LAVISH

Lavish began in 1992 when Gary Beavis left Gold Coast band Art Collective and teamed up with guitarist Nigel Lacey to form Lavish. Early members included Brett Layton, Daniel Peterson, Michelle Wilson (later in the band Fur), and Richard Nixon. Eventually, Beavis and Lacey enlisted Nathan Thomas as singer following the breakup of his previous band Unloveable. His younger brother Luke was offered the position of bass player after Richard Nixon declined. The band relocated to Brisbane in 1995 and took on board drummer Justin Nelson. After initially being courted by Virgin Records in 1996, Lavish became one of the most in demand bands on the Brisbane rock music circuit in the wake of the Brisbane pop and rock market getting recognition by major record labels such as Savage Garden, Powderfinger, Custard, Regurgitator, Pangaea, Speedstar, and Aneiki.

Their music was a fusion of 80's New Wave pop, Australian classic rock, Britpop, and American alternative rock. In 1998, the band were signed with Festival Records and enlisted Jeff Lovejoy on production duties. The first single released was "Trashed", which received high rotation on local and national radio stations but was not a major hit. The lineup was :Nathan Thomas (vocals), Gary Beavis (guitar), Nigel Lacey (guitar), Luke Thomas (bass) and Justin Nelson (drums), It was later used in the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the episode The I In Team.

Shortly after its release, Nelson was dismissed from the band and replaced by Glen Gibson, who had recently departed from Savage Garden. A second single, "Good For Me", also failed to chart. Their third single was a hard rock cover of Pete Shelley's 1982 synthpop hit "Homosapien", which was featured in Jimoin's film The Craic about Irish immigration in Australia in the 1980s. It reached #72 on the ARIA charts and they promoted it on Hey Hey It's Saturday. The fourth and final single to be released was "She Said", in which the synthesiser hook eventually became the theme tune to open the Australian Top 50 countdown on Rage as well as used to denote chart placings where a video was either banned or not sanctioned.

Lavish recorded one album 'Polaroid' for Festival with Lovejoy and Clint Mansell (from Pop Will Eat Itself) sharing production duties, as well as Mansell writing one track "The Beats". The album was not a hit despite the publicity it had, and the band were dropped by Festival shortly afterwards. Nathan took up guitar duties, and Glen's brother Slade Gibson briefly joined the band as second guitarist. In mid 2000, Beavis and Lovejoy (who had replaced Lacey as guitarist in 1999) departed the band, leaving Lavish down to a trio of the Thomas brothers and Gibson. They signed with independent record company MGM Records to record the EP 'Accelerator'. Whilst it received positive reviews, it was not a hit and the band disbanded towards the end of the year with the Thomas brothers relocating to Melbourne.

Members

Nathan Thomas (vocals, guitar), Gary Beavis (guitar), Nigel Lacey (guitar), Luke Thomas (bass), Justin Nelson (drums), Glen Gibson (drums), Slade Gibson (guitar), Jeff Lovejoy (guitar), Brett Layton, Daniel Peterson, Michelle Wilson (vocals), Richard Nixon (bass)

SINGLES

''Trashed'' 1998 Festival
''Good For Me'' 1998 Festival
''Homosapien'' (#72) 1999 Festival
''She Said'' 1999 Festival

EPs
'Accelerator' 2001 MGM

ALBUMS
'Polaroid' 1999 Festival

KULCHA

Making their debut in 1994 with a self-titled album that made them household names in Australia and New Zealand, R&B group Kulcha became one of the most beloved acts of the decade. Four vocalists: Joe Fidow, Richard Matila, Eric Palu and Jay Whitmore, all of Samoan or Māori ancestry, became household names with release of 'Kulcha' - an album that won them two ARIA Awards - Most Popular Australia New Act and Highest Selling Single for ''Shaka Jam''. Spawning four Top 30 singles and earning a Gold certification, Kulcha not only cemented Kulcha's presence as an Australian/NZ success story, but broke down a door for Polynesian representation and success in the 1990s. The group's second album, 'Take Your Time', followed in 1997 - a record that continued to fuse the members' love for groove, soul and vocal harmonies with added charm and charisma. 

As touring artists, the group performed with some international greats including Janet Jackson, The Fugees, KCi & Jojo and Boyz II Men. Their culture was never far away; whether it was in wearing lava-lavas in music videos, or in the name itself, Kulcha knew the space they were commanding as Pacific Islanders. Their songs featured on episodes 15 and 38 in Season 1 (1994) of TV series, Heartbreak High with "Shaka Jam", "Spend the Night", "Don't Be Shy" and "Fly Girl"; episode 62 of Season 2 (1995) with "Nasty" and episode 157 of Season 6 (1997) with "Do You Like It?".

