Vertical Hold was an Australian musical group formed in Adelaide, South Australia. Active from 1980 to 1985, the band achieved regional success in South Australia with several radio hits and one nationally charting album.
Their debut single, "My Imagination", released in late 1981, reached number 50 on the national Kent Music Report chart and was a number one hit in Adelaide.[1] This was followed by "Tears of Emotion" in 1982, which peaked at number 58 nationally,[2] and "Shot Down (In Love)" in 1983, which reached number 85.[3] A 16 mm music video for the latter was directed by filmmaker Scott Hicks.[4]
The band released one studio album, Vertical Hold, in March 1984, which reached number 88 on the Kent Music Report albums chart.[5]
In 1985, the group renamed themselves The Gladiators (without cellist Hilary Frost) and contributed the track "Strange Love" to the RCA compilation album S.A. Brewing.
Lead singer Mick Michalopoulos (also referred to as "Miki") passed away in 2016. His sons, Yianni and Jim Michalopoulos, formed the Melbourne alternative rock band Society of Beggars.[6]
↑ "Vertical Hold". Australian Music History. Retrieved 26 August 2025. The film clip for "Shot Down (In Love)" was shot on 16mm film and was totally created from scratch and directed by Adelaide's Scott Hicks, who had made three clips for INXS the previous year and went on to make numerous films, including "Shine".
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