The Lizard Train
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide, Australia |
Area served | Australia, Europe |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
The Lizard Train was a rock group originating from Adelaide, Australia, established in early 1985. Their discography includes five albums: Slippery (1987), The Ride (1990), Get Yer Wah Wahs Out (1992), Couch (1993), and Everything Moves (1995). According to music historian Ian McFarlane, their initial recordings blended intense guitar work with melodic and harmonic elements, later progressing into forceful, brooding compositions showcasing impressive musicianship.
In 1993, Chris Willard and David Creese founded the Dumb Earth, moving their base to Melbourne and releasing the album Walk the Earth in 1997. Journalist Andy Turner characterized their music as a "mind-bending fusion of avant-garde jazz and slide guitar". Additionally, in 1996 they created The Hired Guns, a band dedicated to the psychedelic country rock sound reminiscent of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Both Creese (drums, vocals) and Willard (lead vocals, guitar, bass) were central figures in all three ensembles. The Dumb Earth's follow-up album, Blessings in Disguise, was released in 2001; The Hired Guns followed with Between Here & the Night in 2002. Willard departed from The Dumb Earth in 2002; by 2005 the band had dissolved, with Creese embarking on a solo career. Willard remained active with The Hired Guns until they disbanded in 2010.
Adelaide years (1985–1995)
Formed in Adelaide during early 1985, The Lizard Train consisted of Shane Bloffwitch (bass, vocals), David Creese (drums, chimes, vocals), Phil Drew (guitar, vocals), and Chris Willard (lead guitar, lead vocals). Their inaugural performance took place in May 1985; early recording contributions included backing on Liz Dealey and the Twenty Second Sect's first single in 1986.
Their initial EP, Thirteen Hour Daydream, was issued in August 1986 via Greasy Pop Records, recorded at Studio 202 in Adelaide. McFarlane described this release as combining aggressive guitar riffs layered over a deep rhythmic foundation with significant melodic sophistication.
After attracting attention from Europe, they toured there from August through October 1987. Their first full-length album, Slippery, was released in September 1987 featuring singles "Beauty Underground" and "Ever Been There?". Phil Drew left the band in December 1987; thereafter they continued as a trio.
They recorded their sophomore album The Ride towards the end of 1989 with producer Tony Elliot at Bartels St Studio. Released in 1990 along with the single "She Gets Me", McFarlane considered this record the pinnacle of their career, highlighting powerful dark compositions coupled with accomplished musicianship.
Their third studio effort, Get Your Wah Wahs Out, again produced by Elliot at Bartels Street Studio, came out in 1992 under Shock Records' Shagpile imprint. This album showcased a distinctive use of wah wah and fuzz guitar effects.
October 1993 saw the release of the six-track album Couch, produced collaboratively by Darren McBain, Dave Lokan, and the band at Big Sound Studios.
In March 1995, they launched Everything Moves, preceded by the single "It all Came from Nothing". Produced by Steve Albini—renowned for work with Nirvana, The Breeders, and The Jesus Lizard—at Mixmasters Studio in Belair, South Australia, it preserved their noise-infused yet well-crafted songwriting style. A subsequent five-track EP titled Inertia, also produced by Albini, followed in May 1995.
By this period they had relocated to Melbourne and transitioned into The Dumb Earth. Willard described The Lizard Train’s sound as "a kind of heavy pop / psychedelic band."
Melbourne period (1995-present): The Dumb Earth and The Hired Guns
In May 1995, Creese and Willard of The Lizard Train, with Willard now handling bass and backing vocals, moved to Melbourne and established The Dumb Earth alongside Mark Ford on saxophone and Adam Kyle Spellicy contributing guitar and vocals. Their musical style was characterized as an intense fusion of avant-garde jazz and slide guitar elements. They recorded their first single, "Taxi Me Through," in December 1994, which was subsequently released in 1995 through Pop Gun Records. After signing with Rubber Records, their debut album Walk the Earth was launched in June 1997, produced by Martyn Robinson. The majority of the compositions were credited to Creese, with three tracks co-authored by Creese and Willard. Willard described their sound as "dark jazz/blues filmic music."
By 2001, Simon Whithear had taken over from Ford on saxophone, clarinet, and backing vocals. The band also grew to include Glendon Blazely on trombone, trumpet, and tuba; Kiernan Box on piano and accordion; and Phil Kakulas playing double bass. Their sophomore album, Blessings in Disguise, was released in September 2001 under the Hour of Need label with distribution by Sony Music, featuring production by David Nelson. In November 2002, Willard departed and was succeeded by Justin Avery on bass. The Dumb Earth ceased activity around mid-2005 when Creese began focusing on his solo endeavors.
Meanwhile, in 1996, Creese, Spellicy, and Willard initiated a side project called The Hired Guns with Anthony Paine on bass. This ensemble concentrated on a psychedelic country rock style reminiscent of the late 1960s to early 1970s era. They issued a split single titled "Blue Sunday" in 1998 and followed up with their first album Between Here & the Night in 2002 via Laughing Outlaw Records. Creese exited the group by 2005, while Willard remained until the band's dissolution in late 2010.
Studio albums
- The Lizard Train
- Slippery – Greasy Pop Records GPR 132 (September 1987)
- The Ride – Greasy Pop Records GPR 156 (1990)
- Get Your Wah Wahs Out – Shagpile Records/Shock Records SHAG CD 0010 (1992)
- Couch – Shagpile Records/Shock Records Shag CD2014 (October 1993)
- Everything Moves – Shagpile Records/Shock Records SHAGCD2022 (March 1995)
- The Dumb Earth
- Walk the Earth – Rubber Records RUB 069CD (June 1997)
- Blessings in Disguise – Hour of Need HON001 (September 2001)
- Dry Land – UXB Recordings uxb811 (2005)
- The Hired Guns
- Between Here & the Night – Laughing Outlaw Records LORCD-048 (2002)
- You Know Something – (10 September 2010)
- Golden Home – (2014)
Compilation albums
- The Dumb Earth
- Old Days Rarities (1993–2004) – Hour of Need HON002 (2004)
Extended plays
- The Lizard Train
- Thirteen Hour Daydream – Greasy Pop Records GPR 117 (August 1986)
- Inertia – Shagpile Records/Shock Records SHAGCD7015 (May 1995)
- The Dumb Earth
- Auld Lanxiety Attack Rubber Records/BMG (February 1999)
- The Hired Guns
- Flyin' One Sided Records ONE001 (2009)
Singles
- The Lizard Train
- "Beauty Underground" (1987)
- "Ever Been There?" (1987)
- "Motorcycle of Love" (1988)
- "She Gets Me" (1990)
- "It all Came from Nothing" (1995)
- The Dumb Earth
- "Taxi Me Through" (1995)
- "Tailem Bend" (1998)
External links
- Comprehensive discographies for The Lizard Train, The Dumb Earth, and The Hired Guns are available at MusicBrainz: The Lizard Train, The Dumb Earth, The Hired Guns.
- A 1992 photograph of Lizard Train is archived within the Messenger Press Collection at the State Library of South Australia: [1]. Accessed 26 March 2013.
- The concert poster for The Dumb Earth’s March 1999 show at The Continental Café in Prahran is preserved at the State Library of Victoria: [2]. Retrieved 27 March 2013.