The Bamboos (rock band)
The Bamboos | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1984–1987 |
| Labels | Citadel Records Cleopatra |
| Past members | see main list |
The Bamboos were an alternative rock band from Western Australia.
Biography
The Bamboos were formed in 1984 by Craig Hallsworth in the West Australian township of Collie. The band consisted of Hallsworth (guitar, vocals), Mark Gelmi (bass), Roger Russell (guitar) and Tony Chiallella (drums). In 1985 Russell was replaced by Greg Hitchcock (The Go-Starts) and in 1986 Chiallella was replaced by Shakir Pichler (The Kryptonics). The band's brand of raw guitar trash and country-swamp rock caught the attention of Citadel Records boss John Needham and they went on to record and release the single "Snuff",[1] the flexi-disk "Dead Girl", the EP Born Killer and the album Rarer Than Rockinghorse Shit.
After two national tours Pichler left to form his own rockabilly band The Howlin MoonDoggies and was replaced by Russell Hopkinson. Some of the bands that they play support for include The Lime Spiders, Johnny Thunders, The Dammed, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Johnnys, Hoodoo Gurus, Violent Femmes and The Cramps.
The band is chiefly remembered today for the number of ex-members who have gone to feature prominently in high profile Australian artists.
- Hallsworth went on to form The Healers, Wild Palms, Zuvuya, Outstation and Tangled Star.
- Hitchcock went on to play with The Neptunes, The Kryptonics, New Christs, The Verys, Challenger 7, You Am I, The Dearhunters, and The Monarchs.[2]
- Hopkinson joined Nursery Crimes and then You Am I.[3] Hopkinson has also played with Australian punk act Radio Birdman and manages record label and distribution company Reverberation Records.[4]
- Pichler formed The Howlin MoonDoggies, Fink, Brutal Pancho and toured with Amphetish and US band Wish You Weres. Pichler also established his own record label, Sexbeat Records and has appeared in a number of feature films, Mission: Impossible II, On Our Selection, Fat Pizza: The Movie and television series Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King.
Members
- Tony Chiallella: drums (1984–86)
- Mark Gelmi: bass (1984–87)
- Craig Hallsworth: guitar, vocals (1984–87)
- Greg Hitchcock: vocals, guitar (1985–87)
- Russell Hopkinson: drums (1986–87)
- Shakir Pichler: drums (1986)
- Roger Russell: guitar (1984–85)
Discography
Albums
- Bamboos/Mutants of Desire (Cassette) – independent release (1985)
- Born Killer (EP) – Citadel Records (1987) (AUS No. 94)
- Rarer Than Rockinghorse Shit – Cleopatra (1987)
Singles
- "Snuff" / "Virginia" – Citadel (1986)
- "With Which to Love You" / "Winded" – Citadel (1986)
- "Dead Girl" (free limited flexi-disc)
Contributions
- Cooking with George – ABC (1985): "Law of a Gun", "Gone Wishin'", "Virginia"
- Positively Elisabeth Street – Citadel (1989): "With Which to Love You" Closer Records (France), Normal Records (Germany)
- Tales from the Australian Underground: Singles 1976–1989 – Feel Presents Pty (2004): "With Which to Love You"
References
- ^ "Discogs - "Snuff"". Discogs. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
- ^ "Greg Hitchcock". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
- ^ "You Am I". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ^ "Reverbaration Records". Reverberation Records. Retrieved 26 February 2008.