project which is consistent with their earlier work both sonically and philosophically. Radio Birdman played and toured sporadically over the next ten years, losing the original drummer and bass player along the way. With Jim Dickson on bass and Rusty Hopkinson (You Am I) on drums, they played shows around Australia, returned to the recording studio in 2006, and released their first new studio album in 25 years, Zeno Beach. Zeno Beach was accompanied by a national tour of Australia and an extensive world tour, which included New Zealand, Europe, and for the first time ever, the United States. Radio Birdman again toured the world in 2007. In July 2007 Radio Birdman was inducted into the ARIA Australian Music Hall of Fame.
The Soul Movers is one of Deniz's latest musical projects (commenced 2008) with ex-Birdman member Pip Hoyle on keys, Andy Newman and Calvin Welch on drums with co-songwriter Lizzie Mack on vocals. On the Inside (Career/Cool Time Records) was released September 2009. In April 2011 Deniz joined with Iggy and the Stooges, as a special guest, for a tribute performance in Ann Arbor. The remainder of 2011 saw Tek recording a new solo album and touring with Art and Steve Godoy as the Golden Breed. Deniz Tek has released many solo albums the latest being 'Long Before Day' in 2022. Tek and his wife run a coffee farm in Hawaii, but he also performs around 50 concerts a year.
SINGLES ''100 Fools'' 1983 Citadel ''Can Of Soup / Song For Dave'' 2014 Lo-Tek
EPs 'Good 'Nuff' 1992 Red Eye
ALBUMS 'Take It To The Vertical' 1992 Red Eye 'Outside' 1994 Polydor 'Equinox' 1998 Citadel 'Got Live!' 1999 Citadel '3 Assassins' [with Scott Morgan] 2004 Career 'Detroit' 2013 Career 'Mean Old Twister' 2016 Career 'Lost For Words' 2018 Career 'Two To One' [with James Williamson] 2020 Cleopatra 'Long Before Day' 2022 Career
Hell To Pay was a Melbourne band that existed from around 1991 to 1993. They were, to coin an often over used phrase, ‘the real deal’. Any band that included both Ian Rilen (ex-Rose Tattoo, Sardine V) and Spencer P. Jones (ex-The Johnnys, Beasts of Bourbon), in their ranks was always going be top shelf, and so they were. The other members were Cathy Green (ex-X) on bass and Tony Biggs (ex-Chinless Elite) on drums. The band were signed to Red Eye Records in Sydney and released a single called ''Saints & King'' in 1991. Green left the band and was replaced by Jon Schofield before the album, 'Steal It' was released in 1992. Both are long out of print but are essential if you are fan of either Jones or Rilen. All the tunes are gritty and real and highlight Rilen’s talent as a writer. Rilen died at the age of 59 on 30 October 2006 from cancer.
Members
Ian Rilen (guitar vocals), Spencer P. Jones (guitar vocals), Jon Schofield (bass), Tony Biggs (drums), Cathy Green (bass)
SINGLES ''Saints And Kings / Would You Believe / Starting All Over'' 1991 Red Eye
Penny Flanagan (born 1970) is an Australian singer, and author. Penny Flanagan attended high school at Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College and is a Sydney-based singer/songwriter/musician and novelist. Her musical career began in 1989 as one half of the widely acclaimed folk-pop duo, Club Hoy. The duo released three EPs and the album 'Thursday's Fortune' in 1991 before Flanagan went solo.
The first single from her debut album, 'Bravado' was ''Lap It Up'' which hit #52 in Triple J Hottest 100, 1994. The album was produced by Martin Armiger and featured Paul Hester from Crowded House on drums. She also received significant radio and MTV play for her cover of Prince's ''When You Were Mine'' from her EP, 'Seven Flights Up' which was released on her own independent label, Penny Dreadful Records. In 1997, she contributed an offbeat cover of Kylie Minogue's ''Better the Devil You Know'' to the soundtrack of the Australian film, Dust Off The Wings and released a music video for the song that aired on MTV and Rage.
