The Screaming Tribesmen - Bones + Flowers

The excellent album Bones + Flowers launches the Tribesmen into a new international league, offering richly played rock-melody song writing (by ex-Radio Birdman guitarist/pianist/producer Chris “Klondike” Masuak and singer/guitarist Mick Medew) that’s got all the needed attributes for major stardom. Where we may expect some kind of rough-and-tumble Aussie rock in the tradition of Radio Birdman or the Scientists, we find instead a series of power pop pearls that will delight any amateur of the genre. Screaming Tribesmen might have better reached the "alternative" audience if they hadn't looked like a heavy metal band; likewise, the band's name and album art didn't come close to matching the mood of their music. Despite the album’s appeal and high commercial prospects, nothing much came of Bones + Flowers. Even though it is the most appealing effort by Screaming Tribesmen; a melodic pop album that resembles a muscular Let's Active. Lead single "I've Got a Feeling" was distributed internationally and featured on MTV's 120 Minutes at the time, and the Tribesmen's appearance in the midst of the Church's breakthrough with Starfish seemed to presage an Australian Invasion that never came to pass. The Tribesmen didn't last long after the commercial disappointment of Bones + Flowers, but the album remains a sturdy collection of recordings, with the catchy, jangly "Girl in My Dreams" and "Dream Away" as highlights.

The Screaming Tribesmen - Move A Little Closer 12”EP

Following the reasonably successful ‘Date With A Vampyre’ post last month I thought we should go back and discover the Tribesmen’s earlier singles before we get into the nooks and cranny’s of their debut album. Throughout the 1980s, the now legendary Screaming Tribesmen were at the forefront of the Australian alternative garage rock movement. Led by the tenacious Mick Medew, and ably assisted by guitarist/producer and ex-Birdman member Chris Masuak, the Tribesmen established a reputation for explosive live performances, backed by a repertoire of dynamic and catchy, gritty rock'n'roll tunes like "Igloo", "A Stand Alone", "Date with a Vampyre" and "My True Love's Blood". Released for the UK market as a 12” EP in ’85 ‘Move A Little Closer’ is a compilation of the band’s first two Australian singles (“Igloo” and “A Stand Alone”) and would easily mix and match with a stack of mod-revival albums, while the squealier and grungier guitar chords of ‘Date With A Vampyre’ (also four songs) nudged their sound closer to garage territory. From their tentative beginnings as a post-Ramones punky ensemble (as noted on their first four-track EP), they’ve gone through an assortment of members and sonic textures but all of their releases have been exercises in good old pop-rock. Strangely though there’s nothing tribal about the sound of these Aussies, and they don’t scream either. Their music is full of pop-song harmonies, including “oohh” and “ahh” background singing, jangle chords and repeated refrains.

The Screaming Tribesmen - Date With a Vampyre 12” EP

The Screaming Tribesmen was a rock band formed in Brisbane by vocalis/guitarist Mick Medew, bassist John Hartley and drummer Murray Shepherd. After their 'I Don't Wanna Know' EP and a string of successful singles, including "A Stand Alone" and their first hit, "Igloo" which was penned by Medew and Died Pretty frontman Ron Peno, the band moved base to Sydney, home of their label Citadel Records. After relocation to Sydney, and a number of line-up changes the band settled on its most successful line up of Medew, guitarist Chris Masuak (ex Radio Birdman), bass player Bob Wackley (ex Razar) and drummer Warwick Fraser (ex-Feather & Hoi Polloi) who replaced Michael Charles after the recording of the 'Date With A Vampyre' EP. The 'Vampyre' EP reigned at the top of the Australian independent charts for over 40 weeks, while the band toured constantly in support. The follow-up 'Top of the Town' EP released on the boutique Rattlesnake Records label saw a change in direction for the band as it morphed into the sound of their first full length release 'Bones and Flowers'. The band toured the US on the strength of the album and at home they enjoyed a run of Australian Alternative No. 1 hits as well as gaining Stateside attention with regular airplay on the US College Radio circuit. Their 1988 single "I've Got a Feeling" featured heavily on US MTV's 120 Minutes, hitting No. 1 on the KROQ charts in LA and No. 7 on Billboard's modern rock chart.