Models (sometimes The Models [1] ) is an Australian rock band that was formed in 1978 in Melbourne [2] and performed high-speed new - wave pop rock with elements of punk , glam and dub . The Models did not reach the level of popularity of their main competitors, INXS , but had a stable reputation as members of the “first three” (along with Midnight Oil ) of the Australian “new wave”. In 1988, the group broke up, and in 2008 it was reformed and gave several concerts.
| Models | |
|---|---|
 Sean Kelly, San Francisco, 1986 | |
| basic information | |
| Genres | new wave pop punk pop |
| Years | from 1978 to 1988 |
| A country |  Australia |
| City | Melbourne |
| Labels | Mushroom records A&M Records |
| Composition | Sean Kelly James Freud Jackson Freud Tim Rosewarn Cameron Gould |
| Former the participants | Ash Vansday Peter Sutcliffe Johnny crash Andrew Duffield Mark ferry Buster Stiggs Graham Scott John rowell Roger Mason Barton Price James Valentine |
| Other projects | Teenage radio stars Einsturzende neubauten |
Group History
The first lineup of Models included members of two Melbourne punk bands: Teenage Radio Stars and JAB. The first was represented by frontman, singing guitarist Sean Kelly. The second is Ash Vansday ( Eng. Ash Wednesday , keyboards), Peter Sutcliff, aka Pierre Voltaire ( Eng. Pierre Voltaire , bass), and Johnny Crash ( Eng. Johnny Crash , real name - Janice Friedenfelds - Eng. Janis Friedenfelds , - drums).
After Pierre was replaced by Mark Ferry and Ash by Andrew Duffield, the group signed to Mushroom Records in 1980 and released their debut album Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf . It was not a commercial success, but provided the group with a repertoire that was well received by the audience of Melbourne pubs. Models performed continuously, new material was created during the tour, but each new album included only its latest songs. Because of this, many of the early songs popular at concerts remained unrecorded - until 2002, when the Melbourne collection was released. The main characteristics of the band's early style were Kelly's stifled vocals, the sound of Duffield's EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer (who masterfully mastered his instrument), and mysterious, gloomy lyrics by Kelly and Duffield.
In early 1981, Models toured the first branch of The Police , after which A&M Records became interested in them, and signed a distribution contract with the group. [2] By June 1981, Johnny Crash gave way to Buster Stiggs (of The Swingers, New Zealand), and Models released EP Cut Lunch , which was composed of demos created with Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rainer as producer. Later that year, the second full-length album of Local And / Or General , already recorded in the UK, was released. By this time, Models were widely known in their homeland in Australia, regularly sounded on the Triple J radio station broadcasting from Sydney, appeared on national television (in particular, in ABC's Countdown program).
By signing a contract with MMA management company (which also did business with INXS), Models simplified the sound by making it more commercial. Ferry and Stiggs lost to James Freud (real name Colin McGlinchey), Barton Price ( English Graham Scott , drums) and John Powell (guitar). Freud and Kelly attended the same school and played together at Teenage Radio Stars. This lineup released The Pleasure of Your Company (1983), an album well received by critics, but not on the charts again. Producer Nick Launay emphasized the sound of drums here and made the group's music more danceable. The single "I Hear Motion" became a hit in Australia; the other two, God Bless America and No Shoulders, No Head, were more modest successes.
Yielding to management pressure, the group further softened the style, and squeezed Duffield, who opposed commercialization, out of the squad. In its place came Roger Mason (keyboards) and Jason Valentine (saxophone). Now the Models tour was accompanied by a vocal ensemble, which often included Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne, a member of the popular Australian pop group I'm Talking in the early 80s, and also Canadian singer Wendy Matthews. Soon she became a close friend of Kelly; Together they formed their own group Absent Friends.
And 1985 Models became the center of attention for a worldwide audience, performing four songs - “Big on Love”, “I Hear Motion”, “Stormy Tonight”, “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” - at the Oz for Africa concert (which was part of Live Aid ). The performance of Models was broadcast in Australia on the Seven Network and Nine Network, in the USA on MTV. Released in hot pursuit of this performance, Out of Mind, Out of Sight marked the first and last commercial success of The Models (# 84, Billboard 200 ) [3] . “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” (# 1 Australia, # 36 Billboard Hot 100 ) [4]
The next album, Media , did not repeat the success of its predecessor. Models conducted a successful tour called Australian Made (1986-1987) in conjunction with INXS and Jimmy Barnes , but broke up in 1988 . Affected - as the stress associated with continuous touring, and exacerbated financial problems. [2]
2000 -
After the breakup, Models were not forgotten in Australia: on the contrary, the group began to acquire cult status here. In 2000, Models reformed and gave several successful concerts. In 2001, Melbourne, a collection of early rarities, was released. In 2002, Harper Collins Australia published Freud’s memoirs, “I Am The Voice Left From Drinking”; the title of the book, taken from the song Barbados, hinted at his problems with alcohol and other drugs.
In recent years, Mason has become known as the author of music for films and television programs (in particular, the Australian TV series "MDA"). Valentine has gained fame as the host of children's television shows and radio DJs at Sydney's 702 ABC station. He also published several popular children's books. Matthews is Australia's famous pop diva, although her solo album Emigre (1990) remains her only big success in her career.
Andrew Duffield released the solo album Ten Happy Fingers (1986) on his own label Retrograde Records. In recent years, he has been composing music for commercials. Barton Price played in several Australian bands, released a CD with drum samples and then returned to New Zealand. Ash Wensday formed Crashland, and later became part of the Einsturzende Neubauten .
In 2008, the Models came together again: Sean Kelly, James Freud, Jackson Freud (guitar), Tim Rosuorn (Big Pig, Chocolate Starfish), keyboards; Cameron Gould (Propaganda Klann, Christine Anu), drums.
Composition
1978-1980
- Sean Kelly - guitar, vocals
- Ash Wednesday - keyboards
- Peter Sutcliffe aka Pierre Voltaire - bass
- Janis Friedenfelds aka Johnny Crash - drums
2008 -
- Sean Kelly - guitar, vocals
- James Freud - bass, vocals
- Jackson Freud - Guitar
- Tim Rosewarne - keyboards
- Cameron Goold - Drums
Other members
- Andrew Duffield, keyboards
- Mark Ferrie, bass
- Buster Stiggs, drums
- Graham Scott, drums
- John Rowell, guitar
- Roger Mason, keyboards
- Barton price drums
- James Valentine, saxophone [5]
Discography
- Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf (1980)
- Cut Lunch (1981)
- Local And / Or General (1981)
- The Pleasure of Your Company (1983)
- Out of Mind, Out of Sight (1985)
- Models' Media (1986)
- Models' Collection (1993)
- Melbourne (live, 2001)
Notes
- ↑ Not to be confused with the early English punk band The Models , where Marco Pirroni played, as well as a Swedish band of the same name formed in 2005
- ↑ 1 2 3 Michael Sutton. The Models . www.allmusic.com. Date of treatment January 15, 2010. Archived March 28, 2012.
- ↑ The Models. Billboard Albums . www.allmusic.com. Date of treatment January 15, 2010. Archived March 28, 2012.
- ↑ and Barbados (# 2 Australia). The Models. Billboard Singles . www.allmusic.com. Date of treatment January 15, 2010.
- ↑ hem.passagen.se. Models (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment March 24, 2009. Archived November 5, 2013.