Scribble (band)

Last updated

Scribble
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresPop
Years active1983 (1983)–1987 (1987)
Labels
Associated acts
Past memberssee Members

Scribble were a post punk synth pop band based around Johanna Pigott (ex-XL Capris) on lead vocals, guitar, piano and keyboards, which she formed in 1983. She was joined by her domestic partner, Todd Hunter (of Dragon, also ex-XL Capris), on bass guitar and keyboards, and session musicians. They released two albums, So Far 1983-1985 (December 1985) and Pop Art (mid-1986). Scribble disbanded in 1987 with Pigott focussing on her song writing.

Contents

History

Johanna Pigott formed Scribble as a synth pop band in Sydney in 1983, the year after her previous group, XL Capris had disbanded. [1] [2] For her new group Pigott provided lead vocals, guitar, piano and keyboards. [1] [2] She recruited her domestic partner (later her husband), Todd Hunter, on bass guitar and keyboards. [1] [2] Hunter was also a member of the rock group, Dragon, and had been her bandmate in XL Capris.

"Silly Girl" by Scribble SillyGirl SingleCover.jpg
"Silly Girl" by Scribble

In November 1983 the group issued a seven-track extended play, Scribble, on Regular/WEA. [2] Session musicians with Pigott and Hunter were Jeff Oakes on saxophone, Michel Rose on pedal steel and Keith Stirling on trumpet. [2] It provided their debut single, "Silly Girl", in the same month, with cover art depicting a dark forest and the band's name stylised as bare trees. [2] The track was written by Pigott. [3] Its music video showed a wistful Pigott singing and playing guitar. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their sound as "winsome, witty pop." [2] Christine Nestel of The Canberra Times opined that "[their] first album met with critical acclaim." [4]

The group's second single, "Adaptability", followed a year later in November 1984. [1] [2] The track was co-written by Pigott, Hunter and their former XL Capris bandmate, Tim Gooding; it was used for the theme of a children's TV show, The Cartoon Connection (from 1985). [1] [3] Regular Records released a compilation album, So Far 1983-1985, in December 1985 on Regular/Festival Records. [1] [2] To promote the album Pigott and Hunter assembled a touring version of Scribble with Lee Borkman on keyboards and keyboard bass, Mike Caen on guitar and backing vocals (both ex-Pink Slips), and Tim Powles on drums (ex-Ward 13, on loan from the Venetians). [1] [2] That line-up recorded a studio album, Pop Art, which was issued in mid-1986 via Regular/Festival. [1] [2] [4] Its cover depicts a pop art stylised version of Pigott. Hunter produced the album. [5]

Pigott described her preference when performing, "Just singing, you can actually concentrate on entertaining rather than playing in tune. When you play and sing you have to concentrate on so many things – you're thinking is the amp right, is the mike OK, are you singing in tune. It's a real luxury just being able to relate to the audience without all those things to worry about." [4] By that time the line-up was Pigott, Hunter, Borkman and Caen joined by Neville Anderson (also ex-Pink Slips) on drums, Mark Bell on guitar (ex-Blam Blam Blam, Coconut Rough) and Sandy Chick on backing vocals (ex-Rockmelons). [4] [5]

Pop Art by Scribble Scribble PopArt Album Cover.jpg
Pop Art by Scribble

The album had ten tracks, including three singles: "Sunday School" (April 1986), "Don't Give Your Heart Away" (July) and "Alligator" (November) – all are co-written by Pigott and Hunter. [3] Pigott's punk nickname from her time in XL Capris had been Alligator Bagg. [6] "Alligator" was later performed by Fleur Beaupert on the TV drama series, Heartbreak High , episodes No. 133 and No. 145 (Series 6, 1998). The Canberra Times' Laurence Boswell declared that their recorded sound was "soft and smooth" compared with their live show, which was "harder and heavier — partly due to the guitar work of [Bell]." [5]

At the end of 1986 the group's line-up was Pigott, Bell, Nicolette Boaz on keyboards, Bill Heckenberg on drums and Geoff Lundren on bass guitar. [1] [2] Hunter had returned to his work with Dragon. During 1986 Melanie Oxley provided backing vocals. [1] Scribble toured in support of the album and its singles. [5] They disbanded in 1987 and Pigott continued song writing with Hunter. [1] [2] Hunter revealed that "there are film projects that we've got that we have to start soon... There are all these projects on hold. [Dragon's] taking up a lot of time at the moment." [5] Although achieving some cult interest there was little commercial success for Scribble. Both Borkman (1989) and Caen (1989, 1995) were later members of Dragon. [1]

