Wrong Kind of Stone Age
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Gavin Williams, Miriam Williamson |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Wrong Kind of Stone Age emerged as an Australian post-punk ensemble established in Sydney in 1983 by Gavin Williams, previously a member of the punk outfit Identity X, alongside Miriam Williamson. Their initial musical approach fused post-punk with elements of dub and tribal sounds, featuring Miriam's diverse vocal abilities complemented by tape montages, didgeridoo, clarinet, and electronic noise textures.
Following their debut shows and the release of their first cassette, Grace and Grossness, Wrong Kind of Stone Age cultivated a loyal audience and garnered considerable acclaim. They often joined forces with groups like the Wet Taxis, Bloodloss, and Box of Fish; notably, a 1983 Sydney performance opening for the Dead Kennedys received high praise from Jello Biafra, who described them as "one of the best morbid-ambient post-punk bands I've ever seen or heard."
Throughout their inaugural year, the band's roster shifted, incorporating musicians such as Drew Mayson, Andy Lonsdale, Jodi Grist, Jeremy Vermeesch, and Geoff Nolan. By 1984, the lineup solidified with Gavin Williams on guitar, Miriam Williamson handling vocals, Geoff Nolan on bass, and Craig McLeod on drums. That same year saw the release of the Flying Low to Batavia EP in Sydney, which experienced swift sales. This quartet performed extensively at key inner-city Sydney venues including The Britannia and The Sandringham Hotel.
In the late 1980s, their sound evolved toward a dub-oriented style enriched with electronic elements and Middle Eastern rhythmic influences. At this stage, the group included Miriam Williamson, Gavin Williams, Bryce Cannon on percussion, Andy Rantzen on keyboards, and Drew Mayson on guitar. The 1989 cassette LP Traditional Musik was issued through Cosmic Conspiracy Productions—a label recognized for its role in Australia's experimental music scene. Their live shows were renowned for their intensity at locations such as the Evil Star (Evening Star Hotel), often linked to Cosmic Conspiracy events curated by label founder and broadcaster Alex Karinsky.
The band began winding down in the early 1990s. Their concluding concerts in 1991 featured an instrumental dub set characterized by a harder edge, performed by Gavin Williams (guitar, rhythms, percussion), Drew Mayson (guitar), and Andy Lonsdale (synthesizer, tapes).
Following the group's disbandment, Miriam Williamson collaborated with Pelican Daughters and Itch-e & Scratch-e—formed by Andy Rantzen and Paul Mac—earning an ARIA award for Sweetness and Light from the 1993 album Itch-E Kitch-E Koo. Samples from Wrong Kind of Stone Age appear on Pelican Daughters' releases as well. Their songs have been included in several compilations during the 1990s such as Go and Do It (1996) and Bloodstains Across Australia (1998). Additionally, Gavin Williams contributed to Browning Mummery's 1989 track The Sorcerer's Philosophy, featured on a 1996 CD release.
Albums
- Grace and Grossness – Cassette LP released in Sydney, 1983
- Traditional Musik – Released by Cosmic Conspiracy Productions (Cabal C-010) in 1989 (Cassette LP)
EPs
- Flying Low to Batavia – White Label (1984) (7-inch EP)
Compilations
- Not So Humdrum – Aberrant Records (1984) (tracks: "The End" & "Criminal")
- Go and Do It – Small Axe (1996) (tracks: "The End" & "Criminal")
- Bloodstains Across Australia – Bloodstains (1998) (track: "Run Amok")
References
- Clinton Walker, Stranded: The untold story of Australian independent music 1977-1991. Macmillan, 1996.
- Clinton Walker, Inner City Sound: Punk and post-punk in Australia 1976-1985. Verse Chorus, 2005.
- Bob Blunt, Blunt: A partial history of Australian rock. Prowling Tiger, 2001.
- Who's who of Australian rock, 2002.
- Andrew McLellan: "Browning Mummery Interview", Negative Guest List #25, May 2011.