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Ganggajang
Ganggajang, stylised as GANGgajang are an Australian pop rock band which formed in 1984.
The four founders are frontman Mark 'Cal' Callaghan (ex-Riptides) on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Bailey on bass guitar, Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup on drums (both ex-The Angels) and Kayellen Bee vocals and percussion. They were soon joined by Geoffrey Stapleton (ex-the Aliens on keyboards, guitar and vocals, and Robbie James on lead guitar.
Their most popular song, "Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)", was issued in December 1985 and peaked in the top 40 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. It gained further exposure in Australia ten years later when it was used on TV in a Coca-Cola ad and then for the 1996 Nine Network station ID promotion. It was added to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's curated collection, Sounds of Australia, in 2016; and was the opening song for the 2024 Australia Day concert performed at Sydney Opera House and beamed live on ABC TV, performed by GANGgajang and William Barton.
Their highest selling album was GANGgajang, which was released in November 1985. They have issued three other studio albums, GangAGAIN (1987), Lingo (1994) and Oceans and Deserts (2002).
GANGgajang founders, Chris Bailey, Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup, and Mark 'Cal' Callaghan had previously been members of various bands. Bailey, on bass guitar and vocals, had been a member of Adelaide groups, Tattered Sole and then Red Angel Panic, before forming progressive rockers Headband in 1971 with Peter Beagley (later known as Peter Head) on piano and vocals. In 1974 Bailey joined Mount Lofty Rangers alongside Bon Scott (later in AC/DC) on vocals and Head. In March 1975, Bailey released a solo single, "Sunday Too Far Away". Bidstrup had been the drummer in Fahrenheit 451 in 1967, then Red Angel Panic (with Bailey) and was in a succession of groups into the mid-1970s. In August 1976, Bidstrup joined Adelaide hard rockers, The Angels alongside lead vocalist Doc Neeson. In January 1977, Bailey also joined The Angels. Callaghan had formed The Grudge in 1977 in Brisbane with fellow students from the Architecture Department of the University of Queensland. The Grudge underwent a succession of names (The Neon Steal, The Numbers) to become The Riptides in 1979 with Callaghan on lead vocals and lead guitar. In March 1981 Bidstrup left The Angels and Bailey left in April 1982. In 1982 Bidstrup joined The Party Boys in Sydney. In January 1983, Riptides had disbanded and Callaghan was in Sydney. Bidstrup and Callaghan worked together on "Gimme Some Loving" and recorded it as a demo in 1983.
In 1984, GANGgajang was formed in Sydney, the name is onomatopoeiac for the sound of a guitar playing a loud chord. The band grew out of songwriting and performing sessions that Bailey, Bidstrup, his wife Kayellen Bee and Callaghan undertook for the ABC-TV music-drama series Sweet and Sour (July–August 1984). They were soon joined by Geoffrey Stapleton (ex-The Aliens, Rat Tat Tat) on guitar and keyboards. Mercury Records released the earlier demo "Gimme Some Loving" as a single in May. It reached the top 40 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart by November.
To record their debut album, GANGgajang, they enlisted Gordon Sullivan (of Deckchairs Overboard, who had also worked on Sweet and Sour) on lead guitar; Kayellen Bee (a.k.a. Kay Bee), (who co-wrote "The Heart Plays Tricks" as K Bidstrup with G Bidstrup and Callaghan for Sweet and Sour) on vocals and percussion; and Marilyn Delaney on vocals and keyboards. The album was produced by Joe Wissert (Earth, Wind & Fire, Helen Reddy, The J. Geils Band) with band members Bidstrup and Callaghan. In August 1985 during the initial stages of recording the album, Robert James replaced Sullivan on guitar.
The group's live debut was at the Mosman Hotel in March 1985. The band gained a solid following around Australia during 1985, aided by support from national radio station, Triple J, and pop music TV series, Countdown. Their biggest commercial success came in November from the release of their self-titled debut album, which sold over 120,000 copies. The LP included the hit single, "Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)", as well as "House of Cards" and "Giver of Life". "Sounds of Then" was released in December and peaked in the top 40.