Members

Joe Fidow, Richard Matila, Eric Palu, Jay Whitmore

SINGLES

"Shaka Jam" (#7) 1994 EastWest
"Don't Be Shy" (#13) 1994 EastWest
"Fly Girl" (#26) 1994 EastWest
"Soul Feeling" (#16) 1995 EastWest
"Everytime You Go Away" (#35) 1995 Warner Music
"Do You Like It?" (#18) 1996 Warner Music
"Always Be" (#25) 1997 EastWest
"Treat Her Like a Lady"1997 EastWest

ALBUMS
'Kulcha' (#13) 1994 EastWest 
'Take Your Time' (#40) 1997 EastWest

References

Sose Fuamoli

HAPPYLAND

In 1996, Janet English of Spiderbait started dating Quan Yeomans of Regurgitator. During downtime from their respective main projects, in 1997 in Brisbane, the pair formed the Shits (later renamed as Happyland) as an art pop side project. As the Shits, English and Yeomans, provided the artwork for Regurgitor's album, 'Unit' (November 1997), at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, the duo won the Best Cover Art category. Happyland's only album, 'Welcome to Happyland', was released on 25 August 1998 via Polydor Australia, which peaked at #18 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It was recorded in Yeomans' home studio and produced by the duo, with all tracks co-written by English and Yeomans. AllMusic's Jody Macgregor opined that "The songs they recorded together combined the most hyper-kinetic and poppy sounds common to the two bands, with English's vocals at their most high-pitched and girlish, and Yeomans' melodies at their most twitchy and infectious." Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane felt it "boasted noisy modern fuzz-pop." At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999, English and Yeomans were nominated for Best Cover Art for 'Welcome to Happyland'.

"Don't You Know Who I Am?", the lead single from the album, peaked at #24 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was listed at #28 in Triple J's 1998 Hottest 100 music poll, while the follow-up single, "Hello!" (November 1998), was listed at #71. "Hello!", which did not peak in the ARIA Singles Chart top 50, was proposed for Regurgitator's Unit, but it did not fit with the rest of its content. McFarlane described "Hello" as "low-tech but snappy pop." Happyland toured Australia as part of the 1999 Big Day Out music festival, performing at the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide in late January and early February. In their live shows, the band members dressed in fluffy animal costumes. They provided a cover version of the Italian song, "Tintarella di luna" (written by Bruno de Filippi and Franco Migliacci), on the soundtrack for the feature film, Looking for Alibrandi, in 2000. The duo had disbanded in 1999, and each member had returned to their respective main project.

SINGLES
"Don't You Know Who I Am?" (#24) 1998 Polydor
"Hello!" (#79) 1998 Polydor

ALBUMS
'Welcome to Happyland' (#18) 1998 Polydor 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happyland_(band)

ELECTRIC HIPPIES

 

In 1993 ex-Noiseworks members, Steve Balbi and Justin Stanley formed psychedelic pop group and production duo, Electric Hippies, which issued their debut extended play, 'It's Cool', in October of that year. It included the track, "Jonny Courageous"; according to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, it "was reputedly a swipe at former Noiseworks frontman Jon Stevens." They followed with a top 30 single, "Greedy People" (June 1994), and their debut album, 'The Electric Hippies' in October. For that album, Balbi provided lead guitar, bass guitar and lead vocals and Stanley provided vocals, drums, guitars and string arrangements. McFarlane opined that it "mixed Revolver-era Beatles melodies with a Ziggy Stardust-period David Bowie glam rock aesthetic''. There was also a limited edition version of the album which featured three-dimensional artwork à la The Rolling Stones' 1967 psychedelic album Their Satanic Majesties Request. As producers, Electric Hippies, worked on material by Pearls & Swine, Vincent Stone (singles: "Sunshine" and "Best of My Love"; album: Vincent Stone, all in 1993), Juice, Jenny Morris and Nikka Costa (who was married to Stanley). Costa and Stanley returned to the United States in 1996 and Electric Hippies disbanded.

SINGLES
"Greedy People" (#29) 1994 rooArt
"I Believe in You" (#76) 1994 rooArt
"Jonny Courageous" 1994 rooArt
"Didn't Mean to Make You Cry" 1994 WEA

EPs

'It's Cool' 1993 rooArt

ALBUMS
'The Electric Hippies' (#25) 1994 rooArt 

CULTURE SHOCK

 

Culture Shock were a short-lived Australian dance trio consisting of Lorena Novoa (an ex-member of Johnny Young's Young Talent Team), Paul Brandoli and Victoria Wu. Culture Shock became a staple in the nation’s dance scene. They rose to prominence with their unique blend of Euro House, Eurodance, and Hard Trance, earning a place in Australia’s charts. Their success allowed the group to reach wider audiences and create memorable performances on stage, where they opened for international acts like Culture Club, D:REAM, Culture Beat, Cut 'n Move, Pauline Henry, and Des’ree.

The group’s momentum also brought them to the forefront of the media circuit, with appearances at major music festivals, on television, and in radio interviews that showcased their electrifying style. The trio’s dynamic was fueled by Paul’s production mastery, Lorena’s Latin-infused vocals, and Victoria’s classical training, resulting in a sound that resonated deeply with fans. Culture Shock released one studio album, released in 1993 on the Footprintz Productionz label. The album was re-released in September 1994 on Dance Pool/Columbia following the success of "Satisfy the Groove".

