The Lighthouse Keepers

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The Lighthouse Keepers were an Australian rock band that formed in Sydney in the early 1980s though three of its members were originally from Canberra, ACT , and two of them had earlier played in another band, Guthugga Pipeline. Greg Appel composed most of the group's material, and the bulk of it was sung by vocalist Juliet Ward. Drummer Stephen Wiliams (ex-Particles (band)) joined in 1983 for the recording of their mini-album.

Their repertoire was quirky mix of pop, country, rock and folk, led by the distinctive, quavering vocals of Ward. Alongside Appel's songs were a few contributions from O'Neil and a large cache of covers, ranging from the Jacksons' 'Can You Feel It' to 'A Fool Such as I'. They built up a cult following and performed regularly on the east coast of Australia, releasing a number of independent recordings and making one visit to the United Kingdom where they supported a number of bands including The Triffids in 1985. The band split in 1986.

Appel and Ward went on to the shortlived Rainlovers, which evolved into arguably the best of Appel's various musical outings, The Widdershins in 1987, including drummer Peter Timmerman, guitarist James Cruikshank (who subsequently joined The Cruel Sea (band)), and bassist Barry Turnbull (ex- John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong). Widdershins had a good following around Sydney in the late '80s and gained airplay on radio station Triple J and had music video clips played on the ABC's weekly late-night program Rage.

Following the demise of Widdershins, Greg and his younger brother Stephen Appel gigged occasionally with Ward, Timmerman and others in a loose-knit outfit called Hammerhead, before forming the semi-regular group One Head Jet ca. 1992, playing in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and other towns until about 1997. The fluid lineup included Timmerman, the youngest of the Appel clan, David (vocals, trumpet, percussion) and on occasion, in the latter stages of the band, guitarist Brendan Gallagher, later of Karma County. After the demise of One Head Jet, Steve Appel formed the Sydney-based trio King Curly.

Greg Appel has limited involvement in music since One Head Jet although he has contributed to his brother's recordings. Appel has worked for the ABC for many years and his long friendshhip with senior producer Paul Clarke led to him directing the landmark ABC music documentary series "Long Way To The Top".

The fourth Appel brother, Robert, is the founder of the pioneering and highly successful internet music retail website ChaosMusic (http://www.chaosmusic.com).

[edit] Members

Greg Appel (12-string guitar, keyboards, vocals)
Juliet Ward (vocals, bass)
Steven Williams (drums)
Stephen O'Neil (bass, guitar, sax, drums)
Michael "Blue" Dalton (harmonica, slide guitar, bass)

[edit] Discography

'"Gargoyle"/"Demolition Man", "Quick Sticks" (single, 1983)
The Exploding Lighthouse Keepers (mini album, 1983)
"Gargoyle"/"Demolition Man", 'Quick Sticks' (single, 1984) reissue by Hot Records
Tales of the Unexpected (1984, Hot Records).
"Ocean Liner"/"Sad Tale" (single, 1984, Hot Records).
"Ode to Nothing"/"Seven Years", (single, 1985, Hot Records)
Imploding (Waterfront, compilation 1989?)