Ganggajang
Ganggajang, stylised as GANGgajang are an Australian pop rock band which formed in 1984.
The four founders are frontman Mark 'Cal' Callaghan (ex-Riptides) on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Bailey on bass guitar, Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup on drums (both ex-The Angels) and Kayellen Bee vocals and percussion. They were soon joined by Geoffrey Stapleton (ex-the Aliens on keyboards, guitar and vocals, and Robbie James on lead guitar.
Their most popular song, "Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)", was issued in December 1985 and peaked in the top 40 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. It gained further exposure in Australia ten years later when it was used on TV in a Coca-Cola ad and then for the 1996 Nine Network station ID promotion. It was added to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's curated collection, Sounds of Australia, in 2016; and was the opening song for the 2024 Australia Day concert performed at Sydney Opera House and beamed live on ABC TV, performed by GANGgajang and William Barton.
Their highest selling album was GANGgajang, which was released in November 1985. They have issued three other studio albums, GangAGAIN (1987), Lingo (1994) and Oceans and Deserts (2002).
GANGgajang founders, Chris Bailey, Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup, and Mark 'Cal' Callaghan had previously been members of various bands. Bailey, on bass guitar and vocals, had been a member of Adelaide groups, Tattered Sole and then Red Angel Panic, before forming progressive rockers Headband in 1971 with Peter Beagley (later known as Peter Head) on piano and vocals. In 1974 Bailey joined Mount Lofty Rangers alongside Bon Scott (later in AC/DC) on vocals and Head. In March 1975, Bailey released a solo single, "Sunday Too Far Away". Bidstrup had been the drummer in Fahrenheit 451 in 1967, then Red Angel Panic (with Bailey) and was in a succession of groups into the mid-1970s. In August 1976, Bidstrup joined Adelaide hard rockers, The Angels alongside lead vocalist Doc Neeson. In January 1977, Bailey also joined The Angels. Callaghan had formed The Grudge in 1977 in Brisbane with fellow students from the Architecture Department of the University of Queensland. The Grudge underwent a succession of names (The Neon Steal, The Numbers) to become The Riptides in 1979 with Callaghan on lead vocals and lead guitar. In March 1981 Bidstrup left The Angels and Bailey left in April 1982. In 1982 Bidstrup joined The Party Boys in Sydney. In January 1983, Riptides had disbanded and Callaghan was in Sydney. Bidstrup and Callaghan worked together on "Gimme Some Loving" and recorded it as a demo in 1983.
In 1984, GANGgajang was formed in Sydney, the name is onomatopoeiac for the sound of a guitar playing a loud chord. The band grew out of songwriting and performing sessions that Bailey, Bidstrup, his wife Kayellen Bee and Callaghan undertook for the ABC-TV music-drama series Sweet and Sour (July–August 1984). They were soon joined by Geoffrey Stapleton (ex-The Aliens, Rat Tat Tat) on guitar and keyboards. Mercury Records released the earlier demo "Gimme Some Loving" as a single in May. It reached the top 40 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart by November.
To record their debut album, GANGgajang, they enlisted Gordon Sullivan (of Deckchairs Overboard, who had also worked on Sweet and Sour) on lead guitar; Kayellen Bee (a.k.a. Kay Bee), (who co-wrote "The Heart Plays Tricks" as K Bidstrup with G Bidstrup and Callaghan for Sweet and Sour) on vocals and percussion; and Marilyn Delaney on vocals and keyboards. The album was produced by Joe Wissert (Earth, Wind & Fire, Helen Reddy, The J. Geils Band) with band members Bidstrup and Callaghan. In August 1985 during the initial stages of recording the album, Robert James replaced Sullivan on guitar.
The group's live debut was at the Mosman Hotel in March 1985. The band gained a solid following around Australia during 1985, aided by support from national radio station, Triple J, and pop music TV series, Countdown. Their biggest commercial success came in November from the release of their self-titled debut album, which sold over 120,000 copies. The LP included the hit single, "Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)", as well as "House of Cards" and "Giver of Life". "Sounds of Then" was released in December and peaked in the top 40.