Candy Harlots
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| Candy Harlots | ||
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 Left to right: Mark Easton, Tony Cardinal, Leeno Dee, Marc Lee De Hugar and Ron Barrett
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Sydney, Australia | |
| Genre(s) | Sleaze rock Glam rock |
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| Years active | 1987–1992 | |
| Label(s) | Au Go Go Records Timberyard Virgin Records EMI |
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| Former members | ||
| Mark Easton Aiz Lynch Hayden Watt Nick Szentkuti Scott Millard Tony Cardinal Marc Lee De Hugar Ron Barrett Leeno Dee Phil Bowley Peter Masi |
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The Candy Harlots were a glam rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1987 (see 1987 in music). The group was infamous for its suggestive lyrics, explosive stage act and at one time were dubbed 'Sydney's biggest live secret!'.
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[edit] History
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The band was formed in 1987 by vocalist Mark Easton who had previously been a member of Soggy Porridge, The Glam Savages, Kelpies and Suicide Squad. After a couple of early bass player changes (former Glam Savage Nick Szentkuti spent six months in the role, followed by Scott Millard), the best known line-up from 88-90 consisted of the flamboyant Easton, his ex-Soggy Porridge drummer Tony Cardinal, 17 year old Marc De Hugar on lead guitar, ex-Glam Savages guitarist Ron Barrett and Leeno Dee on bass (ex-Roxx). Combining pulsating original songs with suggestive lyrics - they developed a huge underground following around Sydney - largely due to an exciting stage show and the fact that they were unlike anything the Australian music scene had witnessed before. The band were offered a recording deal with Virgin Records after only three shows, but their manager turned the offer down. The contract was never signed until the band had got out of their management deal four years later. For a time they were dubbed 'Sydney's Biggest Live Secret' - securing support slots with The Cult, Cheap Trick, Divinyls, The Angels, Sunnyboys, Danish rock band D-A-D and Kings of the Sun along the way. They played in many suburban Sydney pubs, but their stomping grounds were the Kardomah Cafe in Kings Cross, and the St James Tavern in the city.
Their popularity was massive, but due to their reputation - no big label would touch them. It was Melbourne label Au Go Go who issued their debut 7" single, "Red Hot Rocket", in April, 1989. Initial copies of the record were pressed on red vinyl and came wrapped in a pair of women's Candy Harlots knickers. The single (produced by Mick Cocks from Rose Tattoo) sold out in minutes and leapt to the top of the local charts. They did an in-store appearance at Galleon Records in Fairfield - followed by a whirlwind tour of Melbourne in mid-1989 (this included a Friday night show at the Barwon Club in Geelong, an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in Bourke Street, then playing to a packed Saturday night crowd at the Corner Hotel in Richmond.
The gigging continued and they were one of the most prominent bands on the Sydney live scene. The band's follow-up single was "Danger" backed with "Hot Love Child" which was released in 1990 on the Sydney label Timberyard. A friendship between New Jersey's Skid Row and the Candy Harlots was struck after Skid Row's Hordern Pavillion show in 1990. The band jammed with The Candy Harlots on The Troggs' Wild Thing at an after show party at the Kardomah Cafe - with members of Mötley Crüe (touring at the time) also in attendance.
Lead guitar whiz Marc De Hugar was the first casualty and was replaced in 1990 by Phil Bowley (ex-Rags n Riches). Tragedy struck not long after, when in October 1990 original rhythm guitarist Ron Barrett passed away. He was 26 years old. Ex-Flying Tigers member Peter Masi was recruited to fill Barrett's shoes. After a lengthy career, Easton quit rock n roll and his final performance with The Candy Harlots was fittingly, at the Kardomah Cafe on 22 March 1991.
New vocalist Aiz Lynch came via a band called Backstreet Shuffle. Lynch walked into a band already signed to a major label (Virgin Records) and with many strong songs all set to go. The 'Aiz Lynch' line-up achieved far greater media attention than the late 80s Easton fronted line-up. But the 'new' Candy Harlots was far removed from the New York Dolls-like cool and tongue-in-cheek charm which the Mark Easton late 80s line-up possessed; a band who'd set inner-city stages ablaze with original, well choreographed, killer performances. For many, they were a stadium act who were treading the boards of smaller venues, biding their time - awaiting that big break.
When the big break came via the aforementioned major deal - Easton was long gone and the Candy Harlots were now a whole new beast (albeit brimming with rock star cliche's and often lacking originality). Nevertheless, they still proved popular with the Australian hard rock and metal fraternity, gaining many new fans via the Virgin-backed promotion; but alienating many early fans in the process.
They released their debut album Five Wicked Ways in 1992 which is a very solid recording, highlighted by Leeno Dee's strong songwriting skills. Virgin Records was eventually bought out by EMI and the band were then signed to EMI's US label. Aiz Lynch was apparently sacked (going on to form the short lived Angry Snuff Puppett) and he was replaced by Hayden Watt; now the third Candy Harlots vocalist. Long serving skinsman Tony Cardinal quit the group along with Peter Masi. However Watt, Bowley and Dee formed a new outfit called Helter Skelter (with the addition of drummer Tubby Wadsworth (ex-Kings Cross). They released one single: an Iggy Pop cover "Cry For Love", before Watt was replaced by Jordan Howe. Now known simply as The Harlots, the band issued a self-titled CD in October of 1994 before dissolving the following year.
