Ghostwriters

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Ghostwriters


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Rob Hirst and The Ghostwriters
Origin = Sydney, Australia
Genre = Rock
Years_active = 1990 - current
Label = Virgin, Mercury, Ghostwriters, Sony BMG
Associated_acts = Midnight Oil
Hoodoo Gurus
URL = [http://www.ghostwriters.com.au/ Official website]
Current_members = Rob Hirst
Richard Grossman
D.C.
Martin Rotsey
Lee Moloney
Past_members = Andrew Dickson, Dorland Bray, Leszek Karski, Mark Moffat, Chris Abrahams, Jan Preston, Dominic 'Dom' Turner

Ghostwriters (aka Rob Hirst & the Ghostwriters and sometimes referred to as Ghosties by fans) are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1990, principally involving Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus bassist Richard Grossman.cite web |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/ghostwriters.html |title=Australian Rock Database entry on Ghostwriters |publisher=Magnus Holmgren |accessdate=2008-01-03 ] Their highest charting single was "Someone's Singing New York New York" (1991) written by Hirst,cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2008-01-03 ] it reached #29 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart. [cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ghostwriters&titel=%2E%2E%2ESomeone%27s+Singing+New+York+New+York&cat=s |title=Australian Singles Chart entry on "Someone's Singing New York New York" |publisher=australian-charts.com |accessdate=2008-01-03 ]

History

Formation

In Sydney in 1990, while Midnight Oil were taking a break, Hirst joined up with guitarist Andrew Dickson, drummer Dorland Bray (Do-Ré-Mi), guitarist Leszek Karski (Midnight Oil producer) and Hoodoo Gurus' Grossman to form a side project called Ghostwriters. The name refers to ghostwriters where famous writers wish to be anonymous. Ghostwriters' line-ups - both live and in the studio - changed considerably through the years, with only founders Hirst and Grossman being mainstays (and their driving force) at all times. Between successive album releases Hirst and Grossman returned to active involvement with Oils & Gurus respectively.

Debut album

The first album, "Ghostwriters" (1991), was released by Virgin Records and its credits illustrated the Ghostwriters concept as it did not list any band member's name. Session musicians were acknowledged by their first name and a single initial for the surname. (Later re-release of the album included band member names.)cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/739121 |title=Discogs entry on "Ghostwriters" |accessdate=2008-01-03 ] The album reached #81 on the Australian album charts.cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |format=doc |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink= David Kent|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |accessdate=2008-02-19] "Someone's Singing New York New York" was released as a single with the statement "written, played and produced by ghostwriters" [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?what=R&obid=723162 |title=Discogs entry on "Someone's Singing New York New York" single cover |accessdate=2008-01-03 ] , the single reaching #29 on the Australian singles charts.

econd album

"Second Skin" (1996) followed on Mercury Records. By that time, Ghostwriters consisted primarily of Hirst and Grossman whose names were - along with those of the numerous guest musicians - now also listed in the album's liner notes. Videos were produced for the two tracks "Impossible Shame" and "Second Skin", but - as with the debut record - sales of the album as well as the singles fell short of the record company's expectations and the contract was not renewed. Consequently, the first two Ghostwriters albums went out of print quickly and were not available for the most part of the 1990s.

Third album

In 2000, Ghostwriters (now called Rob Hirst & The Ghostwriters) released "Fibromoon". The band released it independently, on Ghostwriters Records, which meant that it was only available at a select number of stores, including some online outlets. Along with "Fibromoon", the group re-released their two previous albums (with slightly altered artwork) through the same outlets. By 2006, all Ghostwriters albums were once again out of print and no longer available.

Fourth album

After a longer recording hiatus (during which the band did play a number of live sessions in various Sydney pubs), Ghostwriters started recording again in late 2006. The resulting album, "Political Animal" (2007) [cite web |url=http://www.sonybmg.com.au/artist/info.do?artistId=185040 |title=Sony BMG "Political Animal" release |publisher=Sony BMG ] , dropped the "Rob Hirst &" prefix and was released in Australia on 14 April 2007. It was released by Sony BMG Australia (also Midnight Oil's record company), marking the first time in over ten years that a Ghostwriters album became available through a major record company. "Political Animal" saw Hirst's former Midnight Oil musician Martin Rotsey formally join the band, and the title track features former Midnight Oil keyboard/guitarist Jim Moginie. "Political Animal" collects four new songs along with eight previously released tracks, with some partly re-recorded.

