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Lime Spiders
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Lime Spiders were an Australian punk rock band who formed in 1979 with Mick Blood on lead vocals. He was later joined by Richard Lawson on drums, and David Sparks on guitar. Their debut studio album, The Cave Comes Alive! was released in June 1987 and reached the top 60 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Their most successful single, "Weirdo Libido", was released in January that year and reached the top 50 on the related Kent Music Report Singles Chart. In April its music video was the first ever shown on Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV music series rage. The track was used on the 1988 feature film Young Einstein's soundtrack. The group disbanded in 1990 and in 1999 Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, noted they had provided "raucous sound mixed screaming vocals and wild, fuzz-tone guitar riffs to arrive at a mutant strain of acid punk that bordered on heavy metal".

History

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Early days: "25th Hour" to "Slave Girl"

[edit]

The Lime Spiders were formed in 1979 by Michael Patrick "Mick" Blood on lead vocals,[1][2] who cites their influences as being 1960s garage bands with psychedelic rock.[3][4] Early fellow members included Eric Roman Grothe on guitar,[5] Dave Guest on bass guitar, and Darryl John Mather on guitar.[1][2][3] The band's name relates to a non-alcoholic cocktail – a combination of vanilla ice cream and lime soft drink (soda). The group's first show was supporting The Lonely Hearts on Christmas Eve 1979, which Mather later recalled: "We were absolutely horrible. So horrible that people didn't get it. I don't think I got it, either. We came back properly in late 1980".[6]

By February 1981 the line-up had stabilised with Blood, Guest and Mather joined by Geoff Cleary on drums.[1][2] In August that year the group added Richard Jakimyszyn on lead guitar, with Bill Gibson (later bassist for The Eastern Dark) often acting as MC and adding backing vocals and tambourine.[1][2] The band played regularly, mostly around Sydney's inner city venues, but by February the following year they had split up. During September that year they reconvened with a new drummer, Stephen Rawle (ex-Room 101), replacing Cleary.[1][2] The group entered a Battle of the Bands competition at the Southern Cross Hotel, the major prize being the recording and release of a single on Green records.[1] The competition ran over three months and included 64 bands: The Lime Spiders won the competition,[1] with one of their opponents in the final being The Most, who would later come to figure significantly in their story.

"I didn't cope well that night. We'd moved from hobbyists to being on the verge of becoming serious – we were rewarded with a record deal, like Radio Birdman had six years earlier. We got up and didn't miss a beat – a 40-minute set. We were in tune – which is something that The Lime Spiders weren't famous for – and we won. I vaguely remembered Bill Gibson standing at the back of the stage, constantly retuning all the guitars". – Mather[6]

The recording sessions resulted in a four-track double single, "25th Hour", released on Green Records in June 1983.[1] "25th Hour" was produced by Rob Younger (ex-Radio Birdman),[2] and included covers of The Haunted's "1-2-5" (1966) and Liberty Bell's "That's How It Will Be".[1] The title track was co-written by Blood and Mather,[7] while the final track, "Can't Wait Long", was co-written by Blood and Jakimyszyn.[8] Warwick Gilbert (ex-Radio Birdman, Hitmen) played bass guitar for the sessions,[1] because Guest was not confident in his playing. The keyboards were provided by Bruce Tatham (later played with Decline of the Reptiles)[2] who is also heard on The Celibate Rifles' debut album, Sideroxylon (April 1983). Bill Gibson provided backing vocals on two of the tracks.

American punk rockers, Dead Kennedys' lead singer, Jello Biafra, heard the group while touring in Sydney and he told Murray Engelheart of Juke Magazine:

"This could be the best time-warp style '60s garage revival I've ever heard. [They] seem to be more interested in re-creating Sixties garage mania than updating it. I never thought I'd hear a psychedelic slime band more hard core than Green Fuzz, but here they are". – Jello Biafra (2 June 1984)[9]

However Lime Spiders fell apart again with Mather leaving before the single had appeared:[1]

"I didn't like The Lime Spiders towards the end. I felt we had become heavy and were usurped by what was happening around us. In my eyes we were very much a covers band. I didn't see the band going anywhere and I was yearning to become more involved with seriously constructed pop music". – Mather[6]

The group reformed again by August 1983 with Blood and Jakimyszyn joined by Tony Bambach on bass guitar and Richard Lawson on drums.[1][2] Both were from The Most, one of their rivals in the Battle of the Bands competition.[1] In March 1984 the new line-up recorded the band's second single, "Slave Girl", which was released in October on Citadel Records.[1] It was co-produced by the band with Tom Misner,[2] who Blood described as "an older dude who owned the School of Audio business (Central Recorders). He warmed immediately to the vibe of the song".[10] It was co-written by Blood and Jakimyszyn.[11] Blood later told TheDwarf website about writing the track: "[it] come from a throwaway riff that [Jakimyszyn] used to peel off automatically at rehearsals every time he plugged his guitar into his amp, to check his sound ... I asked [him] to keep playin' the riff, as I thought we could construct a song around it. He looked at me as if I was crazy ... but obligingly cranked his amp & played it with venom, as the band jammed on it for the first time ... I went away with the riff in my head without any lyrics. I woke up one Sat morning at a house I was staying at in [Chippendale] and the lyrics flooded my head and I wrote them down as fast as I was thinking of them ... [later] I came armed with the last verse. I suggested to Jacko that he play something he's never done before for the second guitar solo, to take the song to another level. ... [He] blew us away with a searing metal edged freakout before turning around & shyly seeking approval. It was difficult to speak with our mouths agape".[10]

