The Venetians (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
The Venetians were an Australian synthpop
act that had several hit records in Australia during the middle 1980's.
The Venetians released their first single "Sound On Sound" in 1983, a version of Swinn's original demo. The band signed with Festival Records
' Parole Records label. Though accompanied by a video which attracted a lot of airplay, "Sound On Sound" failed to chart significantly. Their second single "Chinese I's" generated some chart action while the band began to build their reputation as a live act. They also began work on their debut album, Step Off the Edge, produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
. Following the release "Ooh La La" as the first single from Step Off the Edge, they got their first major break: as opening act on the Split Enz
's "Enz With A Bang" farewell tour. This led to further major tour activity with Icehouse
and Nik Kershaw
. By 1985, they were an Australian live attraction in their own right. The band released the second single "Shine The Light" in February 1985, and the album Step Off The Edge in May 1985.
Near the end of 1985, Venetians went into the studio with producer Mark Opitz
to cut two songs, including the chartbusting "So Much For Love." As the band worked with producer Peter Blyton on the second album Calling In The Lions, "So Much For Love" scaled the Australian singles charts, peaking at number three on the national charts in March 1986. The Venetians then embarked on a two-month Australian tour, with The Church
, and released "Inspiration," their follow-up to "So Much For Love." Both singles, and a third "If Somebody Loves You" are featured on Calling In The Lions, their first album released on the Chrysalis
label. Chrysalis releasing Calling in the Lions and the single "So Much for Love" in the United States.
With the departure of Matthew Hughes in 1987, the Venetians spent the next year recording their third album, Amazing World. It produced three singles, "Amazing World", "Bitter Tears" and "Must Believe", but the chart success of Calling in the Lions wasn't to be repeated and the band broke up the following year.
Since 1994 Tim Powles
has played drums for Scribble !985-1986), The Divinyls (1989), Angry Anderson
Band (1990) and The Church
where he currently plays a key role in both the management of the band and also the band’s recording process, producing their last three albums. David Skeet moved to the US in 1990 and worked as a producer/recording artist while signed to MCA Music in Los Angeles. He returned to Sydney in 1999 and continues to produce records, including projects at Tim Powles' Spacejunk studio,
Peter Watson lives in Sydney, and works in the Finance industry. He also performs occasionally with singer Louise Anton.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
act that had several hit records in Australia during the middle 1980's.
Biography
The Venetians formed in late 1982, when Rik Swinn (lead vocalist) arrived in Australia with a 24-track master demo of a song he'd recorded in England. He read a newspaper advert placed by two musicians looking for a lead singer. Within weeks, Swinn hooked up with David Skeet (guitar and vocals), Matthew Hughes (keyboards), Peter Watson (bass guitar) and Tim Powles (drums) to form Venetians."The chemistry was definitely there from the beginning," says Swinn.
The Venetians released their first single "Sound On Sound" in 1983, a version of Swinn's original demo. The band signed with Festival Records
Festival Records (Australia)
Festival Records was an Australian music recording and publishing company which was founded in Sydney in 1952 and operated until 2005....
' Parole Records label. Though accompanied by a video which attracted a lot of airplay, "Sound On Sound" failed to chart significantly. Their second single "Chinese I's" generated some chart action while the band began to build their reputation as a live act. They also began work on their debut album, Step Off the Edge, produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
Vic Coppersmith-Heaven is an English sound engineer and record producer, best known for his production work with The Jam.-Career:...
. Following the release "Ooh La La" as the first single from Step Off the Edge, they got their first major break: as opening act on the Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
's "Enz With A Bang" farewell tour. This led to further major tour activity with Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
and Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw is an English singer-songwriter. The one time jazz-funk guitarist was a mid-1980s teen idol. His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists...
. By 1985, they were an Australian live attraction in their own right. The band released the second single "Shine The Light" in February 1985, and the album Step Off The Edge in May 1985.
Near the end of 1985, Venetians went into the studio with producer Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz, started his career with ABC TV in Sydney in the 1970’s and has since gone on to work with many of the great Australian musicians that have graced both the Australian and international music charts for the past 25 years....
to cut two songs, including the chartbusting "So Much For Love." As the band worked with producer Peter Blyton on the second album Calling In The Lions, "So Much For Love" scaled the Australian singles charts, peaking at number three on the national charts in March 1986. The Venetians then embarked on a two-month Australian tour, with The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
, and released "Inspiration," their follow-up to "So Much For Love." Both singles, and a third "If Somebody Loves You" are featured on Calling In The Lions, their first album released on the Chrysalis
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
label. Chrysalis releasing Calling in the Lions and the single "So Much for Love" in the United States.
With the departure of Matthew Hughes in 1987, the Venetians spent the next year recording their third album, Amazing World. It produced three singles, "Amazing World", "Bitter Tears" and "Must Believe", but the chart success of Calling in the Lions wasn't to be repeated and the band broke up the following year.
Since 1994 Tim Powles
Tim Powles
Tim Powles is a music producer and artist originally from New Zealand, and though now an Australian resident, he is of English/Irish descent. Also known as timEbandit Powles, his main instrument and first love was the drum kit and tuned percussion. In the 70's he won a scholarship to join the New...
has played drums for Scribble !985-1986), The Divinyls (1989), Angry Anderson
Angry Anderson
Gary Stephen "Angry" Anderson AM is an Australian rock singer, television presenter/reporter, actor and conservative political activist. He is best known as the vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976 but he is also recognised for his acting roles and his charity work...
Band (1990) and The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
where he currently plays a key role in both the management of the band and also the band’s recording process, producing their last three albums. David Skeet moved to the US in 1990 and worked as a producer/recording artist while signed to MCA Music in Los Angeles. He returned to Sydney in 1999 and continues to produce records, including projects at Tim Powles' Spacejunk studio,
Peter Watson lives in Sydney, and works in the Finance industry. He also performs occasionally with singer Louise Anton.
Members
- Rik Swinn - vocals
- David Skeet - guitar, vocals
- Matthew Hughes - keyboards
- Peter Watson - bass, guitar
- Tim PowlesTim PowlesTim Powles is a music producer and artist originally from New Zealand, and though now an Australian resident, he is of English/Irish descent. Also known as timEbandit Powles, his main instrument and first love was the drum kit and tuned percussion. In the 70's he won a scholarship to join the New...
- drums
Albums
- Step off the Edge Parole Records (May, 1985)
- Calling in the Lions Parole Records/Chrysalis RecordsChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
(1986) - Amazing World Parole Records/Chrysalis RecordsChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
(1988)
Singles
- "Sound On Sound" / "Son Sur Son" (May, 1983) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#85 - "Chinese I's" / "Fundamental Principles" (November, 1983) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#63 - "Ooh La La" / "Things" (November, 1984) Did Not Chart
- "Shine The Light" / "If London Were Venice" (February, 1985) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#91 - "So Much for Love" / "10" (December, 1985) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#8 - "Love Affair" (1985) Did Not Chart
- "Inspiration" / "Here Comes The Rain" (March, 1986) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#39 - "If Somebody Loves You" / "Voices" (June, 1986) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#67 - "Let It All Go" (1986) Did Not Chart
- "Amazing World" (1987) Did Not Chart
- "Bitter Tears" / "Heartbeat" (May, 1988) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#24 - "Must Believe" / "Looks Like Love" (September, 1988) AUSKent Music ReportThe Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
#82