Flotsam Jetsam
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Stephen Ferris, Tony Gilbert, Anthony Iacono |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Synth-pop music |
Flotsam Jetsam emerged as an Australian synth-pop ensemble in 1983. Originating as a studio-based project, they eventually embraced live shows to enhance their visibility.
Their discography includes two singles and one extended play, each achieving a position within Australia's top 100 charts. Notably, their track "Show Me," engineered by Guy Gray, received a nomination for the 1987 ARIA Engineer of the Year accolade.
The group also performed as opening acts for prominent artists such as A-ha, Queen, and Simply Red during tours across Australia.
Formation and early development (1983)
Established in 1983 by Stephen Ferris, Tony Gilbert, and Anthony Iacono, Flotsam Jetsam soon welcomed Nick Ferris into the lineup. Initially without a drummer, they relied on a Roland TR-808 drum machine alongside Korg Polysix keyboards, recording their material on a four-track Tascam reel-to-reel device. This configuration was used for live performances until drummer Warren Maclean—who had previously played with Nick Ferris in Four-Four—joined intermittently from 1984 to 1985.
During their inaugural year, the band expanded with several additions: keyboardist Ade Akisanya; backing vocalists known as The Shonkettes (Annie Swanton, Emma De Teliga, Katina Cremona); keyboardist Peter Pitcher; and percussionist Bill Kay. John Swanton took on a permanent role as percussionist, while Michael Iacono succeeded Ade Akisanya on keyboards.
Following Warren Maclean’s departure to join Machinations, the band chose not to bring in another drummer. Instead, they enhanced their sound with electronic instruments including the Sequential Circuits Drumtracks drum machine, Roland MSQ 700 sequencer, and Roland MC-500 Micro Composer. These electronic elements combined with John Swanton’s percussion to establish their rhythm section.
In 1983, at Ramrod Studios, Flotsam Jetsam recorded "115 BPM" with drummer and engineer Herman Kovac. The track featured vocal contributions by Kate Ceberano of I'm Talking; however, these were non-lyrical sounds intended for a rotoscope animation video directed by Lucinda Clutterbuck.
Cooking With George - 1984
In 1984, the ABC radio station 2 Triple J invited Flotsam Jetsam to participate in the compilation box set Cooking With George, named after DJ George Wayne. This collection highlighted emerging bands from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Their contribution, "R27s in Godlike Intercession," was recorded at ABC’s Darlinghurst studios under the engineering of Keith Walker and selected for inclusion.
WEA and 100% One Second Love (1985)
In April 1985, shortly before signing with WEA Records, Flotsam Jetsam supported Queen during four concerts at Sydney's Entertainment Centre. On April 30 of that year, they secured a contract with WEA Records, whose management by Paul Turner and Peter Ikin likely facilitated the opportunity to tour with Queen.
Their debut single under WEA, titled "100% One Second Love," was produced by Keith Walker at EMI 301 Studio B in Sydney. The production employed Fairlight CMI technology for drum programming and instrumentation while featuring jazz pianist Tony Ansell on two tracks. The single’s B-side included two additional songs: "Butchers of Lust" and "115 BPM/Crystal Disco."
The accompanying music video was directed by Kimball Rendle and took inspiration from John Waters’ film Polyester. It portrayed a chaotic wedding reception scenario and was shot on 16mm film at a now-demolished motel near Bondi Beach as well as the Tiki Bar located on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst. The video showcased friends and members of the Ferris family—Virginia Ferris dancing with Philip Hutch, Pee Wee Ferris behind the bar, John Ferris among the audience—and featured cameo appearances by Pat Powell and Andy Glitre.
Members
- Stephen Ferris – lead vocals
- Nick Ferris – bass guitar, drum programming
- Tony Gilbert – guitar
- John Swanton – percussion instruments
- Michael Iacano – keyboards and synthesizer
- Ashley Cadell – keyboards
- Warren Mclean – drums (1984 to 1986)
- Peter Ciobo – drums (1986 to 1988)
- Lee Borkman – keyboards (1986 to 1988)
- Russell Gamble – keyboards (1988)
- Anthony Iacano – guitar and synthesizer
- Ade Akisanya – synthesizer and bass
EP
| Title | Release information | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Horrorbox | 95 |
Singles
| Year | Single title | Peak chart ranking | Album name |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| 1985 | "100% 1 Second Love" | - | non album singles |
| 1986 | "Distraction" | 90 | |
| "Show Me" | - | ||
| 1987 | "Power" | 76 | Horrorbox |