On 09/01/2026 at 07:44, rjay said:

What did you think when watching them at that first show 'Tarax'?

As it may have been said rjay “if you remember the seventies you weren’t there”. (We were on delay downunder).

It was after all at the Reefer Cabaret. But a memorable Melbourne debut nonetheless. Here was a weird and wacky kiwi mob unlike any band l’d previously experienced. Theatrical, high camp and atmospheric.

The amateur costumes and makeup gave the performance a distinctive cheap pantomime appeal. Noel Crombie’s centre stage antics under the spotlight with spoons was a highlight.

Tim Finn piano and Phil Judd guitar led the on stage ‘choreography’ which gave Split Enz’s movements a disjointed marionette-like appearance.

Add the highly original musical score and the legendary light show it had us all enraptured.

Edited Tuesday at 00:192 days by Tarax Club

As this thread has re-surfaced like flotsam and jetsam give your sub-woofer a blast!

1 hour ago, Tarax Club said:

As it may have been said rjay “if you remember the seventies you weren’t there”. (We were on delay downunder).

It was after all at the Reefer Cabaret. But a memorable Melbourne debut nonetheless. Here was a weird and wacky kiwi mob unlike any band l’d previously experienced. Theatrical, high camp and atmospheric.

The amateur costumes and makeup gave the performance a distinctive cheap pantomime appeal. Noel Crombie’s centre stage antics under the spotlight with spoons was a highlight.

Tim Finn piano and Phil Judd guitar led the on stage ‘choreography’ which gave Split Enz’s movements a disjointed marionette-like appearance.

Add the highly original musical score and the legendary light show it had us all enraptured.

Melbourne was always at the forefront of Australian musical output as evidenced by much of the entertainment put on at the TF Much Ballroom, which later became the Much More Ballroom, run by Harold Pinter who went on to start the Reefer Cabaret (I think I’ve got that right). This saw the advent of theatrical acts like the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band and Lipp Arthur/Lipp and the Double Soul Brothers, featuring one Joe Camilleri. They even put in the odd cameo at the Pram Factory, or was it La Mama.

Before Split Enz appeared out of nowhere from across the Tasman, a little theatrical band called Blerta lead by one Bruno Lawrence came over for the Aquarius Arts Festival held at ANU. They drove around the country in a beaten up old bus, stopping and playing at their leisure. My first Split Enz experience was on Manly Beach when they played a New Years Eve showing 1978 (I think it was)… they were a revelation.

There were so many great bands to come out of Melbourne in the 70’s and so many great inner city area venues… the Tiger Room, the Station Hotel, the Crystal Ballroom, Martini’s, the Armidale Hotel, the Kingston Hotel and so many more.

Edited Tuesday at 02:172 days by hardtack

35 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Melbourne was always at the forefront of Australian musical output as evidenced by much of the entertainment put on at the TF Much Ballroom, which later became the Much More Ballroom, run by Harold Pinter who went on to start the Reefer Cabaret (I think I’ve got that right). This saw the advent of theatrical acts like the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band and Lipp Arthur/Lipp and the Double Soul Brothers, featuring one Joe Camilleri. They even put in the odd cameo at the Pram Factory, or was it La Mama.

Before Split Enz appeared out of nowhere from across the Tasman, a little theatrical band called Blerta lead by one Bruno Lawrence came over for the Aquarius Arts Festival held at ANU. They drove around the country in a beaten up old bus, stopping and playing at their leisure. My first Split Enz experience was on Manly Beach when they played a New Years Eve showing 1978 (I think it was)… they were a revelation.

There were so many great bands to come out of Melbourne in the 70’s and so many great inner city area venues… the Tiger Room, the Station Hotel, the Crystal Ballroom, Martini’s, the Armidale Hotel, the Kingston Hotel and so many more.

hardtack excellent recall there. Story has it Barry Humpries attended the monthly show at the Central Hall Brunswick Street Fitzroy and described it as Too F*cking Much. The Edison Light Show by Hugh McSpedden was legendary. My crowd were attendees at the later incarnation Much More Ballroom. I'd forgotten the interlude acts that allowed the bands to set up. Magicians, fire-eaters, jugglers and the like.

Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band featured Mick and Jim Conway ' jugband music is so damm sweet'. Strongly influenced by vaudeville, Mick's record collection at the time featured mainly old 78's, Jim could tap dance with the best. Terrific entertainers, last time I saw them at the Melbourne sesquicentenary, playing on stage at the old city square opposite the town hall. Station Hotel in the Greville St Prahran 'alternative precinct' featured bands like McKenzie Theory, Carson County Band, Dutch Tilders and very early Richard Clapton. Heady days!

Edited Tuesday at 03:412 days by Tarax Club

3 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

hardtack excellent recall there. Story has it Barry Humpries attended the monthly show at the Central Hall Brunswick Street Fitzroy and described it as Too F*cking Much. The Edison Light Show by Hugh McSpedden was legendary. My crowd were attendees at the later incarnation Much More Ballroom. I'd forgotten the interlude acts that allowed the bands to set up. Magicians, fire-eaters, jugglers and the like.

Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band featured Mick and Jim Conway ' jugband music is so damm sweet'. Strongly influenced by vaudeville, Mick's record collection at the time featured mainly old 78's, Jim could tap dance with the best. Terrific entertainers, last time I saw them at the Melbourne sesquicentenary, playing on stage at the old city square opposite the town hall. Station Hotel in the Greville St Prahran 'alternative precinct' featured bands like McKenzie Theory, Carson County Band, Dutch Tilders and very early Richard Clapton. Heady days!

TF Much and Much More Ballroom were also the home of the Ellis D Fogg light shows.

Another gig I’d forgotten was a theatre or hall on Dandenong Rd, opposite Chapel St (Astor Theatre maybe?)… they’d have bands playing and I remember one event when Zig & Zag were delivering drug oriented humour.

The station in the late 70’s had all these great bands like The Millionaires, The Bleeding Hearts, Stiletto, Bandicoots, Loose Trousers, Kevin Borich Express and even Midnight Oil (so sad to hear of Rob Hirst’s passing today).

I occasionally run into Mick Conway as he lives quite close to where I live in Sydney. When I was living in Melbourne in the early 70’s, I was in East Hawthorn almost on Burke Rd Camberwell and used to run into a few of them as they were living above a shop that was just about next door to Camberwell station.

Mackenzie Theory played regularly at the Much More Ballroom… Rob is a mad keen Demons supporter and is a Demonlander. Hi @Rob Mac...... !!

@hardtack and @Tarax Club - your mentioning of the Captain Matchbox Whoopie Band, brings back forgotten memories, so thank you. I did enjoy the Captain. I think the last time I saw them was at the Myer Music bowl where they were supporting Paul McCartney and Wings.

7 minutes ago, hardtack said:

TF Much and Much More Ballroom were also the home of the Ellis D Fogg light shows.

Another gig I’d forgotten was a theatre or hall on Dandenong Rd, opposite Chapel St (Astor Theatre maybe?)… they’d have bands playing and I remember one event when Zig & Zag were delivering drug oriented humour.

The station in the late 70’s had all these great bands like The Millionaires, The Bleeding Hearts, Stiletto, Bandicoots, Loose Trousers, Kevin Borich Express and even Midnight Oil (so sad to hear of Rob Hirst’s passing today).

I occasionally run into Mick Conway as he lives quite close to where I live in Sydney. When I was living in Melbourne in the early 70’s, I was in East Hawthorn almost on Burke Rd Camberwell and used to run into a few of them as they were living above a shop that was just about next door to Camberwell station.

Mackenzie Theory played regularly at the Much More Ballroom… Rob is a mad keen Demons supporter and is a Demonlander. Hi @Rob Mac...... !!

Mackenzie Theory saw them play on multiple occasions including Sunbury. Rob Mackenzie’s tripped out guitar with Cleis Pearce’s electric viol. Added Paul Wheeler ex-Aztecs when the rhythm section was re-energized, gave it a much harder edge.

