Influential UK new wave post punk reggae band The Members make their long-awaited return to Australian shores after a 34 year absence, bringing original members JC Carroll and Chris Payne together with punk rock legend Rat Scabies on drums.
Formed in Surrey, England in the of summer 1977, their first record, “Solitary Confinement” was released in 1978 on Stiff Records and is now a much sought after collector’s item. Their first single on Virgin Records, “Sound of the Suburbs”, featured on Top Of The Pops and sold over a million copies since first being released in 1979 and is still featured on countless punk & new wave compilations.
While the late Seventies contained no shortage of worthy examples of the punk-reggae blend such as The Clash and The Ruts, The Members were one of the initial pioneers of the era’s cross-cultural amalgamation of reggae's offbeat rhythm with punk’s rebelliousaggression. Neil Spencer wrote in NME in 1978: ‘Of the many rock bands co-opting reggae into their act, few do so with as much love and style as The Members.’
The Members had two hits in Australia in 1982, “Working Girl” and the recently remixed “Radio” which reached No.4 in the Australian charts
The Members have played at the highest level in the UK performing at the prestigious Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals. 2010 saw Rat Scabies, founding member of The Damned join the band on drums playing shows across the UK and Europe including a sell out UK tour in August with The B52s
JC Carroll is an established film composer and composed original music for Julien Temple's Award Winning "London a Modern Babylon" which has just opened in ACMI and other top Australian cinemas. Occult expert Rat Scabies’ book “Rat Scabies and The Holy Grail” is rumored to be made into a movie with Rhys Ifans cast to play Rat!
The band have recently released a new album “inGrrLand”.
This is a must-see tour line up for new wave, punk, reggae and post punk fans alike.
Tuesday November 12th Melbourne, The Corner Hotel
Tickets from Oztix www.oztix.com.au and www.cornerhotel.com
Wednesday November 13th Brisbane, Prince of Wales Nundah
Tickets from Oztix www.oztix.com.au
Thursday November 14th Sydney, Hermanns Bar
Tickets from Oztix www.oztix.com.au and www.hermannsbar.com
Friday November 15th Adelaide, The Ed Castle
Tickets from Oztix www.oztix.com.au
Saturday November 16th Perth, Rosemount Hotel
Tickets from Oztix www.oztix.com.au
