The Bee Gees were a pop trio comprised of three English-born/Aussie-raised brothers — Barry (born 1946) and twins Robin and Maurice Gibb (born 1949). They were active as a recording unit from 1963 to 2001. Performing together since childhood, the brothers first recorded for the Australian market during the mid-1960s. Returning to their nation of […]
Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band that released two 1978–79 albums on Powderworks, followed by five albums between 1981 and 1990 on CBS. Their 1982 fourth album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 marked their debut in the Northern hemisphere, which they conquered with the 1984–87 albums Red Sails in […]
The Little River Band was an Australian harmony rock band that released nine albums between 1975 and 1986 on Harvest and Capitol. They formed as super-group of players from popular Aussie acts (The Twilights, Zoot, Axiom, Mississippi). LRB was one of the first Aussie acts to conquer the Northern Hemisphere. They peaked in popularity with […]
Cybotron was an Australian electronic combo from Melbourne that released a 1976 self-titled album on Clear Light of Jupiter, followed by Colossus (1978, Champagne) and Implosion (1980, Cleopatra). Their co-founder, keyboardist–saxist Steve Maxwell Von Braund, preceded Cybotron with a 1975 solo album, Monster Planet. Members: Steve Maxwell Von Braund (keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone, percussion), Geoff Green […]
Olivia Newton-John (Sept. 26, 1948 – Aug. 8, 2022) was an English-born Australian singer, actress, and entrepreneur whose multifaceted career spanned more than five decades. She began performing as a teenager in Melbourne and rose to international prominence in the early 1970s with a run of country-pop hits, including “If Not for You,” “Let Me […]
INXS was an Australian rock band from Sydney that started in a new wave/post-punk vein with two albums on Deluxe/ATCO in 1980/81. Adopting a more streamlined approach, they scored an international hit with “The One Thing” from their 1982 release Shabooh Shoobah, their first of five albums on WEA/Mercury. In late 1985, INXS scored a […]
The Masters Apprentices were an Australian rock band from Adelaide that emerged as one of the nation’s premiere beat groups. They issued five singles and one album on Astor between 1966 and 1968, including the Aussie rock classics “Undecided,” “Wars or Hands of Time,” and “Elevator Driver.” After a change in lineup, they advanced into […]
Icehouse was an Australian new wave band from Sydney, led by multi-instrumentalist Iva Davies. They first recorded as Flowers but soon renamed after their 1980 first album, Icehouse, noted for the tracks “Can’t Help Myself,” “Walls,” and “We Can Get Together.” After their 1981 single “Love In Motion,” Davies used the Icehouse name as a […]
Men at Work were an Australian new wave band that achieved global fame with their 1981 debut album Bushiness as Usual and the back-to-back international chart-toppers “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under.” Their 1983 followup Cargo spawned further evergreens with “Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive,” “Overkill,” and “It’s a Mistake.” They matched deadpan […]
Rick Springfield (born Aug. 23, 1949) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actor with a musical career that dates back to the late 1960s. He rose to prominence in his home country as one-fourth of the beat/psych combo Zoot. In 1972, Springfield moved to the U.S. and launched a solo career with back-to-back albums on […]
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are a goth-rock/cabaret ensemble formed in London circa 1983 by Australian vocalist/keyboardist Nick Cave. Between 1984 and 2008, the band released 17 albums on Mute Records, followed by a further round of discs on self-press Bad Seed in the 2010s. Members: Nick Cave (vocals, piano, organ, harmonica), Mick Harvey […]
The James Taylor Move was an Australian psychedelic rock band from Adelaide that issued two singles in 1967 on Festival Records, followed by a stint behind blues singer Wendy Saddington. Guitarist Kevin Peek and rhythm players Alan Tarney and Trevor Spencer moved to the UK, where they teamed with fellow Aussie Terry Britten in Quartet. […]
