GANGgajang
Encyclopedia
Gang Gajang are an Australian rock
band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides
frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels
, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup
.
broadcast in July 1984. The original lineup was completed by former The Aliens
keyboard player Geoffrey Stapleton, guitarist Robert James and singers Kayellen Bee (co-wrote "The Heart Plays Tricks" as K Bidstrup aka Kay Bee with Bidstrup and Callaghan for Sweet and Sour) and Marilyn Delaney.
The band gained a solid following around Australia during 1984-85, aided by considerable support from Triple J
and Countdown
. Their biggest commercial success came in 1985 with the release of their self-titled debut album, which sold over 120,000 copies. The LP included the classic single "Sounds of Then (This is Australia)", as well as the hit singles "House of Cards", "Giver of Life" and "Gimme Some Lovin" (their 1984 debut single, which was originally recorded as a 'demo' in a single take).
In 1987, Gang Gajang's music was featured exclusively in the Quiksilver
surf movie Mad Wax. The film became a cult surf classic and introduced the band to a worldwide audience. Gang Gajang was named 'World's Best Band' two years in a row by the Association of Surfing Professionals
.
The group released their second album, Gang Again, in 1987, after which the various members pursued solo projects although the band continued doing the odd gig and tour.
Over the next few years Callaghan released a solo album, reformed the Riptides and released a live album "Resurface" and a studio album "Wave Rock", and then went on to work as an executive for the now-defunct Festival Records group. Bidstrup played sessions, produced albums and movie soundtracks. Bailey worked with artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes
, Alannah Miles and Nathan Cavaleri
. Stapleton toured Australia and Europe with Absent Friends and then went on to form The Dukes
with Sean Kelly
. James wrote a book, "The Second Best Book of Disunderstandabilism" and recorded his songs with Wendy Matthews
.
and released three singles, "Hundreds of Languages", "Talk To Me", and "Ordinary World"/"Future Days".
In 1995, the first two albums were repackaged into The Essential Gang Gajang
, which has now sold over 30,000 on the Shock label
. The band also toured Brazil
for the first time, playing to over 60,000 fans in ten concerts through nine cities..
In 1996 the Nine Network
used the song "Sounds of Then
" for use in its station ID promotion, and they returned to Brazil for their second tour.
and Darling Harbour
as part of the Corroboree
2000 celebrations and during the 2000 Summer Olympics
the band was in demand for concert appearances around Sydney as part of the Olympic Arts Festival. In February 2001 the band completed its third tour of Brazil.
October 2002 saw the release of the long awaited fourth album, Oceans and Deserts
featuring the singles "Nomadsland", "Anodyne Dream" and "Trust", to critical acclaim and extensive airplay across Australia on ABC radio. Several tracks featured additional backing vocals from original members Kayellen Bee and Marilyn Delaney (aka Marilyn Sommer).
In 2004 a live concert featuring a selection of new songs and some of the classics was filmed for the ABC's "Live At The Basement" series.
Late 2006 saw the release of their double dvd "The Complete Gang Gajang" which featured all of their film clips, live performances, interviews, and a doco of their first tour of Brazil.
Over the past ten years and up to today, when not performing or recording together as Gang Gajang each member is otherwise occupied.
Singer Mark Callaghan was General Manager of Shock Music Publishing
, and is now with AMPAL. He is currently writing songs for Gang Gajang's next album - due to begin recording in early 2010.
Drummer Buzz Bidstrup has managed Australian music personality Jimmy Little
since the release of his 1999 ARIA award winning CD The Messenger, and is Director of the Jimmy Little Foundation whose primary aim is to improve the health of Indigenous Australians. Since 2002 he has also been playing again with the reformed original Angels and tours extensively with them.
Bass player Chris Bailey has worked in a wide variety of music cultures in Sydney and produced an album for singer/songwriter Dave Debs. Bailey also plays in Jimmy Little's live band, and like Buzz has been playing again with the Angels since 2002.
Guitarist Robert James has released two solo albums "Suzannah Suite" (1999) and "Secrets In The Sand" (2006). He was also a member of Australian icons Yothu Yindi
from 2001 when they toured Brazil with Gang Gajang. He is currently in the final stages of composing a classical symphony, and writing songs for his next solo album and the new Gang album, in his studio in Brisbane.
