The Stems
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Founder | Dom Mariani |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Area served | Australia, Europe, United States |
Key people | Dom Mariani, Richard Lane, Julian Matthews, David Shaw, Ashley Naylor, Davey Lane |
| Products | Garage punk music, albums, singles |
| Website | www |
The Stems are a garage punk group established by Dom Mariani in Perth, Western Australia toward the end of 1983. Drawing inspiration from 1960s garage rock and 1970s power pop, they initially split up in August 1987. The band reunited in 2003, issued a new album in 2007, disbanded again in 2009, and have been performing live consistently since 2013.
1983: Formation
The Stems came together in late 1983 when vocalist and guitarist Dom Mariani, previously of The Go-Starts, met Richard Lane. After witnessing Mariani’s performance, Lane sought guitar instruction, which led them to form the band. Drummer Gary Chambers joined soon after, with bassist John Shuttleworth recruited from the Pink Armadillos. Their first live appearance occurred in March 1984 at Perth’s Old Civic Theatre, where they supported The Saints and The Triffids. Influenced heavily by 1960s garage bands such as the Electric Prunes, The Standells, and The Easybeats, The Stems cultivated a devoted fan base through weekly Saturday shows at the Wizbah venue, blending original songs with classic covers. Following Shuttleworth’s exit, a farewell show was held before bringing on board schoolmate Julian Matthews as the new bassist.
Performing frequently at venues including The Wizbah, The Old Melbourne, and The Shenton Park Hotel, The Stems gained a strong local following amid a scene largely dominated by cover bands.
1984–1985: Love Will Grow – Rosebud Volume 1
Toward the end of 1984, The Stems recorded three tracks—"She's a Monster," "Make You Mine," and "Tears Me in Two"—at Shelter Studios in Perth. Originally planned as a self-issued single, a friend helped them present the recordings to independent labels on Australia’s east coast. This led to a contract with Citadel Records, known for its quality releases. In mid-1985, they promoted their debut single "Make You Mine"/"She's A Monster" during sold-out performances in Sydney, including a gig with the Painters and Dockers at the Trade Union Club. The single topped independent charts and sold around 500 copies in the UK, becoming Australia's second highest-selling indie single that year. They re-recorded "Tears Me in Two" for the Love Will Grow – Rosebud Volume 1 EP, produced by Rob Younger of Radio Birdman. This EP reached No. 72 on national charts and increased their recognition through successful shows in Perth.
1986–1987: At First Sight, Violets Are Blue and break-up
With David Shaw replacing Chambers on drums, The Stems spent 1986 touring across Australia, supporting bands like Flamin' Groovies and Hoodoo Gurus while seeking a major label deal. They eventually signed with Mushroom Records. Recording their debut album extended from one to three months because of production challenges. Released in 1987 under Mushroom's White Label imprint, At First Sight, Violets Are Blue debuted at No. 1 on Australian alternative charts and reached No. 34 on mainstream charts. Garnering critical praise, it ranked among Australia's top-selling albums that year despite limited mainstream radio play. Highlighting songwriting contributions from Dom Mariani and Richard Lane, the album was later recognized by Rolling Stone as one of Australia's top 100 albums. The band toured nationally and appeared on national television programs including the final episode of Countdown. The lead single was featured on the soundtrack for Young Einstein. However, internal disputes and management problems caused The Stems to dissolve by October 1987 just prior to a European tour. Mariani attributed the split to personality conflicts and poor management; Matthews cited exhaustion and differing priorities. Their last performance with the original lineup took place on 31 August 1987; the official breakup announcement followed in November after releasing five singles, an EP, and one studio album.
2003–2009: Reunion, Heads Up Release, and Subsequent Hiatus
In March 2003, The Stems came back together for a nationwide tour, leveraging the reissue of At First Sight, Violets Are Blue alongside the compilation album Mushroom Soup: The Citadel Years. They performed to sold-out audiences across Australia, extended their tour to Europe, and took part in the esteemed "Little Stevens Underground Garage Festival" in 2005, followed by an appearance at Sydney's "Come Together Festival."
The U.S. garage rock label Get Hip Records issued another compilation in 2006 titled Terminal Cool, which included three tracks previously unreleased, such as "Think Cool" from early live performances. Additionally, two songs by The Stems featured on Rhino's Children of Nuggets, a collection spotlighting 1980s Paisley Underground and garage rock acts.