SINGLES

"Satisfy the Groove" (#31) 1994 Footprintz Productionz

"My Enemy" (#40) 1994 Footprintz Productionz

"Amor Serenade" 1994 Footprintz Productionz
"Who's Gonna Cry for You" 1995 Laser Music

ALBUMS
'Culture Shock' (#33) 1993 Footprintz Productionz

BLACKFIRE

 

When Blackfire formed in 1992 they immediately attracted the attention of well-known musicians and journalists who sang the band’s praises and offered support gigs. Members had all previously played in Melbourne based and national bands. The lineup was: Bradley Brown (ex-Watbalimba, Interaction) on bass guitar, drums and vocals; Selwyn Burns (ex-Coloured Stone, Mixed Relations, No Fixed Address) on lead guitar and vocals; Kutcha Edwards on lead vocals, Grant Hansen (ex-Interaction, Mercury Blues) on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Kelli McGuinness (ex-Dr Koori, Interaction, Watbalimba) on drums, bass guitar, guitar and vocals. In 1993 they were awarded NAIDOC Artists of the Year.

Their first album, 'A Time to Dream', was released in 1994 by Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA). The album was full of powerful gritty rock and roll songs making a strong political statement about these changing times. Leroy Cummins (ex-Christine Anu Band) joined the group on guitar in 1997 to expand the line-up, as did Corey Noll later on. Blackfire toured extensively throughout Australia before travelling to Asia (Japan, China and Taiwan), alongside Archie Roach and the Naroo Dancers. 

In 1996 they teamed up with Crowded House drummer Paul Hester who produced there second album 'Night Vision'. Paul was still playing in Crowded House and when he left the Crowdies, Blackfire was the first band that Paul joined. 'Night Vision' was released through Cannon Music to critical acclaim. The guys then made TV appearances on Recovery, SBS Icam and Good Morning Australia. These appearances took Blackfire to a much bigger mainstream audience. In 1998 Blackfire toured Australia with Carlos Santana to rave reviews. Blackfire often played at many Indigenous Festivals with other contemporary Indigenous acts of the time including, Yothu Yindi, Christine Anu & Kev Carmody. In 2006 Blackfire decided to take a well-earned break. 

The band released their third album ‘Re-Generation’in 2023. Songs on the album were written back before the band went off the road; however, they are still relevant today. They also wrote some new tunes and before they knew it, they had 12 songs.  The band reformed in 2023 with a new line up. David Leha, Rod Crundwell, Peter Moore, Daniel Jauregui, Leonie Whyman and Monica Mc Donald were added with original members Grant Hansen, Brad Brown Selwyn Burns.

Members

Bradley Brown (bass, drums, vocals), Selwyn Burns (guitar, vocals), Kutcha Edwards (vocals), Grant Hansen (guitar, vocals), Kelli McGuinness (drums, bass, guitar, vocals), Leroy Cummins (guitar), Corey Noll (guitar), David Leha (vocals), Rod Crundwell (keyboards), Peter Moore, Daniel Jauregui, Leonie Whyman (vocals), Monica Mc Donald (vocals)

 

ALBUMS

' A Time to Dream' 1994 CAAMA
'Night Vision' 1998 Cannon Music

'Re-Generation' 2023

AMONG THIEVES

 

Short lived Melbourne band, Among Thieves was formed by ex-members of Dear Enemy Les Barker and Chris Langford with vocalist Anton Morgenthaler, keyboardist Sam Panetta and drummer Bret Luton (ex-Geisha). The single ''Faith In Love'' released in 1991 charted nationally. A self-titled album came out in 1992 and was a strong effort, but for some reason, it never gained traction. 

Members

Anton Morganthaler (vocals, guitar), Les Barker (guitar), Paul Miller (bass), Chris Langford (guitar, vocals), Sam Panetta (keyboards), Bret Luton (drums)

SINGLES
''Faith In Love'' (#72) 1991 EastWest
''My Heart Just Bleeds'' 1992 EastWest

''Big Thing'' 1992 EastWest

''Broken Glass'' 1993 EastWest

ALBUMS

'Among Thieves' 1992 EastWest

ZYDECO JUMP

 

Zydeco Jump is a well-loved Australian zydeco band from Melbourne, formed in 1989, known for blending traditional Louisiana zydeco with rock influences and delivering high-energy shows led by accordionist George Butrumlis. They kicked off with gigs at The Club upstairs in the Sushi Bar and soon gained momentum, including landing a spot at the Troppo Carnivale at Luna Park. Their debut was a seven-track cassette, 'You Asked For It,' also released in 1989, featuring George Butrumlis (vocals/accordion), Paul Nuendorf (vocals/guitar), Gary Samolin (drums), Ben Taylor (washboard), Toots Wostry (sax/vocals), and Alan Wright (bass/vocals). They became legendary for their Sunday afternoon sets at the Esplanade Hotel in St. Kilda. Multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hale joined before their second album, 'Port Philip Bayou,' in 1994. With more albums and lineup changes over the years, they continue to perform, offering a vibrant mix of authentic zydeco rhythms and Aussie flair.