Blackfeather was an Australian post-psychedelic hard-rock band that released the 1971 Infinity album At the Mountains of Madness. Amid multiple lineup changes, they cut two standalone singles and the 1972–74 live albums Boppin’ the Blues and Live! (Sunbury). Members: John Robinson (guitar, 1970-71), Neale Johns (vocals, 1970-73, 1975-76, 1978, 1983), Leith Corbett (bass, 1970), Mike […]
The Easybeats were an Australian rock band that released five albums between 1965 and 1969 and scored national hits with “Sorry,” “She’s So Fine,” “Wedding Ring,” and “Heaven and Hell.” Abroad, they charted with “St. Louis” and the sixties anthem “Friday On My Mind.” The creative team of Harry Vanda and George Young went into […]
Flash and the Pan were an Australian studio-based art-pop project from Sydney headed by the songwriting/production team of ex-Easybeats Harry Vanda and George Young. The project began with the 1977 Mercury single “Hey, St. Peter” / “Walking in the Rain” and ultimately yielded five albums on Albert/Epic between 1979 and 1987. Members: Harry Vanda [Johannes […]
Fanny Adams was a hard-rock/blues band comprised of Australian musicians based in London, England. Guitarist Vince Melouney was a founding member of the Aztecs and served in the 1967–68 lineup of the Bee Gees. Vocalist Doug Parkinson fronted the psych-rock band In Focus, which also included Welsh-born drummer Johnny Dick, who did prior stints in […]
Sky was an English/Australian classical-rock super-combo that released six Ariola albums between 1979 and 1983 with world-class guitarist John Williams. Their repertoire mixed originals with songbook themes and rearranged classical pieces, including their hit 1980 Bach adaptation “Toccata.” The first two albums feature former Curved Air keyboardist Francis Monkman. Members: John Williams (guitar, 1979-83), Herbie […]
Cold Chisel was an Australian rock band that debuted with a 1978 album on Atlantic, followed by the 1979–84 WEA albums Breakfast at Sweethearts, East, Circus Animals, and Twentieth Century. They scored national hits with “Choirgirl,” “Cheap Wine,” “You Got Nothing I Want,” “Forever Now,” and “Saturday Night.” Singer Jimmy Barnes and guitarist Ian Moss […]
Kahvas Jute was an Australian post-psychedelic hard-rock band from Sydney that released the 1971 album Wide Open on Infinity Records. Members: Dennis D. Wilson (lead vocals, guitar, 1970-71, 1973-74), Bob Daisley (bass, harmony vocals, 1970-71), Tim Gaze (guitar, steel guitar, piano, vocals, 1970-71), Dannie Davidson (drums), Scott Maxey (bass, 1971, 1973-74), Peter Roberts (bass, 1974) […]
Ayers Rock was an Australian jazz-rock band from Melbourne that released two albums on Mushroom: Big Red Rock (1974) and Beyond (1976). In 1980, a revised lineup released Hot Spell on Red Rock Records. Formed by storied veterans of the Aussie rock and jazz scenes, they took their name from Uluru, a famous outback formation. […]
Sherbet was an Australian rock band from Sydney that released seven studio albums between 1972 and 1978 and scored hits with “Summer Love,” “Life,” “Howzat,” and “Magazine Madonna.” They made European inroads with the 1976–77 albums Howzat! and Photoplay (aka Magazine) and recorded their 1978 eponymous album (aka Highway 1) in Los Angeles. Sherbet disbanded […]
Buffalo was an Australian hard-rock band from Sydney that released five albums between 1972 and 1977 on Vertigo. Their first two, Dead Forever… and Volcanic Rock, have since gained classic status among international hard-rock circles. Members: Dave Tice (vocals), John Baxter (guitar, 1971-75), Pete Wells (bass, 1971-76), Paul Balbi (drums, 1971-72), Alan Milano (vocals, 1971-72), […]
Pantha was an Australian Latin-jazz/rock band that released the 1975 album Doway Do Doway Do and three singles through Wizard Records. Members: Paul Curtis (lead vocals, percussion), Roger Pell (guitar, percussion, harmonies), Jack Wilson (bass, percussion), Dannie Bourne (electric piano, percussion, harmonies), Peter Lee (congas, percussion, drums), Adrian Paine (drums, percussion), Jose McLaughlin (keyboards, vocals), Barry […]
