Guttersnipes (band)
| Guttersnipes | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Grunge |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Labels | Au-Go-Go, |
| Associated acts | Baboon Rebus |
| Members | Andrew Rice (Guitar, Vocals), Mark Hurst (Drums), Michael McManus (Bass), Paul Brockhoff (Guitar, Vocals) |
Guttersnipes are a four-piece guitar band from Melbourne, Australia, who formed in 1989.
History
Guttersnipes formed in Melbourne in 1989 and began writing music and playing shows at various inner city venues. The band wrote original songs that featured distorted and fast-paced melodies. Their sound initially showed some similarities to bands such as Squirrelbait, Hüsker Dü and Dinosaur Jr., while containing tinges of Australian punk and garage influences.
The band formed an allegiance with Melbourne-based Au Go Go Records in 1990, releasing their debut single "It's Over" on the label in early 1991. They then signed a multiple-record deal with the label, but only issued two more records on Au Go Go, "Blurred" in 1991 and "Face the Day" in 1996. The band also released quite a number of tracks on various compilations.
Live shows
Guttersnipes played many live shows around Australia throughout the 1990s, mostly in the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania.
In the early 1990s, they formed a trio of bands with The Throwaways and Spiderbait that organised shows under the moniker "Tell 'em it's Healthy". This was an attempt on the part of these bands to bypass what they saw as a moribund music industry establishment, and combine crowds so that venues would see the combination as a worthwhile bill. The tactic proved successful, and the "Tell 'em it's Healthy" shows frequently outsold those of the more established headline acts of the time.
Throughout the 1990s, the Guttersnipes played with a range of U.S. and European bands touring Australia, including Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, The Lemonheads, Ween, Buffalo Tom, L7 and Bob Mould. They also played with many Australian acts, including Cosmic Psychos, The Beasts of Bourbon, the Hard-Ons, The Splatterheads, Magic Dirt, Regurgitator, Christbait, Green Beaver, Screamfeeder, You Am I, Something for Kate, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists and many others. They also played a number of festivals, including the Meredith Music Festival in 1991 and 1992.
The Guttersnipes have not officially disbanded, although they are no longer a professional working band. They have been known to play the occasional show in Melbourne, but these have been rare since 2001.
Members
Andrew Rice - Guitar, Vocals
Mark Hurst - Drums
Michael McManus - Bass
Paul Brockhoff - Guitar, Vocals
Radio broadcasts
The music of the Guttersnipes was the subject of two broadcasts on Triple J, Australia's National Youth Network. The first broadcast was a half an hour acoustic performance from the band which aired on 30 June 1992 as part of the Triple J Acoustic Sessions. The second broadcast was a forty-minute live performance, aired on 25 February 1993 as part of the Live at the Wireless program.
Discography
Guttersnipes Releases
Face The Day CDEP (Au Go Go, year 1996, ANDA 201)
Face the Day
- Pyromania
- Try
- Centrifugal Force
It's Over 7" (Au Go Go, 1990, ANDA 129)
It's Over
- Tide
- How Can I?
Blurred 10"/CD (Au Go Go, year 1991, ANDA 144)
Never
- Anything
- You
- No One
- Sister
- Just Can't See
- Work
- Blurred
- It's Over (CD Only)
- Tide (CD Only)
- How Can I? (CD Only)
Split Singles
Hog / Cosmic Psychos / Guttersnipes / Empty Set with Ron Asheton Split 7", came with Lemon Fanzine issue 15(1992?)
Guttersnipes track: Elephant Beer
Compilations
Teeth 10" (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 140) (Comp. also featuring The Meanies, Throwaways and Spiderbait)
- Threw it all away
Wally's Wild Weekend Live Compilation LP/CD (Au-Go-Go, 1991, ANDA 141) (Comp. also featuring Hoss (band), The Throwaways, The Meanies, Spiderbait, Nursery Crimes, Unclean Spirits)
- Crossroads
- Sister
Crack in the Sun or Fade in the Shade (Roo-Art, 1992, ?) (Comp. also featuring Screamfeeder, The Meanies, Fridge, Massappeal, Nursery Crimes, Rootbeer, Seaweed Goorillas, Tumbleweed (band), Supergrass, Daisygrinders, You Am I and Headache)
- Pyromania
RRR Reel to Real (1993?)
- Face the Day
Totally Wireless, The Triple J Acoustic Sessions- Various Artists (Polygram Australia, 1993) (Comp. also featuring Tex, Don and Charlie; Glide; You Am I; The drunk, the monk and the spunk; Smudge; Daisychains; Blindman's Holiday; The Blackeyed Susans; The Madisons; Tiddas; My Friend The Chocolate Cake; Ed Kuepper & Mark Dawson; Evan Dando; Stephen Cummings & Dave Graney; The Plums)
- Adrift
See also
References
McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1.
Spencer, Chris; McHenry, Paul; Nowara, Zbig (2002). Who's Who of Australian Rock (5th ed.). Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.
Taylor, Thomas (1992-07-17). "Guttersnipes and Antichriiiiists" (Publisher's site). The Age, Friday 17 July 1992. Fairfax Media.
Roberts, Luke (1992-03-02). "Tell 'em it's healthy" (Publisher's site). Beat Magazine, Issue (?) Wed 4 March 1992. Furst Media.
Ball, Carolyn (1991-05-01). "Spiderbait, Guttersnipes, Throwaways - MCG Hotel (Live Review)" (Publisher's site). Beat Magazine, Issue (?), Wed 1 May 1991. Furst Media.
Au Go Go Records (2002). Au Go Go Discography by Artist. Retrieved Apr. 18, 2007.