THE KYLIES / THE DANNI’S (1990),
MICHELLE TIGHE BAND (1990),
THE BACKDOORS / THISTLES IN MY SOUL (1991),
SOLO (1990-now)
1990 found me back in Rockhampton, penniless & jobless …
What I wasn’t lacking in though was enthusiasm and energy for punk rock!
I remember having mixed feeling about THE DOG-CHAIRS split. On one hand I felt liberated that I could play and write stuff that wasn’t boxed into the small world of hardcore punk, but I also missed the fun of live shows and playing with Alex in a punk band together. The homesickness for THE DOG-CHAIRS lead to reforming the group in late 1991 for the “From Beer to Eternity” Queensland tour (see “DOG-CHAIRS” section), but in the interim this is what I was up to.
Returning to Rockhampton I was reacquainted with Johnny and Cherri Busby, and met the other members of their band THE CLERGY, which included Steve Sutherland and Mick Baker. A bunch of ambitious teenagers THE CLERGY had already recorded their debut 7” single “Rosethorn” and I remember enjoying some beers at the Busby house whilst helping them hand-glue the 500 covers for their single !
I encouraged Johnny that the band should play live, so I organised a show at the Grosvenor Hotel, this time in the tiny front bar. I played a solo support slot and THE CLERGY made their stage debut. We both received good despatches in the local CQU magazine, and it lead to Johnny organising some excellent shows under his house in Rundle Street – featuring anyone in Rockhampton that was playing independent or alternative music at the time, and who wouldn’t get a chance to play any of the pubs or clubs because of the conservative nature of Rockhampton that only gave paid shows to cover bands or touring circuit bands.
Some of the bands and musicians that played these shows included: THE CLERGY, THE LADS, THE KYLIES, BAD J. & THE NO-BADS, Alex Papsmear, Damien Petersen. I’m sure there were more but I can’t remember.
I played some solo shows here – just vocals and acoustic guitar – with a mix of originals and covers as diverse as Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Donovan, Stu Spasm!
I remember putting an extraordinary amount of time into guitar practice and singing while living out at Gracemere, a desert like satellite town outside of Rockhampton. I also learnt to play the harmonica, so it was a big learning curve as I had been playing bass exclusively since 1981.
I can’t remember how I put THE KYLIES together with a Maryborough expatriate called Jamie Hume (aka Tex Nikov). I kinda recall wanting to step away from hardcore punk, and expanding the music palette, but at the same time it was all tongue in cheek and a laugh. Tex and I loved annoying people with the bad music coming out on Sydney’s Black-Eye label & dreamt up THE KYLIES as a ‘super-group’ that could theoretically be signed to Australia’s most avant-garde label.
We purposely contrived the band to be an inverse of THE CLERGY, anything they were good at we were bad at, and vice versa. They had a great vocalist, we had a terrible one, etc etc. It was meant as a friendly BEATLES-STONES rivalry.
I used the McLaren formulas that had been so successful for SMEGMA, and of course the precendent of Lou Reed’s “metal machine music” was not lost on me either.
THE KYLIES was a stir and a laugh, and gave me a lot of new musical canvas to work on, and opened up a lot of new musical possibilities, but it was also commercial and career suicide.
We played mostly original songs, and had a floating line-up based around both Tex and myself as the core of the band. We debuted at one of Johnny’s parties to a mixed reaction.
The local media loved THE KYLIES and we were treated to a big positive article in The MORNING BULLETIN. Peter Saville and Jacqui Ewart were always encouraging of my music and the new indie music emerging in Rocky at this time, and they have my heartfelt thanks for their unflagging support.
We received some encouraging letters from Black-Eye Records which encouraged us to play Brisbane almost right away.
Within a month we were in Brisbane and headlined at the Magnet Club in Elizabeth Street. By this stage we had acquired the services of Brisbane’s then most famous noise-core drummer Leo Fatseas.
That week in Brisbane we recorded an even more bizarre album as THE DANNI’S with Leo on four-track – which thankfully has never seen the light of day.
Concurrently I played a solo set the same party in Rockhampton as The Kylies debut show, and during THE KYLIES Brisbane tour I recorded a 4 song 7” solo ep, posthumously titled the “1990 e.p.” although it took until 1997 to release it due to my abject state of poverty.
The record featured Leo on drums, and reflected my complete lack of direction as to where I wanted to go musically, with four originals, all vastly different.