"Slave Girl" was the number-one independent single in Australia for 1984,[1] it reached the Top 100 Kent Music Report Singles Chart,[12] with over 5,000 copies shipped. The track received airplay in Europe including France, Germany, Spain and Sweden: "where fans in those territories became hooked on its wild acid-punk sound".[1] In September 1984 the band added Gerard Corben on rhythm guitar (also ex-The Most).[1][2] The success of "Slave Girl" led to the overseas release of a 12" mini-LP that compiled all six of their recorded tracks as Slave Girl.[1][2] Allmusic's Stephen Cook praised the group for "[e]schewing some of the overtly psychedelic '60s touches and concocting an updated blend of crunching guitars, snarled vocals, and bottom-heavy bass and drums, the band come up with a surprisingly original sound".[13] In January 1985 Jakimyszyn left the band (after being diagnosed with schizophrenia), and they continued without a replacement. As a four-piece they recorded another single with Younger producing, "Out of Control", which was released on Citadel in December 1985.[1][2]

The Big Time: The Cave Comes Alive!

[edit]

Towards the middle of 1985 Lime Spiders split up again with Blood travelling to Europe as a tourist.[1] Whilst Blood was in Europe, he performed as a guest singer with Swedish band the Pushtwangers (for a single release) and also with a Greek group, Last Drive. The remaining members – Bambach, Corben and Lawson – performed as Adolphus using Mark Green as lead singer.[1][2] Prior to Blood's departure for Europe, the band had an offer to create a track for an in-production feature film, Young Einstein (1988). Its producers originally wanted "Slave Girl", but the song's rights were already assigned internationally; so they asked if the group could provide a track that matched its feel. Blood returned to Australian in September 1986 and Lime Spiders reconvened. They released "Weirdo Libido", which was co-written by Blood and original guitarist Mather and produced by Cameron Allan, as a single, in January 1987 on Virgin Records.[1][2] It peaked at No. 48 in February.[12] In April its music video was the first one ever shown on rage, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV music series.[14] The track subsequently appeared on the Young Einstein soundtrack.[1]

Jakimyszyn rejoined in May 1987 in time for the release of Lime Spiders' debut album, The Cave Comes Alive! in June.[1][2] The album was produced by David Price,[2] and peaked at No. 54 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart.[12] AllMusic's David Szatmary found the album was the "snarling debut from the punk quartet who owe a debt to the '60s".[15] Meanwhile, the six-track EP, Slave Girl, had reached the top of the United States college chart.[1] It remained there long enough to generate interest in the group. With the release of the album, the band supported The Cult on a national tour.[1] Jakimyszyn left the band again shortly afterwards. At the end of the year they began a North American tour spanning two months of shows in major US cities and several in Canada. The tour included supporting Faith No More and, for the final thirteen shows, supporting Public Image Ltd.[1] Rolling Stone magazine described them as sounding like "the Sex Pistols on acid". Highlights included a backstage visit by Iggy Pop and Joey Ramone at the Cat Club in New York.

Blood described the tour:

"The States was a bit frustrating 'cos I felt we could have had a good shot at the title there. We did it in comparative luxury 'cos Virgin underwrote the tour. And we had Motörhead's tour bus! Unfortunately we never got back there. We did some shows supporting PiL, and five weeks of our own shows, and there was quite a buzz. There was this place called the Scream Club in LA, this big marble ballroom, and it was early in the tour, second gig or something, and we rocked up to play there and they were lined up around the block and I'm going, 'Are we at the right place?!' that's when I realised".[16]

The group then toured Europe, playing at the Roskilde Festival in 1988. Their follow-up album, Volatile, with Peter Blyton producing, was released in May that year.[1][2] It did not receive the same level of critical or commercial acceptance as The Cave Comes Alive!. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt that it "contained a decent array of riff-heavy, hard rock tracks, but lacked the raw spark that had characterised the band's earlier output".[1] While Szatmary at AllMusic declared it was "More '60s-style punk from these Australian rockers".[17] The same recording sessions also resulted in a four-track 12" extended play, EP, which was released in March 1989.[1] By the time Volatile had appeared the line-up had changed again: Bambach, Blood, Corben and Lawson were joined by Michael Couvret (ex-Celibate Rifles bass guitarist) on rhythm guitar.[1][2]

