Riptides

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For the hockey team, see Riptides (hockey).
The Riptides
Origin Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genre(s) Indie pop, power pop
Years active 1979–1983; 1987–1991; 2007
Associated acts The Go-Betweens
Leftovers
Flaming Hands
Last Chance Café
Elks
Humans
GANGgajang
Angels
Mondo Rock
Divinyls
Website The Riptides MySpace website

The Riptides were a band from Brisbane Australia and worked largely as a vehicle for the song-writing talents of Mark "Cal" Callaghan. Over a career spanning 6 years from 1979 to 1983 the band also featured a number of notable musicians.

Contents

[edit] History

The Riptides formed in 1977 as The Grudge, with their members comprising students from the Architecture Department of the University of Queensland.[1] In 1978, The Grudge changed names to, firstly, The Neon Steal and then The Numbers. In September 1978, The Numbers issued a limited edition (500 copies) EP, Sunset Strip on The Go-Betweens' Able label.

In early 1979, Robert Vickers left The Numbers, travelling to New York where he joined The Colors; in 1983, he joined The Go-Betweens. Mark Callaghan switched to bass, and The Numbers became The Riptides (in order to avoid confusion with a Sydney band also called The Numbers). The band remixed the Sunset Strip EP and reissued it in July 1979 (in a pressing of 2000 copies). Andrew Leitch then replaced Alan Reilly on guitar and keyboards and the band recorded a new single, "Tomorrow's Tears"/"Some Other Guy" and released issued the single on February 14, 1980 on the Flat label. The band appeared on Countdown to promote the single.[2] The Riptides moved to Sydney during the winter of 1980.[1]

In March 1981, Michael Hiron (ex-Leftovers, Flaming Hands) joined on bass, which allowed Callaghan to switch to rhythm guitar. Scott Matheson had also left the band by that stage. The new four-piece line-up entered the studio with producer Graham `Buzz' Bidstrup (ex-Angels) in mid-1981 to record the six-track mini-album Swept Away which was released in November. "Only Time" was released as a single, also in November 1981. With the release of Swept Away, Dennis Cantwell and Andrew Leitch both left the band. Callaghan and Hiron laid low for a time before re-emerging in early 1982 with a new line-up comprising Russell Parkhouse (keyboards), Howard Shawcross (bass; ex-Last Chance Café, Elks) and Graeme `Hutch' Hutchinson (drums; ex-Humans). Hiron moved to lead guitar.

The Riptides issued a new single, "Hearts and Flowers" / "Sandarama" in September 1982, and supported Simple Minds on their October Australian tour. By January 1983, The Riptides decided that they had performed on the Australian touring circuit long enough and that it was time to call it a day. In July 1983, Regular issued the Callaghan-assembled anthology album Riptides (aka The Last Wave). Callaghan and Leitch recording a new song, "The Wedding Song", for inclusion on the album.

Callaghan went on to find commercial success with GANGgajang but the surf inspired pop of The Riptides had a fun-loving naivity which could not be surpassed.

The Riptides developed a cult status in their home city of Brisbane, Australia. Even during the GANGgajang years, The Riptides would regularly reform for a tour of universities during Orientation Week. In early 1987, Callaghan revived The Riptides for a reunion tour to help celebrate ten years of Brisbane pop culture. The line-up comprised Mark Callaghan, Andrew Leitch, Michael Hiron and Buzz Bidstrup. The reunion tour produced the double live album, Riptides Resurface which came out in December 1987. The Riptides toured again in February 1988 with Callaghan, Leitch, Hiron and J.J. Harris (drums; ex-Divinyls).

Callaghan and Hiron revived The Riptides again for successful summer tours during 1989 and 1990. In early 1991, the pair entered the studio with new guitarist Tony Adams, session drummer John James (J.J.) Hackett (ex-Mondo Rock) and South-African-born producer/ drummer Ricky Fataar (ex-Beach Boys) to record the first full-length Riptides studio album. Wave Rock appeared in August 1991 and produced the singles "Stop (Don't Start)" in May 1991 and "Here Comes the Sun" in August 1991. Neil Chadwick joined as a permanent drummer and The Riptides toured once again.

The Riptides also reformed for the "Pig City" Festival on July 14, 2007 and performed a classic set that showed why they still remain one of Brisbane's great bands.[1][3]

[edit] Discography

  • "Sunset Strip" - 7" Able AB006 (2000 copies) (1979) issued)
  • "Tomorrow's Tears" - 7" Flat FLAT1 (1980)
  • Swept Away mini-LP Regular L20004 (1981)
  • "Only Time"/"The Riptide"/"Shake It" - 7" Regular K8341 (July 1981)
  • "Hearts And Flowers"/"Sandarama" - 7" Regular (1982)
  • The Riptides - LP Regular RRLP1207 (1983)
  • Riptides (a.k.a. Last Wave) - LP WEA (1983)
  • Resurface - double-LP Mercury 832989-1 (1988)
  • "Stop"/"Hideous" - CD single Bluedisc (1991)
  • Wave Rock - CD Bluedisc/Phonogram 510224-2 (1991)
  • "Here Comes the Sun" - CD single Bluedisc (1991)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Bell, Steve. Swim between the flags - The Riptides. Queensland Government. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  2. ^ The Riptides - Tomorrow's Tears. YouTube (2007-0802).
  3. ^ Pig City. Rave Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.

[edit] External links

  • Who's Who of Australian Rock Compiled by Chris Spencer 2nd ed 1989 Five Mile Press
  • Waltzing the Plank : The Australian Illustrated Encyclopedia of Surf Music 1963-2003 by Stephen J. McPharland
  • Riptides (Australian Rock Database)
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