One was Beatlesque pop, another a Birthday Party inspired dirge, one a slowed down DOG-CHAIRS standard, and the best being a 4 track recording of 4 overdubbed bass parts that sounded quite SONIC YOUTH-ish, (which was recorded on 4 track by Johnny Busby at his home in Rundle Street!)
MICHELLE TIGHE BAND (1990)
I had totally forgotten this band until I finished my notes on THE KYLIES. Paradoxically whilst I was playing in THE KYLIES, a definite avant-garde noise-core band, I was concurrently playing in the only covers band I have ever played in – THE MICHELLE TIGHE BAND. The CES as part of my Social Security committment referred me onto a job placement for a bassist wanted in a local rock band. The band was fronted by a very talented and lovely girl by the name of Michelle Tighe, who had recently cut her own independent single that was receiving good press coverage and local mainstream radio airplay.
I was auditioned and joined the MICHELLE TIGHE BAND, which consisted of Michelle on guitar and vocals, and Dennis Tighe on drums. Both these kids could definitely play, and Dennis has since gone onto a successful career in heavier bands. We played mostly covers and a few of Michelle’s originals. I remember introducing some songs into the band by BOYS NEXT DOOR and BLONDIE. We played a heap of shows every weekend, which improved my bass playing – but I ended up resigning as my heart was definitely not into playing in a cover band. Last time I saw Michelle she was busy raising a family, I hope she does get back into music as she is a talent and a lovely person as well.
When THE KYLIES returned to Rockhampton, we recruited a new vocalist Clare Riordan, and we quickly recorded our debut album “Pull Yourself!” which was released as a limited edition of 50 copies in a unique plastic box. Johnny Busby was a great support to the band offering us free 4 track recording and overseeing the production on these sessions. Not long after the album recording, THE KYLIES disbanded with myself and Claire Riordan continuing as a duo, as the BACKDOORS and THISTLES IN MY SOUL respectively, garnering further media interest, playing a live show, and after some more 4 track recording with Johnny Busby, releasing a 4 song cass-EP. With the new band all the pisstaking was gone, and we evolved into a serious pop duo with poetic lyrics and melodic acoustic arrangements!
I can’t recall how the Clare duo ended, but it was amicable, and next thing I knew I was playing in a weird ass avant garde punk band in Brisbane called L*S*B !!
LINEUP
THE KYLIES
Cameron Borg aka Bollox – bass, vocals
Jamie Hume aka Tex Nikov – guitar, vocals, whale noises
Michael Henderson – drums (never fronted 1st gig)
Lisa – vocals (never fronted 1st gig)
Brett Nash aka Alex Papsmear (guest drums – 1st gig)
Leo Fatseas – drums (Brisbane gig, DANNI’s album)
Clare Riordan aka Clare Éclair – vocals (KYLIES album)
Also
THE DANNI’S
Cameron Borg aka Bollox – bass
Jamie Hume aka Tex Nikov– guitar, vocals
Leo Fatseas – guitar, drums, vocals
Also
THE BACKDOORS / THISTLES IN MY SOUL
Cameron Borg aka Bollox – guitar, bass
Clare Riordan aka Phoebe – vocals
MICHELLE TIGHE BAND
Michelle Tighe – guitar, vocals
Dennis Tighe – the drums
Cameron Borg – bass, backing vocals
ORIGINALS
THE KYLIES
I am a whale
I love you more than Nitrous Oxide
It’s hard to be a bevan
I was Marilyn Monroe
Noise-core
I don’t wanna be a lemming
Noise
Gabrielle was a swampie
Weirdo from another planet
(All songs © The Kylies 1990)
THE DANNI’S
“Meat the Danni’s” album – song titles unknown
THE BACKDOORS / THISTLES IN MY SOUL
A collection
Fantasy
Open windows and closed minds
Let it go
Little men
Ritual
Happy days
(All songs © The Backdoors 1991)
COVERS
THE KYLIES
Mercy Seat (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