Keyboard player and resident artist Geoffrey Stapleton is now living in Adelaide and preparing his next exhibition of paintings to be called "Oceans and Deserts". He has made several film clips for the band and others, whilst maintaining and developing the band's website and writing new songs.
Like several other Australian bands of the period, such as The Saints
and The Church
, Gang Gajang have a strong following in other regions, but whilst the former acts have their major fan base in Europe (especially Scandinavia), Gang Gajang have become very popular in Brazil
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides
Riptides
The Riptides were a band from Brisbane Australia and worked largely as a vehicle for the song-writing talents of Mark "Cal" Callaghan. Over a career spanning 6 years from 1979 to 1983 the band also featured a number of notable musicians.-History:...
frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup
Graham Bidstrup
Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup is an Australian musician, songwriter, music producer and artist manager. He has been a member of The Angels, The Party Boys and Gang Gajang. He has managed Jimmy Little, Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Ah Naid. He is part of the management team for the Jimmy Little Foundation.-The...
.
1980s
The new band's formation grew out of songwriting and performing sessions the trio undertook for the ABC-TV music-drama series Sweet and SourSweet and Sour (TV series)
Sweet and Sour is an Australian television series which screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1984. It was created by Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott and was produced internally for the ABC by Jan Chapman...
broadcast in July 1984. The original lineup was completed by former The Aliens
The Aliens (Australian band)
The Aliens were an Australian new wave band. They were one of the first Australian bands of the late 1970s to adopt the New Wave "uniform" of black clothes and skinny ties.-History:...
keyboard player Geoffrey Stapleton, guitarist Robert James and singers Kayellen Bee (co-wrote "The Heart Plays Tricks" as K Bidstrup aka Kay Bee with Bidstrup and Callaghan for Sweet and Sour) and Marilyn Delaney.
The band gained a solid following around Australia during 1984-85, aided by considerable support from Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
and Countdown
Countdown (TV series)
Countdown was a long-running popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987. It was created by Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton, producer/director Robbie Weekes and record producer and music journalist...
. Their biggest commercial success came in 1985 with the release of their self-titled debut album, which sold over 120,000 copies. The LP included the classic single "Sounds of Then (This is Australia)", as well as the hit singles "House of Cards", "Giver of Life" and "Gimme Some Lovin" (their 1984 debut single, which was originally recorded as a 'demo' in a single take).
In 1987, Gang Gajang's music was featured exclusively in the Quiksilver
Quiksilver
Quiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
surf movie Mad Wax. The film became a cult surf classic and introduced the band to a worldwide audience. Gang Gajang was named 'World's Best Band' two years in a row by the Association of Surfing Professionals
Association of Surfing Professionals
The Association of Surfing Professionals is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best talent in a variety of progressive formats.- Predecessors to the ASP :...
.
The group released their second album, Gang Again, in 1987, after which the various members pursued solo projects although the band continued doing the odd gig and tour.
Over the next few years Callaghan released a solo album, reformed the Riptides and released a live album "Resurface" and a studio album "Wave Rock", and then went on to work as an executive for the now-defunct Festival Records group. Bidstrup played sessions, produced albums and movie soundtracks. Bailey worked with artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, Alannah Miles and Nathan Cavaleri
Nathan Cavaleri
Nathan Cavaleri is an Australian blues-rock guitarist and former child actor.-Biography:Cavaleri was diagnosed with leukaemia at a very early age and this led to playing the guitar to take his mind off the disease. He has since beaten the disease. He began playing at the age of six after using a...
. Stapleton toured Australia and Europe with Absent Friends and then went on to form The Dukes
The Dukes (Australian band)
The Dukes were a rock band from Sydney, Australia active in the early 1990s.-Biography:The band were originally called Sean Kelly and The Iron Dukes, but were renamed shortly after to The Dukes...
with Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly may refer to:* Sean Kelly , Professor of philosophy at Harvard University* Sean Kelly , Irish professional road bicycle racer...
. James wrote a book, "The Second Best Book of Disunderstandabilism" and recorded his songs with Wendy Matthews
Wendy Matthews
Wendy Joan Matthews is an Australian adult alternative pop singer originally from Canada who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist...
.