In December 1988 Phil Hall (ex-Sardine v, Dropbears) replaced Bambach on bass guitar and Mark Wilkinson (of The Girlies) replaced Couvret on guitar.[1][2] This line-up supported Iggy Pop on his January 1989 Australian Instinct tour at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and at the Newcastle Workers Club – which collapsed later that year in an earthquake. They recorded a cover of The Misunderstood's "Children of the Sun" for Timberyard Records' Christmas compilation Rockin Bethlehem. Wilkinson played on the band's third studio album, Beethoven's Fist, with Kevin Shirley producing,[1][2] mixed by Michael Brauer, in Los Angeles. Wilkinson left before its release in November 1990. McFarlane described the album as "underrated hard rock".[1] The track, "Mr Big Mouth", co-written by Wilkinson and Blood,[18] was released as the B-side of the single from the album, "Cherry Red", which appeared in October.[1] The band played a promotional show in London at The Marquee Club as a four piece, however, the group disbanded yet again soon after.[1] McFarlane noted that over their career they had provided "raucous sound mixed screaming vocals and wild, fuzz-tone guitar riffs to arrive at a mutant strain of acid punk that bordered on heavy metal".[1] While John Bush at AllMusic felt they were a "post-punk unit resurrecting the trashier elements of '60s garage and psychedelic rock with willful abandon".[19]

Reunions and reformations: Nine Miles High

[edit]

In 1992 Blood and Hall revived Lime Spiders, with new members Luke Mason on drums; and Jayne Murphy (born Peter Murphy; now singer/guitarist of Flowers For Jayne, 2019 -) on lead guitar.[1][2] They supported The Black Crowes on their Australian tour in June, but within six months had disbanded again.[1][2] In 1995 "Slave Girl" was covered by the Goo Goo Dolls on their album, A Boy Named Goo. The Lime Spiders reformed in 1998 with a line-up of Bambach, Blood, Corben, Lawson, and a new guitarist, Dave Sparks.[1][2]

In September 2002 a compilation album, Nine Miles High, was released by Raven Records/EMI Records,[2][20] it comprised 26 tracks, including rare B-sides and EP cuts, as well as a twelve-page booklet outlining the band's history, which was followed by the first tour of the band in five years. In 2004 the band played a single performance as special guests to the Detroit group, MC5.

2006 Annandale Hotel Poster

The band then reformed again for an exclusive show at the Annandale Hotel in May 2006. The line-up featured the return of early guitarist, Jakimyszyn. The Lime Spiders again reformed in the following year, with the line-up of Blood, Corben, Hall, Lawson, and Sparks. They toured nationally in November to coincide with the release of their next album, Live at The Esplanade, recordings of a live performance made ten years earlier on 25 January 1997 at The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne. The performance had been recorded after Blood discovered the venue had an in-house 24-track recording system shortly before they were due to perform. It is essentially a greatest hits live collection, although it includes two previously unreleased tracks, "Society of Soul" and "The Dead Boys".

Lime Spiders reformed again in December 2008 for three shows at the Harp Hotel in Wollongong, Manly Fisherman's Club, and the Annandale Hotel. Bambach returned, while Tom Corben, the son of Gerard Corben, replaced Lawson on drums. The next line-up of Blood, Bambach, Gerard and Tom Corben, and Sparks, reconvened for an appearance at the Hoodoo Gurus' Dig It Up show in Sydney during 2013. Their track, "Slave Girl" appeared as the theme for ABC-TV's, Paper Giants: Magazine Wars, in June that year.

Mick Blood suffered a brain injury in a pub fight in 2014. The band reformed without him for a one-off benefit show in Sydney on 23 September with a number of guest vocalists, and Celibate Rifles, the Psychotic Turnbuckles, one-time backing vocalist Bill Gibson's band Hey! Charger and an unplugged Dubrovniks among the supports.

In November 2015, the band announced it would play another benefit show at Sydney's Bald Faced Stag Hotel on 23 January 2016 with singer/actor Ripley Hood (Mushroom Planet, Funhouse, The Four Stooges) on vocals as Blood was still not well enough to perform. This show was cancelled several days later after objections from Blood.