Her next release, 'Light Sleeper' was praised by Australian Rolling Stone Magazine as "a mature and intelligent release from a genuine talent, deserving of wider success.” The album was produced by Tim Powles of The Church and featured a duet with Steve Kilbey on the track ''Into the Sun''. After the release of 'Light Sleeper' she retreated from performing to focus on raising her three children. She has also written two books, the novel Sing to Me and children's book Changing The Sky.
SINGLES ''Lap It Up'' [with The New Moon] 1994 Regular Records ''The Sky (The Boxcar Remixes)'' [with The New Moon] 1995 Regular Records ''Piece Of You'' [with The New Moon] 1995 Regular Records
ALBUMS
'Bravado' [with The New Moon] 1994 Regular Records
'Seven Flights Up' 1996 Penny Dreadful Records 'Light Sleeper' 1997 Penny Dreadful Records
The Graduates were an Australian doo-wop vocal harmony group that came together in the late 1950s. The lineup featured Sydney University students Peter Paige and Bill Venables, Nancy Eichhorn, and Scottish-born Pat McCluskey, who left his accountancy studies to chase a career in entertainment. They performed backing vocals for artists recording with EMI, Festival, and Leedon labels, including Roy Melton, Candy Williams, and Col Joye, while also releasing their own tracks. In 1959, they scored a minor hit with ''Little Donkey'' and made TV appearances on shows like Six O’Clock Rock with Johnny O’Keefe. That same year, Tony Brady joined for a short stint on a tour with the Fabian Show. Before their debut album, 'The Glory of Love', was recorded, Bill Venables departed. Nancy Eichhorn died in 2023.
Members
Peter Paige (vocals), Bill Venables (vocals), Nancy Eichhorn (vocals), Pat McCluskey (vocals), Tony Brady (vocals)
In July 1988 Monica Trapaga (ex-Pardon Me Boys) formed Monica and the Moochers in Sydney. The Canberra Times reviewer described them as "a band that emulates the music of the late 1940s and 1950s" ahead of a gig in Canberra, which was to be followed by a tour itinerary including Perth. By November 1989 the line-up was Trápaga on lead vocals, Andrew Dickenson on drums, Julian Gough on tenor saxophone, Bernie McGann on alto saxophone, Adrian Mears on trombone, Alister Spence on piano and Jonathon Zwartz on bass guitar.
Monica and the Moochers' first studio album, 'Too Darn Hot', was released by August 1990 on rooArt Jazz/PolyGram. Michael Foster of The Canberra Times declared her voice "always amazes me... through the years, with the volume and range of sound generated from such a small, fine frame" while she "has a very strong and very accomplished and versatile backing group". For the album, the Moochers were Dickenson, Gough, McGann, Mears, Spence, now including Mike Bukovsky on trumpet and Dave Ellis on bass guitar.
In November 1991 their second studio album, 'Cotton on the Breeze', included tracks co-written by Trapaga, with her then-husband, Gough. The Canberra Times' Brad Turner caught a performance which provided "some powerful and tightly-played jazz, swing and Latin standards, and of course a selection from Cotton on the Breeze, most of which Monica wrote". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1992 the group was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album. The lineup for the recording of the album was Monica Trápaga (vocals), Julian Gough (sax), Bernie McGann (sax), Alister Spence (piano), Mike Bukovsky (trumpet), Dave Ellis (bass), Martin Highland (drums), Adam Armstrong (bass), Phillipe Lincey (percussion), Greg Sheehan (percussion) and James Greening (trombone). The group performed at Sydney's inaugural International Jazz Festival in January 1992.
