Cinema Prague
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | cinemaprague |
Cinema Prague is a funk metal ensemble originating from Perth, Western Australia, established in 1986.
Distinguished by their unique fusion of comedy, funk rhythms, thrash elements, and arrangements influenced by Zappa, Cinema Prague earned a reputation as one of Perth's most proficient and engaging musical groups. Although they did not attain the global prominence of peers such as Jebediah or Beaverloop, their impact remains significant within the music community of Western Australia.
Biography
Initially formed as a quartet in 1986 during the members' high school years, the band encountered early obstacles before settling into a trio format by 1988. Their first release was a cassette single including "Mushroom Cloud" and "Walking Song," which debuted in November 1991. This was succeeded by their first full-length album, Meldatype, recorded between 1992 and 1994 and launched in March 1995. Later outputs comprised the five-track EP ¡Zasph! (November 1996) and the third studio album Nordensort (May 1998), although the latter had been recorded in mid-1995.
Following their 'Idiots Crusade' tour across Europe and South Africa in 1997, the band produced three tracks at Poons Head Studio. The fourth album, It's Schnapster, originally recorded in 1990, was issued during a hiatus in December 1998. During this break, Rex Horan relocated to the United Kingdom to continue performing and to facilitate music workshops for juvenile offenders.
Founding members George Kailis and Tim Lowe engaged in various collaborations including the project Rice while advancing their academic pursuits—Lowe studied engineering whereas Kailis focused on architecture.
The group reunited in 2007 with bassist Roy Martinez (formerly of Dave Mann Collective) joining the lineup and planned to release previously unheard material as the album Snakes Alive, marking their first new work in over eight years. Released on 30 January 2009, Snakes Alive showcased the band’s genuine sound and was supported by live shows in Perth and Melbourne.
By May 2019, Cinema Prague's complete recordings were accessible via Bandcamp. In July that year, they performed a sold-out reunion concert at Fremantle Town Hall as part of the Fremantle Festival.
Members
- Rex Horan – bass guitar, vocals (1988–1998, 2019)
- George Kailis – guitar, vocals (1988–1998, 2007, 2009–present)
- Tim Lowe – drums (1988–1998, 2007, 2009–present)
- Roy Martinez – bass guitar (2007–2009)
Albums/EPs
- Meldatype – Seeing Ear Records (March 1995)
- ¡Zasph! – Seeing Ear Records (November 1996)
- Nordensost (May 1998)
- It's Schnapster (December 1998)
- Snakes Alive (January 2009)
Singles
- "Mushroom Cloud" / "Walking Song" – Proton (November 1991) (cassette single)