In June 2023, Mick Blood has announced the end of Lime Spiders, as he can no longer enjoy existing in music with the intense scrutiny of social media. saying "As you may realise, I've finally given up the rock 'n' roll circus after a highly successful international career with the Lime Spiders, the band I formed 43 years ago. I no longer enjoyed the intense scrutiny, made worse these days by 'social' media. Random people posting dodgy footage taken on a phone & hurtful comments from online trolls were the last straw. The music scene isn't as immediate & real as it was back in the day, providing a perfect outlet for these cowardly types."[21]

Members

[edit]

Timeline

[edit]

Members

[edit]
  • Mick Blood – Vocals (1979–2023)
  • Ray Floyd Jones - Lead Guitar (2019-2023)
  • Paul Zoob - Bass (2023)
  • Richard Lawson – Drums (1983–1985, 1986–1992, 1997, 2007)
  • Dave Sparks – Guitar (1997–2002, 2007–2017)
  • Phil Hall – Bass (1988–1997, 2007, 2017)
  • Jeff Cleary – Drums (1981–1982)
  • Mike Couvret – Guitar (1988)
  • Warwick Gilbert – Bass (1982)
  • Eric Grothe – Guitar (1979)
  • Dave Guest – Bass (1981–1982)
  • Richard Jakimyszyn – Guitar (1981–1984, 1985, 2007)
  • Peter Cann – Guitar (1991)
  • Luke Mason – Drums (1992)
  • Darryl Mather – Guitar (1979–1982)
  • Jayne Murphy – Guitar (1992)
  • Stephen Rawle – Drums (1982–1984)
  • Murray Shepherd – Drums (2002)
  • Clint Mahoney - Bass (2019)
  • Paul Mulreany - Drums (2019)
  • Spike Glover - Drums (2020)
  • Bruce Tatham – Keyboards (1982)
  • Tom Gorban - Drums (2008 - 2014)
  • Mark Wilkinson – Guitar (1988–1989)

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[22] 		US CMJ

[23]

UK Indie

[24]

Slave Girl
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Closer (CL0034)
 — — 18
The Cave Comes Alive!
  • Released: April 1987
  • Label: Virgin (VOZ 2006)
 54 11 —
Volatile
  • Released: May 1988
  • Label: Virgin (VOZ 2015)
 — — —
Beethoven's Fist
  • Released:1990
  • Label: Virgin (VOZ 2043)
 — — —

Live albums

[edit]
List of live albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Lime Spiders Live
  • Released: November 1997
  • Label: Virgin
Live at the Esplanade
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Figtree Words & Music (FT102)

Compilation albums

[edit]
List of compilation albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Headcleaner
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Virgin (VOZ 2012)
Blood Sugar Sex Lawson
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Virgin (VOZEPCD 003)
Nine Miles High 1983-1990
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Raven (RVCD-144)

Extended Plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[22] 		UK Indie

[24]

Weirdo Libido
  • Released: 1987
 48 29

Awards and nominations

[edit]

ARIA Music Awards

[edit]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1988 Lime Spiders Best New Talent Nominated [25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Lime Spiders

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Lime Spiders are an Australian formed in late in by vocalist Mick Blood, renowned for their energetic fusion of 1960s garage punk, , and elements, drawing influences from acts like the , , and compilations such as Nuggets and Pebbles. The band's raw, melodic sound and captivating live performances established them as icons of the Australian scene in the and , with a global following that persists today. Key members over the years include founding frontman Mick Blood on lead vocals, alongside long-serving contributors such as guitarist Richard Jakimyszyn, bassist Tony Bambach, guitarist Ged Corben, bassist Phil Hall, drummer Dave Sparks, and drummer Richard Lawson. Early successes included winning a Sydney band competition in 1982 and releasing the 25th Hour EP, which helped secure a deal with Virgin Music Australia. Their breakthrough came with the 1987 debut album The Cave Comes Alive!, which topped the U.S. CMJ college charts and earned three ARIA Award nominations, while singles like "Slave Girl"—the biggest-selling independent Australian single of its era—and "Weirdo Libido" (the first video aired on ABC TV's Rage and a Top 50 hit) propelled their popularity. Subsequent releases, including Volatile (1988), Beethoven's Fist (1990, which received a five-star review from NME), and compilations like Nine Miles High: 1983-1990, solidified their reputation for willful, trashy revivals of garage and psychedelic rock. The band toured internationally, supporting Public Image Ltd. on a 13-show U.S. run, performing at Denmark's Roskilde Festival in 1988, and headlining Spain's Purple Weekend in 2017, while "Weirdo Libido" featured in the film Young Einstein. Though lineup changes and hiatuses marked their path, the Lime Spiders remain active, with Mick Blood overseeing a final singles compilation album and the second edition of his book Lime Light: The Definitive Story of the Lime Spiders as of 2024.