Members
Monica Trápaga (vocals), Andrew Dickenson (drums), Julian Gough (sax), Bernie McGann (sax), Adrian Mears (trombone), Alister Spence (piano), Jonathon Zwartz (bass), Mike Bukovsky (trumpet), Dave Ellis (bass), Martin Highland (drums), Adam Armstrong (bass), Phillipe Lincey (percussion), Greg Sheehan (percussion), James Greening (trombone)
SINGLES ''Hearts Delight / Black Coffee'' 1990 rooArt
ALBUMS 'Too Darn Hot' 1990 rooArt 'Cotton On The Breeze' 1991 rooArt
Shanley Del Morris is a New Zealand-born Australian-based country and pop music singer-songwriter. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand in 1962, and grew up as the seventh of nine children with three brothers (Alister, Rhys and Tam) and four sisters (Bronte, Maxine, Joanne and Jenny). In 1991 Del moved to Sydney to work as a backing singer for her elder sister, Jenny, who had relocated there ten years earlier. On the strength of her demo tape, "Together Alone", she was signed with rooArt records in 1992 as a solo artist. Her first single, 'Funnel of Love', was issued in that year. "Funnel of Love", is a cover version of Wanda Jackson's 1961 single.
Her debut solo album, 'What's a Heartache For?', appeared in 1994, which was recorded in Nashville with Canadian producer, Ralph Murphy. Session musicians included David Briggs on piano, Danny Parks on guitar, and Milton Sledge on drums. In the following year she teamed with fellow country singers, Jane Saunders and Genni Kane to form a trio, Saunders, Kane & Del, and record an album, 'Tea for Three' (1995). They performed at special events and on TV but did not tour. During the trio's recording sessions, they used James Gillard (of the Flood) on double bass guitar; Del and Gillard married in 1998.
Her second album, 'My Own Sweet Time', followed in September 1997 and was also recorded in Nashville. Session musicians included members of the Dead Reckoners: Kieran Kane, Harry Stinson and Kevin Welch. She won Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998. Del's third album, 'The Other Side' (2001), appeared under the name Shanley and showed a more pop-orientated sound, which was produced by Matt Fell. In January 2019 Shanley and Gillard released an EP, 'Shanley Del and James Gillard', which they co-produced.
SINGLES ''Funnel Of Love'' 1992 rooArt ''The Hand I Hold'' 1994 rooArt ''Somewhere Out There'' 1995 rooArt ''Pearls of Wisdom'' [with Jane Saunders and Genevieve Kane] 1995 ABC ''Rear View Mirror'' 1995 rooArt ''Your Own Sweet Time'' 1997 rooArt, ''You Want To See Angels'' 1997 rooArt ''You Can't Make Everything OK'' 1998 rooArt ''Your Love Is Still On My Mind'' 1998 rooArt ''Sleep'' 2001 rooArt
EPs 'Red Roses' 1993 rooArt 'Shanley Del and James Gillard' 2019 Delicious Music
ALBUMS 'What's A Heartache For' 1994 rooArt 'Tea For Three' [with Jane Saunders and Genevieve Kane] 1995 ABC 'My Own Sweet Time' (#88) 1997 rooArt 'The Other Side' 2001 rooArt
Following the break-up of the Go-Betweens, Amanda Brown and Lindy Morrison formed the pop band Cleopatra Wong (1990–1993) in Sydney. They released two EPs on the rooArt label, six-track 'Egg' (February 1992) and five-track 'Cleopatra's Lament' (March 1993), including the single (and video) "Thank You". Besides violin and keyboards Brown provided lead vocals, mandolin and acoustic guitar; together with Morrison she co-wrote their material. For 'Egg' they were joined in the studio by former bandmate Michael Armiger on bass guitar, Colin Bloxsom on percussion (ex-Love Gone Wrong), Frank Millward on keyboards and Mark Moffatt on guitars as well as producer.
On 'Cleopatra's Lament' the duo "use striking imagery or constructions in their lyrics and complex arrangements in their music and are unafraid to be playful or delight in the unexpected her skills on violin, guitar, oboe and mandolin provide a richer, more sophisticated sound". Additional musicians were Mark Moffatt on guitar, David Lane on keyboards, Michael Armiger on bass, Louise Elliott on sax, Wendy Mathews on backing vocals and Sarah Peet on cello. Cleopatra Wong came to a surprise end in 1993 when Lindy left on the eve of a repackaging deal of the two EPs for US release, a deal which then didn't go through.