Pirana was an Australian Latin jam-rock band from Sydney that released the 1971–72 albums Pirana and Pirana II on Harvest. Members: Tony Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Stan White (keyboards, 1970-71), Keith Greig (keyboards, 1971-72), Jim Duke-Yonge (drums, percussion, 1970-73), Phil Hitchcock (bass, 1974), Andrew McCue (keyboards, flute, 1973), Richard McEwan (guitar, vocals, 1972), Paul Spetter (drums, […]
Spectrum was an Australian rustic-rock/jam band from Melbourne that debuted with the popular single “I’ll Be Gone” and the album Spectrum Part One on Harvest in 1971, followed by the double-album Milesago in 1972. A pair of live and studio releases on EMI in 1973 were co-credited to the band and their alter-ego the Incredible […]
Sun was an Australian jazz-rock-soul band from Sydney that released the album Sun 1972 on RCA Victor. Singer Renée Geyer launched a long-lasting solo career. Members: Renée Geyer (vocals, 1972), Keith Shadwick (saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals), Chris Sonnenberg (guitar), George Almanza (piano), Henry Correy (bass), Garry Norwell (drums), Richard Clapton (vocals, 1972-73), Starlee Ford (vocals, […]
Tamam Shud was an Australian psych-rock band from Sydney that released the album Evolution on CBS in 1969, followed by Goolutionites and the Real People on Warner Bros. in 1970. Members: Bjerre (guitar, vocals), Peter Barron (bass), Dannie Davidson (drums, 1967-70), Tim Gaze (guitar, vocals, 1970-72, 1994-95), Bobby Gebert (keyboards, 1971), Richard Lockwood (saxophone, flute, […]
The Tarney–Spencer Band (alternately billed as Tarney & Spencer) was the Australian pop-rock duo of multi-instrumentalist Alan Tarney and drummer Trevor Spencer. They released a self-titled 1976 album on Bradley’s, followed by the 1978–79 A&M albums Three’s a Crowd and Run for Your Life. “No Time to Lose” remains an FM wildcard in select US […]
Tin Tin was an Australian orchestral-pop combo that released the 1970–71 albums Tin Tin and Astral Taxi on Atco–Polydor. They charted with “Toast and Marmalade for Tea,” a psychedelic Bee Gees pastiche produced by Maurice Gibb. Singer–keyboardist Steve Kipner (ex-Steve & The Board) formed the Los Angeles trios Friends and Skyband. After his 1979 solo […]
The Twilights were an Australian beat sextet that released thirteen singles and two albums between 1965 and 1968 on Columbia (EMI). Their concept album Once Upon a Twilight evolved from a planned TV series. They included future Axiom–Little River Band singer Glenn Shorrock and guitarist–songwriter Terry Britten, who later wrote hits for Cliff Richard and […]
Bakery was an Australian post-psychedelic rock band from Perth that released two singles and performed on the 1971 Astor release Rock Mass for Love. In 1972, they released the lauded hard-rock album Momento. Members: Peter Walker (guitar), Mal Logan (keyboards, 1970), Hank Davis (drums, 1970-72), John Worrall (vocals, flute, 1970-72), Eddie McDonald (bass, 1970-72), Rex […]
Lobby Loyde — aka John Baslington Lyde (May 18, 1941 — April 21, 2007) — was an Australian blues-rock guitarist who emerged in the Sixties beat groups The Purple Hearts and The Wild Cherries. In 1968, he joined Billy Thorpe‘s reinvented Aztecs and played on their 1971 album The Hoax Is Over. Loyde made his […]
McPhee was an Australian post-psychedelic hard rock band from Sydney that released a self-titled album in 1971 on Violet’s Holiday. Members: Faye Lewis (vocals, percussion), Tony Joyce (guitar), Jim Deverell (keyboards, vocals), Benny Kaika (bass), Terry Popple (drums) Background McPhee formed in Sydney in 1970 when guitarist Tony Joyce and Kiwi keyboardist Jim Deverell teamed […]
Python Lee Jackson was an Australian blues-rock/soul band from Sydney that released four singles on CBS and Parlophone circa 1966/67. In 1969, the band cut the single “In a Broken Dream” with guest vocals by Rod Stewart. Three years later, renewed interest in the song prompted a namesake album on GNP Crescendo. Members: Frank Kennington […]
Rainbow Generator was the Australian experimental electronic duo of synthesist Robert “Ras” Greaves and guitarist–synthesist David “Mojo” Labuschagne. They released the 1978 Fission Chips album Dance of the Spheres, then continued as the Generator and joined magician-performer Geof Krozier for the 1981 double album Tranceformer. Members: Robert Greaves [aka Ras] (synthesizers, rhythm machines, percussion), David Labuschagne [aka […]
