| King Snake Roost | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Adelaide, Australia |
| Genres | Grunge, noise rock |
| Years active | 1985–1990 |
| Labels | Aberrant Amphetamine Reptile Satellite Megadisc Normal |
| Past members | |
| Charles Tolnay Peter Hill David Quinn Bill Bostle Michael Raymond Craig Rossi Gene Rivet Trigger |
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King Snake Roost (also known as KSR) were one of a number of Australian and International guitar-based bands who emerged from within the punk rock and post-punk scene of the mid 1980s that came to be defined as noise rock. King Snake Roost formed in 1985 in Adelaide and in 1987 the band moved to Sydney. The band broke up in 1990 after a two month tour of the USA. In Australia and the USA the band played with some of the most influential noise rock bands of the 1980s, including Sonic Youth, Big Black, Mudhoney, Helmet, Babes In Toyland, Lubricated Goat, feedtime and The Mark of Cain. KSR played at some prestigious 1980s US venues, including, CBGB and Maxwell's.
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Charlie Tolnay, guitar, was also a founding member of the seminal Adelaide post punk band Grong Grong. For a brief time he was in blues-punk band Bloodloss with Guy Madison of Mudhoney and he recorded with Lubricated Goat. During 1989 he recorded the Tumor Circus album with members of Steel Pole Bathtub and Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. He also played on both Bushpig records with Steve Turner and Mark Arm of Mudhoney
Trigger, vocals.
Michael Raymond, bass.
George Klestines, drums, formerly of Grong Grong and Perdition.
Charlie Tolnay, guitar.
Peter Hill, vocals & feed harp, also a member of Bushpig.
Bill Bostle, drums, was also a member of Half.
Michael Raymond, bass.
It was this line up that recorded the first KSR release From Barbarism to Christian Manhood.
For a brief time after Michael Raymond left bass duties were handled by 'Uncle Egon' (the band's name for the pre-recorded bass parts played back off tape), most notably for the Adelaide University Union show with Big Black. Dave Taskas of Grong Grong also played bass at a small number of shows in Melbourne.
Charlie Tolnay, guitar.
Peter Hill, vocals, guitar, feed harp.
Bill Bostle, drums.
David Quinn, bass, also a member of Deathless, and previously of Madroom.
This line up was responsible for all subsequent King Snake Roost recordings, and the USA tour.
Charlie Tolnay, guitar.
Peter Hill, vocals.
Gene Rivet, bass.
Craig Rossi, drums, who also played in Box Of Fish.
This version of the band was short-lived.
Lachlan McLeod, a member of Salamander Jim and Thug, amongst others.
Dave Boyne, member of legendary 1960s garage band The Missing Links.
Adrian Symes, aka 'Sax Adrian', who played with many bands during the 1980s.
Tom Sturm, of feedtime.
Michael Farkas, bassist from Grong Grong.
Recorded at Sound Barrier Studios Sydney during Easter of 1987 From Barbarism To Christian Manhood was originally released on Aberrant Records. It was re-released on the Minneapolis label Amphetamine Reptile Records in 1989.
Originally released on Aberrant Records. Re-issued on Amphetamine Reptile Records in 1989.
Recorded during the band's two month tour of the USA in 1989 at Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin, and produced by Butch Vig of Garbage.[1] Smart Studios and Butch Vig are known for producing Nirvana's Nevermind. This album was never released locally in Australia.
Recorded at Sound Barrier at the same time as From Barbarism To Christian Manhood.
Recorded in 1987 at Sound Barrier Studios. A-side Top End Killer, b-side is A Storm Brewin.
Around this time the band recorded a split single with feedtime called More Than 1 Bob, released on Aberrant Records. KSR covered the feedtime song more than love and feedtime covered the KSR song Buffalo Bob. During 1987-1989 both bands regularly played together at Sydney venues like the Palace Hotel. At the Palace Peter Hill of KSR would often join feedtime on stage to sing Buffalo Bob.
A cover of the Alice Cooper song recorded at Sound Barrier Studios in 1987. Another split single with Adelaide band Bloodloss covering Ike & Ike & Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits.
In 1989 or 1990 the band recorded a cover of the Kiss song "I Want You". This song was released by Waterfront Records on the Kiss covers album Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation (cat: DAMP-121). Other bands on the compilation include Nirvana, The Melvins, and The Hard-Ons. The album was later released by C/Z Records (cat: CZ-024) and Southern Records (cat: DAMP-121).
The KSR song Zippo was recorded at Smart Studios and produced by Butch Vig. This compilation also includes tracks by Surgery, The Cows and Tad.
A 7' flexi released was by Bob Magazine (issue 34) in 1989.