Guttersnipes (band)
Encyclopedia
Guttersnipes are a four piece guitar band from Melbourne, Australia, who formed in 1989.
and Dinosaur Jr., while containing tinges of Australian punk and garage influences.
The band formed an allegiance with Melbourne-based Au Go Go Records
in 1990, releasing their debut single "It's Over" on the label in early 1991. They then signed a multiple-record deal with the label, but only issued two more records on Au Go Go, "Blurred" in 1991 and "Face the Day" in 1996. The band also released quite a number of tracks on various compilations.
In the early 90's, they formed a trio of bands with The Throwaways
and Spiderbait
that organised shows under the moniker "Tell 'em it's Healthy". This was an attempt on the part of these bands to bypass what they saw as a moribund music industry establishment, and combine crowds so that venues would see the combination as a worthwhile bill. The tactic proved successful, and the "Tell 'em it's Healthy" shows frequently outsold those of the more established headline acts of the time.
Throughout the 90's, the Guttersnipes played with a range of U.S. and European bands touring Australia, including Nirvana
, Sonic Youth
, Fugazi, The Lemonheads
, Ween
, Buffalo Tom
, L7
and Bob Mould
. They also played with many Australian acts, including Cosmic Psychos, The Beasts of Bourbon, the Hard-Ons
, The Splatterheads, Magic Dirt
, Regurgitator
, Christbait, Green Beaver, Screamfeeder
, You Am I
, Something for Kate
, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists
and many others. They also played a number of festivals, including the Meredith Music Festival
in 1991 and 1992.
The Guttersnipes have not officially disbanded, although they are no longer a professional working band. They have been known to play the occasional show in Melbourne, but these have been rare since 2001.
Mark Hurst - Drums
Michael McManus - Bass
Paul Brockhoff - Guitar, Vocals
, Australia's National Youth Network. The first broadcast was a half an hour acoustic performance from the band which aired on 30 June 1992 as part of the Triple J Acoustic Sessions. The second broadcast was a forty minute live performance, aired on 25 February 1993 as part of the Live at the Wireless
program.
Face The Day CDEP (Au Go Go, year 1996, ANDA 201)
Face the Day
- Pyromania
- Try
- Centrifugal Force
It's Over 7" (Au Go Go, 1990, ANDA 129)
It's Over
- Tide
- How Can I?
Blurred 10"/CD (Au Go Go, year 1991, ANDA 144)
Never
- Anything
- You
- No One
- Sister
- Just Can't See
- Work
- Blurred
- It's Over (CD Only)
- Tide (CD Only)
- How Can I? (CD Only)
Split Singles
Hog / Cosmic Psychos / Guttersnipes / Empty Set with Ron Asheton
Split 7", came with Lemon Fanzine issue 15(1992?)
Guttersnipes track: Elephant Beer
Compilations
Teeth 10" (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 140) (Comp. also featuring The Meanies, Throwaways and Spiderbait)
- Threw it all away
Wally's Wild Weekend Live Compilation LP/CD (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 141) (Comp. also featuring Hoss (band)
, The Throwaways
, The Meanies
, Spiderbait
, Nursery Crimes, Unclean Spirits)
- Crossroads
- Sister
Crack in the Sun or Fade in the Shade (Roo-Art, 1992, ?) (Comp. also featuring Screamfeeder
, The Meanies
, Fridge, Massappeal, Nursery Crimes, Rootbeer, Seaweed Goorillas, Tumbleweed (band)
, Supergrass, Daisygrinders, You Am I
and Headache)
- Pyromania
RRR Reel to Real (1993?)
- Face the Day
Totally Wireless, The Triple J Acoustic Sessions- Various Artists (Polygram Australia, 1993) (Comp. also featuring Tex, Don and Charlie
; Glide; You Am I
; The drunk, the monk and the spunk; Smudge
; Daisychains; Blindman's Holiday; The Blackeyed Susans
; The Madisons; Tiddas
; My Friend The Chocolate Cake
; Ed Kuepper
& Mark Dawson; Evan Dando
; Stephen Cummings
& Dave Graney
; The Plums)
- Adrift
History
Guttersnipes formed in Melbourne in 1989 and began writing music and playing shows at various inner city venues. The band wrote original songs that featured distorted and fast-paced melodies. Their sound initially showed some similarities to bands such as Squirrelbait, Hüsker DüHüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
and Dinosaur Jr., while containing tinges of Australian punk and garage influences.