History

Formation and early career

The Lime Spiders were formed in late 1979 in , , by Mick Blood on lead vocals and guitar, initially as a garage rock outfit drawing heavily from 1960s psychedelic and punk influences such as the and . Blood, citing obscure '60s garage bands as key inspirations, assembled the group amid Sydney's post-punk scene, where garage revival acts faced a niche audience. The early lineup featured Darryl Mather on guitar alongside Blood, with additional members including Eric Grothe on guitar; by 1981, the configuration stabilized to include Dave Guest on bass and Jeff Cleary on drums, later augmented by Richard Jakimyszyn on guitar in 1982. Rehearsals began in a local scout hall in Sydney's area, allowing the band to refine their raw, energetic sound blending covers of 1960s acts with original material. The band's first live performances emerged around 1981–1982 in competitive inner-city pubs, starting with small venues and culminating in a high-profile show that year, where they mixed '60s covers with emerging originals to build a . A full recording from in 1982 captures their early intensity, showcasing a setlist heavy on garage punk energy. These gigs highlighted technical challenges, including the need for powerful monitors to balance Blood's vocals against the band's loud drums and guitars, often relying on cooperative sound engineers in under-equipped spaces. Frequent lineup shifts, driven by the transient nature of the local scene, added instability, while limited venues for garage revival bands in Australia's dominant landscape restricted broader exposure. In 1983, the Lime Spiders marked their recording debut with the four-track double 7" single "," released on the independent Green Records label after sessions at Trafalgar Studios in November 1982. Produced by Rob Younger, the EP introduced their fuzzy, psychedelic-tinged garage sound to the Australian indie scene, earning initial buzz through local airplay and live support slots. Building on this, their follow-up single "Slave Girl" / "," released in October 1984 on Citadel Records and produced by Tom Misner, achieved greater traction with airplay on national broadcaster , helping cultivate a dedicated local audience and positioning them for wider recognition. The track's success led to a 1985 mini-LP compilation of early recordings on Big Time Records, solidifying their underground status amid ongoing hurdles like venue scarcity. This period laid the groundwork for a major label deal, though the band continued navigating Sydney's gritty music ecosystem.

Breakthrough and peak years

Following the buzz from their 1984 independent single "Slave Girl," which became Australia's top-selling indie single of the year with over 5,000 copies sold, the Lime Spiders signed with in 1986, enabling expanded national tours across . This deal marked their transition from the underground scene to broader commercial opportunities. The band's breakthrough came with the January 1987 release of the non-album single "Weirdo Libido," which peaked at No. 48 on the Singles Chart and featured in the soundtrack of the 1988 film . Its music video holds the distinction of being the first ever aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's music program rage, boosting their visibility in the domestic rock scene. The single also gained traction on U.S. college radio, setting the stage for international exposure. In June 1987, the Lime Spiders issued their debut album The Cave Comes Alive!, produced by David Price at Paradise Studios in . The record peaked at No. 54 on the Albums Chart and topped the CMJ college radio charts in the United States, propelling an extensive touring schedule from 1987 to 1988 that included a U.S. headline tour and Australian support slots for acts like The Cult, as well as headlining shows in major venues such as Sydney's Metro Theatre. The band's peak continued with their second album Volatile in May 1988, again on , which showcased a more refined production style while retaining energy. Though it received mixed reviews—praised for its hooks but critiqued for polishing away some of the debut's raw edge—the album reinforced their status in the late Australian rock landscape, with features in outlets like hailing them as a top garage revival act. This era saw their domestic popularity crest, driven by consistent radio play and live performances that established them as key figures in the garage-punk fusion movement.

Dissolution and reunions

The Lime Spiders disbanded in 1990 following the release of their third studio album, Beethoven's Fist, amid ongoing challenges within the music industry that affected many independent acts of the era. Frontman Mick Blood shifted focus to solo projects and other musical endeavors during this period, allowing band members to explore individual paths after nearly a decade of intense activity. The band experienced its first notable reunion in 1993, bringing back core members for select performances that captured the raw energy of their earlier years. This reformation led to sporadic live shows throughout the , which were compiled in the 2002 album Nine Miles High: 1983-1990 on Raven Records, highlighting their enduring appeal. These outings often featured the original lineup, though maintaining consistency proved difficult amid personal commitments. By 2007, the Lime Spiders staged a full with founding members Mick Blood, Richard Lawson, Ged Corben, David Sparks, and Phil Hall, embarking on national tours including anniversary celebrations in major cities like and . The reunion was tied to retrospective releases that compiled their catalog, reaffirming their influence on Australian punk and garage scenes. However, these efforts were tempered by challenges, including health concerns for the aging members and the inherent difficulties in replicating the visceral intensity of their performances, as Blood reflected in contemporary discussions. A highlight from the era included a 1993 performance linked to recognition events, which attracted around 1,000 attendees and underscored lingering fan enthusiasm.