Members

George Butrumlis (vocals / accordion), Paul Nuendorf (vocals / guitar), Gary Samolin (drums), Ben Taylor (washboard), Toots Wostry (sax / vocals) and Alan Wright (bass / vocals), Gerry Hale (fiddle / mandola), Karl Hird (sax), Justin Brady (fiddle / harmonica / mandolin / violin)

ALBUMS
'You Asked For It You Got It' 1989 Music Deli
'Port Phillip Bayou' 1994 
'I Like It' 2003 Zydeco Jump
'Cookin' Up Some Zydeco' 2007 Sound Vault Records

THE PARAMOUNT TRIO

Formed in 1987, The Paramount Trio featured vocalist Dave Hogan (ex-Southern Lightning), guitarist Warren Rough (ex-The Crackajacks), and drummer Ken Farmer (ex-Percolators). They played a blend of blues ranging from Chicago to the Delta and became one of Melbourne’s top blues acts. With a residency at the Albion Inn in Collingwood, they also performed regularly at Hound Dog’s Bop Shop in North Melbourne and hosted a popular afternoon session at the Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy. Over their career, they released three studio albums and a handful of singles.

Members

Dave Hogan (vocals, harmonica), Warren Rough (guitar), Ken Farmer (drums)

SINGLES
''Tuff / Rollin' And Tumblin‘ 1989 Preston
''Fishing Blues / Buckland Bounce / Grinding In Your Face'' 1996 Loser
''Morning Train / Chevrolet / Sinking Of The Titanic'' 1997 Loser

ALBUMS
'The Paramount Trio' 1992 Loser 
'Step It Up And Go' 1993 Loser 
'Electric Country Blues' 1997 Loser 

THE DEARHUNTERS

 

The Dearhunters were an indie and alternative country band from Sydney formed in 1998. Greg Hitchcock (ex-The Bamboos, Challenger 7), Tim Oxley (ex-The Verys), Jodi Phillis (ex-Clouds) and Raphael Whittingham (ex-Golden Rough), were successful artists solo or in various other acts. They first performed several times under the name Lunar Tunes in April 1998. The group released the album, 'Red Wine and Blue' which was recorded in roughly three weeks and released under Candle Records in 1999. It was launched at the Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills. 'Red Wine And Blue' featured dual vocals between Oxley and Phillis, and the album produced favorable reviews. On working on the album, Phillis said in an interview that "in this group I feel free to explore any territory and I’m not afraid to get too introspective or sentimental". She went on further to say that The Dearhunters was a side project for her.

They also appeared on a compilation featuring artists or groups under Candle Records, as well as releasing a single ''Ivy'' with Hired Guns on the B Side ''Blue Sunday'', which was released on vinyl.  Following the release of their split single in 1999 and album in the same year, Whittingham left the group and was replaced by Dave Ashton. Then, after a small subsequent tour following their album release, the group disbanded and returned to prior musical projects or engaged in new ones. They finished up in 2000.

Members

Greg Hitchcock (guitars), Tim Oxley (vocals, bass), Jodi Phillis (vocals, guitar), Raphael Whittingham (drums), Dave Ashton (drums)

SINGLES
''Ivy'' 1999 Steady Cam Records

ALBUMS
'Red Wine and Blue' 1999 Candel Records

References

The Dearhunters - Wikipedia

FREE MOVING CURTIS

 

One of Australia's most underrated guitar acts of the 90s, Free Moving Curtis, emerged from Adelaide with a strong musical pedigree, featuring former members of The Plague, Bloodloss, Primevils, and Hot Tomatoes. Their name might have been inspired by a black male doll called Free Moving Curtis, introduced in 1975 by toy manufacturer Mattel as a friend of Ken. If anyone can confirm this theory, it would be intriguing.

Free Moving Curtis gigged around Adelaide's pub scene and in 1992, they opened for The Rollins Band along with Mark of Cain at the Old Lion in Adelaide. The band released two EPs, 'Blind' in 1993 and 'Persuader' in 1994, through Melbourne's Hippy Knight Records. On May 27, 1994, the band recorded four tracks for a live album with Headache and the Seaweed Gorillas at The Great Britain Hotel. In 1996, they worked on their debut full-length album with engineer Mick Wordley, who used techniques inspired by Steven Albini's visit to Mixmaster Studios during the production of The Lizard Train's album 'Everything Moves'. The resulting album showcased Free Moving Curtis in top form, particularly its opening track "Surface Tension," which highlighted Jim Selene's swirling guitar, Dave Plague's distinctive bass, and Steve Collinson's gritty vocals. A lineup change followed, and the band relocated to Sydney, leading to their eventual breakup. Despite being largely overlooked for pursuing a unique musical direction, they remained steadfast, refusing to cater to mainstream trends or pander to the rock press.

Members

Dave Plague [Dave Christopher] (bass), Jim Selene (guitar), Stuart Silcox (guitar), Warwick Savvas (drums), Steve Collinson (vocals)

EPs
'Blind' 1993 Hippy Knight Records
'Persuader' 1994 Hippy Knight Records

ALBUMS
'Free' 1996 Hippy Knight Records

SNOW LEOPARDS

After The Honeys disbanded singer Andrea Croft and guitarist Bruce Begley formed Snow Leopards as a new outlet for Begley's songwriting. Begley brought in experienced musicians, creating a lineup with guitarist Paul Nagel, bassist Andrew Ingram (ex-Rhythm Pigs), drummer Peter Kelly (ex-Vanilla Chainsaws), and vocalists Greg Atkinson (ex-Ups and Downs), Lisa Partington (ex-The Rose Mary's), and Kylie Adams.