While Midnight Oil were rumoured to be reuniting again for the Australian leg of the Live Earth concerts in July 2007, this was not to be the case. However, Ghostwriters did perform, playing their own songs "World is Almost at Peace" and "Second Skin" followed by the Midnight Oil classic "When The Generals Talk".

Further Contributors

Over the years, several other musicians contributed to Ghostwriters, both live and in studio. These include Warne Livesey (former Midnight Oil producer), Peter West, Hirst's brother Stephen Hirst, Brad Shepherd (Hoodoo Gurus), Charlie McMahon, as well as Jeremy Smith, Jack Howard and Michael Waters (all three from Hunters and Collectors). Hirst's fellow Midnight Oil members Jim Moginie and Bones Hillman made guest appearances at live gigs; both also contributed to Ghostwriters songs Moginie plays keyboards on the track "Political Animal" (2007), while Hillman sang backup vocals on the song "Neon Garden" from the "Fibromoon". Oils guitarist Martin Rotsey had been a guest musician at a number of Ghostwriters concerts before officially joining in 2006.

Discography

Albums

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Ghostwriters
Released = 1991
Label = Virgin Records (Australia)
Producer = Ghostwriters
Format = CD
Chart position= 81 (Australia)
Certification =
Sales =
Singles = "Someone's Singing New York New York"
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info = Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Second Skin
Released = 1996
Label = Mercury Records
Producer = Rob Hirst, Brent Clark, Warne Livesey
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles = "Impossible Shame", "International Rules Of Love"
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info = Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Fibromoon
Released = 2000
Label = Ghostwriters
Producer = Rob Hirst, James Cadsky, Richard Grossman
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info = Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Political Animal
Released = April 14, 2007
Label = Sony BMG (Australia)
Producer = Brent Clark, Ghostwriters
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

ingles

* "Someone's Singing New York New York" (1991) Virgin Records (#29 Australia)
* "Impossible Shame" (1996) Mercury Records
* "Second Skin" (1996) Mercury Records
* "International Rules Of Love" (1996) Mercury Records

Line-ups

Core members

* Rob Hirst - vocals, guitar, keyboard, drums, percussion
* Rick Grossman - bass, guitar, vocalsIn addition to mainstays Hirst and Grossman, Ghostwriters consisted of:

"Ghostwriters" (1991)

credited to:
* Andrew Dickson - guitar
* Dorland Bray (former Do-Ré-Mi drummer) - acoustic guitar, drums, vocals
* Leszek Karski (former Midnight Oil producer) - guitar

* Brad Shepherd (Hoodoo Gurus) - harmonica
* Glad Reed - trombone
* Stephen Hirst — piano, Hammond organ

"Second Skin" (1996)

credited [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/794920 |title=Discogs entry on "Second Skin" |accessdate=2008-01-03 ] to:
* Mark Moffat - guitar, synthesizer
* Chris Abrahams - Hammond organ, mellotron
* Jan Preston - piano, rhodes organ, backing vocals (track 9)
* Dominic 'Dom' Turner (from Australian blues band Backsliders) - slide guitar

* Peter West - cello, mandolin, violin, string arrangement (track 3)
* Jeremy Smith - french horn
* Charlie McMahon - didgeridoo
* Iva Davis - oboe
* Jack Howard - trumpet
* Michael Waters - trombone
* Andrew Dickson — guitar (track 1)
* Warne Livesey — bodhrán (track 2), percussion (track 9)
* Paul De Como — guitar (tracks 6, 10)
* Howlin' Wind — flute (track 9)
* Colin Timms — Gamelan (track 9)
* Sunil De Silva — congas, shaker

"Fibromoon" (2000)

* D.C. (born Paul Di Giacomo; also in songwriter Beau Young's band) - guitar, vocals
* Lee Moloney - drums, percussion

"Political Animal" (2007) / Current Line-up

* Martin Rotsey (former Midnight Oil guitarist) - guitar
* D.C. - guitars, vocals
* Lee Moloney - drums, percussion

References

External links

* [http://www.ghostwriters.com.au Ghostwriters Official Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theghostwriters Ghostwriters on MySpace]
*