Sean Kelly (born 9 November 1958) started his career in 1977 in Spred, later called Teenage Radio Stars, alongside James Freud who would later join him in Models. After the demise of Teenage Radio Stars Kelly and fellow band member Pierre Voltaire (Peter Sutcliffe) joined with former JAB members Janis Friedenfelds (Johnny Crash) and Ash Wednesday to form Models. "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", their only #1 hit, appeared on the Australian singles charts in July 1985. The related album, 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight', peaked at #3 on the Australian albums charts after its release in August. 'Out of Mind, Out of Sigh't appeared on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with the single, "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", peaking at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. An earlier song from the same album, "Barbados", had peaked at #2 on the Australian singles chart. The Models continued, with many lineup changes, until 1988.
Since then, Kelly has played with Interchange Bench (1993–1998) with Andrew Duffield, Billy Miller, Ken Firth and Cal McCalpine; and also with Astrid Munday and Dystopia (1996–1999), together with Astrid Munday (vocals), Stephen Moffat (guitar), Tim Cleaver (bass), Shamus Goble (drums), Rosie Westbrook (bass) and Craig Williamson (drums). Kelly toured with a reformed Models in 2000 and 2001 before releasing his first solo album 'Moons Of Jupiter' in 2006.
In 2010, Sean Kelly was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame for his work with The Models, alongside his former bandmates (James Freud, Barton Price, Roger Mason, Andrew Duffield, Mark Ferrie and James Valentine). Over the years, Kelly has led several reunion shows of The Models and toured with a reformed version of the band alongside Mark Ferrie, Barton Price and Andrew Duffield. Most notably, the band reunited to perform at the Homebake Festival and the Countdown Spectacular in 2006, followed by a series of one-off concerts with varying lineups.
SINGLES ''...thankyou, Goodnight / Whatever You Say'' 1989 rooArt
Young Homebuyers hailed from Adelaide, Australia, and pivoted around the songwriting team of Nigel Lawrence and Greg Williams, who met at high school. Other members Greg Champion and Mick Teakle were previously in The Fabulaires. In their original incarnation, the band were heavily into satire, offering hilarious stage parodies of The Police, Billy Joel, Redgum and others, with songs like ''It's Still Billy Joel To Me'', ''Penguins Took My Baby'', ''Wanking'', ''Polish Reggae Party'' and ''Please Let Me Be On Countdown''. Critics compared them to Mental As Anything, The Sports and early Reels because of their pop hooks, party atmosphere, quirky lyrics and overall irreverent approach to rock & roll. They phased overt novelty out of their act and developed their sublime blend of power pop, British Beat, rockabilly, reggae, funk and punk to come up with a fresh, exhilarating, ultra-commercial young sound.
Snapped up by Melbourne's Rough Diamond Records before they had even set foot in that city, the group recorded their self-titled debut album under the production of former Little River Band guitarist David Briggs. The album was released in November 1982 and shone with such polished diamonds as ''Fiona'', ''Boyfriend'', ''Jackie's Door'' and ''Sheree''. Their first hit, ''Take One Step'' (May 1982), was actually an extended version of an advertising jingle they wrote for Hall's Lemon Twist, a popular Adelaide soft drink. Their magnificent second single, ''She's A Girl'' (September 1982), unfortunately received little radio airplay in Australia and the band called it a day with Greg Champion pursuing a career in radio.
Members
Nigel Lawrence (vocals), Greg Williams (guitar/vocals), Greg Champion (guitar/vocals), Mick Teakle (guitar), Paul Ziesing (bass), Tony Thornton (drums)
SINGLES ''Take One Step / Work Hard (Polish Reggae Party) / Laughing Clown'' 1982 Rough Diamond ''She's A Girl / Showbiz Revolution'' 1982 Rough Diamond
Lenore Somerset was born on February 17, 1931 in Brisbane as Lenore Miller. Somerset appears on the Australian Country Music Hands of Fame for her country recordings (her uncle was Buddy Williams and she was known as the 'Yodelling Jillaroo'), but she also enjoyed a successful period making folk recordings. She moved to Melbourne in the late '50s and was discovered' by her next-door neighbour who heard her singing over the fence. He got her some work singing on television and soon she was playing regular shows around town including Reg Lindsay’s Country and Western Hour and Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight.
