Bam Balams

Bam Balams were an Australian rock band which formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1992. They were led by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Brendan "Wig" Kibble (ex-Vampire Lovers). The group issued one album, Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (Green Fez, 1988), an EP and six singles. Their records did well in the Australian independent charts but they did not appear on the ARIA Charts. They toured nationally but did not perform overseas.

Bam Balams
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresRock 'n' roll, R&B, blues, rockabilly, country, pop
Years active1984 (1984)–1992 (1992)
LabelsCitadel, Green Fez, Pink Flamingo
Past membersBrendan Kibble
Steve Cole
Brad Fitzpatrick
Matt Manchester
Amr Z. Abdallah
Steve Carlin
Warren Elford
Joe Breen
Ian "The Reverend" Little
Greg Marchant
Dave Castellari
Tim Denny
Terry Stanley

History

Bam Balams were formed in Sydney in April 1984 with the line-up of Brendan "Wig" Kibble (ex-Vampire Lovers) on lead vocals and guitar; Dave Stead on guitar and backing vocals; Steve Cole on bass guitar and backing vocals; and Matt Manchester on drums, backing vocals. Dave Stead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Brad Fitzpatrick.[1][2][3] The group got their name from a track on Supersnazz (1969) by the Flamin' Groovies,[1] and are referred to as Bambas by fans. Their influences included Gene Vincent, Johnny Burnette, Tony Joe White, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Byrds, Buck Owens and The Standells.[1]

The band released their first two singles, "Deliver My Love" (December 1985) and "No-One Else" (June 1986), on Citadel Records with Rob Younger (ex-member of Radio Birdman) producing.[1][2][3] Also in 1986 they released "Same Old Tune", as a split single with September Gurls' "Precious" on Guiding Light Records as a give-away with Adventure #2 magazine in Denmark.[4] In 1987, the original line up split up (Fitzpatrick, Cole, and Manchester went on to form The Hexbreakers, who cut a single 'Faraway Years' for Green Fez Records).Kibble formed a second line-up in 1987 with Amr Z. Abdallah (later of ARIA No 1 chart toppers Ratcat) on bass guitar, Steve Carlin on guitar, and Warren Elford on drums, which recorded a single, "Surfin' in the Swamp" (March 1988), for Citadel Record's Green Fez label.[1][2]

Soon after a third line-up formed, with Kibble and Abdallah joined by Ian "The Reverend" Little (ex-Grooveyard) on guitar and Joe Breen (Coupe DeVille) on drums, they recorded the group's one album, Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (December 1988) and its lead single, "Wheel of Fortune" (November).[1][2] Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass guitar in 1989 (Abdallah left the band to join Ratcat), and this line-up recorded the single, "Hellfire" (November 1989).[1][2] Dave Castellari replaced Marchant later that year, and they recorded a 12" extended play, 45 RPM Extended Play, with the track "10,000 Miles (A España)" on Pink Flamingo Records.[1][2] The group provided the lead track, "Munster Rock'n'Roller", for the 1990 Munster Records compilation, Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol III.[5] In 1990, the line-up changed again with Terry Stanley on bass guitar, and Tim Denny on drums, they remained until the band split in 1992. The gained popularity overseas including Spain, France and Italy; but they had never toured outside Australia.

According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[w]hile many of their Sydney-based contemporaries exploited Detroit-inspired hard rock, ... 1960s acid-punk ... or 1960s psychedelia", Bam Balams played a mix of garage rock, swamp rock-swamp pop, R&B, rockabilly, jangle pop and 1950s-1960s style country music.[1] Their records did well on the Australian independent charts but they did not appear on the ARIA Charts.[1] Kibble formed the Navahodads in 1995, which played swampy R&B, Country, and Rock n Roll, they released two albums and toured overseas.

Discography

Releases:[1][2]

Albums
  • Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (Green Fez) December 1988

Extended plays
  • 45 RPM Extended Play ("10,000 Miles (A España)") (Pink Flamingo Records) 1989

Singles
  • "Deliver My Love" b/w "Mean Thang" (Citadel Records) 1985 (produced by Rob Younger)
  • "No-One Else" b/w "Gettin' Over You" (Citadel Records) 1986 (produced by Rob Younger)
  • "Same Old Tune", split single with September Gurls' "Precious" (Guiding Light Records) 1986
  • "Surfin' in the Swamp" b/w "Fire in My Soul" (Green Fez) 1987
  • "Wheel of Fortune" b/w "Rock It to the Moon" (Green Fez) 1988
  • "Hellfire" b/w "Hold on Me" (Green Fez) 1989

Compilation tracks
  • "Munster Rock n Roller" - Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol III (Munster Records) 1990

References
  1. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Bam Balams'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 6 April 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  2. Spencer, Chris; Nowara, Zbig; McHenry, Paul; Nimmervoll, Ed (2002) [1987]. "Bam Balams". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic: Five Mile Press. ISBN 186-503891-1.
  3. "Deliver My Love" (single cover). The Bam Balams. Citadel Records. 1985. CIT 019.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Adventure #2 (split single cover). Bam Balams/September Gurls. Denmark: Guiding Lights Records. 1986. JEWEL 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Munster, Iñigo (1990). The Munster Dance Hall Favorites Vol III (album insert). Various Artists. Munster Records. MR 003.
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