The Aliens (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
The Aliens were an Australia
n new wave band. They were one of the first Australian bands of the late 1970s to adopt the New Wave
"uniform" of black clothes and skinny ties.
In 1977 Riff Raff consisted of Stapleton and Johnson together with Greg Webster (guitar, vocals),and Rob Grosser (drums). In February 1978 Stapleton and Johnson moved to Melbourne and in April that year formed The Aliens. In June 1979 they signed with Mushroom Records
. The Aliens recorded their first single, "Confrontation", with producer Charles Fisher between Saturday, 11 August, and Monday, 13 August 1979, at Trafalgar Studios, Sydney, Australia, during a national tour with the band The Sports
. "Confrontation" reached #15 in Sydney, #35 in Brisbane and #36 on the national singles charts.
Their debut album, Translator, was recorded at The Music Farm, in northern New South Wales, between 24 November and 9 December 1979, with producer, David Tickle. The band performed on television shows like Countdown
, Nightmoves, Sounds Unlimited, and Hey Hey Its Saturday. In January 1980 the band toured nationally with (U.K.) Squeeze and in March 1980 toured with The Police
. The band released its second single, "Follow that Girl", on 25 February 1980. "Follow that Girl" reached #4 in Canberra and #48 on the national singles charts.
On 20 May 1980 following a performance at the Canberra Theatre
, Webster quit and returned to Melbourne. In that brief sixteen month period they played 356 shows around Australia. The band continued as a three piece, working in a whole new repertoire and sound, which included more keyboards from Geoffrey Stapleton.
In September 1980 Randy Bulpin from Mondo Rock
briefly joined on lead guitar until the end of October when the band relocated to Sydney. Pierre Baroni joined the band on the day they left Melbourne for Sydney. Baroni was recruited for his voice and song writing ability, as well as his guitar arrangements. On 27 November 1980, Grosser left the band and was replaced by Alex Bash on drums in December 1980. On 6 March 1981, Danny Johnson left the band, leaving Stapleton as the only original member. Greg Trennery joined the band on bass on 31 March 1981. The new line up of Stapleton, Trennery, Baroni, and Bash recorded a new single, "I Don't Care", on 23 May at EMI Studios 301. The A-side featured Stapleton on lead vocal and the B-side, "Over my Head", had Baroni on lead vocals. It was eventually released on their own label, Planet X Records, through EMI
in December 1981. On 29 May, Bash left the band and was replaced by Malcolm Fogg on 3 June 1981. They toured Melbourne during October and November 1981. Bash rejoined the band, replacing Fogg for the band's last performance on the television show, Countdown, on 11 December 1981, performing "I Don't Care".
Stapleton went on to play with GANGgajang
.
Baroni worked in the art department of Mushroom Records
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n new wave band. They were one of the first Australian bands of the late 1970s to adopt the New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
"uniform" of black clothes and skinny ties.
History
In 1975 Greg Webster (guitar), Dave Lewis (guitar), Danny Johnson (vocals), Geoff Stapleton (drums), Grant Lang (keyboards) and Grant Lewis (bass) were playing in an Adelaide band called Gold. A local band they played around Adelaide, as well as a number of country performances. In 1976 Gold were winners of the 5KA 'Battle of the Bands'. Gold soon turned into Riff Raff, which had a much punkier name and this change in image was reflected in their material.In 1977 Riff Raff consisted of Stapleton and Johnson together with Greg Webster (guitar, vocals),and Rob Grosser (drums). In February 1978 Stapleton and Johnson moved to Melbourne and in April that year formed The Aliens. In June 1979 they signed with 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 Aliens recorded their first single, "Confrontation", with producer Charles Fisher between Saturday, 11 August, and Monday, 13 August 1979, at Trafalgar Studios, Sydney, Australia, during a national tour with the band 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...
. "Confrontation" reached #15 in Sydney, #35 in Brisbane and #36 on the national singles charts.
Their debut album, Translator, was recorded at The Music Farm, in northern New South Wales, between 24 November and 9 December 1979, with producer, David Tickle. The band performed on television shows like Countdown
Countdown (TV series)
Countdown was a long-running popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987. It was created by Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton, producer/director Robbie Weekes and record producer and music journalist...
, Nightmoves, Sounds Unlimited, and Hey Hey Its Saturday. In January 1980 the band toured nationally with (U.K.) Squeeze and in March 1980 toured with The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
. The band released its second single, "Follow that Girl", on 25 February 1980. "Follow that Girl" reached #4 in Canberra and #48 on the national singles charts.
On 20 May 1980 following a performance at the Canberra Theatre
Canberra Theatre
The Canberra Theatre Centre is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts centre to be completed, that opened on Thursday 24 June 1965 with a gala performance by the...
, Webster quit and returned to Melbourne. In that brief sixteen month period they played 356 shows around Australia. The band continued as a three piece, working in a whole new repertoire and sound, which included more keyboards from Geoffrey Stapleton.
In September 1980 Randy Bulpin from Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia, most prominent in the early 1980s. The band was formed in late 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Ross Wilson.-Early years: 1976–1979:...
briefly joined on lead guitar until the end of October when the band relocated to Sydney. Pierre Baroni joined the band on the day they left Melbourne for Sydney. Baroni was recruited for his voice and song writing ability, as well as his guitar arrangements. On 27 November 1980, Grosser left the band and was replaced by Alex Bash on drums in December 1980. On 6 March 1981, Danny Johnson left the band, leaving Stapleton as the only original member. Greg Trennery joined the band on bass on 31 March 1981. The new line up of Stapleton, Trennery, Baroni, and Bash recorded a new single, "I Don't Care", on 23 May at EMI Studios 301. The A-side featured Stapleton on lead vocal and the B-side, "Over my Head", had Baroni on lead vocals. It was eventually released on their own label, Planet X Records, through EMI
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
in December 1981. On 29 May, Bash left the band and was replaced by Malcolm Fogg on 3 June 1981. They toured Melbourne during October and November 1981. Bash rejoined the band, replacing Fogg for the band's last performance on the television show, Countdown, on 11 December 1981, performing "I Don't Care".
Stapleton went on to play with GANGgajang
GANGgajang
Gang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
.
Baroni worked in the art department of 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...
.
Members
- Alex Bash — drums (1980
- Pierre Baroni — guitar, synthesiser (1980–1981)
- Randy Bulpin — guitar (1980)
- Rob Grosser — drums (1979–1980)
- Malcom Fogg — drums (1978)
- Danny Johnson — vocals, bass (1978–1981)
- Graham Lewis — keyboards (1978–1980)
- Kevin Patricks — drums (1978–1980)
- Geoffrey Stapleton — vocals, guitar (1978–1981)
- Greg Trennery — bass (1981)
- Greg Webster — vocals, guitar (1978–1980)
Singles
- "Confrontation"/"Boys in Black" — Mushroom (December 1979) AUS #36
- "Follow That Girl"/"The Hyding of Dr Jekyll" — Mushroom (February 1980) AUS #48
- "I Don't Care"/"Over My Head" — Planet X (December 1981)