Signing to the W&G label she recorded her first LP titled 'Lenore Somerset Sings' in 1963. This was followed by 'Portrait Of A Folk Singer' (1964), 'Australia Past' (1965), 'For Billy Joe' (1973) and 'Misty' (1977). She supported The New Lost City Ramblers tour of Australia in 1965. In 1967 she was invited to entertain Australian troops in Vietnam along side Patti Newton, Denise Drysdale and The Strangers. She was also an actress, appearing in Young Ramsay, Homicide and Matlock Police. She was married to Roy Somerset. She died on October 17, 2006 in Melbourne from cancer.
SINGLES
''Mary's Boy Child / Little Moses'' 1963 W&G
''Massachusetts / What Now My Love'' 1968 CBS
EPs
'Requests' 1965 W&G
'Lenore Somerset Live' 1965 W&G
ALBUMS
'Lenore Somerset Sings' 1963 W&G 'Portrait Of A Folk Singer' 1964 W&G
Oscarlima formed in Melbourne in 1995 after a chance meeting between three old school friends in a Fitzroy bar. After much talk and possibly too much beer Ken Lawson aka Elroy Falcon (guitar/vocals), Nathan Weston aka Charlie Lima (bass) and Stew Denmead aka Sven Grinner (drums) had established their raison d'être - to write their own songs and to have a setlist ready for a gig in their native state of Tasmania in six weeks.
Apart from a near plane crash all went according to plan. The band played a set of high energy three chord originals to a surprisingly receptive Hobart audience. Within 12 months these songs would become the blueprint for their first independent release, an ambitiously titled EP called 'Bainmarie Dream in Polychrome'. The rough and ready five track disc struck minor airplay on triple J and Melbourne community radio. It was the last track ''Over'' which had respected Melbourne label Rubber Records wanting in. The band signed a deal with Rubber which led to their next EP 'Charismacola' - a slightly more polished affair and which featured the track ''Adds Life'' produced by acclaimed musician Charles Jenkins (Ice-cream Hands, Mad Turks from Istanbul).
For the next two years the band would struggle to find 'their sound'. No longer satisfied with simple, guitar, bass and drum approach, Oscarlima spent hours upon hours writing and demoing songs in Denmead’s garden shed. The outcome was over 50 sonic ideas and stylistic experiments, sketches which culminated in the recording of their first album. To help get this collection of new, more eclectic sounding tunes realised, Oscarlima enlisted the services of US producer Jonathan Burnside, and in 2000 the band’s first long player 'Desert Caravan' was released.
With great reviews, four tracks (''Bare Hands'', ''If You Wanna Be My Friend'', ''Sell It To The World'' and ''Things That You Say'') gaining high rotation on triple J, and a tour with Australian rock legends Midnight Oil in the can, things were looking pretty good. But like so many promising acts, poor record sales (and limited resources invested in the band by Rubber Records parent company BMG) meant that at this junction Oscarlima were to destined to slip through the cracks. With a desire to keep writing and producing music on their own terms Oscarlima left Rubber Records amicably in 2001 and started their own label Crush! Records.
The next offering was a self-funded recording titled 'The Limas De Milo'. Recorded with Shane O’Mara at his Yikesville Studio, it was released in 2002 to much acclaim. ''Either Way'' (featuring Rebecca Barnard), ''Who Likes the Sun'' and the ''Someone Like You'' all gained high rotation on the nations broadcaster and other regional and local stations. The band continued to tour up the east coast of Australia and interstate. No longer strictly a three piece the band, Oscarlima regularly maintained guest musicians to help replicate the sounds they had put down on record. Talented local songsmith Danny McDonald, esteemed keyboard player Mark O’Connor and arty guitarist Sunny Luenig were all recruited at times to help out. Along with road crew, and guest musicians touring and became expensive all to too consuming. It was about this time also that Lawson, Weston and Denmead began to have families their own. Their day to day commitments meant that in early 2004 the Oscarlima heart all but stopped beating. Apart from a Rubber Records anniversary in 2008 the band has not played live since.