1990s
In 1993 they recorded their third album, Lingo (without Bee and Delaney, who had gone on to successful careers in the film industry) which was released in 1994 on RooARTRooArt
rooArt was an Australian independent record label, founded in 1988 by INXS's then-manager, Chris Murphy. The label's roster included several well-known Australian bands and artists such as Crow, Ratcat, Screaming Jets, You Am I, Wendy Matthews, The Hummingbirds, The Trilobites and Amanda Brown...
and released three singles, "Hundreds of Languages", "Talk To Me", and "Ordinary World"/"Future Days".
In 1995, the first two albums were repackaged into The Essential Gang Gajang
The Essential (GANGgajang)
The Essential is a greatest hits album released by Ganggajang in 1996. It features songs from their first three studio albums.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Callaghan unless otherwise indicated.# "Sounds of Then " – 3:56...
, which has now sold over 30,000 on the Shock label
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
. The band also toured Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for the first time, playing to over 60,000 fans in ten concerts through nine cities..
In 1996 the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
used the song "Sounds of Then
Sounds of Then
"This is Australia" is a 1985 song by Australian band Gang Gajang from their self-titled debut album, Gang Gajang. "Sounds of Then" was written by frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan....
" for use in its station ID promotion, and they returned to Brazil for their second tour.
2000s
Gang Gajang played the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour, New South Wales
Darling Harbour is a locality of the city centre of Sydney, Australia. It is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district. The locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street...
as part of the Corroboree
Corroboree
A corroboree is a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aborigines. The word was coined by the European settlers of Australia in imitation of the Aboriginal word caribberie. At a corroboree Aborigines interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and costume. Many ceremonies act out events from the...
2000 celebrations and during the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
the band was in demand for concert appearances around Sydney as part of the Olympic Arts Festival. In February 2001 the band completed its third tour of Brazil.
October 2002 saw the release of the long awaited fourth album, Oceans and Deserts
Oceans and Deserts
Oceans and Deserts is Gang Gajang's fourth studio album. It was released on the independent Shock label in October 2002.- Track listing :All tracks written by Mark Callaghan unless otherwise indicated.# "Nomadsland"...
featuring the singles "Nomadsland", "Anodyne Dream" and "Trust", to critical acclaim and extensive airplay across Australia on ABC radio. Several tracks featured additional backing vocals from original members Kayellen Bee and Marilyn Delaney (aka Marilyn Sommer).
In 2004 a live concert featuring a selection of new songs and some of the classics was filmed for the ABC's "Live At The Basement" series.
Late 2006 saw the release of their double dvd "The Complete Gang Gajang" which featured all of their film clips, live performances, interviews, and a doco of their first tour of Brazil.
Over the past ten years and up to today, when not performing or recording together as Gang Gajang each member is otherwise occupied.
Singer Mark Callaghan was General Manager of Shock Music Publishing
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
, and is now with AMPAL. He is currently writing songs for Gang Gajang's next album - due to begin recording in early 2010.
Drummer Buzz Bidstrup has managed Australian music personality Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little AO , is an Australian Aboriginal musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career has spanned six decades. For many years he was the only Aboriginal star on the Australian music scene...
since the release of his 1999 ARIA award winning CD The Messenger, and is Director of the Jimmy Little Foundation whose primary aim is to improve the health of Indigenous Australians. Since 2002 he has also been playing again with the reformed original Angels and tours extensively with them.
Bass player Chris Bailey has worked in a wide variety of music cultures in Sydney and produced an album for singer/songwriter Dave Debs. Bailey also plays in Jimmy Little's live band, and like Buzz has been playing again with the Angels since 2002.
Guitarist Robert James has released two solo albums "Suzannah Suite" (1999) and "Secrets In The Sand" (2006). He was also a member of Australian icons Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
from 2001 when they toured Brazil with Gang Gajang. He is currently in the final stages of composing a classical symphony, and writing songs for his next solo album and the new Gang album, in his studio in Brisbane.
Keyboard player and resident artist Geoffrey Stapleton is now living in Adelaide and preparing his next exhibition of paintings to be called "Oceans and Deserts". He has made several film clips for the band and others, whilst maintaining and developing the band's website and writing new songs.