In 2007, The Stems embarked on a national tour alongside Hoodoo Gurus and Radio Birdman, while releasing their sophomore album, Heads Up, under Shock Records. The record was produced at Kingdom Studios in Perth and mixed by John Curley in Cincinnati, presenting ten original tracks rooted in garage rock. To support the album, the band toured nationally and expanded their reach internationally with shows across Europe and a U.S. visit that included a performance at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
July 2009 saw The Stems announce their dissolution with a farewell tour spanning eight dates across Australia scheduled for October. Frontman Dom Mariani described it as "our first farewell... ending on a good note," emphasizing the band's strong live presence despite the decision to part ways.
Following the breakup, Richard Lane established Penny Lane's Musical Workshop in Fremantle (2009), founded the independent label Idaho Records, and collaborated with various local groups. He did not participate in subsequent reunions of The Stems and passed away in 2020. In recognition of his contributions, Fremantle honored Lane in 2021 by naming a laneway near his workshop after him.
2013–present: Renewed Activity
In April 2013, The Stems reassembled for performances at the Dig It Up! festival in Sydney and Melbourne. This iteration included Mariani, Matthews, Shaw, with guitarist Ashley Naylor stepping in for Richard Lane. The lineup maintained momentum with gigs along Australia's east coast in March 2014, notably supporting the reunited Sunnyboys in Brisbane and Sydney. From 2017 onward, guitarist Davey Lane (associated with The Pictures and unrelated to Richard Lane) joined the group. On 31 May 2014, The Stems were the headline act at Perth’s annual 'State of the Art' festival held at the Perth Cultural Centre.
Members
- Dom Mariani – vocals, guitar (1983–1987, 2003–2009, 2013–present)
- Richard Lane – vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica (1983–1987, 2003–2009) (died May 2020)
- Gary Chambers – drums (1983–1986)
- Julian Matthews – bass guitar, vocals (1984–1987, 2003–2009, 2013–present)
- David Shaw – drums, percussion, vocals (1986–1987, 2003–2009, 2013–present)
- John Shuttleworth – bass guitar (1984)
- Ashley Naylor – guitar, vocals (2013–present)
- Davey Lane – guitar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica (2017–present)
Studio albums
| Title | Details | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| At First Sight, Violets Are Blue | * Released: August 1987
|
34 |
| Heads Up | * Released: 6 October 2007
|
— |
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Weed Out! | * Released: 1997
|
| Official Live Recording | * Released: August 2024
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Great Rosebud Hoax | * Released: 1987
|
| Buds | * Released: 1991
|
| Mushroom Soup: The Citadel Years | * Released: March 2003
|
| Terminal Cool (Anthology 1983–1986) | * Released: June 2006
|
| Evergreen Scene – The Stems Anthology 1983–87 | * Released: 2007
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Love Will Grow – Rosebud Volume 1 |
|
72 |
| The Stems |
|
— |
Singles
2025 | "Deep Freeze" | —| Year | Title | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Make You Mine"/"She's a Monster" | — |
| 1985 | "Tears Me in Two"/"Can't Resist" | 99 |
| 1987 | "No Heart"/"Lon Chaney Junior's Daughter" | — |
| 1987 | "At First Sight"/"Grooviest Girl in Town" | 90 |
| 1987 | "Sad Girl"/"My Beach" | 89 |
| 1987 | "For Always"/"Mr Misery" | — |
| 1993 | "Let Your Head Rest"/"Don't Let Me"/"Tears Me in Two" | — |
| 2007 | "Leave You Way Behind"/"Take Me To Your" | — |
| 2018 | "Won't Let You Go" | — |
| 2018 | "Without You" | — |
| 2024 | "Falling from the Sky" | "—" |
West Australian Music Industry Awards
Since its inception in 1985, the West Australian Music Industry Awards have honored notable contributions within Western Australia's music community.
| Year | Recipient | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Stems | Hall of Fame | Inductee |
External links
- Australian alternative rock bands
- Musical acts formed in 1983
- Musical acts disbanded in 1987
- Musical acts reunited in 2003
- Musical acts disbanded in 2009
- Musical acts reunited in 2013
- Musical groups originating from Perth, Western Australia
- Punk blues bands
- Swamp rock bands
- Australian power pop bands
- Musical groups disestablished in 1987