Mark McEntee
Encyclopedia
Mark McEntee is an Australia
n musician, he was the guitarist for the rock band Divinyls
. In May 2001, Divinyls' "Science Fiction
", written by lead singer Christina Amphlett
and McEntee, was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
of all time. Amphlett and McEntee barely spoke after the band had separated in 1996, but resumed contact when they were inducted in the 2006 ARIA Hall of Fame
, eventually announcing a new tour and album.
, where he met Russell Hitchcock
and Graham Russell
who were performing in the musical. Hitchcock and Russell went on to form soft rock
group Air Supply
, and McEntee was part of the group's original line-up, along with Chrissie Hammond and Jeremy Paul.
at a concert at the Sydney Opera House
in 1980, and they formed a band, Divinyls
, along with McEntee's Air Supply and Jesus Christ Superstar colleague Jeremy Paul, and Bjarne Ohlin and Richard Harvey.
In 2006, Divinyls were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame
, an event which re-established contact between McEntee and Amphlett. The band performed at the induction ceremony, and the pair discussed reforming the band. They toured in late 2006, and released a new single "Don't Wanna Do This".
.
He also runs a small business called "Macca's Vintage Aerodrome", selling World War I and Pioneer radio-controlled aircraft
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n musician, he was the guitarist for the rock band Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
. In May 2001, Divinyls' "Science Fiction
Science Fiction (song)
"Science Fiction" is a song by Australian rock, New Wave group Divinyls, which was the lead single from their first studio album, Desperate. Released in November 1982, "Science Fiction", peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart...
", written by lead singer Christina Amphlett
Christina Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
and McEntee, was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
of all time. Amphlett and McEntee barely spoke after the band had separated in 1996, but resumed contact when they were inducted in the 2006 ARIA Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
, eventually announcing a new tour and album.
Air Supply
Prior to joining Divinyls, McEntee worked on the 1975 Australian production of Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, where he met Russell Hitchcock
Russell Hitchcock
Russell Charles Hitchcock is an Australian musician and one half of the group Air Supply. He formed the group after meeting Englishman Graham Russell in 1975 on the set of a production of Jesus Christ Superstar....
and Graham Russell
Graham Russell
Graham Cyrill Russell is a British musician and, with Russell Hitchcock, is one of the mainstays of soft rock group Air Supply which formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975 and had top ten hits nationally and in United States.He released The Future, his 10-track, debut solo album...
who were performing in the musical. Hitchcock and Russell went on to form soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
group Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
, and McEntee was part of the group's original line-up, along with Chrissie Hammond and Jeremy Paul.
Divinyls
McEntee met Chrissie AmphlettChristina Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
at a concert at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney 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...
in 1980, and they formed a band, Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
, along with McEntee's Air Supply and Jesus Christ Superstar colleague Jeremy Paul, and Bjarne Ohlin and Richard Harvey.
In 2006, Divinyls were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
, an event which re-established contact between McEntee and Amphlett. The band performed at the induction ceremony, and the pair discussed reforming the band. They toured in late 2006, and released a new single "Don't Wanna Do This".
Personal life
McEntee currently lives on the outskirts of Perth with his partner, fashion designer Melanie Greensmith. McEntee and Greensmith run a clothing label, Wheels and Doll BabyWheels and Doll Baby
Wheels & Doll Baby is a fashion label based in Australia, founded by Melanie Greensmith and then husband Brett Ford. Greensmith now runs the label with her partner, Divinyls guitarist Mark McEntee...
.
He also runs a small business called "Macca's Vintage Aerodrome", selling World War I and Pioneer radio-controlled aircraft
Radio-controlled aircraft
A radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...
.