Members

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

Related Research Articles

Schnell Fenster were an Australian pop, rock band formed in 1986 by Noel Crombie on drums and percussion, Nigel Griggs on bass guitar and backing vocals, Phil Judd on lead vocals and guitar, and Eddie Rayner on keyboards and piano – who were all former members of New Zealand-formed rock group, Split Enz. Fellow founder, Michael den Elzen on lead guitar had worked with Tim Finn Band, another band formed by a Split Enz alumnus. Judd's band were briefly named The Wanx: but Rayner soon left and they changed their name to faux-German for "quick window", because it "appealed to [their] perversity". The group formed the core members of Noel's Cowards, a short-term ensemble, whose sole output was six tracks for the soundtrack of a feature film, Rikky and Pete, in 1988. Schnell Fenster released two studio albums, The Sound of Trees (1988) and Ok Alright a Huh Oh Yeah (1990), before disbanding in 1992. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 they were nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Album for The Sound of Trees, Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Whisper" and Best Cover Art for Judd's graphic art.

Sardine v were an Australian post-punk band, formed in 1980 by Ian Rilen on guitar and vocals, and his then-wife, Stephanie Rilen on lead vocals and keyboards. They issued a single, "Sabotage" (1982), and an extended play, I Hate You (1983). Other members included Johanna Pigott on bass guitar and Andrew Garton on saxophone. Sardine v disbanded in 1983.

Peter Robert Jones was an English-born Australian musician. He replaced Paul Hester on drums for Crowded House in mid-1994. After the band split up in June 1996, he played in Deadstar with Caroline Kennedy and Nick Seymour, but did not return to Crowded House when they re-formed in 2006 about a year after Hester's death. Jones worked as a secondary teacher in Melbourne and on 18 May 2012 he died from brain cancer, aged 49.

Todd Hunter

Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain". Hunter also composed John Farnham's hit song "Age of Reason" with Johanna Pigott and music for film Daydream Believer (1991) and TV series Heartbreak High (1994–1999).

<i>A Box of Birds</i> 1999 studio album by The Church

A Box of Birds is the twelfth album by the Australian psychedelic rock band The Church, released in September 1999. It consists of cover versions of tracks by artists who were influential on the group's music.

James Baker (musician) Australian musician

James Lawrence Baker is an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of various rock and punk rock groups, including the Victims, the Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, and the Dubrovniks. In 2006 Baker was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Hall of Fame. The following year, Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

The Venetians were an Australian synthpop act formed in 1982 by English-born Rik Swinn on lead vocals, who enlisted Matthew Hughes on keyboards ; Tim Powles on drums ; Dave Skeet on guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser and vocals; and Peter Watson on guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser and vocals. They issued three studio albums, Step Off the Edge, Calling in the Lions and Amazing World (1988). They had top 30 hit singles in Australia with "So Much for Love", "Inspiration" and "Bitter Tears". Swinn disbanded the group in 1989.

Johanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon's "Rain" which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in 1983, and John Farnham's "Age of Reason". "Rain" was co-written with partner Dragon's Todd Hunter and his younger brother, Marc Hunter. When "Age of Reason" reached the top of the charts in July 1988, Pigott became the first Australian woman to have written a No. 1 hit. It was co-written with Todd Hunter.

Steve Balbi Australian musician and record producer

Stephen Vert Balbi is an Australian musician and record producer. He was the founding bass guitarist in pub rockers, Noiseworks in 1986 and formed a psychedelic pop group and production duo, Electric Hippies in 1993 with fellow Noiseworks member, Justin Stanley. He joined Mi-Sex in 2011. Balbi issued his debut solo album, Black Rainbow, in October 2013.

<i>After Everything Now This</i> 2002 studio album by The Church

After Everything Now This is the thirteenth album by the Australian alternative rock band The Church, released in January 2002. It was produced by group member Tim Powles and the rest of the band.

XL Capris

XL Capris were an Australian indie-punk band formed in Sydney in 1978 by Julie Anderson, Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott, and Kimble Rendall.

Kimble Rendall Australian director, musician and writer (born 1957)

Kimble Rendall is an Australian director, musician and writer mostly known for his Second unit direction of The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), I, Robot (2004), Casanova (2005) and Ghost Rider (2007). As a musician Rendall was guitarist, vocalist and co-founder of punk rockers XL Capris and of rock band the Hoodoo Gurus.

Harvey James born Harvey William James Harrop was an English-Australian rock guitarist. He was a member of the bands Mississippi (1973–74), Ariel (1974–75), Sherbet and the Party Boys (1982–83). James was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2010 and died on 15 January 2011, aged 58, leaving behind his three children, Gabriel, Alexandra and Joshua.