Mississippi was an Australian rustic harmony-rock band from Melbourne that released a self-titled album in 1972 on Bootleg. They cut three prior singles as Alison Gros, which masqueraded as Drummond on the 1971 novelty hit “Daddy Cool.” Guitarist–singer Graeham Gobel and post-album members Beeb Birtles (ex-Zoot) and Derek Pellicci achieved subsequent stardom in the Little […]
Extradition was an Australian folk-psych band from Sydney that released the 1971 album Hush on Sweet Peach. Members: Colin Campbell (guitar, dulcimer, viola, percussion), Richard Lockwood (flute, recorder, harpsichord, harmonium), Shayna Karlin (vocals, organ, palm leaf), Bo Lloyd (chimes, bells, tabla), Graham Lowndes (vocals) Background The band evolved from a partnership between Colin Campbell and […]
Snakes Alive was an Australian jazz-rock band from Sydney that self-released a 1975 limited-edition album, twice reissued with bonus material. Members: Colin Campbell (trumpet), Alex Ditrich (keyboards), Peter Nykyruj (drums, percussion), Boris Peric (guitar), Jonas Thomas (saxophone, flute, vocals), Michael Vidale (bass) Background Snakes Alive formed in 1973 in Sydney when keyboardist Oleg “Alex” Ditrich […]
Madder Lake was an Australian rock band that released the 1973–74 albums Still Point and Butterfly Farm and charted with “Goodbye Lollipop” and “12lb Toothbrush.” As one of the earliest clients of Aussie music mogul Michael Gudinski, they played at three Sunbury Pop Festivals and cut the first studio titles on Mushroom Records. Members: Mick […]
The Saints were an Australian rock band from Brisbane that issued the 1976 punk single “I’m Stranded” on self-press Fatal, followed by the 1977–78 Harvest albums (I’m) Stranded, Eternally Yours, and Prehistoric Sounds. After a round of Eighties albums on New Rose Records, they scored a 1986 comeback with the Polydor release All Fools Day […]
Avalanche was an Australian hard-rock band from Melbourne that released a 1976 self-titled album on Bootleg Records, a subsidiary of Fable. Members: Tony Naylor (guitar), Adrian Campbell (vocals), Geoff Cox (drums, 1976-77), Clive Harrison (bass, 1976-77), John Barnes (drums, 1977), Barry Cram (drums, 1977), Graham Thompson (bass, 1977), Gerard McCabe (keyboards, 1977) Background Avalanche formed […]
Tully was an Australian folk-psych band from Sydney that released a self-titled 1970 album on Columbia, followed by the 1971 Harvest album Sea of Joy and the posthumous collection Loving Is Hard. Members: Jon Blake (bass, 1968-69), Michael Carlos (keyboards), Richard Lockwood (flute, saxophone, clarinet, piano, 1968-72), Terry Wilson (vocals, guitar, flute, 1968-70), Robert Taylor […]
Taste was an Australian hard-rock band from Melbourne that debuted as Cloud Nine, then made the 1976/77 albums Tickle Your Fancy and Knights of Love. Members: Joel Witenberg (drums, vocals), Ken Murdock (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Joey Amenta (guitar, vocals), Michael Tortoni (bass, vocals), Virgil Donati (drums) This page is about the Australian band named Taste. […]
Geeza was an Australian hard-rock band from Sydney that issued the 1976 Living Sound single “Vambo” and the 1977 Laser album Streetlife. Members: Tony Cini (vocals, 1973-75), Alan Watts (vocals, 1973-75), Gabriel Vendetti (guitar, 1973-79), Ian Marshall [aka Martin Adamson] (guitar, 1973-75), Lee Martin (bass, 1973-77), Allan Fraiel (drums, vocals, 1973-78), Ian Webb (drums, 1973-75), Terry […]
Southern Cross was an Australian hard-rock band from Sydney that released a self-titled 1976 album on Laser and the Living Sound single “Queen of Rock and Roll” (b/w “Stormy Lady”). Members: Alan Milano (vocals), Michel Brouet (bass, vocals), Jeff Beacham (drums), John Baxter (guitar, 1975), Bruce Cumming (guitar, 1975-77) Background Former Buffalo singer Alan Milano […]
Redhouse was an Australian hard-rock band from Geelong, Victoria, that released the 1976 EMI album One More Squeeze and the 1977 standalone single “Thank You.” Members: Malcolm Donnelly (guitar, vocals), John Ferguson (vocals, guitar), Jack Green (bass, ?-1977), Claude Ragone (drums), John Dallimore (guitar, vocals, 1975-78), Jacques De Jongh (guitar, 1975-76), Gary Crothall (drums, 1975-78), […]