The Snow Leopards released a mini-album and one full length album on Waterfront Records, leading to a national tour, frequent airplay on JJJFM, a live performance for "Live at the Wireless," and music videos featured on ABC’s Rage. They climbed into the Top 10 of the Alternative ARIA charts and played regularly at various venues. Their track "Coco Pops" was included on the Roo Art 'Young Blood 3' compilation album, which opened doors to tours with The Fauves, The Clouds, The Welcome Mat, and other notable independent bands of the 90s. However, the band was short-lived and it was all over in a matter of moments. Bruce Begley died in 2016.

Members

Andrea Croft (vocals), Bruce Begley (guitar), Paul Nagel (guitar), Andrew Ingram (bass), James Lockett (keyboards), Peter Kelly (drums)Greg Atkinson (vocals), Lisa Partington (vocals), Kylie Adams (vocals)

ALBUMS
'Snow Leopards' 1991 Waterfront Records 
'Sweet Sweet Dreams' 1991 Waterfront Records

KAKTUS MANTRAS

Kaktus Mantras was an industrial/noise/punk rock/ ambient band. Formed 1990 in Queensland by Cristina Calerno (ex-The Mothers) and Scott Dachroeden. The band focused on creating music that went in a dozen different directions at once and in as many genres as they could, no pre-determined style or concept, just creating music for the sake of it. Magazine Drum Media stated, "In trying to think of one word that would capture tonight's set, the noun that comes to mind above all others is freedom. Here we have three people apparently off in their own little world of music, yet all together enough to create a soundscape that held the audience in a gaze".  

Rolling Stone stated "No one could accuse Kaktus Mantras of playing it safe: their song ''Easy'' does indeed sound like a mantra...one that's being chanted in a wind tunnel! Eastern Exotica meets riffery, and they get on fine!" They released their first album 'Yess' in 1992 with Tim Chillingworth on drums. After countless tours and two albums Kaktus Mantras called it quits in 1997, Cristina Calero went on to work with Carmen Rizzo, a Grammy-nominated producer, in Los Angeles with the 'trip-hop' project POVI, the album 'Life in Volcanoes' [2000 Nettwerk Records] was the fruit of their labor. Scott Dachroeden moved to the US over two decades ago with the hopes becoming a concert photographer and working in the music industry. He would find success both as a photographer and guitar tech, working with Alice in Chains, as well as Tool, Rob Zombie, Halestorm, Bush, and many more. Scott died of cancer in 2022.

Members

Christine Calerno (vocals / bass), Scott Dachroeden (vocals / guitar), Tim Chillingworth (drums)

EPs
'Everything' 1995 Cicada Music

ALBUMS
'Yess' 1992 Firewater Records

'Happens' 1997 Firewater Records

References

Kaktus Mantras

THE DAISYGRINDERS

 

The Daisygrinders formed in Bathurst, NSW, in 1991. The band formed when Adam Young and Andrew Hunter of Flat Out Fucked joined Andrew Beaman and Rohan Bridge of The Rubber Bicycles. The four band members attended Charles Sturt University in the early 1990s where they gravitated to the student indie rock radio station, Studio 4. They performed once under the name The Griswolds before renaming themselves The Daisygrinders. The group played at local parties, university festivals and an Australian Music Day event at the Bathurst Tavern. The early set list included originals and covers such as ''Touch Me I’m Sick'' by Mudhoney.

With the assistance of Sean Rabin and Hugh Williams, who took up managerial duties, a demo was recorded and then distributed by Rabin through his Sydney music scene contacts. An offer was made by Nic Dalton of Half a Cow records to include a song, ''Test Pattern Baby'', on the various artists album 'Slice Two: A Half A Cow Compilation'. The Daisygrinders’ first Sydney show was on 15th February 1992 at the Hopetoun Hotel supporting Swirl. The Daisygrinders signed to Half a Cow Records and played at venues in Sydney and around Australia until 1996. During that time, they issued one album, one mini-album, four EPs and appeared on numerous compilations records, including 'Swapping Spit' which saw You Am I, Smudge, Headache and the Daisygrinders cover each other’s songs.

The Daisygrinders supported international acts such as Buffalo Tom, Pavement, Smashing Pumpkins and Teenage Fanclub. They also opened the Skate Stage at the Big Day Out 1993 and played the FBi Radio Benefit show on Nov 4th, 1995, at the Hordern Pavilion. Following their breakup, band members pursued careers based on their university degrees. Adam Young went on to play with Sydney contemporaries Big Heavy Stuff. He also achieved solo success with the release of his 2016 album 'Elementary Carnival Blues'.

Members

Andrew Hunter (bass, vocals), Adam Young (guitar, vocals), Rohan Bridge (guitar, vocals), Andrew Beaman (drums, vocals)

EPs
'Roamin' Bruce' 1993 Half A Cow 
'Previval' 1994 Half A Cow 
'Cardriver' 1995 Half A Cow 
'Yo-Yo' 1995 Half A Cow Records

ALBUMS
'Throwlily' 1992 Half A Cow Records 
'Joe Velocity' 1995 Half A Cow Records 

References

The Daisygrinders – Half A Cow Records

BLITZ BABIEZ

 

Blitz Babiez was a five-piece band formed by Joanne Lanzon and Ziad Beydoun in 1993 during the heyday of '90s Sydney punk. They added Ian on bass, Jamie Dack on guitar and Grant Dirckze on drums. Joanne and Ziad had previously been in a band called Dream Riot. Ian didn't last long and was replaced by bassist Errol Alley. They released a three-track single ''Time's Ticking / Monkey Grip / Emotions'' on No Deal Records. The band played hundreds of shows including the Sandringham Hotel the Lewisham Hotel, The Phoenician Club and The Metro to name a few.