[edit] Post-breakup
- Mark Easton continues to perform and record with his blues-rock outfit Mark Easton Limousine. They have produced three releases: Coast To Coast, Greener, and Bandwagon released in September 2006. In October 2003 he performed a reunion gig with his former band The Kelpies at The Annandale Hotel in Sydney.
- Tony Cardinal - joined The Screaming Tribesmen in the mid-90s.
- Leeno Dee - played with Phil Bowley in Velet Claws, The Killer Kowboys and Dearly Beloved - who released an EP Pushover in February 1997. He achieved further success most recently as a member of Jerk and now plays in the band INK.[1]
- Marc De Hugar, once known as 'The Maestro', this talented guitar whiz was a member of small time Sydney outfits Strip Poker and Brindle Suite. In the mid-90s he joined The Screaming Tribesmen alongside Tony Cardinal. He is now in Queensland rock band Dragonfly. They have produced one release: "Zero" released August 2006. Dragonfly continue to perform and tour today.[2]
- Peter Masi played with the Angry Anderson/Peter Wells Band, Mark Easton Limousine and is currently in Beware of The Dog with former Harlots vocalist Jordan Howe.
- Aiz Lynch formed the short-lived Angry Snuff Puppett, after his stint in the Candy Harlots. In early 2005 he was listed to appear at a Tsunami Benefit show in Richmond, New South Wales.
- Nick Szentkuti, original bass player, is performing as a singer/guitarist. [3]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Five Wicked Ways (1992, Virgin Records - VOZCD2056LE)
[edit] Singles and EPs
- "Red Hot Rocket"/"When Will I Know" 7" (Au Go Go Records - ANDA96)
- "Danger"/"Wrap 2 Arms" 7" (Timberyard Records - BUZZ069)
- "Danger"/"Hot Love Child" 7" (Virgin Records - VOZ117)
- The Tease Tapes - Hot Metal Magazine giveaway (Virgin Records - FILTH1)
- Foreplay EP (Virgin Records - VOZCD134)
- Sister's Crazy (Virgin Records - VOZCD136)
- What Are We Fighting For (Virgin Records - VOZCD1??)
[edit] Related Discography
- Helter Skelter: "Cry For Love" (EMI Records - 8740292)
- The Harlots: The Harlots EP (Red Room Records - RR001)
- Dearly Beloved: Pushover EP
[edit] Trivia
- The Candy Harlots used to their start their shows to a backing tape of David Rose's "The Stripper".
- In 1990, Leeno Dee was apparently mobbed and chased down a city street by Alice Cooper fans, mistaking Dee for Cooper who was touring at the time.
- A third single with Easton-line up was recorded: "Sex Crazy" (backed with "Take Me Or Leave Me" and "Where No One Dares") but was never released.
- 'Foreplay" and "Sister's Crazy" reached #6 and #26 respectively on the Australian Music Charts. The album Five Wicked Ways reached #15.
- Sections of the video for "Red Hot Rocket" were filmed at the 'Harlots Ball' - a gala evening held at the Coogee Bay Hotel on 19 November 1988, although the majority was filmed at Sydney's St James Tavern.
- In 1989, the band played under the guise of 'The Red Hot Rockets (featuring The Peroxide Prancer)' - this was a humorous response to a scathing letter penned to a local music street magazine.
- Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan was photographed in US rock magazines sporting a Candy Harlots t-shirt.
- Mick Blood from The Lime Spiders once duetted live with the band - adding his vocals to a cover of The Glitter Band's "Angel Face".
- The Aiz Lynch fronted Candy Harlots supported AC/DC in Melbourne 1992.
- Marc de Hugar celebrated his 18th Birthday (amidst the controversy regarding his age) at Surry Hills Houptown Hotel in 1987, one year after the conception of the band. De Hugars Christian Mother came to the event praying for the bands souls whilst Mark Easton had climbed the Poker machine broke off the light at the top and proceeded to pseudo masturbate with it, sparking the beginning of their perverse notoriety.
- Many local bands shared the bill with late-80s era Candy Harlots, however local all-girl band The Rum Babas would have kicked off most evenings for them.
- Leeno Dee and Aiz Lynch appeared on Saturday Morning Live in 1992 - a music video program aimed at the teen market.
- The Candy Harlots undertook a triple-bill tour in 1992 alongside The Maybe Dolls and The Screaming Jets.
- "She Shines" - a popular late 80s live song penned and sung by Leeno Dee ended up on The Harlots EP in 1995.
- Backstreet Shuffle (fronted by a young Aiz Lynch) once supported the Candy Harlots at the Coogee Bay Hotel.