Oscarlima announced its reformation for The Melbourne Divide, a curated label showcase event presented by Popboomerang Records as part of the 2016 City of Yarra Leaps and Bounds Festival, and they were joined on stage for a few songs by Danny McDonald from Jericho.
SINGLES ''Barehands'' 1998 Rubber Records ''If You Wanna Be My Friend'' 1999 Rubber Records ''Big City'' 1999 Rubber Records ''Things That You Say'' 2000 Rubber Records ''Sell It Too The World'' 2000 Rubber Records ''Someone Like You / Summer's Calling'' 2001 Crush! Records
EPs 'Bainmarie Dream In Polychrome' 1996 Stunt Pram 'Charismacola' 1997 Rubber Records
ALBUMS 'Desert Caravan' 2000 Rubber Records 'The Limas de Milo' 2002 Crush! Records
Philippa Nihill is a singer, guitarist and keyboard player. In 1989 she joined indie band Underground Lovers playing their first gig in May 1990 at Melbourne's Corner Hotel, supporting The Macguffins. 1992 saw a considerable rise in the band's fortunes. They won Best New Artist at the ARIA Awards for their self-titled debut and supported The Cure and My Bloody Valentine on their Australian tours of that year. In January they entered the studio with producer Wayne Connolly (also of The Welcome Mat), and cut their more layered and experimental second album, 'Leaves Me Blind'. The album came out first in the UK in August through the short-lived 4AD imprint Guernica. By that stage Polydor had signed the Underground Lovers in Australia, going on to release 'Leaves Me Blind' locally in December.
Following an extensive tour of the UK and North America for the first half of 1993, the Underground Lovers enlisted Melburnian electronic producers David Chesworth and Robert Goodge (ex-Essendon Airport) for work on their third album. Richard Andrew left the band around this time. Newcomer, Derek Yuen took his place. 'Dream It Down' would surface in 1994, spawning the Triple J favorite "Losin' It". The album was both critically acclaimed and the band’s biggest commercial success. The band quit Polydor in 1995 and, in a quest for more artistic freedom, set up their own Mainstream label (in conjunction with the big-league indie, Rubber Records).
Also produced by Wayne Connolly, 'Rushall Station', which came out in April 1996, was their most 'bare bones' recording since their debut. Philippa Nihill left the band during the recording of the album (though she recorded vocals for two tracks). After going solo, she recorded two releases - the 'Dead Sad' EP in November 1996, and a full-length album 'A Little Easy' in 2000. In December 2006 she collaborated with Australian singer and film maker Paula Kehoe on the Saoi CD 'This Drowning Is Dreaming'. Also, in this period Nihill teamed up with former bandmate Glenn Bennie as GB3, a side project that produced critically acclaimed albums featuring the likes of Steve Kilbey, Sarah Blasko and Adalita. After a long hiatus Nihill rejoined Underground Lovers reunion concerts in Sydney and Melbourne for the 2009 Homebake festival. In 2013 the band released its eighth album 'Weekend'. In 2023 she released her second album, 'Find Her Way'.
SINGLES ''Airport 99'' 1998 Rubber Records
EPs 'Dead Sad' 1996 Rubber Records
ALBUMS 'A Little Easy' 2000 Rubber Records 'Find Her Way' 2023
Bzark grew out of chance meeting of two Victorian College of the Arts students Gareth Skinner (bass vocals) and Fergus Hunt (guitar vocals) and drummer Tarek Smallman who somehow managed a sense of camaraderie long enough to stop feuding over their direction, which ultimately was about rock. They released their first album 'Eternity in an Hour', made a video for ''Superfluous'' (Skinner sings the main vocal), and the band toured and wrote new material. The second album 'The Welcome Storm' was released in 1998 with the single ''I Don’t Know How It Is'' lifted from the album. More touring, recording and their final release was the 'Be My Parasite' EP in 1999.
