Love Pump
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Val Tarin, Peter Morse, Thomas Kayser, Rodney Glick, Fred Gilbert |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited briefly in 1991 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Love Pump was a rock ensemble from Australia that gained recognition in Perth, Western Australia throughout the 1980s. They arose amid a revival of Western Australian music, drawing inspiration from global punk rock and new wave trends, setting themselves apart from the dominant Australian rock scene based in the Eastern States. The geographic remoteness of Perth nurtured a distinctive musical environment characterized by diverse international influences and a pronounced local identity.
Formative Period (1985–1986)
Established in 1985 by art school colleagues Val Tarin (drums, vocals), Peter Morse (bass), Thomas Kayser (keyboards), Rodney Glick (rhythm guitar), and Fred Gilbert (vocals), Love Pump soon incorporated Trevor Hilton (lead vocals and guitar) who became their chief songwriter. The group originated from an earlier experimental outfit called The Armchair, known for using constructed and found instruments but with minimal commercial success. Love Pump transitioned towards a 1970s pop satire approach, lampooning the prevailing music culture of the time.
Initial Releases (1985–1986)
In 1987, they issued the cassette Moist, adorned with cover artwork by Western Australian artist Tom Alberts. The recordings took place in Perth studios during 1986 and were subsequently remastered for CD in the 1990s utilizing the original digital mix-down tapes, enhancing audio fidelity beyond the initial analog versions.
The band cultivated a dedicated local audience through gigs at numerous Perth venues, including opening for groups like The Triffids. Members were deeply involved in Perth’s closely linked music community, often collaborating across various projects such as 'Rhythm Method', 'Hugo Au Go-Go', 'Floating Garden', 'The Waltons', among others. This interconnectedness fostered a dynamic independent music scene that embraced experimentation with formats like cassette releases and music videos.
Love Pump ceased activity in 1987 following their concluding performance at the Shenton Park Hotel, aiming to distance themselves from their reputation as a parody band. Several former members went on to form The Fat, a funk group active between 1988 and 1993.
Revival (1991)
In November 1991, Love Pump reunited to play several concerts in Fremantle and Perth.
Members
- Guy Crommelin (Hugh Schlong) – bass (1987)
- Fred Gilbert (Ron Pickett) (1985–1991)
- Rodney Glick (Hot Rod) – guitar (1985–1987)
- Peter Hadley (Tiger Turbo) – bass (1986–1987)
- Trevor Hilton (Big Jim) – lead vocals, guitar (1985–1987, 1991)
- Peter Hobbs (Snake) – guitar, vocals (1987)
- Thomas Kayser (Shaft Steele) – keyboards, vocals (1985–1987)
- Peter Morse (Dolph Subway) – bass (1985–1986, 1991)
- Val Tarin (Val Hung) – drums, guitar, bass, vocals (1985–1987, 1991)
- Craig Weighell (Rim Shot) – drums (1986–1987)
- Adrian Wood (Whip Creme) – trumpet, vocals (1986–1987)
- Manoli Vouyoulalos – bass (1987)
Albums
- Live at the Wizbah Volume 1 (1986)
- Live at the Wizbah Volume 2 (1986)
- Live at the Wizbah Volume 3 (1986)
- Moist (1987)
- Live at the Shents (1987)
Compilation albums
- The Fred Gilbert Story (1987)
- Hometown Farewell Kiss – 6UVS (1990)
External links
- Party Fears 10, Autumn 1989
- "Moist" album by Love Pump at State Library of Western Australia
- Errol Tout discussing Love Pump, National Library of Australia Oral History
- Trevor Hilton interviewed on Love Pump, National Library of Australia Oral History
- Trevor Hilton profile at Music Australia, National Library of Australia
- Perth Independent Music Project, National Library of Australia