Pel Mel

Background

Pel Mel formed in June 1979 in Newcastle, New South Wales, when singer-guitarist Graeme Dunne, bassist Glenn Hill, drummer Dave Weston, guitarist Jane McGee, saxophonist Judy McGee, and saxophonist Nigel Savage began rehearsals as a six-piece. Judy and Jane McGee shared a Newcastle circle with their brother Tim and friends who attended the University of Newcastle. Members of the circle made regular trips to Sydney for concerts and imported records.

Soon after formation, Pel Mel established a Friday residency in the rear function room of the Grand Hotel. In July 1979, The group appeared at the Newcastle University Architect Students Ball on a bill with Dragon and the Clones. Pel Mel found few compatible support acts in Newcastle and often filled three-set nights with originals and covers. After the early 1980 exit of Nigel Savage, the band continued as a five-piece. As offers poured in from Sydney, the members relocated one by one.

In late 1980, Pel Mel played the Rock Garden with the Birthday Party and Popular Mechanics, then shared the Brighton Hotel bill with the Birthday Party and the Go-Betweens. Bassist Lindsay O’Meara replaced Hill near the end of the year. O’Meara played in Voigt/465 on the self-financed 1978 single “State” (b/w “A Secret West”), then joined the Melbourne lineup of Crime & the City Solution.

Pel Mel recorded the Dunne–Judy number “No Word from China” in a session for Sydney ABC youth station 2JJ, commonly known as Double Jay. The station also broadcast a Pel Mel performance from Sydney University and gave the group regular exposure through producer Stuart Matchett. Judy and brother Tim McGee established Primate Records as a small independent label, which issued the January 1981 Pel Mel single “No Word from China” (b/w “Ipaneema Mon Amour”). 

Meanwhile, Pel Mel manager Andrew Penhallow co-founded GAP Records with Rolling Stone Australia publisher Paul Gardiner. GAP licensed the Primate single and issued a remastered “No Word from China” in June 1981 through EMI distribution. Pel Mel promoted the GAP pressing with an appearance on Countdown.

O’Meara and Jane McGee left Pel Mel, which continued as a five-piece with bassist Craig Robertson. In 1982, Pel Mel returned with “Head Above Water” (b/w “Heartbeat”), plugged on July support slots with Elvis Costello in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, followed by the November third single “Blind Lead the Blind” (b/w “Water”).

Pel Mel recorded Out of Reason at ATA Studios in Sydney with co-producer Tony Cohen. The band completed mixes at Richmond Recorders in Melbourne; GAP prepared the debut for a December release.