Snakes Alive

Background

Snakes Alive formed in 1973 in Sydney when keyboardist Oleg “Alex” Ditrich and bassist Michael Vidale extended a collaboration that began with Aragorn and Bedtime Story.

Vidale trained as a recording engineer at Clover Studios, owned by his father, then joined EMI Sydney Studios and used unbooked studio time for the group. Guitarist Boris Peric and drummer Peter Nykyruj joined the project. Reedist–singer Jonas Saywell and trumpeter Colin Campbell completed the sextet.

The musicians rehearsed at Nykyruj’s home in Randwick but never performed before an audience. In late 1974, Vidale brought Snakes Alive into EMI Studio B at 301 Castlereagh Street in Haymarket for an album project.

Snakes Alive

Snakes Alive completed their self-titled singular album in 1975 and circulated 50 private test pressings.

Saywell contributes sparse singing across the five-piece program. The arrangements combine Ditrich’s keyboards and Peric’s guitar with Campbell’s trumpet. Saxophone and flute extend Saywell’s role, while percussionist Ralph Cooper joins the title piece.

“Theme for Myra” spirals from syncopated accents into a breathy flute lead, then scatters free-blown figures across full-ensemble passages. “Fruit Pie” rolls into a forceful percussion coda.

A1. “Dear Suzy” (11:26) – Ditrich
A2. “Abberations” (8:54) – Peric

B1. “Theme for Myra” (7:19) – Ditrich
B2. “Snakes Alive” (6:00) – Ditrich, Saywell
B3. “Fruit Pie” (6:17) – Ditrich, Peric, Vidale

In late 1974, bassist and EMI trainee Michael Vidale produced and engineered the album at EMI Studio B, 301 Castlereagh Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Percussionist Ralph Cooper assisted the mix and soon carried the partnership into Original Steps and Stepps with Ditrich and Vidale. The original program exceeded the available LP length, so the musicians reduced the title composition to six minutes for the test pressing.

Snakes Alive appeared without cover artwork on the 50 test pressings.

Belle Antique issued the first authorized edition on SHM-CD in November 2017 from Vidale’s master tapes. Merry-Go-Round followed in 2020 with a two-LP set that added the 14:13 original title recording and “Charred Ducks,” a Bedtime Story performance. The gatefold edition included rare photographs and liner notes. Inside, a four-page insert mapped the related groups through a family tree. Group members approved the new sleeve as the official cover.

Later Activity

The Ditrich–Vidale partnership continued through Original Steps and Stepps, where Cooper also participated. Nykyruj moved to London and recorded with saxophonist Mike Osborne for Ogun in May 1977 as part of a quintet.