Bam Balams
| Company type | Rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Brendan Kibble |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Bam Balams was an Australian rock group established in Sydney in 1984, fronted by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Brendan Kibble. Their discography includes one full-length album, Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (Green Fez, 1988), an EP, and six singles. While their releases achieved notable success on Australia's independent music charts, they did not reach the ARIA Charts. The band conducted tours across Australia but did not perform internationally.
History
The Bam Balams originated in April 1984 with Brendan "Wig" Kibble handling vocals and guitar, Dave Stead on guitar, Steve Cole playing bass, and Matt Manchester on drums. After Stead's departure in 1985, Brad Fitzpatrick took over guitar duties. The band's name was inspired by a Flamin' Groovies song, and their sound was influenced by artists such as Gene Vincent, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Byrds.
Their initial singles, "Deliver My Love" (1985) and "No-One Else" (1986), were produced by Rob Younger and released through Citadel Records. In 1986, they participated in a split single titled "Same Old Tune" alongside Denmark's September Gurls. The original ensemble dissolved in 1987 when Fitzpatrick, Cole, and Manchester formed The Hexbreakers.
Kibble revived Bam Balams with fresh members including Amr Z. Abdallah—who later joined the ARIA No.1 act Ratcat—and released the single "Surfin' in the Swamp" (1988) on Green Fez Records. A subsequent lineup recorded their only album, Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (1988), which featured the track "Wheel of Fortune." Later changes brought Greg Marchant and Dave Castellari into the bass role, coinciding with releases such as the 45 RPM Extended Play on Pink Flamingo Records.
In 1990, the band contributed "Munster Rock'n'Roller" to a compilation album issued by Munster Records. Following additional lineup adjustments, Bam Balams disbanded in 1992. Although their popularity increased within European countries like Spain, France, and Italy, they never embarked on international tours.
According to musicologist Ian McFarlane, their unique fusion of garage rock, swamp pop, R&B, rockabilly, jangle pop, and country styles from the 1950s and 1960s set them apart from peers who gravitated towards Detroit-style hard rock or psychedelic sounds. After Bam Balams ended, Kibble formed the Navahodads in 1995, releasing two albums and performing internationally.
Albums
- Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (Green Fez) December 1988
Extended plays
- 45 RPM Extended Play ("10,000 Miles (A España)") (Pink Flamingo Records) 1989
Singles
- "Deliver My Love" b/w "Mean Thang" (Citadel Records) 1985 (produced by Rob Younger)
- "No-One Else" b/w "Gettin' Over You" (Citadel Records) 1986 (produced by Rob Younger)
- "Same Old Tune", split single with September Gurls' "Precious" (Guiding Light Records) 1986
- "Surfin' in the Swamp" b/w "Fire in My Soul" (Green Fez) 1987
- "Wheel of Fortune" b/w "Rock It to the Moon" (Green Fez) 1988
- "Hellfire" b/w "Hold on Me" (Green Fez) 1989
Compilation tracks
- "Munster Rock n Roller" - Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol III (Munster Records) 1990