The Philisteins
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 in Hobart, Australia |
| Founder | Aydn Hibberd, Guy Lucas |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Hobart , Australia |
Area served | Australia, United States |
Key people | Aydn Hibberd, Guy Lucas, Ian Wettenhall, Stewart Tabert |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
The Philisteins emerged as a garage punk ensemble originating from Hobart in 1985, initially known as The Cheesemongers. The founding members were Aydn Hibberd (handling guitar, vocals, and harmonica) alongside Guy Lucas (guitar, vocals, and organ). By 1986, with Konrad Park joining on drums, the group adopted the name The Philisteins. Their first album, Reverberations, debuted in late 1986 before the band moved to Adelaide and secured a deal with Greasy Pop Records. In December 1988, they released an eight-track EP titled Bloody Convicts, featuring Ian Wettenhall on bass and Nick Bruer on drums. The following November saw the arrival of the six-track EP Some Kind of Philisteins, with Stewart Tabert stepping in as drummer for Bruer. After relocating to Melbourne, they unveiled their full-length album Lifestyles of the Wretched and Forgettable in November 1991 via Dog Meat Records. The group dissolved in September 1992; subsequently, Lucas, Tabert, and Wettenhall formed The Freeloaders alongside Sean Greenaway. Meanwhile, Hibberd went on to co-found the indie rock outfit Powder Monkeys. Tragically, Guy Lucas died from a drug overdose in March 1998. A compilation titled A Savage Affection: 1986–1992 was issued in December 2007.
History
Established in Hobart in 1985 as a garage punk band, the original lineup of The Philisteins comprised Scott Harrison on bass, Aydn Hibberd covering guitar, vocals, and harmonica, Guy Lucas on guitar, vocals, and organ, and Charlie Shackloth on drums. Following Shackloth’s replacement by Konrad Park in 1986, the group adopted the name The Philisteins. Their musical style fused elements of 1960s UK R&B with American garage punk influences. Toward the end of 1986, they released their debut album Reverberations on cassette; despite a lukewarm critical response, it cultivated a modest cult audience.
In February 1987, the band moved to Adelaide and inked a contract with Greasy Pop Records. Mark Coombes briefly assumed drumming duties before Ian Wettenhall replaced Harrison on bass and Nick Bruer succeeded Coombes on drums. Between April and June 1988, they recorded the eight-track EP Bloody Convicts, which was released in December and subsequently distributed in the United States through Sympathy for the Record Industry. This EP included a rendition of The Lollipop Shoppe’s "You Must Be a Witch" and demonstrated a mixture of 1970s punk energy with 1960s psychedelic sounds. By its release date, Bruer had been succeeded by Stewart Tabert on drums.
In May 1989, they recorded another EP titled Some Kind of Philisteins, again produced by Doug Thomas. By November that year, after relocating to Sydney, the band issued this six-track EP featuring a stronger punk influence. A shortened four-track version named Some Kind was later released for the US market by Sympathy for the Record Industry; it contained an additional track recorded in Melbourne.
Following approximately a year spent primarily outside New South Wales for touring purposes, The Philisteins settled in Melbourne and signed with Dog Meat Records. Their full-length album Lifestyles of the Wretched and Forgettable was recorded in November 1990 under producer Colin Freeman and officially released one year later in November 1991.
The band wrapped up their career with a farewell tour in Hobart during 1992. After disbanding, members Lucas, Tabert, and Wettenhall formed The Freeloaders alongside Sean Greenaway. Concurrently that year, Hibberd launched Powder Monkeys. Guy Lucas passed away due to a drug overdose in March 1998. In December 2007 Off the Hip issued a two-disc compilation entitled A Savage Affection: 1986–1992, which compiled significant releases and demos that exemplify their psychedelic garage punk sound.
Members
- Aydn Hibberd – vocals, guitar, harmonica (1985–1992)
- Guy Lucas – vocals, guitar, organ (1985–1992) (deceased March 1998)
- Charlie Shackloth – drums (1985)
- Konrad Park – drums (1986)
- Mark Coombes – drums (1986)
- Nick Bruer – drums (1986–1987)
- Ian Wettenhall – bass guitar (1987–1992)
- Stewart Tabert – drums (1987–1992)
Albums
- Reverberations (1987)
- Lifestyles of the Wretched and Forgettable (November 1991, Dog Meat Records)
- A Savage Affection: 1986–1992 (December 2007, Off the Hip)
Extended plays
- Bloody Convicts (December 1988, Greasy Pop Records)
- Some Kind of Philisteins (November 1989, Greasy Pop Records)
- Some Kind (December 1989, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
References
- General
- Note: The archived online version provides limited features.
- Specific