Until relatively recently have pondered Rob’s whereabouts. At the time thought he was destined to greater things. Band was at the top of its game and quite popular. Suddenly it was announced he was heading OS and seemingly disappeared into the ether he had come from.

An entry in wikipaedia mentions he re-emerged in the States playing with Sha Na Na. A massive stylistic shift from ‘Theory, got to roll with the times though.

Stephen Cummings of Sports fame is a Demons supporter. I remember we both got caught up a cul-de-sac whilst attempting to exit a Collingwood home game. Deep in enemy territory.

I just read that Rob Hirst passed away at 70 from pancreatic cancer.

Devastating.

Vale Rob Hirst. A phenomenal drummer and force of nature.

2 minutes ago, binman said:

I just read that Rob Hirst passed away at 70 from pancreatic cancer.

Devastating.

Vale Rob Hirst. A phenomenal drummer and force of nature.

The engine room of one of the best live bands this country has produced, and a beautiful guy off the stage. Very sad.

4 minutes ago, binman said:

I just read that Rob Hirst passed away at 70 from pancreatic cancer.

Devastating.

Vale Rob Hirst. A phenomenal drummer and force of nature.

I loved Midnight Oil, but never saw them live (I started regularly seeing live gigs in about 1983 - by that stage they were huge and ive never liked going to stadium gigs).

But i saw Rob Hirst play with The Backsliders (who i love) and The Break.

Amazing drummer.

Edited Tuesday at 10:192 days by binman

46 minutes ago, binman said:

I loved Midnight Oil, but never saw them live (I started regularly seeing live gigs in about 1984 - by that stage they were huge and ive never liked going to stadium gigs).

But i saw Rob Hirst play with The Backsliders (who i love) and The Break.

Amazing drummer.

I got to see them just as they started to get airplay at the Roxy in fortitude valley as 10 to 1 came out. They played with the warrumpi band.

The club was owned by the Bellino brothers, Brisbanes mafia days. It was February and absolutley steaming hot.

The bouncers just kept letting people in. You couldn't move anywhere.

By the time the oils hit the stage, we had white [censored] on our shoulders and worked out the paint was coming off the ceiling.

Peter Garret had the roadies bringing bucket after bucket of water on to the stage and he was just hurling it over us in the mosh pit. And was like an out of control moshpit on a skating rink.

2 absolutely incredible bands. Forces of nature. Both of them part of Australian music folklore.

Unforgettable night as a 17 year old kid.

1 minute ago, Brownie said:

I got to see them just as they started to get airplay at the Roxy in fortitude valley as 10 to 1 came out. They played with the warrumpi band.

The club was owned by the Bellino brothers, Brisbanes mafia days. It was February and absolutley steaming hot.

The bouncers just kept letting people in. You couldn't move anywhere.

By the time the oils hit the stage, we had white [censored] on our shoulders and worked out the paint was coming off the ceiling.

Peter Garret had the roadies bringing bucket after bucket of water on to the stage and he was just hurling it over us in the mosh pit. And was like an out of control moshpit on a skating rink.

2 absolutely incredible bands. Forces of nature. Both of them part of Australian music folklore.

Unforgettable night as a 17 year old kid.

Blimey, what a gig!

Two of Australia's Best ever rock bands, both legendary live acts, at a pub.

And in the Oil's case right before they went next level huge. Wow.

The closest I've got to that us seeing Nivrana at the palace in St kilda a few weeks after Nevermind was released. That gig was off the charts amazing.

1 hour ago, binman said:

I just read that Rob Hirst passed away at 70 from pancreatic cancer.

Devastating.

Vale Rob Hirst. A phenomenal drummer and force of nature.

Very sad news, lucky to see them a number of times the last being at the Hammersmith in London...great memories.

2 minutes ago, binman said:

Blimey, what a gig!

Two of Australia's Best ever rock bands, both legendary live acts, at a pub.

And in the Oil's case right before they went next level huge. Wow.

The closest I've got to that us seeing Nivrana at the palace in St kilda a few weeks after Nevermind was released. That gig was off the charts amazing.