They embarked on a European tour in 1995 at the invitation of its European record distributor after releasing their first album, 'On The Line'. They played at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands and famously became one of the only Australian bands to play war-ravaged Serbia in this time. In 1996 the band decided to remain a four piece after successively losing two guitarists (both named Jamie). After recording a second album, 'Thought Spawn' the band embarked on another European tour. On return they played at the Big Day Out in NZ. A third European tour was planned in 1997 but, when this fell through due to a dodgy promotions company, the band decided to call it a day as drummer Grant Dirckze was moving to England.

Members

Errol Alley (bass), Grant Dirckze (drums), Joanne Lanzon (vocals), Ziad Beydoun (guitar), Jamie Dack (guitar), Jamie Brusard (guitar)

SINGLES
''Times Ticking / / Monkey Grip / Emotions'' 1993 No Deal

EPs

'Feel This' 1995 Spent Music
'Worlds Apart' 1996 Onefoot Records
'Try Hard' 1997 Derek Records

ALBUMS
'On The Line' 1994 Spent Music
'Thought Spawn' 1996 Onefoot Records 

References

Noise Levels: Blitz Babiez

GEOFF ACHISON

 

Geoff  Achison was born on Phillip Island in 1965 and raised in the rural town of Malmsbury, Victoria—the third of five siblings. His musical spark ignited when he discovered an old guitar beneath the family stairwell. Encouraged by his trumpet-playing father, Geoff began lessons and got his first taste of performance playing in his dad’s old-time dance band. A chance mentorship with local jazz musician Alan Watson introduced Geoff to the world of jazz, improvisation, and rhythm. Watson encouraged him to switch to bass for a time, broadening his musical foundation before Geoff returned to guitar with a newfound appreciation for groove and feel.

In the quiet isolation of the Australian countryside, Geoff developed his own approach to sound and tone, improvising effects and techniques that helped define his unique voice on the instrument. Geoff moved to Melbourne in 1987 and quickly found his place in the city's blues scene, landing the role of lead guitarist with Dutch Tilders. His talent and drive soon pushed him to pursue a solo career, and in 1994 he released 'Big Machine', the first in a string of acclaimed albums.

The following year, Geoff represented Melbourne at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, taking home the Albert King Award for Most Promising Guitarist. That pivotal moment launched a truly international career. He began touring the US and UK regularly, often assembling local versions of his backing band, The Souldiggers to overcome the prohibitive costs of touring as an independent artist.

On his first major US tour, Geoff received a custom acoustic guitar from the famed Gibson Guitar Company— a gesture that reflected his rising status. After recording the album 'Gettin’ Evil' in the U.S. with an American lineup of The Souldiggers, Geoff returned to Australia and assembled an all-star local version of the band featuring Mal Logan on keyboards (ex-Chain, Healing Force), Roger McLachlan on bass (ex-Little River Band, Stars), and Gerry Pantazis on drums (ex-Stylus). This powerhouse ensemble became known as The A-Team, providing the perfect vehicle for Geoff’s musical vision to truly take flight. Known for their exhilarating live performances, The Souldiggers captivated audiences with their extended jam sessions—transforming tight, four-minute songs into epic, ten-minute sonic journeys that left fans wanting more.

Whether fronting the full band or playing solo, Geoff Achison is a commanding presence on stage. His acoustic showsshowcase delicate fingerpicking and slide guitar mastery, while his electric performances with The Souldiggers channel the raw power of blues and funk into a thrilling, live-wire experience. Geoff is also a gifted storyteller with a dry, witty stage presence that keeps audiences engaged between songs. His sets are equal parts musicianship and entertainment. A respected educator, Geoff conducts guitar workshops across Australia and internationally. He’s been a regular guest instructor at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio, USA, sharing his knowledge with players of all levels.

With dozens of albums, international tours, and countless live performances under his belt, Geoff Achison remains a driving force in the Australian blues and roots scene, inspiring a new generation of musicians. In 2020, he was honored with induction into the Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame - a fitting recognition of his influence and contributions to the genre.

SINGLES

''Eyes On The Prize'' [with The Souldiggers] 2020 Jupiter 2 Records
''Dragon Wings'' [with The Souldiggers] 2020 Jupiter 2 Records
''Footy Cards'' [with The Souldiggers] 2020 Jupiter 2 Records
''Secret To Life'' [with The Souldiggers] 2022 Jupiter 2 Records
''Capricorn Pilot'' [with The Souldiggers] 2022 Jupiter 2 Records

ALBUMS
'Big Machine' 1994 Jupiter 2 Records
'Genevieve' 1995 Jupiter 2 Records
'Mystery Train' 1996 Jupiter 2 Records
'Gettin’ Evil' [with The Souldiggers] 1999 Jupiter 2 Records
'Chasing My Tail' [with The Souldiggers] 2002 Jupiter 2 Records
'Little Big Men' [with The Souldiggers] 2005 Jupiter 2 Records
'One Ticket, One Ride' 2008 Jupiter 2 Records
'Box Of Blues' [with Chris Wilson] 2012 Jupiter 2 Records
'Another Mile, Another Minute' [with The Souldiggers] 2016 Jupiter 2 Records
'Sovereign Town' 2018 Jupiter 2 Records