Sherry Rich was born in Lismore, NSW and raised on Bribie Island, situated off the coast of Queensland. Her mother was country music performer Noelene Rich who in the early 1960s appeared on radio and television and toured with Australian country music legend Reg Lindsay. Whilst still in high school, Rich played bass guitar in the band Obscure Alternatives - their name taken after an album by UK pop outfit Japan. Obscure Alternatives also featured her brother Rusty and Keith Urban. They performed at the Bribie Island Festival and also at the Caboolture High School Social. During her college years Sherry (with brother Rusty), formed the Brisbane-based country/rockabilly outfit Cactus Fever (1986-7). They proved popular on the Brisbane live circuit and one time undertook a Sydney tour with The Johnnys.
She relocated to Melbourne in 1988, where, as 'Sherry Valier', she formed the all-girl garage rock band Girl Monstar which also featured Anne McCue. Girl Monstar (1988–93) had a strong presence on the Australian Indie music scene, released two vinyl singles that topped the independent charts and the album 'Monstereo Delicio' before splitting in early 1993 when Sherry traded the Valier moniker for Rich and focused on a solo career. Her backing band The Grievous Angels included some well-known Australian country roots musicians like Steve Connolly (ex-Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls/Messengers), Matt Heydon on keyboards (ex-Nick Barker and the Reptiles), Steve Morrison on drums and Douglas Robertson on bass guitar (ex-Ice Cream Hands). They released an EP, 'Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels' in January 1995 via Rubber Records with Charlie Owen on guitar (ex-New Christs, Tex, Don and Charlie) and Jen Anderson on violin (ex-the Black Sorrows) joining. 'Trying to Write a Love Song', their second EP, followed in January 1996. She gained a considerable following in the mid-90s - as the 'new country' genre reached a wider audience, touring much of East Coast Australia (including a coveted spot at Tamworth - the country music capitol of Australia).
Her debut album from 1998 'Sherry Rich & Courtesy Move' was recorded in the U.S. with members of Wilco and produced by Jay Bennett. She teamed up with Ashley Naylor from Melbourne band Even to form psych folk pop duo The Grapes, and they released a self-titled album in 1999. In 2000 she released a family album of classic country covers with husband Rick Plant mother Noelene and brother Rusty Berther of Scared Weird Little Guys under the name 'The Rich Family'.
Rich was living and working as a singer/songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee from 1998 to 2008. Songwriting collaborators include Paul Kelly, Michael Thomas, Walt Wilkins, Gwil Owen, Bob DiPiero, Jay Bennett, Dan Brodie, Ashley Naylor, Tim Carroll, Tammy Rogers, Amy Rigby, Will Kimbrough, Jim Lauderdale and Garth Porter.
Working together as The Mudcakes since 2004 Rich and husband Rick Plant have released three CD's for children. In 2012, Rich released the album 'Dakota Avenue' composed of material recorded in 1999-2001 in Chicago, once again with Jay Bennett. The album was selected as Radio Australia's Album of the Week in August 2012. 'Dakota Avenue' was also nominated for 'Best Album' in the 2012 EG Music Awards, which are the largest reader-voted music awards in Australia. Rich was also nominated under the 'Best Female Artists' category. In July 2013, Rich appeared as the Guest Artist on the Australian TV program Rockwiz. In 2017, Rich completed a Creative Arts Industries Degree at Victoria University.
SINGLES ''Polite Kisses / Little Miss Cool / Funny How Things Change'' 1997 Rubber Records ''Pandora Mink / Puzzle Heart'' 2012 Pandora Pink
EPs 'Sherry Rich & The Grievous Angels' 1995 Rubber Records 'Trying to Write a Love Song' 1996 Rubber Records 'Is That All You Wanted' 1997 Rubber Records
ALBUMS 'Sherry Rich & Courtesy Move' 1997 Rubber Records 'Dakota Avenue' 2012 Pandora Mink 'The Divine Crimson V' 2021 Sherry Rich