TimGaze is an Australian rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, singer and producer. He was a member of several Australian groups from the 1960s to 1990s including Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute (1970), Ariel (1973–74) and Rose Tattoo (1985–87). He also had a solo music career and released the albums, Band on the Run, Rough Trade (1992), Blue Sierra (1996) and Blues Remedy (1998). In April 2008 he issued a retrospective compilation covering both his group and solo work, Reckless Love: the Tim Gaze Anthology.

Matt Moffitt

Matthew David Moffitt was an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He fronted the rock band, Matt Finish, and worked as a solo artist. Matt Finish were a popular live band, which had a top 20 hit on the Kent Music Report singles chart with "Short Note" (1981).

<i>Snake Eyes on the Paradise Greatest Hits 1976–1989</i> 1998 greatest hits album by Dragon

Snake Eyes on the Paradise Greatest Hits 1976–1989 is a compilation album by rock music group, Dragon, released in 1998. This is the single disc version - there is also a two-disc version called Tales from the Dark Side Greatest Hits and Choice Collectables 1974–1997, which has this disc plus a second disc of album tracks, live, b-sides and other rarities. The album charted at number 70 on the ARIA Charts.

The Monitors were an Australian pop band of the early 1980s. They were primarily a studio group which involved a collaboration between Terry McCarthy on vocals and keyboards, and Mark Moffatt on guitar, bass guitar and keyboards. They used various guest vocalists. Their debut single, "Singin' in the '80s", was released in 1980 and reached No. 16 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. A second single, "Nobody Told Me", peaked in the top 40. The Monitors issued a sole album, Back from Their Recent Illness, for which Ricky Fataar had joined on drums, percussion, guitar and keyboards. The group disbanded in 1982.

Michael William Armiger is an English-born Australian guitarist and teacher. He has been a member of various groups including Paul Kelly Band (1983–84), Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (1985–86), John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong (1987–88), The Johnnys, The Go-Betweens (1989), and Sean Kelly and the Iron Dukes (1990).

Harem Scarem were an Australian blues rock group which formed in 1982. They issued two studio albums, Pilgrim's Progress on Au Go Go Records (1986) and Lo & Behold on Citadel Records (1988) before disbanding in 1989. The early line-up was fronted by Christopher Marshall on lead vocals and included his brother, Charlie Marshall first on bass guitar, then rhythm guitar and, when fronting the group from 1987, was also on lead vocals. By September 1985 they had been joined by Peter Jones on drums and percussion; Barry Palmer on lead guitar; Glen Sheldon first on rhythm guitar and then on bass guitar; and Chris Wilson on harmonica and saxophone. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt that "Few alternative bands of the day could ever hope to match that line-up for muscular bravado and sheer instrumental firepower". On 18 May 2012 Peter Jones died of brain cancer, aged 45.

The Zimmermen were an Australian rock and country music group, which formed in June 1983. Members included John Dowler on vocals, Mick Holmes on guitar and vocals, Graeme Perry on drums, and Peter Tulloch on guitar. They released two albums, Rivers of Corn, Way Too Casual, before disbanding in 1990. Former guitarist, Steve Connolly died in 1995.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Scribble and related entries at Australian Rock Database:
    • Scribble: Holmgren, Magnus. "Scribble". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Johanna Pigott (1983–87): Holmgren, Magnus. "Johanna Pigott". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • XL Capris: Holmgren, Magnus; Gooding, Tim. "XL Capris". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Lee Borkman (1985–86): Holmgren, Magnus; Borkman, Lee. "Lee Borkman". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Mike Caen (1985–86): Holmgren, Magnus. "Mike Caen". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Bill Heckenberg (1986–87): Holmgren, Magnus. "Bill Heckenberg". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Melanie Oxley (1986): Holmgren, Magnus. "Melanie Oxley". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    • Tim Powles (1985–86): Holmgren, Magnus. "Tim Powles". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'XL-Capris'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
  3. 1 2 3 "'Silly Girl' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 8 March 2017. Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. Silly Girl; or at "Performer:" Scribble
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nestel, Christine (4 September 1986). "The Good Times: Pigott Returns with Full Force in Scribble". The Canberra Times . 61 (18, 600). p. 2. Retrieved 8 March 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Boswell, Laurence (22 January 1987). "The Good Times: Hunter/Pigott Collaboration Produces a 'Fantastic' Sound Dragon Is Back Breathing Fire". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 738). p. 2. Retrieved 8 March 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "XL Capris". The Mod Pop Punk Archives. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.