References 

About — Geoff Achison

SWOOP

 

Swoop was an Australian seven-piece rock, funk and disco band established in 1991 in Sydney as a funk and rap duo by Joshua Beagley on guitar and keyboards and Roland Kapferer on lead vocals (rapping, MCing). The pair had met as students at Marryatville High School, Adelaide in 1987 before relocating to Sydney. The duo were joined by "an ever-changing line-up that has featured a collection of rappers, DJs, musos and dancers". The band released two early singles "Positivity's Groove" (May 1992) and "Jelly Funk" (August). Fiona Ta'akimoeaka joined Swoop on lead vocals before August 1992 and by November the other members of the seven-piece were Chris Brien on drums, Armando Gomez on percussion, Alex 'Gob' Hewetson on bass guitar and Breadman St Ledger III on keyboards.

For their third single "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", which appeared in November 1992, they were briefly joined by Terepai Richmond (also a member of Directions In Groove) on percussion. Rebecca Lang of The Canberra Times described their sound, "Drawing on the '70s funk, dipping into '90s acid jazz and adding a blend of '80s rap." In August 1993 the group issued "Do It", which became a disco hit in Japan; it was also listed at #87 on national radio station Triple J's popularity poll, Triple J Hottest 100, 1993. It was followed with their debut studio album, 'Thriller' via Freakzone Records/MGM Distribution in October. Beagley recalled "we released it on our own label purely through frustration of not being able to get a deal. The end result was a deal so it was worth all the pain."

In October 1994 Swoop released "Neighbourhood Freak", which became the group's first charting single, peaking at #62 on the ARIA singles chart. That track appeared at #74 on Triple J Hottest 100, 1994. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they were nominated for Best New Talent for 'Thriller'. During 1994 and 1995 the group played regular gigs in the Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel. The group released "Rock Dog" in July 1995 and followed in October with "Apple Eyes", which peaked at #9 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold by ARIA in the following year for shipment of 35000 copies. "Apple Eyes" was listed at #32 on Triple J Hottest 100, 1995.

In November 1995 Swoop released their second studio album 'The Woxo Principle' via Mushroom Records/Festival Records. It reached #51 on the ARIA albums chart. The Canberra Times' Liz Armitage felt, "it does embrace the spontaneity and spirit that makes a really good band. Lyrically, Swoop has always been dodgy... and this shows no sign of changing." Simon Woodridge of Juice Magazine observed, they "contrived a cheesy amalgam of funk/rock/disco/pop on this album, and they've put it together with enough skill to make overlooking the amount of second hand riffage totally painless." Two further singles were released from the album, including their cover version of Captain & Tennille's "Do That to Me (One More Time)" (September 1996). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996 they were nominated for Song of the Year and Best Video for "Apple Eyes", and Best Pop Release for 'The Woxo Principle'.

The group took a six-month break from touring and performing while Kapferer finished his PhD. During that break Ta'akimoeaka left the band in 1996 and was replaced by Rebekah Jane (later known as Rebekah LaVauney) as lead vocalist in 1997. Brien was replaced by American-born Allen Murphey. By 1998 latter-day members included drummer Calvin Welch and Japanese-born keyboard player Tetsushi Morita. Swoop issued "Blood Runs Hot" (May 1998), the lead single from their third studio album 'Be What You Is', which was released in January 1999. Also in that month they provided "Remedy". The group performed "Angel Eyes" at Mushroom 25 Concert in November 1998 and disbanded thereafter.

Members

Joshua Beagley (guitars), Roland Kapferer (vocals), Fiona Ta'akimoeaka (vocals), Chris Brien (drums), Armando Gomez (wood block), Alex Hewetson (bass), Breadman St Ledger (keyboards), Terepai Richmond (percussion), Rebekah Jane a.k.a. Rebekah LaVauney (vocals), Allen Murphey (drums), Tetsushi Morita (keyboards), Calvin Welch (drums)

SINGLES
"Positivity's Groove" 1992 Freakshow
"Jelly Funk" 1992 Freakshow
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" 1992 Freakshow
"Do It" 1993 Freakshow
"Neighbourhood Freak" (#62) 1994 Freakshow
"Rock Dog" (#83) 1995 Mushroom
"Apple Eyes" (#9) 1995 Mushroom
"(It Could Happen) Any Day Now" (#74) 1996 Mushroom
"Do That to Me (One More Time)" 1996 Mushroom
"Remedy" 1998 Mushroom
"Blood Runs Hot" 1998 Mushroom

EPs
'The Raw Funk Power' (#96) 1994 Freakzone

ALBUMS
'Thriller' 1993 Freakzone
'The Woxo Principle' (#51) 1995 Mushroom 
'Be What You Is' 1999 Mushroom

References

Swoop (Australian band) - Wikipedia

THE TEEN QUEENS

The Teen Queens were formed in Sydney in 1991 by three model-singer-actresses: Roxanne Clarke, Kellie Crawford (née Hoggart) and Liza Witt. A pilot episode was developed by the creators of E Street, a teen TV soap opera, for a self-titled half-hour TV program about a girl group set in 1960s. According to The Canberra Times correspondent the show "follows three girls from the country who head to the city to make it big in the music world. Naturally all doesn't go according to plan." By the time that the pilot was turned down, the trio had made the group a reality as a dance-pop act. 

