Brad Shepherd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brad Shepherd | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bradley Mark Shepherd |
| Born | 2 February 1961 |
| Genre(s) | rock |
| Occupation(s) | musician, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Label(s) | A&M Elektra RCA Zoo/Volcano (Mushroom) Evageline EMI |
| Associated acts | The Fun Things, The Hitmen, Super K, Beasts of Bourbon, Hoodoo Gurus, Monarchs, Persian Rugs |
Brad Shepherd (born Bradley Mark Shepherd[1] 2 February 1961 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian rock musician. Shepherd is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and harmonica player; he has performed with several bands,[2] especially the iconic Hoodoo Gurus.[3] Best known Guru's single, is their 1987 hit "What's My Scene?" written by bandmate Dave Faulkner.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early career
Shepherd was born in Sydney but his parents relocated to Brisbane when he was six years old and describes himself as "a frustrated drummer": his parents had bought a drum kit but after moving on to guitar he left the kit for his younger brother Murray Shepherd.[4] Shepherd attended Brisbane Grammar School in the mid-1970s. His first band was Brisbane punk rock act, The Aliens, which formed in 1978 with Shepherd as their lead guitarist/singer, John Hartley on bass and Murray Shepherd on drums.[5] With the addition of second guitarist, Graeme Beavis, The Aliens eventually became The Fun Things by 1979 and released a self-titled EP, The Fun Things (1980).[6]
In late 1980 Shepherd joined The 31st, which at that stage consisted of Mick Medew, Tony Robertson, Chris Welch and Ron Peno (Died Pretty). Early in 1981 Peno and Shepherd travelled to Sydney, where Shepherd was invited to join The Hitmen, replacing Tony Vidale.[4] At that time they included Johnny Kannis (lead vocals), Mark Kingsmill (drums, backing vocals), Warwick Gilbert (bass, backing vocals) and Chris Masuak (guitar, backing vocals).[5] Upon joining, Shepherd had to re-record the lead guitar parts for their debut self-titled album, The Hitmen (1981), and then toured the east coast of Australia to promote it.[4] The band changed record labels (switching from WEA to RCA Records), with fellow 31st member Tony Robertson replacing Gilbert, and entered studios to record their second album, It is What it is! (1982),[5] with Shepherd also writing the band's 1982 single, "Bwana Devil".[1]
As a side project, Shepherd had joined former The Hitmen member and fellow flatmate, Clyde Bramley (bass guitar), in bubble gum pop group Super K[5] to record a single "Go Go" / "Recurring Nightmare" (1982) (co-written by Shepherd).[1] Hassles with The Hitmen producers and Masuak led Shepherd to quit, he followed Bramley into Hoodoo Gurus.[4]
[edit] Hoodoo Gurus
In 1981, Faulkner had founded Le Hoodoo Gurus in Sydney with James Baker, Roddy Radalj and Kimble Rendall but after their first single, "Leilani" (1982), Rendall and Radalj both left being replaced by Bramley and Shepherd.[7] As Hoodoo Gurus, with Shepherd on lead guitar, backing vocals (sometimes lead vocals) and harmonica the band released eight studio albums starting with Stoneage Romeos (1984).
Shepherd was briefly involved with James Baker's side project Beasts of Bourbon, and recorded their four-track CD, From the Belly of the Beasts (1984) live at the Trade Union Club, Sydney.[8] Shepherd's tenure with Beasts ended after Baker was sacked from the Gurus in 1984.[9] Baker's replacement was fellow The Hitmen drummer Mark Kingsmill who joined in time for Hoodoo Gurus first US tour starting in late 1984. Bramley left in 1988 to be replaced by Richard Grossman (ex-Divinyls, Matt Finish). Shepherd had joined another ex-Guru, Roddy Radalj, in Roddy Ray'Da and the Surfin' Caesars during 1989.[5]
Hoodoo Gurus' best performed single written by Shepherd[1] was "You Open My Eyes" (1994) which reached #43 on the ARIA Singles Charts.[10] Hoodoo Gurus line-up was unchanged from 1988 until they disbanded in 1998, they reformed in 2003 with same members: Faulkner, Shepherd, Kingsmill and Grossman.
In 1999, following Gurus break-up, Shepherd recorded "Alex Chilton" for The Replacements tribute album, I'm In Love... With That Song (Antfarm Records).[11] He also produced Shutterspeed's debut EP, Up Go The Shutters (1999) and co-produced their second EP, Well Ain't That Something A Good Thing's Comin' (November, 1999) on Laughing Outlaw Records.