Finch was an Australian hard-rock band that released a standalone single on Picture Records in 1974, followed by a self-titled album with accompanying singles on self-press Eagle in 1976. On certain issues of their 1978 second album Nothing to Hide, the band is billed as Contraband. The following year, the band issued their third and […]
The Expression was an Australian new wave electro-pop band from Sydney that released two 1983–85 albums on Mushroom Records and charted with “With Closed Eyes.” Members: Dowling Neville (keyboard, vocals), Haran Tom (vocals, guitar, percussion), Henkenberg Bill (drums), Hopes Steve (drums), Lumsdaine Tim (bass), Manassah Stephen (bass), Slingerland Guy (drums), Wong-Yen Andrew (guitar) Background The […]
Carson was an Australian blues-rock band from Melbourne that cut the 1970/71 singles “On the Highway” and “Travelling South,” followed by the 1972/73 Harvest albums Carson and On the Air. Members: Broderick Smith (vocals, harmonica, 1971-73), Greg Lawrie (slide guitar, dobro), Tony Lunt (drums), … (piano, vocals, 1970), Tony Enery (piano, 1970), Paul Lever (vocals, […]
The Church are an Australian neo-psych band that released six albums and five EPs between 1981 and 1990 and scored international hits with “Constant In Opal,” “Columbus,” “Under the Milky Way,” and “Reptiles.” Members: Steve Kilbey (vocals, bass), Peter Koppes (guitar, vocals, 1980-92, 1995-present), Marty Willson-Piper (guitar, vocals, 1980-2013), Nick Ward (drums, 1980-81), Richard Ploog […]
MacKenzie Theory was an Australian jazz-rock band that released the 1973 album Out of the Blue on Mushroom, followed by the 1974 live recording Bon Voyage. Members: Rob MacKenzie (guitar), Cleis Pearce ([electric] viola), Peter Jones (keyboards, 1973-74), Mike Leadabrand (bass, 1971-73), Andy Majewski (drums, 1971-73), Greg Sheehan (drums, 1973-74), Paul Wheeler (bass, 1973-74) Background […]
Steve Maxwell Von Braund is an Australian keyboardist and saxophonist who made the nation’s first electronic album, Monster Planet, released in 1975 on the experimental Clear Light of Jupiter label. Soon after, he formed Cybotron, a Kraut-inspired electronic combo that made three albums between 1976 and 1980. Background Steve Braund (b. 1947) grew up in […]
Aleph was an Australian symphonic-rock band from Sydney that released the album Surface Tension in 1977 on Atlantic. Alongside Chetarca, Sebastian Hardie, and Ragnarok, Aleph spearheaded the antipodean response to the U.K. symphonic heavyweights (Yes, Genesis, ELP, Camel). Members: Mary Jane Carpenter (keyboards), Ron Carpenter (drums), David Froggatt (guitar), Mary Hansen (keyboards), Dave Highet (bass), […]
Sebastian Hardie was an Australian symphonic-rock band from Sydney that released the 1975 album Four Moments on Polydor. Their 1976 second album, Windchase, inspired the subsequent band formed by guitarist/vocalist Mario Millo and keyboardist Toivo Pilt. Members: Graham Ford (guitar, 1967-73), Dennis Laughlin (vocals), Dave Waddington (vocals), John Bellamy (bass), Neil Williamson (organ), Richard Lillico […]
Chetarca was an Australian symphonic-rock band from Melbourne that released a self-titled album on WEA/Atlantic in 1975. Members: Paul Lever (lead vocals, harmonica, tambourine), Andrew Vance (keyboards, vocals), John Rees (bass, violin), Geoff Gallent (drums, percussion), Bruce Bryan (synthesizer) Chetarca emerged from the wreckage of Langford Lever, an unrecorded early ’70s Melbourne act. The new […]
The Surprise Sisters were an Australian vocal group that first recorded as The Cliffmores. After moving to the UK, they changed their name and issued multiple singles and a 1976 self-titled album, charting with the Andy Fairweather Low cover “La Booga Rooga.” Members: Ellen Sutcliffe, Linda Sutcliffe, Patricia Sutcliffe, Susan Sutcliffe The Surprise Sisters comprised […]
Were Australian Sharpies influenced by UK skinheads, or did the movement emerge with no knowledge of the skinhead/suedhead image? What were the roots of the Sharpie movement? The evidence points to an indigenous Australian origin with later British skinhead influence, not to Sharpies as an Australian transplant of the skinhead or suedehead movement. The chronology […]