Subterranean Homesick Blues (Bob Dylan)
All tomorrow’s parties (Velvet Underground)
Taste of Cindy (Jesus & Mary Chain)
We will fuck you (Queen)
Fuck your Dad (Thug)
THE BACKDOORS
Some velvet morning (Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra)
GIGS PLAYED
SOLO
Grosvenor Hotel, Rockhampton (with THE CLERGY) July 1990
Johnny’s Party, Rockhampton (with BAD J. & NO-BADS, THE CLERGY) Aug ? 1990
Johnny’s Party, Rockhampton (with KYLIES, THE CLERGY) Sept 1st 1990
Leichhardt Hotel, Mt Morgan ?/?/1990
Joy’s Party, Rockhampton (with BACKDOORS, CLERGY) May 11th 1991
Earth Arts Celebration, Rockhampton Showgrounds ?/?/1992
THE KYLIES
Johnny’s Party, Rockhampton (with CB solo, THE CLERGY) Sept 1st 1990
Magnet Club, Brisbane Oct 16th 1990
MICHELLE TIGHE BAND
Lionleigh Hotel, Wandal, Rockhampton (2 gigs) 1990
Leichhardt Hotel, Mount Morgan 1990
Rockhampton High School – Hockey Club event 1990
Glenmore Tavern, North Rockhampton (4 gigs) 1990
THE BACKDOORS
Joy’s Party, Rockhampton (with CB solo, THE CLERGY) May 11th 1991
PHOTO CREDITS
Live pics Rockhampton by Angela Philipoom © 1990
Press pics © Peter Saville 1990 & 1991
Live pics Brisbane © Gail Hargreaves & Tim Steward 1990
Backdoors pics © Angela Philipoom 1990
RECORDING SESSIONS
CB solo – 4 track demos @ Rundle Street 1990
THE KYLIES live @ Johnny’s Party, Rockhampton 1st Sept 1990
CB solo – live recordings @ Johnny’s Parties, Rockhampton Aug/Sept 1990
CB solo – “1990 e.p.” sessions @ Vibrafeel Studios, Inala Oct 1990
THE KYLIES as THE DANNI’S – full length album demo’s Brisbane Oct 1990
THE KYLIES – four track sessions, Rundle Street 28 February 1991
Produced by Bollox and Johnny Busby. Mixed by The Kylies & Johnny and Cherri Busby
Songs: I am a whale / I was Marilyn Monroe (acoustic) / I was Marilyn Monroe / Subterranean Homesick Blues
The Backdoors – four track sessions, Rundle Street 1991
The Backdoors – demo sessions Gracemere 1991
CB solo – live recording Joy’s Party, Rockhampton 11th May 1991
The Backdoors – live @ Joy’s Party, Rockhampton 11th May 1991
DISCOGRAPHY
CAMERON BORG (Solo) “1990 e.p.” 7” vinyl (APiTO 023)
Recorded on Oct 17th 1990, released as limited edition of 50 copies in 1997
Songs: Just you and me / One foot in the grave of despair / I don’t know why? / Notes on a Winter’s day
Songs 1-3 produced by M. Borkowski @ Vibrafeel Brisbane
Song 4 recorded by Johnny Busby, Rockhampton – remixed by Borkowski
Personnel:
Cameron Borg – vcls, guitar, harmonica, bass
Leo Fatseas – the drums
Jamie Hume – chemical and immoral support
THE KYLIES – “Pull Yourself!” limited edition cassette boxset (APiTO 005)
Limited edition of 50 copies in PVC beer – resistant case
Released by APiTO Records 1991
Cassette, poster and JAMC discography by Tex
The Songs:
I am a whale / All tomorrow’s parties (live) / Subterranean homesick blues /
Noise – Noise-core (live) / I was Marilyn Monroe / I am a whale (live) / The mercy seat (live) / Subterranean homesick blues
Songs 1, 3, 5 & 8 are four-track recordings
Recorded by Johnny Busby, Rundle Street Rockhampton
Songs 2, 4, 6 & 7 recorded live @ Rundle Street, Rockhampton Sept 1st 1990
THE BACKDOORS – “Open windows & closed minds” cass-EP (APiTO 004)
Cassette EP released by APiTO Records 1991
The Songs:
Let it go / Open windows & closed minds / The ritual / Some velvet morning
Songs 1, 3 & 4 – four-track recordings – recorded by Johnny Busby and Steve Sutherland, Rundle Street, Rockhampton 1991
Song 2 – demo recorded at Gracemere 1991
THE DANNI’S – “Meat the Danni’s” Album
Unreleased album of four-track recordings in Brisbane Oct 1990
by members of The KYLIES. Recorded by Leo Fatseas
The Songs: Unknown titles
COMPILATION TRACKS
THE KYLIES
More Hippie Shit! (APiTO) 1992
I was Marilyn Monroe
THISTLES IN MY SOUL
Free Tibet benefit (APiTO) 1993
Let it go