The Stems Farewell Again

Australian band The Stems have been a critics and fan favorite for many years, even in times when they were not playing as a band. In a way they were one of those bands whose legacy seemed to grow in importance in their absence.

The band split in 1987 and they say there was always a sense of unfinished business about the band. Now though after reforming and touring they are able to describe their mood as having a “warm sense of completion.”

The original Stems line-up of Dom Mariani, Richard Lane, Julian Matthews and Dave Shaw will perform around the country for a final time in October 2009.

Their website gives a sense of their history to this point and much of the following is lifted shamelessly from there!

In the four years between 1983-1987 The Stems epitomized 80’s indie rock, giving it a wider currency. They are one of only a handful of bands (among them the Hoodoo Gurus and The Sunnyboys) that cracked the mainstream charts with an indie approach in the 80’s.

Initially The Stems released a series of independent records on Sydney’s Citadel Records with each release reaching #1 on the Australian alternative charts. But it was their debut album, released on Mushroom Records,  At First Sight Violets Are Blue in 1987 that received national and international critical acclaim and would be one of the best selling Australian albums of that year despite an almost total lack of commercial airplay in the corporate FM dominated 80’s.

Rolling Stone named their album “At First Sight” one the top 100 releases of all time. It eventually went Gold  and continues to sell strongly today.

Appearances on Countdown, magazine covers, sold out shows – the world seemed at The Stems feet – however due to the pressures of non-stop touring and the usual “personality differences” the Stems mysteriously imploded on the eve of a massive European tour in late 1987…

Rising from the ashes of their 1980’s breakup The Stems reformed in 1997 to perform a reunion show in their beloved hometown of Perth to an enthusiastic response. This event would see them return to the live scene in 2003. It is fair to say they were all surprised – even amazed – how popular they still were. They toured Australia, Europe and the USA including an incredible one off show at the invitation of Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist (and Sopranos TV star) Stevie Van Zandt, who lists himself as one of the Stems biggest fans, where they shared the stage with Iggy Pop, Bo Diddley, Big Star, Nancy Sinatra…, and 60’s underground bands The Chocolate Watchband, The Pretty Things, Creation and the Electric Prunes that were an influence on their sound in the early days.

Things seemed to gain momentum. At the urging of Little Steven and a host of others the band made plans to record an album of new material ultimately titled Heads Up – released on Shock Records in late 2007. Recorded in Perth on all analogue equipment and mixed in Cincinnati by producer John Curley (White Stripes, Afghan Wigs, Greenhornes and Ronnie Spector) the album was released to rave reviews and sells solidly around the world.

The promotion of Heads Up began in earnest around Australia in late 2007 with a sold out “CLASH OF THE TITANS” tour with Radio Birdman and the Hoodoo Gurus. Two successful tours of Australia soon followed.

Since then they have played their brand of R & B based 60’s garage rock in around the world touring overseas extensively. Highlights include sold out shows in Spain, Italy, The UK, The USA, Norway and a two amazing sold out tours of Japan where it seems fans have only recently discovered them. In 2008 the Stems also played at Austin Texas’s SXSW Festival to much acclaim.

A local review by an Austin writer during the SSW festival proclaimed “Seeing them at South By Southwest this year was a life changing event. For many of you who were lucky enough to see them or at least, heard them for the first time this year, you might feel the same”.

But now the ride is over and the band members will return to their lives. Perhaps they will reform again in another twenty years.

WA
Fri 2nd Devilles Pad • Perth

Sat 3rd Mojos Bar • North Fremantle

Sun 4th Mojos Bar • North Fremantle
1pm matinee & 6pm night shows

VIC
Thu 8th Barwon Heads Hotel • Barwon Heads

Fri 9th Corner Hotel • Richmond
special guests Huxton Creepers

NSW
Sat 10th Cooks River Motorboat Club • Tempe

QLD
Sun 11th The Step Inn • Fortitude Valley