Recent activities

During the , the Lime Spiders maintained a low level of activity, focusing on sporadic one-off performances rather than regular touring. A notable example was their reunion appearance at the ' Dig It Up! festival in on April 21, 2013, where they joined an all-star lineup including , , and to celebrate Australian rock heritage. The band made a tentative return to live performances in 2020, navigating delays caused by the , with a series of shows in at the end of October. These included gigs at King's Beach, Burleigh Heads, and , shared billing with The Daisycutters, marking one of the first live music events in to resume amid industry-wide lockdowns. In 2022, the Lime Spiders announced an exclusive performance in Perth, their first in in several years, coinciding with the release of frontman Mick Blood's Lime Light: The Definitive Story of the Lime Spiders. The book chronicles the band's history from formation through major-label success, providing fans with new insights into their punk and legacy. The year saw the release of a limited-edition vinyl compilation titled The Singles on Citadel Records, featuring 10 tracks drawn primarily from the band's output, including classics like "Slave Girl" and "Weirdo Libido." The project was announced via the band's in and , emphasizing archival material to highlight their garage-punk sound. In a May interview, Mick Blood discussed the compilation's focus on official singles and expressed intentions for additional archival releases to preserve the band's catalog. Following a June 2023 announcement by Mick Blood that was ending due to challenges in the music industry, the Lime Spiders concluded their run, though Blood oversaw a final singles and the second edition of his book Lime Light: The Definitive Story of the Lime Spiders in 2024. By 2025, the Lime Spiders' influence continued to resonate through tributes and side projects from former members. During their Australian Summer Anthem Tour, the referenced their 1995 cover of "Slave Girl" in interviews, underscoring the track's enduring cross-generational appeal. Separately, former Lime Spiders guitarist Jayne Murphy released the single "Evil Minds" with her band Flowers for Jayne, a track that nods to the group's raw energy and legacy in interviews and promotional materials.

Musical style and influences

Garage rock foundations

In the Australian context of the 1980s, revived the raw energy of 1960s American , characterized by short, high-octane songs driven by distorted guitars and a visceral, unpolished sound reminiscent of bands like and . This style emphasized immediacy and aggression, often capturing the DIY spirit through minimalistic arrangements and live-wire performances that echoed the Nuggets-era compilations. The Lime Spiders embraced these foundations from their inception in 1979, incorporating fuzzy, twin-guitar riffs and a lo-fi aesthetic in their early recordings to evoke the primal edge of garage acts. Their debut single "" (1983) exemplifies this approach with its loud, chord-oriented structure and simple progressions that prioritize drive over complexity, produced in a raw style that highlights the band's punk-infused garage ethos. Frontman Mick Blood's snarling, gravelly vocals further defined their sound, delivering a throat-shredding intensity that aligned with the genre's rebellious delivery while underscoring a commitment to unrefined authenticity. The band's style evolved from sets heavy on covers of classic 1960s garage punk hits by groups like The Who and , which honed their original songwriting toward concise, hook-laden tracks infused with that era's chaotic energy. This foundational reliance on covers not only shaped their repertoire but also reinforced the DIY ethos central to , as seen in their grassroots rise through Sydney's battle-of-the-bands circuit. Lime Spiders fit squarely within the Australian garage revival, a movement that paralleled punk's rawness while nodding to roots, sharing stages and compilation spots with influential acts like The Saints in a scene that revitalized homegrown rock with distorted, energetic minimalism.

Psychedelic and punk fusion

The Lime Spiders' sound emerged as a potent hybrid of and punk, rooted in the raw energy of garage and infused with the abrasive tempos and attitude of late-1970s punk acts like the and . This fusion created a hazy yet aggressive aesthetic, characterized by swirling, fuzzed-out guitar effects and feedback-laden riffs that evoked the experimental edge of psych bands, while maintaining punk's relentless drive and melodic hooks. On their debut album The Cave Comes Alive! (1987), the band exemplified this blend through tracks like "25th Hour" and "Slave Girl," where fast-paced punk rhythms collide with psychedelic haze, using distorted guitars and echoing vocals to build tension and release. The album's retro-rock approach plundered punk vaults, delivering a visceral energy that critics noted as both nostalgic and innovative, with often alluding to and inner turmoil for added psych depth. U.S. captured this essence by dubbing the Lime Spiders "the on acid," highlighting their ability to merge punk's snarl with hallucinatory undertones. By the time of their third studio album Beethoven's Fist (1990), the fusion evolved toward cleaner psychedelic production, thanks to the involvement of producer and mixer Michael Brauer in , which polished the band's raw edges without diluting the punk aggression. This refinement allowed for more layered psych elements, such as sustained guitar swells and modal explorations, while retaining the high-octane attitude that defined their earlier work. Critics praised the Lime Spiders for bridging the 1970s punk revival with 1960s psychedelia, creating a template that resonated in Australia's underground scene. NME lauded Beethoven's Fist as "the greatest Australian rock 'n' roll album since The Saints' (I'm) Stranded," underscoring the band's lasting impact on psych-punk hybrids.

Members

Founding and core members

Mick Blood founded the Lime Spiders in 1979 as the , serving continuously from 1979 to 1991 and then from 1993 to the present. As the band's primary songwriter, Blood shaped its garage-psych blend through lyrics inspired by personal experiences in , complemented by his charismatic stage presence that defined their live energy. Jayne Murphy (formerly Peter Murphy) joined as guitarist in the 1992 reunion, bringing a punk edge to the lineup as one of the few members; she later pursued a solo career with Flowers for Jayne, with new releases as of 2025. Richard Lawson served on drums from 1983–1985, 1986–1992, and 1997, contributing to albums including Beethoven's Fist (1990) and helping solidify the band's rhythm during its peak years. Blood's creative vision was the cornerstone of the Lime Spiders' garage-psych identity, while the core group's dynamics fostered innovation but also led to tensions that surfaced in the 1990s.

