Flotsam Jetsam

Last updated

Flotsam Jetsam
OriginSydney, Australia
Genres Synth Pop
Years active1983 (1983)–1988 (1988)
Labels WEA
Past membersNick Ferris
Stephen Ferris
Tony Gilbert
Michael Iacano
John Swanston
Ashley Cadell
Peter Ciobo

Flotsam Jetsam were an Australian synth pop band active from 1983 to 1988. [1]

Contents

The group released two singles and one EP which peaked inside the Australian top 100 charts. Their single "Show Me" was engineered by Guy Gray and it earned him a nomination for the 1987 ARIA Music Award for Engineer of the Year.

The band supported A-ha, Queen and Simply Red on Australian tours. [2]

Img007a.jpg

History

First beginnings - 1983

Flotsam Jetsam were formed in 1983 by Stephen Ferris, Tony Gilbert and Anthony Iacono. Nick Ferris joined soon after. This was in 1983. The band at the time didn’t have a drummer so instead they used Roland TR-808 drum machine and a Korg Polysix keyboards on a four track Tascam reel to reel tape recorder. They perform this way live for awhile until they got the services of a drummer named Warren Maclean, who would leave in 1984 and return in 1985. Warren Maclean was also in a band with Nick Ferris called Four-Four previous to Flotsam Jetsam.

There were various musicians and singers who joined Flotsam Jetsam over the next year including Ade Akisanya on keyboards, three backup singers known as The Shonkettes, Annie Swanton, Emma De Teliga and Katina Cremona. Keyboardist Peter Pitcher, percussionist Bill Kay

During that time percussionist John Swanton would join permanently, and Michael Iacono on keyboards would replace Ade. When Warren Maclean left Flotsam Jetsam for the Machinations, the band decided not to have a drummer, instead they purchased a Sequential Circuits Drumtracks drum machine a Roland MSQ 700 and later a Roland MC-500 Micro Composer, and use that along with John Swanton on percussion, to form the drum section.

In 1983 the band recorded at Ramrod Studios Brookvale with legendary drummer/engineer Herman Kovac, a song called “115 BPM” for a short video made by director Lucinda Clutterbuck specialising in rotoscope animation. The song vocals were sung by Kate Ceberano, of I’m Talking, no lyrics were involved just singing in noises.

Cooking With George - 1984

In 1984 the band were approached by ABC radio station 2 Triple J about being on a compilation box set album call “Cooking With George”. George, being George Wayne, the DJ host at Triple J’s afternoon/evening shift. This was a boxset comprising bands from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to promote young bands coming through the system. It was recorded at ABC recording studios in Darlinghurst by Keith Walker, and the song “R27s in Godlike Intercession” and “The Butchers of “Lust” were chosen to be on the compilation.

WEA and 100% One Second Love - 1985

April 1985, Just before signing with WEA records, Flotsam Jetsam got to play 4 show as the opening act to Queen at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney. On April 30th 1985, Flotsam Jetsam signed a record contract with WEA records, who was then run by Paul Turner and Peter Ikin (who was probably responsible for the band being on the bill with Queen).

Flotsam Jetsam recorded the first single for WEA, a song called “100% One Second Love” under the production of Keith Walker, who had previously worked with the band. This was recorded at EMI 301 studio B, in Castlereagh Street Sydney. A Fairlight CMI systems was used to record their drums and some instruments they also use the services of the jazz pianist Tony Ansell to play on two songs. I was carry someone. The B-side is that that record was two songs one was the “Butchers of lust” and the other one was “115 BPM/Crystal Disco”.

The single “100% One Second Love” was directed for video by Kimball Rendle. The inspiration for the video was John Water film Polyester, with the band performing at a Wedding winning based on John Waters film and it was set in a motel and reception for a wedding where things went slightly wrong with some very shady characters involved. It was filmed on 16mm down at a motel in Bondi Beach which doesn’t exist any more, and the interiors filmed in the Tiki bar in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, which also doesn’t exist any more. With the help of all their friends in the video playing the guests. The video features some the members of the Ferris family. Virginia Ferris with Philip Hutch dancing and Pee Wee Ferris sitting at the bar and John Ferris in the audience. It had also cameos by Pat Powell, Andy Glitre and many others.

Members

Discography

EP

List of EPs, with Australian positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[3]
Horrorbox
  • Released: August 1987
  • Label: WEA (254887-1)
  • Formats: Cassette, LP
95

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
AUS
[3]
1985"100% 1 Second Love"-non album singles
1986"Distraction"90
"Show Me"-
1987"Power"76Horrorbox

Related Research Articles

The Benders were an Australian jazz band from 1980 to 1985. The group's members included Chris Abrahams on keyboards, Dale Barlow on saxophone, Louis Burdett on drums, Andrew Gander on drums, Jason Morphett on saxophone, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar. They issued three albums, E (1983), False Laughter (1984) and Distance (1985).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flotsam and Jetsam (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Flotsam and Jetsam is an American thrash metal band that was formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981. Before settling on its current name in 1984, the band had existed under three different names, Paradox, Dredlox and Dogz. Their current lineup includes vocalist Eric "A.K" Knutson, guitarists Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, bassist Bill Bodily, and drummer Ken Mary. Flotsam and Jetsam went through several lineup changes over the years, leaving Knutson as the only constant member. They are also notable for featuring founding member and bassist Jason Newsted, who left the band shortly after the release of their debut album to join Metallica as Cliff Burton's successor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divinyls</span> Australian rock band

