Whirlywirld
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Whirlywirld was an Australian post-punk group active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, fronted by Ollie Olsen. This band marked Olsen's initial partnership with drummer John Murphy. They performed primarily in Melbourne and Sydney, contributing to the Melbourne little band scene.
Biography
In 1976, guitarist Ollie Olsen established The Reals, a band that occasionally shared stages with The Boys Next Door. The Reals later transformed into The Negatives; however, Olsen departed due to creative differences and went on to form The Young Charlatans. This ensemble featured future prominent artists including Olsen, guitarist Rowland Howard, drummer Jeffrey Wegener, and bassist Janine Hall. After the group's short tenure, Olsen connected with John Murphy, then drummer for Melbourne's punk outfit NEWS.
By 1978, Olsen and Murphy had launched Whirlywirld with a vision centered on synthesizers and instruments beyond the guitar. The lineup consisted of keyboardists credited as handling 'electronics,' namely Andrew Duffield and Simon Smith, alongside guitarist Dean Richards. Olsen himself transitioned from guitar to electronic instrumentation. Although Whirlywirld engaged in extensive rehearsals, their live appearances were relatively limited.
Their inaugural self-titled EP was released in June 1979. Later that year, they made their live debut at Melbourne's Crystal Ballroom. Around this time, Duffield exited to join The Models, and Philip Jackson took his place.
Whirlywirld played only fourteen concerts before undergoing lineup changes that signaled a shift in their musical approach: Richards, Jackson, and Smith left the band. Richards and Jackson moved on to local underground groups Equal Local and Hot Half Hour; Richards subsequently recorded under the name Disturbed Earth. Guitarist Arnie Hanna and bassist Greg Sun joined the ensemble. During this period, Murphy broadened his percussion techniques while Olsen added saxophone, clarinet, tape loops, and keyboards to their sound. This formation recorded at York St. Studios in December 1979, resulting in four tracks featured on a second self-titled 12" EP released in February 1980.
After Whirlywirld disbanded, Olsen and Murphy formed The Beast Apparel followed by Hugo Klang,[1] which toured briefly in England and issued the single "Beat Up The Old Shack" on Prince Melon Records in Australia. Subsequently, they created Orchestra of Skin and Bone, before Olsen founded NO during the late 1980s.
Later collaborations saw Hanna and Murphy join forces with Olsen and Michael Hutchence in the band Max Q.
Whirlywirld’s track "Win/Lose" was re-recorded by Olsen in 1986 for the soundtrack of Dogs in Space. Michael Hutchence performed "Rooms for the Memory" for the same album, which became a mainstream hit across Australia in 1987. Additionally, a remixed version of "Win/Lose" was issued as a single by Olsen.
Members
- Andrew Duffield – synthesiser (1978–1979)
- Arne Hanna – guitar (1979–1980)
- Philip Jackson – synthesiser (1978–1979)
- John Murphy – drums (1978–1980)
- Ian 'Ollie' Olsen – vocals, synthesiser, saxophone (1978–1980)
- Dean Richards – guitar (1978–1979)
- Simon Smith – synthesiser (1978–1979)
- Greg Sun – bass guitar (1979–1980)
Albums and EPs
- Whirlywirld - Missing Link (MLS-3) (June 1979)
- Whirlywirld - Missing Link (MLEP-4) (February 1980)
- Whirlywirld: The Complete Studio Works - Missing Link (Missing Link 10) (1986; reissued in 2002)
Singles
- "Sextronics" / "Eyebrows Still Shaved" - Missing Link (MLS-10) (February 1980)
References
- General
- Note: The archived online version offers limited features.
- [2] Note: The online edition was created by White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007, building upon the 2002 publication.
- Specific