The Aztecs were an Australian rock band formed as a Shadows-style instrumental act by guitarist Vince Melouney. When beat music hit, they welcomed singer Billy Thorpe, a rising Sydney star. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs scored multiple 1964–65 hits on Linda Lee and Parlophone, including “Poison Ivy,” a summer ’64 No. 1 that eclipsed The […]
The Triffids were an Australian underground rock band that released five albums between 1983 and 1989 on Mushroom. Members: David McComb (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Alsy MacDonald (drums, percussion, vocals, 1978-80, 1982-89), Phil Kakulas (guitar, vocals, 1978-79), Byron Sinclair (bass, 1978-79, 1982), Robert McComb (violin, guitar, backing vocals, 1979-89), Margaret Gillard (keyboards, 1979-82), Will […]
Samantha Sang (born Aug. 5, 1953) is an Australian singer and entertainer from Melbourne who released three albums between 1975 and 1979. Her duet with writer/producer Barry Gibb yielded the lush, calypso-flavored “Emotion” — one of the biggest global hits of 1978. Discography: Samantha Sang and Rocked the World (1975) Emotion (1978) From Dance to […]
Steve Kipner (born 1950) is a U.S.-born Australian songwriter, producer, and former singer who emerged on the Sydney beat scene with Steve & the Board, followed by albums as part of Steve & Steve and Tin Tin, a baroque-pop combo behind the 1970 international hit “Toast and Marmalade for Tea.” In 1973, he moved to […]
Scandal were an Australian art-rock band from Adelaide that released a self-titled album on Mushroom Records in 1978. Members: Stuart Kerrison (vocals, percussion), Peter Watson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Chris Harriott (vocals, keyboards), Michael Smith (bass, vocals), Aldo Civitico (drums, percussion) Discography: Scandal (1978)
The Moodists were an Australian new wave band that cut two singles and the 1983 extended-play Engine Shudder on Au-Go-Go Records, followed by three EPs through 1987 on Red Flame and T.I.M. Their only proper album, Thirsty’s Calling, appeared in 1984 on Virgin. Members: Dave Graney (vocals), Steve Miller (guitar), Clare Moore (drums), Chris Walsh […]
Moving Pictures were an Australian pop-rock band from Sydney that was active between 1978 and 1987, releasing two studio albums in 1982 and 1983 on Wheatley. Members: Alex Smith (vocals), Garry Frost (guitar, keyboards, 1978-84), Andrew Thompson (saxophone), Charlie Cole (keyboards, trumpet), Ian Lees (bass), Paul Freeland (drums, 1978-83), Mark Meyer (drums, 1983-89), Joey Amenta […]
The Moirs were an Australian vocal trio comprised of Scottish-born sisters Jean, Margot, and Lesley Moir. In 1975, they released the album Lost – Somewhere Beyond Harmony as the Moir Sisters on EMI, followed in 1978 by the album State of Shock as The Moirs on Elton John‘s Rocket label. Members: Jean Moir (vocals), Margot […]
Models were an Australian new wave band that purveyed post-punk electronics on their 1980–82 albums Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf and Local &/or General. They adopted tighter pop-funk structures on the 1983 release The Pleasure of Your Company, which charted with “I Hear Motion.” In 1985, they charted with “Barbados” and the theme of their fourth album, Out of […]
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, […]
Paul Gaffey is an Australian vocalist who made one album, Mephistopheles, in 1974 on Festival Records with music and lyrics by keyboardist Simon Heath. Background Gaffey emerged from mysterious circumstances as the vocalist on “The Band Plays Oom Pah Pah,” a Simon Heath composition released as an August 1974 Festival single. Heath first placed the […]
The Necks are an Australian jazz/ambient/drone trio from Sydney that has released more than 20 albums since 1989, mostly on their own Fish of Milk imprint. Members: Chris Abrahams (piano, organ), Tony Buck (drums, percussion), Lloyd Swanton (bass) Discography: Sex (1989) Next (1990) Aquatic (1994) Silent Night (1996) The Boys (Music for the Feature Film) […]
The Nolan-Buddle Quartet was an Australian jazz ensemble that made one album, The Odd Couple, in 1976 on M7 Records. That same year, keyboardist/co-leader Col Nolan released another album on said label with his own namesake quartet. Members: Col Nolan (keyboards), Errol Buddle (saxophone), Dieter Vogt (bass), Warren Daly (drums) Background The Nolan-Buddle Quartet formed […]