The band formed an allegiance with Melbourne-based Au Go Go Records
Au Go Go Records
Au Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label.It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon....
in 1990, releasing their debut single "It's Over" on the label in early 1991. They then signed a multiple-record deal with the label, but only issued two more records on Au Go Go, "Blurred" in 1991 and "Face the Day" in 1996. The band also released quite a number of tracks on various compilations.
Live shows
Guttersnipes played many live shows around Australia throughout the 1990s, mostly in the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania.In the early 90's, they formed a trio of bands with The Throwaways
The Throwaways (Australian Band)
The Throwaways were a musical group from Melbourne, Australia who played from 1989 to 1995, consisting of Marc Dorey, Sean Baxter, Dave Kendal, Mat Butler and later Matt Charles...
and Spiderbait
Spiderbait
Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Finley in 1989 by bass guitarist Janet English, singer-drummer Mark Maher , and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004 the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart...
that organised shows under the moniker "Tell 'em it's Healthy". This was an attempt on the part of these bands to bypass what they saw as a moribund music industry establishment, and combine crowds so that venues would see the combination as a worthwhile bill. The tactic proved successful, and the "Tell 'em it's Healthy" shows frequently outsold those of the more established headline acts of the time.
Throughout the 90's, the Guttersnipes played with a range of U.S. and European bands touring Australia, including Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Fugazi, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
, Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
, Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom is an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. The band's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer.-Career:Dinosaur Jr...
, L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
and Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
. They also played with many Australian acts, including Cosmic Psychos, The Beasts of Bourbon, the Hard-Ons
Hard-Ons
The Hard-Ons are a punk rock band from Sydney, Australia that originally formed in 1981. They have been called Australia's most commercially successful independent band, with over 250,000 total record sales. -1980s: Early days:...
, The Splatterheads, Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...
, Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
, Christbait, Green Beaver, Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder are a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.-Members and history:Screamfeeder began performing under that name in Brisbane, Australia in 1991. They formed out of the remains of Tim Steward and Tony Blade's band, The Madmen....
, You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
, Something for Kate
Something for Kate
Something for Kate are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Members include songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Dempsey, drummer Clint Hyndman and bassist Stephanie Ashworth...
, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists
Kim Salmon and the Surrealists
Kim Salmon and the Surrealists were an Australian indie rock band formed by Kim Salmon in 1987 when he was living in Perth between the final two tours by The Scientists...
and many others. They also played a number of festivals, including the Meredith Music Festival
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
in 1991 and 1992.
The Guttersnipes have not officially disbanded, although they are no longer a professional working band. They have been known to play the occasional show in Melbourne, but these have been rare since 2001.
Members
Andrew Rice - Guitar, VocalsMark Hurst - Drums
Michael McManus - Bass
Paul Brockhoff - Guitar, Vocals
Radio Broadcasts
The music of the Guttersnipes was the subject of two broadcasts on Triple JTriple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, Australia's National Youth Network. The first broadcast was a half an hour acoustic performance from the band which aired on 30 June 1992 as part of the Triple J Acoustic Sessions. The second broadcast was a forty minute live performance, aired on 25 February 1993 as part of the Live at the Wireless
Live at the Wireless
Live at the Wireless is a radio show, and now a long standing tradition, of Triple J, an Australian radio station. Live music is one of the central philosophies of the station....
program.
Discography
Guttersnipes ReleasesFace The Day CDEP (Au Go Go, year 1996, ANDA 201)
Face the Day
- Pyromania
- Try
- Centrifugal Force
It's Over 7" (Au Go Go, 1990, ANDA 129)
It's Over
- Tide
- How Can I?
Blurred 10"/CD (Au Go Go, year 1991, ANDA 144)
Never
- Anything
- You
- No One
- Sister
- Just Can't See
- Work
- Blurred
- It's Over (CD Only)
- Tide (CD Only)
- How Can I? (CD Only)
Split Singles
Hog / Cosmic Psychos / Guttersnipes / Empty Set with Ron Asheton
Split 7", came with Lemon Fanzine issue 15(1992?)