Yeah it's that sweet spot if you can jump on a big wave before the band gets too big to experience them properly up close.

They knocked festival Hall down in Brissie and built the entertainment centre in Boondall which has all the character of a shopping centre theatre. I think I've only been there twice.

Off to see Nick Cave next week at the show grounds. Saw him at the Tivoli in 2007 when he also was supported by..... Himself in grinderman.

It was like a double Nick Cave and the bad seeds gig for the price of one in a venue with about 600 people.

First time I'd got to see him. He made me cry ( watching probably 20 feet away playing into your arms)

I jam with a couple of mates who worked out last week they were both at the Manly Vale the same night the cure played there in the 80s. They reckoned that was amazing.

Nirvana would have been something else man. How bloody fantastic.

We're going to see Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings at HOTA on the Gold coast in a few weeks. Man that guy is an amazing guitarist.

I discovered their music a week after they played at the Bangalow hall up the road from us 7 or 8 years ago. That was a bummer!

14 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

Mackenzie Theory saw them play on multiple occasions including Sunbury. Rob Mackenzie’s tripped out guitar with Cleis Pearce’s electric viol. Added Paul Wheeler ex-Aztecs when the rhythm section was re-energized, gave it a much harder edge.

Until relatively recently have pondered Rob’s whereabouts. At the time thought he was destined to greater things. Band was at the top of its game and quite popular. Suddenly it was announced he was heading OS and seemingly disappeared into the ether he had come from.

An entry in wikipaedia mentions he re-emerged in the States playing with Sha Na Na. A massive stylistic shift from ‘Theory, got to roll with the times though.

Stephen Cummings of Sports fame is a Demons supporter. I remember we both got caught up a cul-de-sac whilst attempting to exit a Collingwood home game. Deep in enemy territory.

I saw Mackenzie Theory at the first Sunbury (only Sunbury I went to). Rob did get offered the gig replacing Rutherford in Genesis but at very long notice if I remember what he told me correctly, and in the end didn’t take up the offer. The Sha Na Na this is correct and while I’m not sure if he ever does that anymore, he is still living in L.A.

On Steve Cummings, we attended Swinburne together in 1972 and I think you’ll find he was an Essendon supporter; at least that’s the impression I’m getting lately from his Instagram/FB posts during footy season. Sports were one of the great bands of the late 70’s/early 80’s; they had a weekly residency at my local pub back then, every Thursday night at the London Tavern. I’ve had the pleasure of having got to play with Jimmy Niven in a couple of bands here in Sydney before his passing. A lovely guy.

14 hours ago, binman said:

I loved Midnight Oil, but never saw them live (I started regularly seeing live gigs in about 1983 - by that stage they were huge and ive never liked going to stadium gigs).

But i saw Rob Hirst play with The Backsliders (who i love) and The Break.

Amazing drummer.

Yes, I think the last time i saw the Oils live was as the Birkenhead Tavern very early in the 80’s. Hearst always reminded me of Keith Moon as an absolute belter of a drummer. I’m also a big fan of the Backsliders, but again, the last time I saw them was at Bluesfest in 2015 (I think it was). If you get a chance, check out Dom Turner’s Rural Blues.

On 13/01/2026 at 22:22, red and blue forever said:

List Two... The Had a hard day brutal nasty music playlist for those troublesome times

Starting Softly with Henry Rollins.

Rough Techno of Gantz Graf

then get some Discipline

Want More... You Don't Have to say Please.....

and finally melt your brain with the tortured scrams of people in a mental asylum with Stallagh

Rollins 👏

1 hour ago, hardtack said:

Sports were one of the great bands of the late 70’s/early 80’s;

They've got a great catalog...

"Black Stockings for Chelsea", a classic.

7 minutes ago, Brownie said:

Yeah it's that sweet spot if you can jump on a big wave before the band gets too big to experience them properly up close.

They knocked festival Hall down in Brissie and built the entertainment centre in Boondall which has all the character of a shopping centre theatre. I think I've only been there twice.

Off to see Nick Cave next week at the show grounds. Saw him at the Tivoli in 2007 when he also was supported by..... Himself in grinderman.

