Andrew Pendlebury
Encyclopedia
Andrew Pendlebury is an Australian, Melbourne based guitarist known for his membership of bands such as The Sports
(with Stephen Cummings
) and Slaughtermen
(with Ian Stephen
), as well as other projects and solo efforts.
.
In August 1977 Pendlebury went on to become a member of The Sports
. The band released their first album, Reckless, in 1978 on Mushroom Records
. The album peaked at #43 on the Australian album charts, with four charting singles, "Boys! (What Did The Dective Say)" (#55), "When You Walk In The Room" (#42), "Who Listens To The Radio?" (#35) and "Reckless". "Who Listens to the Radio?", co-written by Cummings and Pendelbury, peaked at #35 on the Australian singles charts in 1978, and was their only hit on the United States Billboard
Pop Singles
chart, peaking at #45 in November 1979.
The band toured the UK in 1979 as support to Graham Parker & the Rumour, signing a deal with UK label Stiff Records
. In the US they were released via Arista Records
, Ariola Label throughout Europe. Their second album, Don’t Throw Stones, consolidated their success, charting at #9, and yielding two top forty singles, "Don't Throw Stones" (#26) and "Suspicious Minds" (#74). Their third album, Suddenly, featured a slicker, more commercial sound, and charted at #74. The album produced another two singles "Strangers on a Train" (#22) and "Perhaps". During his time with The Sports, Andrew also moonlighted with The Gentlemen which consisted
of members from Skyhooks and Daddy Cool
. The Sports fourth album, Sondra (#20), was released in 1981, yielding three singles "Stop the Baby Talking", "How Come?" (#21) and "When We Go Out Tonight". By the end of the year The Sports had called it a day. Pendlebury then spent a year with The Dugites
before joining the newly formed Stephen Cummings
Band. Pendlebury played on Cumming’s first solo album Senso (released August 1984) and subsequent three albums, This Wonderful Life (September 1986), Lovetown (January 1988), A New Kind of Blue (March 1989) over the next five years, also touring Australia with the outfit. A New Kind of Blue winning the 1990 ARIA Award for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album'.
1987 saw Pendlebury branch out with his first solo album, Between the Horizon and the Dockyard. The album, which was backed by drummer Peter Jones and bassist Mark Ferrie, showcased an eclectic mix of styles from country swing, Spanish, Bluegrass, jazz and rock.
Pendlebury also ventured out during this time with Ian Stephen
, bassist Ferrie and drummer Des Hefner in Slaughtermen
, a post-punk
Southern gospel
group. The band produced two albums, Party Time and Still Lovin' You, together with several singles.
In 1988 Pendlebury released his second solo album, Tigerland, which was followed in 1990 by Zing went the Strings on WEA Records. On both albums Pendlebury worked with
players like Pete Linden (pedal steel), Paul Grabowsky (piano), Stephen Hadley (bass), J. J. Hacket (drums), and others including Shane O’Mara, Nick Smith, Stephen Cummings, Doug De Vries and Michael Williams. For his fourth solo album, Don’t Hold Back that Feeling, Pendlebury enlisted some guest vocalists including Chris Wilson,
Deborah Conway
, Kate Ceberano
and Dave Steel. The album was critically acclaimed and went on to win the 1993 Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Award
for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album'.
In 1993 he collaborated with Doug De Vries on an album Karate and again in 1995 to record Trouble and Desire for ABC Music.
In 2002 Pendlebury reunited with Ferrie and formed a two guitar duo. In 2003 they released Late Night at the Nicholas Building. They then added a third member, Israeli cellist, Adi Sappir, playing their first performance as The Mercurials at the Ian Potter Gallery in the National Gallery of Victoria
in December 2003. In March 2004 they appeared at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
, which was followed by appearanceas at the 2006 Port Fairy Folk Festival
, and the 2006 Mt Beauty Music Muster. In July 2005 The Mercurials released their debut self titled album. This was followed by a second album, Tangents in 2008 and a third album, Silver and Gold in 2009.
Pendlebury is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian music scene from the 1970s to the 1990s and is frequently cited as one of the finest guitarist in Australia.
The Sports
The Sports were a popular Australian rock group that performed and recorded between 1976 and 1981.Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fitted well with both 1970s British pub rock bands and British New Wave...
(with Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings
Stephen Donald Cummings is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and writer. He was lead singer of Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports, during 1976–1981, followed by a solo career which has met with critical acclaim but has had limited commercial success...
) and Slaughtermen
Slaughtermen (band)
The Slaughtermen are an Australian post-punk alternative southern gospel group, formed in Melbourne in 1984.-History:Founder members of The Slaughtermen were Rob Eastcott , Mark Ferrie , Jans Friedenfelds , Pierre Jaquinot , Peter Linden and Ian Stephen...
(with Ian Stephen
Ian Stephen
Ian Stephen , is an Australian musician living in the USA.In 1984, with bass player Mark Ferrie, guitarists Terry Doolan and Andrew Pendlebury, and drummer Des Hefner, he formed the Slaughtermen in Melbourne, a mid eighties post-punk alternative Southern gospel group Ian Stephen (born in Armadale,...
), as well as other projects and solo efforts.
Biography
In the mid 1970s Pendlebury was a member of The Sharks, before joining the Rhythm and Blues/Country outfit, The Myriad Band, with Carrl Myriad, Mark Ferrie, Phil Smith and Chris WilsonChris Wilson
Chris Wilson is an Australian blues harmonica player and vocalist. He has performed as part of the Sole Twisters, Harem Scarem and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls, and fronted the band Crown of Thorns....
.
In August 1977 Pendlebury went on to become a member of The Sports
The Sports
The Sports were a popular Australian rock group that performed and recorded between 1976 and 1981.Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fitted well with both 1970s British pub rock bands and British New Wave...