Guttersnipes track: Elephant Beer
Compilations
Teeth 10" (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 140) (Comp. also featuring The Meanies, Throwaways and Spiderbait)
- Threw it all away
Wally's Wild Weekend Live Compilation LP/CD (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 141) (Comp. also featuring Hoss (band)
Hoss (band)
Hoss is a hard rock band based in Melbourne, Australia. One of a string of 90s hard rock bands on Melbourne's Dog Meat Records that included the Powder Monkeys and Splatterheads, Hoss was primarily a vehicle for the songs of front man, Joel Silbersher...
, The Throwaways
The Throwaways (Australian Band)
The Throwaways were a musical group from Melbourne, Australia who played from 1989 to 1995, consisting of Marc Dorey, Sean Baxter, Dave Kendal, Mat Butler and later Matt Charles...
, The Meanies
The Meanies
The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock band, formed in 1989. The current band members include Link Meanie , Ringo Meanie and Wally Meanie . The Meanies had a hiatus in the mid-late 1990s, but began performing again in 1998...
, Spiderbait
Spiderbait
Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Finley in 1989 by bass guitarist Janet English, singer-drummer Mark Maher , and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004 the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart...
, Nursery Crimes, Unclean Spirits)
- Crossroads
- Sister
Crack in the Sun or Fade in the Shade (Roo-Art, 1992, ?) (Comp. also featuring Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder are a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.-Members and history:Screamfeeder began performing under that name in Brisbane, Australia in 1991. They formed out of the remains of Tim Steward and Tony Blade's band, The Madmen....
, The Meanies
The Meanies
The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock band, formed in 1989. The current band members include Link Meanie , Ringo Meanie and Wally Meanie . The Meanies had a hiatus in the mid-late 1990s, but began performing again in 1998...
, Fridge, Massappeal, Nursery Crimes, Rootbeer, Seaweed Goorillas, Tumbleweed (band)
Tumbleweed (band)
Tumbleweed are a Wollongong-based rock group in Australia, popular during the grunge years of the 1990s. As an opening band for Nirvana on their 1992 tour of Australia, Tumbleweed reached out into the mainstream with their crunchy-psychedelica...
, Supergrass, Daisygrinders, You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
and Headache)
- Pyromania
RRR Reel to Real (1993?)
- Face the Day
Totally Wireless, The Triple J Acoustic Sessions- Various Artists (Polygram Australia, 1993) (Comp. also featuring Tex, Don and Charlie
Tex, Don and Charlie
Tex, Don and Charlie is an Australian super group formed by Tex Perkins from The Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon and others, Don Walker from Cold Chisel and widely respected guitarist Charlie Owen. Their first album Sad But True was released in 1993 with the second released in 2005.The band was...
; Glide; You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
; The drunk, the monk and the spunk; Smudge
Smudge
Smudge is an Australian rock band. Its frontman Tom Morgan is better known outside Australia as a songwriting collaborator of Evan Dando and his band The Lemonheads.-History:...
; Daisychains; Blindman's Holiday; The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, formed in Perth in 1989, based in Melbourne since 1992.-Perth 1989-1990:The original line-up consisted of David McComb on vocals and guitar, Alsy MacDonald on drums , Phil Kakulas on bass guitar , Rob Snarski on vocals and guitar, and...
; The Madisons; Tiddas
Tiddas
Tiddas are a three piece all-girl folk band from Victoria, Australia.-Biography:Originally the three women, Amy Saunders , Lou Bennett and Sally Dastey combined their vocal talents as backing singers for Aboriginal band Djaambi, led by Saunder's brother Richard Frankland in 1990...
; My Friend The Chocolate Cake
My Friend The Chocolate Cake
My Friend The Chocolate Cake is an Australian musical group based in Melbourne. They have recorded seven albums since being founded in 1989 by David Bridie and Helen Mountfort, members of Not Drowning, Waving...
; Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded the seminal punk band The Saints, the experimental post-punk group Laughing Clowns and later the grunge-like The Aints...
& Mark Dawson; Evan Dando
Evan Dando
Evan Griffith Dando is an American musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock band The Lemonheads. He is the only original member left in the current Lemonheads line-up, having served as lead singer since the band's original formation in 1986...
; 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...
& Dave Graney
Dave Graney
David John "Dave" Graney is an Australian rock musician and singer-songwriter from Mount Gambier, South Australia. Since 1979, Graney is generally accompanied by drummer, Clare Moore...
; The Plums)
- Adrift