Divinyls were an Australian rock band that were formed in Sydney in 1980. The band primarily consisted of vocalist Chrissy Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. Amphlett garnered widespread attention for performing on stage in a school uniform and fishnet stockings, and she often used an illuminated neon tube as a prop for displaying aggression towards both band members and the audience. Originally a five-piece, the band underwent numerous line-up changes, with Amphlett and McEntee remaining as core members, before its dissolution in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Died Pretty</span> Australian alternative rock band

Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, is an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays Ron Peno and Brett Myers in Sydney in 1983. The band was briefly called Final Solution. Their music started from a base of early electric Bob Dylan with psychedelic influences, including The Velvet Underground and Television. They were managed by John Needham, who is the owner of Citadel Records, their main label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Bittner</span> American drummer

Jason Bittner is an American drummer, best known as the drummer for American metal band Shadows Fall. He is also the current drummer for Overkill since 2017, and was the drummer for the thrash metal bands Toxik from 2013 to 2014 and Flotsam and Jetsam from 2014 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Wallis</span> Musical artist

Gary Wallis is a British drummer, percussionist, drum programmer, producer and musical director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and bands, including Nik Kershaw, Pink Floyd, 10cc, Il Divo, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Paul Carrack, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Rutherford, Mike + The Mechanics, Spice Girls, All Saints, Tom Jones, Jean-Michel Jarre, Helene Fischer and Schiller.

<i>No Place for Disgrace</i> 1988 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

No Place for Disgrace is the second album by American thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, released in 1988. This marked the band's first album release through a major label, Elektra Records, and was also their first album with the bass guitarist Troy Gregory, who had replaced Jason Newsted when the latter left the band in 1986 to join Metallica. Despite not playing on the album, three songs on it were co-written by Newsted.

<i>Doomsday for the Deceiver</i> 1986 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

Doomsday for the Deceiver is the debut album by Flotsam and Jetsam. It was released on July 4, 1986, on a budget of $12,000, and recorded in two weeks. It is the only album by Flotsam and Jetsam with Jason Newsted before his departure for Metallica. Most lyrics were written by Newsted; his songwriting contributions also appeared on the band's next album No Place for Disgrace (1988) and their 2012 album Ugly Noise.

Gondwanaland, originally billed as Gondwanaland Project, were an Australian ambient musical ensemble which combined the indigenous Australian instrument the didgeridoo with western instruments such as synthesiser and guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chastain (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Chastain is an American heavy metal music band, formed in 1984 by guitarist David T. Chastain and signed by Shrapnel Records.

Machinations are an Australian synthpop band which formed in 1980. They reached the top 20 on the Kent Music Report albums chart with Big Music in 1985. Their top 30 hits on the related singles chart are "Pressure Sway", "No Say in It", "My Heart's On Fire" and "Do to You". By 1989 the group had disbanded. They briefly reunited in 1997 and then reformed in 2012.

<i>High</i> (Flotsam and Jetsam album) 1997 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

High is the sixth album by American thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, released on June 3, 1997. It was their first release on Metal Blade Records since 1986's Doomsday for the Deceiver, whereas their previous three albums were released on MCA.

Dropbears were an Australian rock band active in the early 1980s. They had a few national chart hits and received national airplay. They had a minor charting hit with "Shall We Go" in 1985.

The Party Boys was an Australian rock supergroup with a floating membership commencing in 1982. Created by Mondo Rock's bass guitarist, Paul Christie, with founding member Kevin Borich as a part-time venture for professional musicians with downtime from their other projects; the group had temporary members from Status Quo, the Angels, Sherbet, Skyhooks, Rose Tattoo, the Choirboys, Australian Crawl, Divinyls, Models, Dragon and Swanee, plus international stars such as Joe Walsh, Eric Burdon, Alan Lancaster, and Graham Bonnet.

Walter Malcolm Neil McEachern was a noted Australian bass singer who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom, both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic musical duo Flotsam and Jetsam.

QED were an Australian new wave trio, whose lead singer, Jenny Morris, went on to achieve commercial success as a solo artist. The band had a top twenty hit single, "Everywhere I Go", on the Australian Kent Music Report in 1984.

<i>Ugly Noise</i> 2012 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

Ugly Noise is the eleventh studio album by the thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, released on December 21, 2012. In order to make this album, Flotsam and Jetsam used PledgeMusic, encouraging their fans to contribute funds to its recording and the band themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.

<i>The End of Chaos</i> 2019 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

The End of Chaos is the thirteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, released on January 18, 2019. It was their first album to feature drummer Ken Mary, and the last to include bassist Michael Spencer before his split from the band in 2020.

<i>Flotsam and Jetsam</i> (Flotsam and Jetsam album) 2016 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

Flotsam and Jetsam is the twelfth studio album by the thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, released on 20 May 2016. The song "Iron Maiden" is a tribute to the famous band. This is the only Flotsam and Jetsam album to feature drummer Jason Bittner, who left the band shortly after its release to join Overkill. The track "L.O.T.D." stands for "Legion of the Damned" and was originally written during the "No Place for Disgrace" sessions. "Forbidden Territories" was written by Mike Spencer when he was in Sentinel Beast, as well as a version re-worked by Sentinel Beast guitarist Barry Fischel and recorded by his band Fischel's Beast the same year.

<i>Blood in the Water</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam

Blood in the Water is the fourteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam, which was released on June 4, 2021. It is the band's first release with new bassist Bill Bodily, who had replaced Michael Spencer in November 2020.

References

  1. Holmes, Peter (4 August 1995), "The Ferris lads put their trust in bands, not banks", Sydney Morning Herald
  2. "Soul of Sydney". Facebook. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 114. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.