[edit] The Monarchs
Shepherd then went onto to form a new band, The Monarchs (initially known as The Honkies), together with Andy Kelly on bass (Glide), Greg Hitchcock on guitar (The Neptunes, The Kryptonics, New Christs, The Verys, Challenger 7, You Am I, The Dearhunters)[12] and his brother Murray Shepherd (Harpoon, The Fun Things, Screaming Tribesmen) on drums. The Monarchs played with The Meanies, Even, You Am I, Joe Strummer and The Hellacopters.[13] In August, 1999 The Monarchs recorded a self-financed album with Wayne Connolly and in 2000 they released their first single, "2001" b/w "This Is All I Can Do" (Ivy League Records) which was followed by their debut album, Make Yer Own Fun, in October, 2001 (Shock Records).[5]
From 1990 onwards, fellow Hoodoo Gurus member Grossman has been involved in a side project, Ghostwriters, with Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil.[14] Shepherd played with Ghostwriters on their albums Ghostwriters (1991) and Fibromoon (1999).[14][5] The Kelly Gang was a 2004 project Grossman formed with Jack Nolan to record Looking for the Sun (July, 2004); Shepherd performed as a session musician.[15]
[edit] Persian Rugs
In September 2001, the four ex-Gurus (Faulkner, Grossman, Kingsmill & Shepherd) performed as The Moops (later called Persian Rugs).[16][17] At Homebake 2001, (December 8) both Hoodoo Gurus and Persian Rugs performed separate sets.[17] Just after Persian Rugs recorded a five-track EP Mr. Tripper (June, 2002) Grossman left the band, with Shepherd then recommending bassist Kendall James as his replacement[18] (ex Thurston Howlers, Crusaders). With the addition of James the Persian Rugs recorded their debut album Turkish Delight, which was released in August, 2003.[19]
[edit] Hoodoo Gurus reformed
Persian Rugs provided the track "Be My Guru" for the Hoodoo Gurus' tribute album Stoneage Cameos (2005)[20] (see Stoneage Romeos) but by that time Hoodoo Gurus had already reformed. They had released their come-back album, Mach Schau (2004), then undertook a national tour followed by an international tour. Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame.[3][21]
[edit] Personal life
Shepherd is married to Sahara, the event coordinator for the Big Day Out[22], and has a daughter, Penelope (born February 18, 2002).[4][23]
[edit] Discography
- The Fun Things (1978-1980)
- The Fun Things (EP) - Independent (1980) re-release (2000)
- The 31st (1980-1981)
-
- no recorded output known
- The Hitmen (1981-1982)
- Super K (1982)
- "Go Go" b/w "Recurring Nightmare" - Green (7" Single) (1982) Citadel Records re-release (1985)
- Hoodoo Gurus (1981-1998) (2003-present)
- Beasts of Bourbon
- From the Belly of the Beasts - WEA (1984)
- The Monarchs (1998-1999)
- "2001" b/w "This Is All I Can Do" - Ivy League Records (2000)
- Make Yer Own Fun - Shock Records (2001)
- Persian Rugs (2001-2004)
- Mr Tripper - SOS/Shock ([[Extended Play|EP) (2002)
- Turkish Delight - Shock (2003)
- "Be My Guru" (recorded 2004) on Stoneage Cameos (2005) see Stoneage Romeos
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Australasian Performing Right Association. APRA. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
- ^ a b Pope, Mark (2007-07-18). Hoodoo Gurus Bio (PDF). ARIA Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e Gardner, Steve. Monarchs Rock muscle cars on fossil fuels. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g Australian Rock Database entry on Brad Shepherd. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Hoodoo Gurus discography. Julia Thiel. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Discogs: Hoodoo Gurus. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ Hoodoo Gurus discography. Julia Thiel. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Doing the regal rock". I-94 Bar. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ Australian Singles Charts "You Open My Eyes". australian-charts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ I'm In Love...With That Song. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ Australian Rock Database - Greg Hitchcock. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Oz Music Project. Jasper Lee & Matt Attlee. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ a b Australian Rock Database entry on Rick Grossman. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ Piggot, Stacey. Australian Music Online entry on The Kelly Gang. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ McPharlin, John (2001-09-06). "The Moops aka Persian Rugs at the Hoey". I-94 Bar. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ a b "Homebake 2001 band profiles". Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (2003-08-19). "What is with the Hoodoo Gurus reformation rumours?". Undercover Music News. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ Australian Rock Database entry on Persian Rugs. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ Australian Rock Database entry on Stoneage Cameos. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ Pope, Mark (2007-05-07). (PDF) "ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame". Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ The Music website (Issue #509 - 6th June 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ^ The Monarchs fansite. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
[edit] External link
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Shepherd, Brad |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2 February 1961 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
