|
Spy vs Spy, also known as v. Spy v. Spy, The Drug Grannies and The Spies, are an Australian ska/pub rock band from Sydney formed in 1981. They became known for tackling political issues through their music, including racism, homelessness and contemporary drug culture.〔 They were named after a comic strip, "Spy vs. Spy" in the US ''Mad'' magazine.〔〔 The band's initial line-up was the trio of Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.〔 Spy vs Spy's early music was ska-influenced indie rock, exemplified by their debut single "Do What You Say" on the independent Green label in April 1982.〔〔 They released an EP ''Four Fresh Lemons'' in August.〔 Their music became more straight forward hard rock for their pub audiences.〔〔 The band broke up in early 1983 only to reform mid-year, by which time they were using the name v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal problems with ''Mad'' magazine.〔〔 They were eventually signed to Midnight Oil's label Powderworks and managed by Oils manager, Gary Morris.〔〔 Their first full-length album ''Harry's Reasons'' was released in March 1986 and produced by Leszek Karski.〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Leszek Karski )〕 They switched labels to WEA and had their highest charting success in February 1987 with their single "Don't Tear It Down" on the Australian singles chart and the associated album ''A.O. Mod. TV. Vers.'' peaked at No. 12 on the Australian albums chart.〔 NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.〕 Spy vs Spy's follow-up album, ''Xenophobia'' was released in March 1988 peaked at No. 15 in Australia.〔 It was produced by Karski〔 and Guy Gray and released by WEA in 14 countries.〔〔 Their 1989 album ''Trash the Planet'' peaked at No. 22 on the ARIA Charts.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=V. Spy V. Spy discography )〕 None of their subsequent releases reached the Australian Top 40.〔〔 The band split and reformed a number of times but still developed a strong following in Brazil.〔 ==Formation: 1981–1983== Craig Bloxom bass guitarist/lead vocalist was born in Los Angeles and moved to Australia in 1965, he met guitarist/vocalist Mike Weiley at Nelson Bay High School in 1976.〔〔 Weiley, having just moved from England to Australia, was paired with Bloxom by the principal based on their common musical interests.〔〔 After high school, Bloxom and Weiley moved to Cammeray in Sydney's north shore, playing in various Sydney bands. Looking for a drummer, one of Bloxom's ex-bandmates introduced them to Cliff Grigg, who happened to live in a squat in the inner Sydney suburb of Glebe.〔〔 They named their band for a comic strip, "Spy vs. Spy" in the US ''Mad'' magazine.〔〔 As a rent saving device Bloxom and Weiley also moved into Grigg's squat, which initially had no roof: it also became their rehearsal site.〔 Spy vs Spy had their first performance at Sydney's Sussex Hotel, filling in for The Fast Cars, whose singer had unexpectedly taken ill.〔 From there the band developed an enthusiastic pub following for their distinctive brand of ska-flavoured indie rock.〔〔 Dirty Pool management picked them up and they performed at many Sydney venues, particularly at the Sydney Trade Union Club, often supporting INXS. They also supported The Clash at the Capitol Theatre and U2 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. In February 1982 the band recorded "Do What You Say" at T.R.M. in Surry Hills, releasing it as their first single in April 1982 on Roger Greirson's independent Green label.〔〔 This was followed by their first EP, ''Four Fresh Lemons'' in August 1982, the 1,000 pressings selling out in just five days.〔〔 The New Zealand release of ''Six Fresh Lemons'', combined ''Four Fresh Lemons'' with the A & B sides of their first single.〔 These recordings were released under the name Spy vs Spy, but the band was forced to change its name to v. Spy v. Spy to avoid legal action from the publishers of ''Mad'' magazine, which included the comic strip "Spy vs. Spy".〔 Their music became more straight forward hard rock for their pub audiences.〔〔 The band became prominent on the Sydney pub rock scene, performing politically charged songs dealing with issues such as racism, drugs and the homeless.〔 Shortly after the release of their debut EP, in early 1983, the band broke up. Bloxom briefly joined The Numbers in March 1983 but re-formed v. Spy v. Spy in July 1983, with Marcus Phelan (ex-The Numbers) joining as a second guitarist. Weiley became sick with hepatitis, confined to a hospital bed for months, and then Phelan left after the band's equipment was stolen.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Spy vs Spy (Australian band)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|