It was like a double Nick Cave and the bad seeds gig for the price of one in a venue with about 600 people.

First time I'd got to see him. He made me cry ( watching probably 20 feet away playing into your arms)

I jam with a couple of mates who worked out last week they were both at the Manly Vale the same night the cure played there in the 80s. They reckoned that was amazing.

Nirvana would have been something else man. How bloody fantastic.

We're going to see Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings at HOTA on the Gold coast in a few weeks. Man that guy is an amazing guitarist.

I discovered their music a week after they played at the Bangalow hall up the road from us 7 or 8 years ago. That was a bummer!

Every era has great live bands, and nostalgia can colour assessment, but geez it's hard to go past the 80s for live rock music in oz, particularly Melbourne with its symbiotic relationship with the Seattle grunge scene.

As an example of how brilliant the 80s were for great live pub rock, the first three bands I saw live (all before i was legally allowed in the venue) were:

The Hoodoo Gurus in 1983 at the Lizard Lounge in Perth (pre Stoneage Romeos - they all had huge, Leningrad cowboy style quiffs, tight jeans and pointy boots)

Hunters and Collectors in 1983 at a pub in Kew that is closed now, can't remember its name - the pinnacle? (crazy gig as hunters were still in their industrial noise stage - lots of banging and clanging steel pipes with big chains, discordant horns and Mark Seymour in ultra testosterone mode)

Paul Kelly (I can't recall if it was Paul Kelly and the Dots or not - I don't think so as i think they had broken up by that time, but it def wasn't the Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls) in 1983 at a pub on Church Street in Richmond that has also since closed (can't recall its name).

Three great gigs.

Three legends of Oz rock.

Edited yesterday at 02:071 day by binman

chalk me down as another 'rip rob' remembrance post

i first saw the oils just as i turned 18, around the "redneck wonderland" era

from there, did not see them again til the first reformation, and then my final show was the "10-1" in full show at the palais as they farewelled melbourne

incredible band

34 minutes ago, binman said:

Every era has great live bands, and nostalgia can colour assessment, but geez it's hard to go past the 80s for live rock music in oz, particularly Melbourne with its symbiotic relationship with the Seattle grunge scene.

As an example of how brilliant the 80s were for great live pub rock, the first three bands I saw live (all before i was legally allowed in the venue) were:

The Hoodoo Gurus in 1983 at the Lizard Lounge in Perth (pre Stoneage Romeos - they all had huge, Leningrad cowboy style quiffs, tight jeans and pointy boots)

Hunters and Collectors in 1983 at a pub in Kew that is closed now, can't remember its name - the pinnacle? (crazy gig as hunters were still in their industrial noise stage - lots of banging and clanging steel pipes with big chains, discordant horns and Mark Seymour in ultra testosterone mode)

Paul Kelly (I can't recall if it was Paul Kelly and the Dots or not - I don't think so as i think they had broken up by that time, but it def wasn't the Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls) in 1983 at a pub on Church Street in Richmond that has also since closed (can't recall its name).

Three great gigs.

Three legends of Oz rock.

Yeah, it was hard to beat the 80s and 90s. It just seemed easier to run a venue and for bands to tour.

Harder to get the punters in and the kids just don't drink much anymore if they do turn up. Can't blame them at the prices.

Same with festivals I suppose. Used to work at a few. The cost of insurance and compliance these days.

I'd never ever say that music isn't as good these days though.

There's some incredible artists around.

Four corners did a piece on Live nation and how they're contributing to the wrecking of live music venues.

Bad Dreems were interviewed. They've just dropped another fantastic song.

Radium Dolls are also dropping a new album next week I think. Fantastic band and great live.

Full flower moon band are also great.

Saw all 3 of them at Bangalow bowlo in the last year or so. Some great people doing mini festivals in that venue over the last couple of years.

However, the bowlo was taken over by a bigger conglomerate a few years ago and they've just shut the bowlo down.

Last Quokka put out a raging cracker of a punk album last year.