Lineup changes and timeline

The Lime Spiders experienced significant lineup fluctuations throughout their history, particularly in the early years amid the volatile Australian punk and scenes. Formed in late 1979 in by vocalist Mick Blood, the initial configuration included guitarist Darryl Mather (1979–1982) and guitarist Eric Grothe (1979). By 1981, the band had stabilized somewhat with the addition of guitarist Richard Jakimyszyn (1981–1984, plus 1985) and drummer Jeff Cleary (1981–1982). In 1982, further changes occurred as drummer Steven Rawle joined briefly, alongside keyboardist Bruce Tatham and Warwick Gilbert, reflecting the experimental phase before a more defined rock sound emerged. The following year, 1983, marked a shift toward core personnel with Tony Bambach (1983–1985, 1986–1988, 1997, 2002) and drummer Richard Lawson (1983–1985, 1986–1992, 1997) coming aboard, providing rhythmic stability. Guitarist Gerard Corben (1984–1985, 1986–1992, 1997, 2002) joined in 1984, contributing to the lineup that recorded the band's debut album The Cave Comes Alive! in 1987. These adjustments, driven by creative differences and scene instability, reduced turnover and solidified the group's garage-punk identity. From 1988 to 1991, the band saw additional flux: Bambach departed in 1988, replaced by bassist Phil Hall (1988–1992) and briefly Michael Couvret (1988) on bass, while guitarist Mark Wilkinson (1988–1990) augmented the guitar section alongside Corben. This period supported touring and releases but ended with the band's initial dissolution in 1990. A 1992 reunion featured Blood and Hall with new additions including guitarist Brian Mann, guitarist Peter Murphy (later Jayne Murphy), and drummer Luke Mason, yielding the album Nine Miles High. High turnover in the formative 1980s stemmed from the punk era's transient nature, with stabilizations occurring during key recording and reunion phases. Reformations in the late 1990s and early 2000s adopted ad-hoc configurations for sporadic gigs. In 1997, the lineup comprised , Bambach, Corben, Lawson, and new guitarist Dave Sparks (1997, 2002). By 2002, it included , Bambach, Corben, Sparks, and drummer Murray Shepherd (2002), focusing on live performances and the album Live at the Esplanade. These reunions emphasized returning core members like , Corben, Bambach, and Lawson, the longest-serving contributors. In the , activity remained intermittent with similar ad-hoc groups, often centered on and select veterans for occasional shows. In June 2023, announced the end of live performances due to difficulties with scrutiny, with no further gigs planned, though a final singles , The Singles, was released on vinyl in 2024. This marked the end of an era characterized by persistent lineup evolution tied to reunions rather than permanent stability.

Discography

Studio albums

The Lime Spiders released three between 1987 and 1990 on the label, each reflecting their roots with increasing psychedelic and production elements. These records captured the band's peak creative period, blending raw energy with evolving sonic textures during their breakthrough years. The Cave Comes Alive! , the band's debut studio album, was released in July 1987 and features 12 tracks recorded during live sessions in , imparting a raw, energetic feel reminiscent of garage punk. Led by the single "My Favourite Room," it peaked at No. 54 on the Albums Chart and earned three ARIA Award nominations, including for Best New Talent. The album's reception highlighted its vibrant, unpolished sound, with praising its revival of '60s garage influences. Volatile, the follow-up released in 1988, contains 10 tracks with a more polished production incorporating psychedelic layers, marking a shift from the debut's immediacy. It received mixed reviews for its refined sound, with some critics noting it lacked the raw edge of prior work but commending standout tracks like for their atmospheric depth; described it as "well played but miserably plain." Moderate sales followed, underscoring the band's growing but niche appeal. The final pre-breakup album, Beethoven's Fist (1990), comprises 11 tracks mixed in by renowned engineer Michael Brauer and produced by , featuring the single "Can't Help Myself" amid a blend of garage aggression and melodic hooks. It achieved lower commercial charting than the debut but developed a for its bold experimentation, as noted in band interviews reflecting on its artistic high points.