Like several other Australian bands of the period, such as The Saints
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
and The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
, Gang Gajang have a strong following in other regions, but whilst the former acts have their major fan base in Europe (especially Scandinavia), Gang Gajang have become very popular in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Group members
- Mark 'Cal' Callaghan - guitar, vocals (1984–present)
- Chris Bailey - bass, vocals (1984–present)
- Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup - drums, percussion, guitar, keyboards, vocals (1984–1996); (1997–2010)
- Robert 'Robbie' James - guitar, vocals (1985–present)
- Geoffrey Stapleton- keyboards, guitar, vocals (1984–1992); (1995–present)
- Kayellen Bee - backing vocals (1984–85)
- Marilyn Delaney - backing vocals (1984–85)
- James Black - guitar, keyboards (1984)
- Gordon Sullivan - guitar (1984–1985)
- Mark O'Connor - keyboards (1993)
- Mike Gubb - keyboards (1993–1995)
- The Brasstards Horn Section: Kevin Dubber (Trumpet)/Mark Dennison (Tenor Sax/Flute)& Clive Hodson (Alto Sax & Honorary Brasstard)
Studio albums
- Gang Gajang - True Tone RecordsTrue Tone Records (Australian label)True Tone Records was an Australian based record label. It was founded by Michael Crawley in the 1980s. The label was distributed by Polygram Records.-History:...
(826349-1) (November 1985) - Gang Again - True Tone Records (832 586-1) (October 1987)
- Lingo - RooARTRooArtrooArt was an Australian independent record label, founded in 1988 by INXS's then-manager, Chris Murphy. The label's roster included several well-known Australian bands and artists such as Crow, Ratcat, Screaming Jets, You Am I, Wendy Matthews, The Hummingbirds, The Trilobites and Amanda Brown...
(4509956532) (12 February 1994) - Oceans and DesertsOceans and DesertsOceans and Deserts is Gang Gajang's fourth studio album. It was released on the independent Shock label in October 2002.- Track listing :All tracks written by Mark Callaghan unless otherwise indicated.# "Nomadsland"...
- Press Play Music/Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
(GANG 02) (14 October 2002)
Compilation albums
- True to the Tone - Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
(1995) - The EssentialThe Essential (GANGgajang)The Essential is a greatest hits album released by Ganggajang in 1996. It features songs from their first three studio albums.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Callaghan unless otherwise indicated.# "Sounds of Then " – 3:56...
- Press Play Music/Shock Records (GANG 96) (14 February 1996) - ChronologicaChronologicaChronologica is a double album by Gang Gajang, released only in Brazil in 2000 on Tronador Records .The album, released to coincide with the band's 2000 tour of Brazil, featured tracks previously unavailable in Brazil spanning the band's career.- CD 1 :# "Gimme Some Lovin" - 2:47# "House of Cards"...
- Tronador Records (2000)
DVDs
- The Complete Gang Gajang- Press Play Music/Shock Records (GANG 06) (20 November 2006)
Singles
- "Gimme Some Lovin" / "Noisy Talking (Part 1)" - Mercury (880 351-7) (May 1984)
- "House of Cards" / "From the Top to the Bottom" - True Tone (880 664-7) (March 1985)
- "Giver Of Life" / "Mysterious" (Live) - True Tone (880 935-7) (August 1985)
- "Sounds of ThenSounds of Then"This is Australia" is a 1985 song by Australian band Gang Gajang from their self-titled debut album, Gang Gajang. "Sounds of Then" was written by frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan....
" / "House Of Cards" (Live) - True Tone (November 1985) - "Dream At Night" / [Cameron Allen] "Tunkleys Leave Home" - (1986)
- "The Bigger They Are" / "Giver Of Life" (April 1986)
- "Initiation" / "Sounds Of Then" (Instrumental) - (January 1987)
- "American Money" / "The Roof Only Leaks When It's Raining" - (August 1987)
- "Luck Of The Irish" / "Tree Of Love" - Mercury (888 985-7) (December 1987)
- "Hundreds Of Languages" / "Funny Old Street" / "Give Peace Another Chance" (December 1993)
- "Ordinary World" - (1994)
- "Talk To Me" - (1994)
- "Nomadsland" / "Nomadsland" (Orchestral) - (2000)
- "Nomadsland" - (2003)
- "Anodyne Dream" - (2003)
- "Trust" - (2003)