In May 1992 their cover version of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" became a #6 hit on the ARIA Singles Chart. Their debut album, Get Happy, was released on Westside Records/Phonogram in November 1992 and reached #36 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It included "some classic songs from the '60s." Bevan Hannan of The Canberra Times rated the album at 3 out of 10, he felt that it was "Manufactured pop... for aspiring musicians (?) like the Teen Queens, who supposedly have the world at their feet, why would you choose to play the type of material that clapped out rockers use on the RSL club circuit? Get Happy! is a bit like that... it would probably be better to tune in to 2CA, or better still purchase one of the '60s rock box collections. The originals blow away this regurgitated stuff."

The group also provided the vocals for a Coca-Cola TV ad. In July 1992, the Teen Queens appeared on E Street as contestants on a fictitious, in-show dating game, Dream Date. They had further top 40 singles including The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" (#28) in July 1992 and The Paris Sisters' "Love How You Love Me" (#14) in September 1992. The latter track featured on an episode of E Street for the wedding theme for the characters of Toni and CJ. A final single, a cover version of The Shirelles' "Baby It's You" was released in April 1993, which peaked at #91. In June that year they performed the track on TV's Midday show, with backing by the station's Geoff Harvey band. A second album, Get Happy! II', was released in July 1993 before the group disbanded.

Members

Roxanne Clarke (vocals), Kellie Crawford (vocals), Liza Witt (vocals)

SINGLES

''Be My Baby'' (#6) 1992 Mercury
''I Can't Help Myself'' (#28) 1992 Phonogram, Mercury
''Love How You Love Me'' (#14) 1992 Phonogram

ALBUMS

'Get Happy!' (#36) 1992 Phonogram

'Get Happy II' 1993 Phonogram

References

Teen Queens - Wikipedia

LOVE ME

This Australian duo, built around a creative core of Tom Kristensen (guitar) and Madeleine King (vocals), formed in 1995 after both partners had experienced varying degrees of success in other bands. As Kristensen told the press, ''We were sitting in our lounge playing songs together when a friend suggested we should get out and do them in public.'' Writing principally in a melodic country blues vein, the group signed to MDS Records. In addition to Kristensen and King, the group featured other members Barry Turnbull (John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong, Widdershins), David Orwell (Golden Rough), Mandy Pearson (Craven Fops, The Jackson Code) and Richard Boxhall with each participant playing at least three different instruments. This helped lend Kristensen’s songs a crisp, eclectic sound quite unlike anything in their genre. 

Their self-titled debut mini album, produced by You Am I guitarist Tim Rogers, was voted album of the year by many Australian roots music critics. The album featured Amanda Brown (ex-Go Betweens) on violin and Chris Abrahams on keyboards. More albums followed: Fuel (1997), Jubilee Park (1999) and Greedy Hen (2002). The band held down a residency for several years at The Sandringham Hotel in Newtown and toured nationally. Mandy Pearson died in Tasmania in 2023.

Members

Barry Turnbull (guitar/bass), David Orwell (pedal steel/guitar/bass), Madeleine King (vocals/harmonica/bass), Mandy Pearson (vocals/drums), Tom Kristensen (vocals/dobro/guitar), Richard Boxhall (guitar), 

SINGLES
''Some Will, Some Won't'' 1996 Hi-Gloss Records
''Buy Me A Drink'' 1997 Hi-Gloss Records

''Stacey'' 1998 Steady Cam

ALBUMS
'Love Me' 1996 Hi-Gloss Records
'Fuel' 1997 Hi-Gloss Records
'Jubilee Park' 1999 Antfarm 
'Greedy Hen' 2002 Love Me Music

CLIVE YOUNG

Singer, songwriter and record producer Clive Young grew up in Melbourne. He was lead singer of synth rock band Talk That Walk that released one single ''Surface Tension / Harvest Time'' in 1987 on WEA. The single was also released in Germany. Not long after he left the band to commence a solo career. Picked up by True Tone Records he recorded a couple of singles in 1989. They were self-written and produced by Mi Sex guitarist Kevin Stanton. ''Something Special'' reached #50 on the ARIA charts. In 1992 he released his debut album 'When The World Goes 'Round'. A couple of more singles followed before Young moved to Nashville as a songwriter for a while. He returned to Australia in 2012 and settled back in Melbourne. 

SINGLES
''Out In The Streets / Shiona Lady (Instrumental Version)'' [with Sal La Rosa] 1987 Workforce 
''Something Special (#50) / The Execution Of Understanding'' 1989 True Tone 
''Naturally / I Don't Need Your Loving Anymore'' 1987 True Tone 
''Whenever You Lay Your Hands On Me / Fear Is The Word'' 1991 Mushroom
''Friends & Lovers'' 1992 Mushroom

ALBUMS
'When The World Goes 'Round' 1992 True Tone