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The Blackeyed Susans
For the American band with a similar name, see Blackeyed Susan.
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, which formed in Perth in 1989. Long-serving members are Phil Kakulas on bass guitar, guitar and vocals; and Rob Snarski on vocals and guitar. They have released seven studio albums: Welcome Stranger (August 1992), All Souls Alive (December 1993), Mouth to Mouth (July 1995), Spin the Bottle (July 1997), Dedicated to the Ones We Love (23 April 2001), Shangri-La (21 July 2003) and Close Your Eyes and See (3 March 2017).
The original line-up of the Blackeyed Susans consisted of Ross Bolleter on organ and accordion, Phil Kakulas on bass guitar, guitar and vocals (from Martha's Vineyard and ex–the Triffids), Alsy MacDonald on drums, David McComb on vocals and guitar (both from the Triffids), and Rob Snarski (ex–Chad's Tree) on vocals and guitar. Initially, they were formed as the Bottomless Schooners of Old in late 1988 in Perth as a side project and loose collective to perform cover versions of "countrified alternative rock" music. Early in the next year, they adopted their name from the Triffids track "Blackeyed Susan", which is on that group's fifth studio album, The Black Swan (April 1989); the track was co-written by Kakulas and McComb.
They played eight gigs and recorded four songs before their main bands' reactivations forced them to put the project on hold. The tracks became their first extended play, Some Births Are Worse than Murders, which was released in 1990 on Waterfront Records. The group had used Perth's Planet Sound Studios in March 1989, with the band members co-producing alongside James Hewgill. A music video was released for the second track, "Enemy Mine". The record spent several weeks at number one on the independent charts in Australia.
By the time the EP was released the band's membership underwent several changes. Not everyone took their holidays at the same time, so a floating line-up became part of the band's character and appeal. Kakulas left for Sydney with Martha's Vineyard. He was replaced by Martyn Casey (the Triffids). Bolleter relocated to Japan, where he played piano in cocktail bars and restaurants. He was replaced by Adrian Wood. McComb was present in the second line-up in 1989 before departing for England. He was replaced by Kim Salmon (ex-the Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists) on guitar and vocals in the summer of 1990. Casey departed shortly after to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
In mid-1990, Snarski travelled to London and recorded an album's worth of material with McComb and Kenny Davis Jnr (of the Jackson Code) on keyboards. Upon returning to Australia, Snarski moved to Sydney and, with Davis aboard, formed the next line-up of the Blackeyed Susans. Soon after Kakulas rejoined, having worked with Grant McLennan (ex-the Go-Betweens) after the demise of Martha's Vineyard, six months earlier. Kathy Wemyss (of the Jackson Code) on vocals and trumpet, and Tim Rollinson (of DIG) on guitar, were recruited whilst on hiatus from their inner city cabaret band, Pressed Meat and the Smallgoods. James Elliott on drums and James Cruickshank on organ took leave from the Cruel Sea to play in the band.
This line-up remained intact for most of 1991 and, in March, they recorded another four-track EP, Anchor Me (August 1991). It had been recorded at Electric Avenue Studios, Sydney and was co-produced by Kakulas and the band. They also contributed a live version of the EP's song, "Glory, Glory", from a broadcast on the national youth radio station, Triple J programme, Live at the Wireless, on the related compilation album, Live at the Wireless 2 (1991).
Despite playing shows in Sydney and Melbourne, the Blackeyed Susans were still an occasional ensemble, coming together when it suited them for the pleasure of playing. They created a backdrop for Snarski's honey-laden vocals, which were gaining more attention from press and public alike. At the West Australian Music Industry Awards he was awarded Best Male Vocalist in 1991.
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The Blackeyed Susans
For the American band with a similar name, see Blackeyed Susan.
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, which formed in Perth in 1989. Long-serving members are Phil Kakulas on bass guitar, guitar and vocals; and Rob Snarski on vocals and guitar. They have released seven studio albums: Welcome Stranger (August 1992), All Souls Alive (December 1993), Mouth to Mouth (July 1995), Spin the Bottle (July 1997), Dedicated to the Ones We Love (23 April 2001), Shangri-La (21 July 2003) and Close Your Eyes and See (3 March 2017).
The original line-up of the Blackeyed Susans consisted of Ross Bolleter on organ and accordion, Phil Kakulas on bass guitar, guitar and vocals (from Martha's Vineyard and ex–the Triffids), Alsy MacDonald on drums, David McComb on vocals and guitar (both from the Triffids), and Rob Snarski (ex–Chad's Tree) on vocals and guitar. Initially, they were formed as the Bottomless Schooners of Old in late 1988 in Perth as a side project and loose collective to perform cover versions of "countrified alternative rock" music. Early in the next year, they adopted their name from the Triffids track "Blackeyed Susan", which is on that group's fifth studio album, The Black Swan (April 1989); the track was co-written by Kakulas and McComb.
They played eight gigs and recorded four songs before their main bands' reactivations forced them to put the project on hold. The tracks became their first extended play, Some Births Are Worse than Murders, which was released in 1990 on Waterfront Records. The group had used Perth's Planet Sound Studios in March 1989, with the band members co-producing alongside James Hewgill. A music video was released for the second track, "Enemy Mine". The record spent several weeks at number one on the independent charts in Australia.
By the time the EP was released the band's membership underwent several changes. Not everyone took their holidays at the same time, so a floating line-up became part of the band's character and appeal. Kakulas left for Sydney with Martha's Vineyard. He was replaced by Martyn Casey (the Triffids). Bolleter relocated to Japan, where he played piano in cocktail bars and restaurants. He was replaced by Adrian Wood. McComb was present in the second line-up in 1989 before departing for England. He was replaced by Kim Salmon (ex-the Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists) on guitar and vocals in the summer of 1990. Casey departed shortly after to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
In mid-1990, Snarski travelled to London and recorded an album's worth of material with McComb and Kenny Davis Jnr (of the Jackson Code) on keyboards. Upon returning to Australia, Snarski moved to Sydney and, with Davis aboard, formed the next line-up of the Blackeyed Susans. Soon after Kakulas rejoined, having worked with Grant McLennan (ex-the Go-Betweens) after the demise of Martha's Vineyard, six months earlier. Kathy Wemyss (of the Jackson Code) on vocals and trumpet, and Tim Rollinson (of DIG) on guitar, were recruited whilst on hiatus from their inner city cabaret band, Pressed Meat and the Smallgoods. James Elliott on drums and James Cruickshank on organ took leave from the Cruel Sea to play in the band.
This line-up remained intact for most of 1991 and, in March, they recorded another four-track EP, Anchor Me (August 1991). It had been recorded at Electric Avenue Studios, Sydney and was co-produced by Kakulas and the band. They also contributed a live version of the EP's song, "Glory, Glory", from a broadcast on the national youth radio station, Triple J programme, Live at the Wireless, on the related compilation album, Live at the Wireless 2 (1991).
Despite playing shows in Sydney and Melbourne, the Blackeyed Susans were still an occasional ensemble, coming together when it suited them for the pleasure of playing. They created a backdrop for Snarski's honey-laden vocals, which were gaining more attention from press and public alike. At the West Australian Music Industry Awards he was awarded Best Male Vocalist in 1991.
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