Pacific Eardrum

Pacific Eardrum was a multi-national jazz-funk/soul band behind the 1977/78 Charisma albums Pacific Eardrum and Beyond Panic, followed by a 1980 self-titled third on CBS. They featured three New Zealanders, two Americans, and one Englishman.

Members: Bill Kristian (bass), Dave MacRae (keyboards), Isaac Guillory (guitar), Jeff Seopardie (drums), Jim Cuomo (sax), Joy Yates (vocals)

Background

Pacific Eardrum formed in London in 1975 when singer Joy Yates and keyboardist Dave MacRae, married since 1972, assembled international players.

Dave MacRae was born April 2, 1940, in Auckland, New Zealand. He left Auckland for Australia in 1960 with saxophonist Brian Smith and studied briefly at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, then worked as a Festival Records arranger before his 1969 move to Los Angeles.

MacRae joined the Buddy Rich Orchestra in Los Angeles and toured Europe with the band before settling in London. He joined Matching Mole for the 1972 albums Matching Mole and Little Red Record, then played electric piano on the 1973 Nucleus albums Labyrinth and Roots. MacRae also played live with Elton Dean in Just Us and added keyboards and accordion to the 1975 Back Door album Anotherr Fine Mess.

MacRae played in the house band for the BBC television comedy The Goodies under composer Mike Gibbs, then succeeded Gibbs as musical director in 1974. The position encompassed music for the television series and three albums by the comedy trio, with MacRae working closely with cast member Bill Oddie.

Yates began professional club work at Auckland’s Tijuana Nightclub in 1961 with Sonny Day and the Sundowners, followed by engagements with Claude Papesch, MacRae, and Mike Perjanik. Subsequent engagements took Yates to Nouméa, Australia, and Los Angeles before she settled in London with MacRae. Producer David Mackay then asked Yates to assemble a backing-vocal group for a ten-week Cliff Richard tour; Yates formed Bones with Australian singer Janice Slater and Hawaiian singer Lokelani Dudoit.

Mackay subsequently brought Bones into the 12-member international Esperanto Rock Orchestra, where Yates harmonized with Twilights/Axiom singer Glenn Shorrock on the 1973 A&M album Esperanto Rock Orchestra. Yates left Esperanto after the first album to develop Pacific Eardrum with MacRae.

Formation

Pacific Eardrum reached Ronnie Scott’s by July 1975, when an early lineup included saxophonist Brian Smith, guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, and drummer Tony Hicks. The band played London club dates through 1976, including October and November appearances at the Man in the Moon on King’s Road. By 1977, Yates and MacRae assembled a second lineup with bassist Billy Kristian, drummer Jeff Seopardie, guitarist Isaac Guillory, and saxophonist Jim Cuomo.

New Zealand bassist Billy Kristian established his early career with Max Merritt & The Meteors, Ray Columbus & The Invaders, The Keil Isles, and Headband. He spent two years in Hong Kong for a residency with Peter Nelson’s Renaissance; he returned to New Zealand in 1971 and resumed club dates with Headband associates. Kristian spent the next year in Australia with Billy Thorpe’s Million Dollar Bill, then moved to London and reconnected with friends MacRae and Yates.

English drummer Jeff Seopardie backed Pete Atkin, the 1974 opening act for Isotope, which hired Seopardie as a second percussionist. In early 1976, Seopardie deputized Phil Collins in Brand X. He backed Gary Boyle on the Isotope guitarist’s 1977 solo album The Dancer.

American guitarist Isaac Guillory studied theory and composition at Roosevelt University in Chicago and joined the Cryan’ Shames in 1967 as bassist. He appeared on A Scratch in the Sky and Synthesis. Guillory left the US in 1970 and made his British debut at the Cambridge Folk Festival as accompanist to Al Stewart. Atlantic signed Guillory to a solo contract in 1973 and issued the self-titled Isaac Guillory the following year.

American reed player Jim Cuomo earned a BA in music at North Texas State University and a master’s degree in music at the University of Illinois. Cuomo worked with John Cage at Illinois and formed the Spoils of War in 1968. He moved to New York around 1970 to serve as music director for La MaMa Experimental Theatre. Cuomo formed Mormos from La MaMa associates and relocated the group to Paris, where CBS issued The Great Wall of China and The Magic Spell of Mother’s Wrath.

Pacific Eardrum played at London’s Marquee club and secured a contract with Charisma Records.

Discography:

• Pacific Eardrum (1977)
• Beyond Panic (1978)
• Pacific Eardrum (1980)