Peter Harris is an Australian pianist and songwriter from Tenterfield, NSW, whose 1975 partnership with student David Madden yielded the album Fool’s Paradise. That same year, Harris released the solo album Ruby on the Ritz Gramophone label. Background Peter Harris first studied piano and bassoon at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In the late Sixties, […]
Peter Allen — aka Peter Richard Woolnough (Feb. 10, 1944 — June 8, 1992) — was an Australian pianist, singer, composer, and showman, best known internationally through his songwriting partnership with Carole Bayer Sager that yielded hits for Melissa Manchester (“Don’t Cry Out Loud”), Rita Coolidge (“I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love”), and Christopher […]
Peak was an Australian electronic duo that made the 1980 album Ebondàzzar on their self-run Cement Records imprint. Three years later, the album appeared abroad on Klaus Schulze‘s Innovative Communication label. Members: Paul Fisher, Robert Reekes-Parsons Background Peak formed in Adelaide, South Australia, when multi-instrumentalists Robert Reekes-Parsons and Paul Fisher teamed as an electronic duo. […]
Pel Mel was an Australian new wave band that released six singles and the 1982/83 albums Out of Reason and Persuasion on GaP Records. Members: Graeme Dunne (guitar, bass, vocals), Judy McGee (saxophone, keyboards), Jane McGee (guitar, 1979-81), Glenn Hill (bass,1979-80), Lindsay O’Meara (bass, 1980-81), Craig Robertson (bass, 1981-?), Dave Weston (drums), Nigel Savage (saxophone, […]
Pseudo Echo are an Australian synthpop band that rose to fame with the 1984/85 EMI albums Autumnal Park and Love an Adventure, landing hits with “Listening,” “A Beat for You,” “Don’t Go,” and “Living in a Dream.” They scored a global hit with their 1986 Lipps Inc. cover “Funky Town,” then embraced hard rock on their […]
Pyramid were an Australian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album on East Recording Company in 1980, followed by Sunshower on ABC Records in 1983. Members: Roger McLachlan (bass), David Jones (drums), David Hirschfelder (keyboards), Bob Venier (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion) Discography: Pyramid (1980) Sunshower (1983)
Tymepiece was an Australian rustic-rock band that cut two singles in 1968–69 on Festival Records, followed by the 1971 Infinity album Sweet Release. They evolved from Sydney beatsters The Black Diamonds. Members: Glenn Bland (vocals, harmonica), Joanne Goodman (vocals), Alan “Olly” Oloman (guitar, vocals), Brian “Felix” Wilkinson (organ, piano), Colin McAuley (drums), Darcy Rosser (bass) […]
The Sherbs were an Australian modern-rock band that basically functioned as a revamped Sherbet, assembled in 1980 after a temporary disbandment during the prior year. Under the new nameplate, the band released two albums and an EP on Razzle between 1980 and 1982. Members: Daryl Braithwaite (vocals), Harvey James (guitar, 1980-82), Tony Mitchell (bass), Garth […]
Sid Rumpo was an Australian blues-rock band from Perth that made the 1974 Mushroom album First Offense. Members: Mick Elliot (guitar, vocals), Robert “Rob” Searls [aka Bob Seals] (guitar, vocals), Ken Wallace (piano, percussion), Noel Herridge (drums, percussion), Owen Hughes (bass), John Hood (guitar) Background Sid Rumpo formed in Perth in late November 1971 when […]
Skyhooks were an Australian rock band from Melbourne that scored national hits with “Horror Movie,” “Ego Is Not a Dirty Word,” “All My Friends Are Getting Married,” and “Women in Uniform.” Skyhooks released five studio albums through 1980 and reunited periodically in subsequent decades. Members: Steve Hill (vocals, 1973-74), Shirley Strachan [aka Graeme Strachan] (vocals, […]
Terry Britten (born July 1947) is an English-born musician, songwriter, and producer who first emerged as the guitarist of the Australian pop-rock band The Twilights during the mid-1960s. During the late 1970s, he rose to prominence in the Northern Hemisphere as a songwriter for Cliff Richard, penning the 1976 hit “Devil Woman” and most of […]
