Mondo Rock -

Mondo Rock was an Australian pop/rock supergroup that debuted with the 1979 Oz Records release Primal Park, followed by the 1981 Atlantic album Chemistry, which spawned the hits “State of the Heart,” “Cool World,” “Chemistry,” “Summer of ’81,” and the deep-cut “Popular View.” They followed with the 1982–84 albums Nuovo mondo and The Modern Bop, landing further hits with “No Time,” “The Queen and Me,” and “Come Said the Boy.”

Members: Ross Wilson (vocals, harmonica), Peter Laffy (guitar, 1977-78), Ian Winter (guitar, 1977-78), Tony Slavich (keyboards, 1977-78), Chris Jones (bass 1977-78), Barry Sullivan (bass, 1977-78), Trevor Courtney (drums, 1977-78), Greg Cook (guitar, organ, 1977), Gyllies Simon (bass, 1978-79), Randy Bulpin (guitar, 1978-79), Iain McLennan (drums, 1978-79), Eddie Van Rosendaal (drums, 1979), Matthews (drums, 1979, 1981), Eric McCusker (guitar, 1980-present), James Black (keyboards, guitar, 1980-84), Paul Christie (bass, 1980-82), Kerry Jacobsen (drums, 1980), Andrew Bell (guitar, 1980), J.J. Hackett (drums, guitar 1981-90), Buchanan Andy (drums, 1981), James Gillard (bass, 1982-90), Duncan Veall (keyboards, 1984-85, 1990), Andrew Ross (keyboards, saxophone, 1986-90)

Background

Mondo Rock formed in November 1976 in Melbourne when singer-harmonicist Ross Wilson assembled bassist Mike Clarke, drummer Bob Bickerton, guitarist Peter Laffy, and keyboardist-guitarist Greg Cook.

Wilson fronted Daddy Cool and Mighty Kong, then produced the first three Skyhooks albums for Mushroom Records. He partnered with Little River Band manager Glenn Wheatley on Oz Records. Wilson organized Mondo Rock as an occasional live unit for his August 1976 solo single “Living in the Land of Oz,” from Chris Löfvén’s film Oz.

Bickerton came from Rock Granite and the Profiles, while Clarke played with Mick Rogers and Eclipse. Cook played with Cam-Pact, Skylight, and the Phil Manning Band. Laffy hailed from Fox and Freeway. By February 1977, Wilson and Laffy worked with bassist Barry Sullivan, drummer Trevor Courtney, and guitarist Ian “Willy” Winter. Sullivan arrived from Chain and the Renée Geyer Band. Courtney passed through Chants R&B, Cam-Pact, the Vibrants, Skylight, and Stylus. Winter came from Carson, Daddy Cool, and John Paul Young’s All Stars.

Mondo Rock played the Tiger Room in June 1977 at the Royal Oak Hotel in Richmond. Wilson dissolved the configuration by midyear. The group continued a succession of one-night stands across Australia and appeared at the reopening weekend of Bombay Rock in March 1978 on Sydney Road in Brunswick. By mid-1978, Wilson led a reconfigured sextet with Laffy, bassist Simon Gyllies, drummer Iain McLennan, keyboardist Tony Slavich, and second guitarist Randy Bulpin, a prior member of The Toads, Ready Rubbed, and One Nite Stand.

Oz Records issued the Wilson-Slavich original “The Fugitive Kind” in September 1978 (b/w McLennan’s “The Breaking Point”). Mondo Rock moved onto a full-time national pub schedule as the single reached No. 49 on the Kent Music Report. Oz Records followed with “Love Shock” in May 1979 (b/w the live “The Mood”). Mondo Rock recorded five live performances at Le Club Bombay Rock in May for the projected debut album. The band completed the studio portion with keyboardist Rex Bullen, formerly of Bakery and Fatty Lumpkin.

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