Sardine v (or just Sardine) was an Australian post-punk band, formed by Ian Rilen (X , Rose Tattoo), and Stephanie Rilen (aka Stephanie Russell Falconer).[1]
Since its inception Sardine v has included Phil Hall (Dropbears, Lime Spiders), and Greg Skehill in Sydney in 1980. The band's first show at the Rockgarden on 13 December 1980 was a sell out, with guests The Machinations and Love Mum and the Urgent Ring Me's. An invitation/promotional card for this show was included in the Powerhouse Museum's "Real Wild Child" exhibition.[2] They broke up in 1983 and Ian Rilen went back to playing with X.
The band formed after Ian bought a keyboard for his children. "I didn't know [Stephanie] played until I bought a keyboard for the kids and I was writing songs in my room at the house. She just walked by and played a line on the keyboards. I said: 'Do that again'." [1]
Although hard-working and popular live (playing to crowds of 800-1000), the band's recordings were never up to suitable quality and they failed to make it big. A video of 1982 version of Sardine performing "Sudan" (written by Falconer)[1] on ABC-TV's Countdown is available on YouTube [2] and shows Ian Rilen on guitar, Stephanie Rilen on keyboards and lead vocals, Johanna Pigott on bass guitar and Barton Price on drums.
Their influence was still felt. Hunters & Collectors covered "Stuck On You" (written by I Rilen, S Falconer)[1] on their 1986 album Human Frailty and added it to their set [3], and both tracks from the single featured on compilation albums. The Deadly Hume covered "I Hate You" on the Phantom Records tenth anniversary compilation Assorted Desecrations And Magnificent Mutations (1988).
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