The Creatures (Australian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Mildura, Australia |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
Key people | Eric Marcic, Herman Marcic, Rudolph Marcic, Keith Matcham, Michael Parnis, Richard White, Greg Lawrie |
| Products | Singles: "All I Do Is Cry", "Ugly Thing", "I'm an Animal" (as Chocolate) |
The Creatures originated as a garage rock group in Mildura, Australia in 1965, initially known as The Beagle Boys. They adopted their new name in February 1966 and moved to Sydney, remaining active through the latter half of the 1960s. The band’s members included the Marcic siblings: Eric on guitar, Herman handling bass duties, and Rudolph on drums, along with Keith Matcham as lead vocalist and Michael Parnis on rhythm guitar.
Australian music critic Glenn A. Baker highlighted their unique aesthetic, characterized by vividly dyed pastel hair that attracted considerable media interest. Promoted as "Australia's wildest, longest, coloured hair group" and dubbed "Australia's answer to the Rolling Stones," the band saw Richard White replace Parnis before releasing their debut single, "All I Do Is Cry" (1966). Each member sported a distinct hair color: Eric with red, Herman blue, Rudolph green, Matcham purple, and White pink.
Known for their aggressive 1960s punk and protopunk style, The Creatures’ sound was showcased in singles like "All I Do Is Cry" (1966) and "Ugly Thing" (1967). Prior to their second single, Greg Lawrie took over lead guitar duties from Eric and wore a red wig to preserve the group's signature colorful look. By December 1967, the band relocated to Melbourne and changed their name to Chocolate, under which they released the single "I'm an Animal" in 1969.
Following the group’s dissolution, Lawrie became a member of the Carson County Band in early 1970. Herman joined Toby Jugg alongside Garth Porter, who later became part of Sherbet. In 1998, Kustom 65 released a compilation album titled It's a Kave-in!, which included The Creatures' track "All I Do Is Cry." This song was also covered by Shutdown 66 on the tribute album Wild About You!, recorded live at radio station 3CR in 2004.
Discography
- "All I Do Is Cry" / "Mona" (sound 66 S45-01) (March 1966)
- "Ugly Thing" / "Your One and Only Man" (RCA 101803) (December 1967)
- "I'm an Animal" (issued as Chocolate, 1969)