. The band released their first album, Reckless, in 1978 on Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
. The album peaked at #43 on the Australian album charts, with four charting singles, "Boys! (What Did The Dective Say)" (#55), "When You Walk In The Room" (#42), "Who Listens To The Radio?" (#35) and "Reckless". "Who Listens to the Radio?", co-written by Cummings and Pendelbury, peaked at #35 on the Australian singles charts in 1978, and was their only hit on the United States Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, peaking at #45 in November 1979.
The band toured the UK in 1979 as support to Graham Parker & the Rumour, signing a deal with UK label Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. In the US they were released via Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, Ariola Label throughout Europe. Their second album, Don’t Throw Stones, consolidated their success, charting at #9, and yielding two top forty singles, "Don't Throw Stones" (#26) and "Suspicious Minds" (#74). Their third album, Suddenly, featured a slicker, more commercial sound, and charted at #74. The album produced another two singles "Strangers on a Train" (#22) and "Perhaps". During his time with The Sports, Andrew also moonlighted with The Gentlemen which consisted
of members from Skyhooks and Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool may mean:* Daddy Cool , a 1970s Australian rock band, reformed since 2005* Daddy Cool, a book by Donald Goines* "Daddy Cool" Daddy Cool may mean:* Daddy Cool (band), a 1970s Australian rock band, reformed since 2005* Daddy Cool, a book by Donald Goines* "Daddy Cool" Daddy Cool may mean:*...
. The Sports fourth album, Sondra (#20), was released in 1981, yielding three singles "Stop the Baby Talking", "How Come?" (#21) and "When We Go Out Tonight". By the end of the year The Sports had called it a day. Pendlebury then spent a year with The Dugites
The Dugites
The Dugites were a Perth band who formed in the late '70s. The name refers to the brown venomous snake, the dugite, common in the area.-History:...
before joining the newly formed Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings
Stephen Donald Cummings is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and writer. He was lead singer of Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports, during 1976–1981, followed by a solo career which has met with critical acclaim but has had limited commercial success...
Band. Pendlebury played on Cumming’s first solo album Senso (released August 1984) and subsequent three albums, This Wonderful Life (September 1986), Lovetown (January 1988), A New Kind of Blue (March 1989) over the next five years, also touring Australia with the outfit. A New Kind of Blue winning the 1990 ARIA Award for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album'.
1987 saw Pendlebury branch out with his first solo album, Between the Horizon and the Dockyard. The album, which was backed by drummer Peter Jones and bassist Mark Ferrie, showcased an eclectic mix of styles from country swing, Spanish, Bluegrass, jazz and rock.
Pendlebury also ventured out during this time with Ian Stephen
Ian Stephen
Ian Stephen , is an Australian musician living in the USA.In 1984, with bass player Mark Ferrie, guitarists Terry Doolan and Andrew Pendlebury, and drummer Des Hefner, he formed the Slaughtermen in Melbourne, a mid eighties post-punk alternative Southern gospel group Ian Stephen (born in Armadale,...
, bassist Ferrie and drummer Des Hefner in Slaughtermen
Slaughtermen (band)
The Slaughtermen are an Australian post-punk alternative southern gospel group, formed in Melbourne in 1984.-History:Founder members of The Slaughtermen were Rob Eastcott , Mark Ferrie , Jans Friedenfelds , Pierre Jaquinot , Peter Linden and Ian Stephen...
, a post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
group. The band produced two albums, Party Time and Still Lovin' You, together with several singles.
In 1988 Pendlebury released his second solo album, Tigerland, which was followed in 1990 by Zing went the Strings on WEA Records. On both albums Pendlebury worked with
players like Pete Linden (pedal steel), Paul Grabowsky (piano), Stephen Hadley (bass), J. J. Hacket (drums), and others including Shane O’Mara, Nick Smith, Stephen Cummings, Doug De Vries and Michael Williams. For his fourth solo album, Don’t Hold Back that Feeling, Pendlebury enlisted some guest vocalists including Chris Wilson,
Deborah Conway
Deborah Conway
Deborah Ann Conway, is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actor. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their surprise top 5 hit "Man Overboard"....
, Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
and Dave Steel. The album was critically acclaimed and went on to win the 1993 Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album'.
In 1993 he collaborated with Doug De Vries on an album Karate and again in 1995 to record Trouble and Desire for ABC Music.
In 2002 Pendlebury reunited with Ferrie and formed a two guitar duo. In 2003 they released Late Night at the Nicholas Building. They then added a third member, Israeli cellist, Adi Sappir, playing their first performance as The Mercurials at the Ian Potter Gallery in the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
in December 2003. In March 2004 they appeared at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Adelaide Fringe Festival is an arts festival held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The event is the Southern Hemisphere's largest arts event and the second-largest fringe festival in the world, second in size only to the Edinburgh Fringe...
, which was followed by appearanceas at the 2006 Port Fairy Folk Festival
Port Fairy Folk Festival
The Port Fairy Folk Festival is a popular annual four-day music festival based in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy in Victoria, Australia....
, and the 2006 Mt Beauty Music Muster. In July 2005 The Mercurials released their debut self titled album. This was followed by a second album, Tangents in 2008 and a third album, Silver and Gold in 2009.
Pendlebury is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian music scene from the 1970s to the 1990s and is frequently cited as one of the finest guitarist in Australia.
Discography
- Between the Horizon and the Dockyard - Cleopatra Records (CLP 233) (1987)
- Tigerland - WEA Records (1988)
- Zing went the Strings - WEA Records (1990)
- Don't Hold Back That Feeling - Regular Records (1992)
- "Calling You" - Regular Records (D 11187) (1992)