They came over from Perth and played in the dining area of the hotel metropole in Lismore last year. The roof leaked during the gig and we were on the bottom floor! There were probably only 40 people there and they were just bloody fantastic.

One of my favourite bands at the moment. I just kept thanking them all for making a stop in Lismore

If you want to see great new talent. I can't recommend coming to big sound in Brisbane enough. Usually 150 bands or so playing over 3 nights. 4 nights really.

Tickets cheap as chips (unless you do the conference as well) and you get to sleep in a proper bed.

My favourite festival of all time.

i take it yr from near byron, @Brownie ?

do you know the grunge throwback threepiece, headsend? working with mike crossey and nick didia on their debut album, which should be a decent listen

i love that the frontman is named rasmus and his brother is kyuss

they were one of the emergent bands at bigsound 2025

Edited yesterday at 04:021 day by whatwhat say what

I first saw The Oils in 1980 at The Sandringham Commodore Hotel. It was incredible, “Bird Noises” had just come out days before. I had never seen a Band with such Power and Energy before.

I saw many later Shows, they never disappointed

RIP Rob, you were a Hero during my crazy years

2 hours ago, Brownie said:

Yeah, it was hard to beat the 80s and 90s. It just seemed easier to run a venue and for bands to tour.

Harder to get the punters in and the kids just don't drink much anymore if they do turn up. Can't blame them at the prices.

Same with festivals I suppose. Used to work at a few. The cost of insurance and compliance these days.

I'd never ever say that music isn't as good these days though.

There's some incredible artists around.

Four corners did a piece on Live nation and how they're contributing to the wrecking of live music venues.

Bad Dreems were interviewed. They've just dropped another fantastic song.

Radium Dolls are also dropping a new album next week I think. Fantastic band and great live.

Full flower moon band are also great.

Saw all 3 of them at Bangalow bowlo in the last year or so. Some great people doing mini festivals in that venue over the last couple of years.

However, the bowlo was taken over by a bigger conglomerate a few years ago and they've just shut the bowlo down.

Last Quokka put out a raging cracker of a punk album last year.

They came over from Perth and played in the dining area of the hotel metropole in Lismore last year. The roof leaked during the gig and we were on the bottom floor! There were probably only 40 people there and they were just bloody fantastic.

One of my favourite bands at the moment. I just kept thanking them all for making a stop in Lismore

If you want to see great new talent. I can't recommend coming to big sound in Brisbane enough. Usually 150 bands or so playing over 3 nights. 4 nights really.

Tickets cheap as chips (unless you do the conference as well) and you get to sleep in a proper bed.

My favourite festival of all time.

Yeah, it really pisses me off when people dismiss current music and say that nothing beats the 70’s and 80’s or whenever; to me other than the beginning and ending of the decade, the 70’s contained some of the most bland music I’ve heard… but then every decade could lay claim to that depending on where one’s tastes lie.

One band that I hadn’t heard a lot until recently, but who’ve fast become one of my favourites is Tropical [censored] Storm. I can’t get to many shows these days (other than my own band’s), but one venue we occasionally play here in Sydney, the Marrickville Bowlo, just recently had three consecutive nights sold out… not bad for a Melbourne band with relatively little exposure up here. There is also a good raft of Japanese bands coming through, which I love! The 5, 6, 7, 8’s, Buddhadatta and Guitar Wolf being just a few.

The cost of insurance appears to have killed of a lot of venues in Melbourne and I think that will spread, no doubt. Here in Sydney a couple of the councils have created entertainment districts which will hopefully ensure the survival of a lot of important venues around Newtown, Enmore and Marrickville.

Oh, and speaking of Lismore, would you happen to know a guy named Dave Slade? He’s fairly heavily involved in the music scene there.

Edited yesterday at 05:271 day by hardtack

5 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i take it yr from near byron, @Brownie ?

do you know the grunge throwback threepiece, headsend? working with mike crossey and nick didia on their debut album, which should be a decent listen

i love that the frontman is named rasmus and his brother is kyuss

they were one of the emergent bands at bigsound 2025

I'll have to have a listen. Cheers