- GOD (band)
GOD (spelt in capitals) was a
rock 'n' roll band fromMelbourne ,Australia , together from1986 to1989 and comprisingJoel Silbersher ,Tim Hemensley , Sean Greenway and Matthew Whittle. All members were 15-16 at the time of the band's formation. Prior to GOD's formation, Hemensley had been a member of Royal Flush (withRoman Tucker , later of Rocket Science), Greenway and Whittle were members of Foot and Mouth, and Silbersher had his own radio show on3RRR .Their debut 7" single "My Pal" from
1987 is their best known track. It got very favourable reviews and sold in the thousands (which was a lot then for an independent band). It became an independent classic and cover versions have been recorded by several bands, includingMagic Dirt , Peabody, The Hollowmen,Bored! and Bum (from Canada).GOD's first mini-album
Rock Is Hell (1988 ), was released onAu-Go-Go Records with 4 different cover designs, one designed by each band member, due to the members' inability to agree on one cover design. Rock Is Hell was variously praised and panned by critics, but still sold respectably.Their follow-up full-length album For Lovers Only (
1989 ), also on Au-Go-Go, was a bigger budget production, and musically a big improvement. Although GOD had disbanded by the time it was released, the album was released on vinyl by three European labels. Au-Go-Go later released a CD of For Lovers Only, with My Pal and most of Rock Is Hell as bonus tracks.The band's last gig was at the Central Club on
30 July 1989 . Hemensley had already joinedBored! by then, and all the members went on to further musical projects, Hemensley later to thePowder Monkeys . Silbersher was perhaps the most recognised, forming Hoss andTendrils , releasing solo albums, and working withTex Perkins .Greenway died of a
heroin overdose on21 January 2001 . Hemensley died of a heroin overdose in 2003.My Pal appeared on the soundtrack to
Underbelly (TV series) .References
* "Stranded: The Secret History of Australian Independent Music 1977-1991", Clinton Walker, Pan MacMillan, 1996, ISBN 0-7329-0883-3.
External links
* [http://www.webcutsmusic.com/news5.html Webcuts] Essay celebrating "My Pal"
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rage/playlist/archive/2005/20050910.htm Playlist 10 October 2005] for ABC TV "Rage" with "My Pal" still being selected*http://www.myspace.com/godaustraliaGOD's Myspace, including songs and "My Pal" video
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