The Screaming Tribesmen | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Brisbane, Australia |
Genres | Punk rock, indie rock, garage rock, |
Years active | 1981–1993 |
Labels | Citadel Records Rattlesnake Records Survival Records |
Associated acts | The New Christs Feather The Hitmen Radio Luxembourg Radio Birdman Died Pretty Mick Medew & The Rumours Klondike's North 40 |
Members | |
Mick Medew Chris Masuak Bob Wackley Warwick Fraser |
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Past members | |
John Hartley Murray Shepherd Jeff Silver Ritchie Hine Glenn Morris Paul Larsen Tony Cardinal Ash Geary Chris Dixon Brian Mann Tony Robertson Brad Shepherd Mark Kingsmill Michael Charles Marc Lee De Hugar Peter Cann Ron Peno Chris Welch |
The Screaming Tribesmen was a band formed in Brisbane by Mick Medew, John Hartley & Murray Shepherd. After their I Don't Wanna Know EP and a string of successful singles, including "A Stand Alone" and their first hit, "Igloo" which was penned by Medew and Died Pretty frontman Ron Peno, the band moved base to Sydney, home of their label Citadel Records.
After relocation to Sydney, and a number of line-up changes the band settled on its most successful lineup of Medew, ex-Radio Birdman & The Hitmen guitarist Chris Masuak, bass player Bob Wackley & drummer Warwick Fraser (ex-Feather & Hoi Polloi) who replaced Michael Charles after the recording of the Date With A Vampyre EP.
The Vampyre EP reigned at the top of the Australian independent charts for over 40 weeks, while the band toured constantly in support. The follow-up Top of the Town EP released on the boutique Rattlesnake Records label saw a change in direction for the band as it morphed into the sound of their first full length release Bones and Flowers.
The band toured the US on the strength of the album and at home they enjoyed a run of Australian Alternative #1 hits as well as gaining Stateside attention with regular airplay on the US College Radio circuit. Their 1988 single "I've Got a Feeling" featured heavily on US MTV's 120 Minutes, hitting #1 on the KROQ charts in LA and #7 on Billboard's modern rock chart.
Internal disputes after their US successful tour saw the lineup dissolve after a performance in front of 200,000 people at Sydney's Bondi Beach at a protest concert, 'Stop the Ocean Pollution'. Medew formed a new lineup featuring members of Melbourne band Radio Luxembourg, Jeff Silver and Ritchie Hine and former Kings of the Sun guitarist Glenn Morris.
This line-up released two albums, a collection of covers "Take Cover" and "Blood Lust". Morris departed and was replaced by Brian Mann, while Ritchie Hine was replace by Celibate Rifles sticksman Paul Larsen.
Mick Medew continued to tour, write and record with various line-ups until 1992, when he retired the name, re-emerging after a decade long hiatus as Mick Medew and the Rumours featuring ex-Screaming Tribesmen and Lost Boys Chris Dixon and Ash Geary, with bass player Paul Hawker.
In January 2011 Medew performed a set of Screaming Tribesmen songs in Sydney with former guitarist and songwriting partner Chris Masuak.
In June 2011 it was announced the "Bones and Flowers" era line-up of Medew, Masuak, Wackley and Fraser would reform for a series of shows on the east coast of Australia beginning with The Gathering Festival in Brisbane on 17 September.
The band subsequently announced shows in Melbourne (23 September) and Sydney (24 and 25 September) on the back of CD re-issues of "Date With a Vampyre"/"Top of the Town" and "Bones And Flowers" through Australian label Grown Up Wrong.
Contents |
Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
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US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
1983 | "Igloo" | - | - | - | - | - |
1984 | "A Stand Alone" | - | - | - | - | - |
1987 | "I've Got a Feeling" | - | 7 | - | - | Bones and Flowers |
1988 | "Casualty of Love " | - | - | - | - | Bones and Flowers |
1991 | "Ayla" | - | - | - | - | - |