| Little Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Years active | 1980–1984 |
| Labels | Giant/CBS EMI Capitol |
| Associated acts | The Secret Police MEO 245 Bleeding Hearts Breakers Modesty |
| Past members | |
| see Members list | |
Little Heroes were a popular Australian rock band in the 1980s. They are best known for their hit single "One Perfect Day", which was released in 1982.
Contents |
Little Heroes were formed from the remnants of The Secret Police. The Secret Police were a popular Melbourne rock band, comprising vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Roger Hart(aka Roger Wells), bassist Neil Walker [Died 1979 from Leukemia] was replaced by John Taylor, drummer Bruce Pumpa, guitarist Andrew Callender, and saxophonist Peter Linley.[1] Secret Police did not issue any records, although posthumously the band contributed the tracks "Emotion" and "Everybody Looks Lonely at Night" to Missing Links' 1981 compilation album The Melbourne Club.[2] In 1980 Hart, Taylor and Pumpa joined keyboardist David Crosbie to start a new band called The Little Heroes.[1]
The new line-up competed in the Victorian State heat of the 1980 Battle of the Sounds, finishing a creditable second. The result was enough to advance The Little Heroes to the national final in Sydney, which they won, earning $5000.[2] This resulted in the band recording and releasing their debut single "She Says"/"Coming Home" in November 1980.[2] On the strength of this independent release they were signed to the Giant Records/CBS label to record their debut album.
Prior to recording the album the band recruited a new drummer, Huk Treloar (ex-Bleeding Hearts) to replace Pumpa.[1][2] The band's self titled debut album was released in August, 1981 and reached #81 on the Australian album charts. It produced the singles "For a Bleeding Heart"/"She Says" (March, 1981), "Last Number One"/"Catch Me" (June, 1981), and "India Was Calling Me"/"Pretty Shadow" (September, 1981) all of which failed to chart. At the end of 1981 Alan 'Clutch' Robertson then replaced Treloar on drums.[1][2]
In early 1982 the band undertook the recording of their second album, Play by Numbers, (now with EMI Records) at Armstrong Studios in Melbourne, and then at the EMI studios in Sydney. The advance single, "One Perfect Day", was released in May, 1982 and reached #12 nationally and #6 in Victoria.[3] Those recording sessions also produced a second single "Young Hearts", which reached #42 on the national singles charts.[3] The lineup of Hart, Crosbie, Taylor and Robertson then toured Australia to promote the successful "One Perfect Day".
Martin Fisher (ex-Breakers) then replaced Crosbie on keyboards, and Peter Leslie replaced Taylor on bass.[1][2] The new lineup (Hart, Robertson, Leslie, Fisher) completed recording the second album, Play by Numbers at 301 Studios in Sydney with Australian producer Dave Marrett. The album was released in August, 1982 and peaked at #37 on the national album charts.[3] It also yielded a third single, "Saturday (Afternoon) Inside" released In October 1982, which failed to chart. The album was supported by a six month national tour.
Fisher and Leslie left to join Dear Enemy and were replaced by Paul Brickhill (ex-MEO-245) on keyboards and bass player, Rick Loriot (ex-Inserts) at the end of 1982. Loriot only lasted four months and was in turn replaced by Anthony Tavasz (ex-Modesty).[1][2]
The band added guitarist Paul Bell, which allowed Hart more freedom as lead vocalist[2] and they then (Hart, Robertson, Bell, Brickhill, Tavasz) traveled to the United Kingdom in June 1983 to record their third album, Watch the World at Farmyard Studios with UK producer Rupert Hine (The Fixx, Howard Jones).[2][4] The album was released in September 1983 and reached #50 nationally.[3] The first single, "Watch the World", released in August, 1983 reached #73, with the second single, "Bon Voyage", released in November, 1983 reaching #51,[3] whilst the third single "Modern Times", released in March, 1984 failing to chart.[2] To support the release of "Watch The World" the band toured Australia over a six month period.
In June, 1984 Roger Hart/Wells announced he was leaving the band and as a result the Little Heroes was formally disbanded.[2]