Live and compilation releases

The Lime Spiders' live and compilation releases have served to capture the band's intense stage presence and compile rare recordings, particularly from their reunion eras, thereby preserving and extending their influence in Australian garage rock. A key live album from the band's post-reunion period is Live at the , released in on Figtree Words & Music as a CD featuring 22 tracks recorded at the Esplanade Hotel in . The recording highlights the group's raw, high-energy delivery of classics like "My Favourite Room" and "Silent Partner," alongside covers such as "Ain't Nothin' to Do" by , reflecting their punk-infused garage style during a 2006 performance. Compilation efforts have similarly documented archival material, with Headcleaner (1988, Citadel Records) collecting 12 tracks of early singles, B-sides, and rarities from 1984 to 1987, including "Slave Girl" and "Out of Control," to consolidate the band's initial breakthrough output. Later, Nine Miles High 1983-1990 (2002, Raven Records) expanded this approach with a 26-track CD spanning the group's formative years, incorporating unreleased demos and outtakes like "Beyond the Fringe" and "Drip Out," which helped bridge gaps in their catalog and reintroduce their sound to new audiences. These releases, including official reissues of 1980s tour bootlegs from the The Cave Comes Alive! era in the 2000s, have underscored the band's enduring appeal by making reunion-era and historical performances accessible, contributing to their legacy without overlapping studio works.

Singles and EPs

The Lime Spiders released several singles and EPs throughout their career, primarily in the , which played a crucial role in establishing their presence in the Australian scene through independent labels like and major distributor . These short-form releases often served as radio and live promotion vehicles, featuring raw, energetic tracks that captured the band's punk-infused sound and garnered on stations like . Key early singles included "," a double 7-inch release on Green Records in 1983 that marked their debut and achieved indie success with its frenetic garage energy. This was followed by "Slave Girl" in 1984 on , a gritty standout that became a Triple J staple and topped Australia's independent singles , driving significant early for the band. As the band transitioned to broader distribution, singles like "Weirdo Libido" (1987) and "My Favourite Room" (1987) on propelled their popularity, with "Weirdo Libido" becoming their biggest hit and the first video aired on ABC TV's Rage. Later singles like "Can't Help Myself" (1990) continued this momentum. In total, the Lime Spiders issued over 10 singles, many of which emphasized standalone hooks over album deep cuts and contributed to their . On the EP front, the 1987 12-inch Weirdo Libido on incorporated live recordings alongside studio tracks, offering fans a dynamic snapshot of the band's high-octane performances during their peak commercial period. These releases underscored the band's enduring appeal in the garage revival circuit. In 2024, the band self-released a limited-edition vinyl compilation titled The Singles, remastering 12 tracks including rarities from their indie era, such as alternate mixes of "Slave Girl" and "." This green translucent LP, limited to a small pressing, celebrated their promotional legacy and was revealed in to mark ongoing interest in their catalog. Culturally, "Slave Girl" received renewed attention in 2025 via the 30th anniversary reissue of the Goo Goo Dolls' cover on their album A Boy Named Goo, which echoed its punk while introducing it to newer audiences and affirming the original's lasting impact.

Awards and nominations

ARIA recognitions

The Lime Spiders received a nomination at the 1988 in the Best New Talent category for their debut album The Cave Comes Alive!, alongside acts like , , , and , though the award went to . Despite not securing any wins, the recognition highlighted the band's raw garage-punk energy during ARIA's formative years, when mainstream pop and rock acts often dominated proceedings, and affirmed their standing within the independent scene.

Other honors and legacy impacts

Their debut album, The Cave Comes Alive!, received notable airplay on US college radio stations, contributing to their in the American underground scene during the late . The band's influence extended to the and 2000s garage rock revival in , helping bridge punk's raw edge with garage aesthetics. In Sydney's music scene, the Lime Spiders played a key role in sustaining 1960s-inspired punk traditions amid the rise of and new wave, maintaining a vibrant presence through high-energy performances and recordings that echoed influences like and early punk acts. Domestically, the Lime Spiders have been featured in Triple J's retrospective programming, including discussions in the 2025 Hottest 100 of Australian Songs countdown, where their track "Slave Girl" was highlighted for its enduring punk appeal. A 2024 vinyl reissue of their singles compilation, pressed on limited-edition lime green vinyl, underscored their status as a cultural artifact in Australian rock history, reviving interest in their Citadel Records-era output. Internationally, the ' cover of "Slave Girl" on their 1995 album —which the band revisited during their 2025 Australian tour—introduced the Lime Spiders' music to broader audiences, with live performances reigniting appreciation for the original's snarling garage punk vibe. In 2022, founding member Mick Blood published Lime Light: The Definitive Story of the Lime Spiders, a comprehensive history that chronicles the band's journey and solidifies their legacy as pioneers of Australia's psychedelic punk movement.

References

  1. https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2024/05/the-lime-spiders-interview-mick-blood.html
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  38. https://www.discogs.com/release/5166418-Lime-Spiders-Live-At-The-Esplanade
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  41. https://www.discogs.com/release/529196-Lime-Spiders-Slave-Girl
  42. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lime-spiders/287209118
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  44. https://www.discogs.com/master/1291970-The-Lime-Spiders-EP
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  46. https://genius.com/The-goo-goo-dolls-slave-girl-lyrics
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  48. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101980224
  49. https://www.i94bar.com/component/tags/tag/lime-spiders
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  51. https://www.strangeworldrecords.com.au/products/lime-spiders-the-singles-lp
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