The Dugites
Encyclopedia
The Dugites were a Perth
band who formed in the late '70s. The name refers to the brown venomous snake, the dugite
, common in the area.
In 1979 The Dugites released a single "Hit Single" / "Bruce", and toured as the backing band for Dave Warner
. The single had been self-financed, but that year they were signed by the now defunct Deluxe label. Their first album The Dugites was released in July 1980 and reached number 22 on the Australian Album charts. Their second album West Of The World was released in July 1981 and their final album Cut The Talking was released in April 1984.
When the ABC
's Sydney 'youth' radio station Double Jay was launched in 1975, Skyhooks' "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed" was chosen as the opening song played on air, specifically because it had been banned by Australian commercial radio. When Double Jay switched bands to FM in 1980, The Dugites' "Gay Guys" -- the B-side of the Dugites 1980's single "South Pacific", which was also banned by commercial radio—became the first song to be played by Double Jay's successor, 2JJJ-FM Triple J
.
By mid-1983, Berghofer and Andrews had left the band.
bands of the '70s and '80s to be part of 2004's Old Day Out in Fremantle
.
The Old Day Out gig was a large success.
No way were The Dugites re-forming to merely regurgitate old hits though.
The new band is called Snakefish.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
band who formed in the late '70s. The name refers to the brown venomous snake, the dugite
Dugite
Dugite is a common name for the highly venomous snake, Pseudonaja affinis, an Australian species which can inflict a fatal bite.-Description:...
, common in the area.
History
The Dugites formed in Perth in 1978 and went on to record three albums in the early '80s. The Dugites combined elements of power pop, new wave and electronic, producing songs with strong melodies, hooks and a smattering of politics. With hit singles - "In Your Car", "Juno and Me", and others - they were on the radio, Countdown, and concert stages around Australia.In 1979 The Dugites released a single "Hit Single" / "Bruce", and toured as the backing band for Dave Warner
Dave Warner
David Robert "Dave" Warner is an Australian rock musician, author and screenwriter.-Biography:Dave Warner was born in Bicton, Western Australia in 1953. He attended Aquinas College and then the University of Western Australia where he graduated with a B.A. , majoring in psychology...
. The single had been self-financed, but that year they were signed by the now defunct Deluxe label. Their first album The Dugites was released in July 1980 and reached number 22 on the Australian Album charts. Their second album West Of The World was released in July 1981 and their final album Cut The Talking was released in April 1984.
When the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's Sydney 'youth' radio station Double Jay was launched in 1975, Skyhooks' "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed" was chosen as the opening song played on air, specifically because it had been banned by Australian commercial radio. When Double Jay switched bands to FM in 1980, The Dugites' "Gay Guys" -- the B-side of the Dugites 1980's single "South Pacific", which was also banned by commercial radio—became the first song to be played by Double Jay's successor, 2JJJ-FM 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...
.
Personnel
- Lynda Nutter - Vocals & Percussion
- Gunther Berghofer - Guitar & Vocals (1978–1983)
- Peter Crosbie - Keyboards, Vocals & Writer
- Clarence Bailey - Drums & Vocals
- Paul Noonan - Bass & Vocals
- John Crosbie - Guitars (1983–1984)
- Bob Andrews - Production (1978–1983)
By mid-1983, Berghofer and Andrews had left the band.
Band Reformed - Snakefish
The Dugites were asked to be one of a number of PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
bands of the '70s and '80s to be part of 2004's Old Day Out in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
.
"Some members of the Dugites live overseas now," says Lynda.She explains how she recruited Perth keyboard whizz Kathy Travers, and guitarist Richard Leach to join with original Dugites members Clarence Bailey and Phil Bailey.
The Old Day Out gig was a large success.
"The idea of not playing again for another 20 years just seemed too stupid," Lynda recalls.
No way were The Dugites re-forming to merely regurgitate old hits though.
"We didn't like the idea of playing all the old Dugites hits ad nauseam," avers our singer, "we've got a lot more songs we've written since then, so it seemed a sensible idea to rename ourselves and start a new thing."
The new band is called Snakefish.
Albums
- The Dugites (1980) No. 22 Australia
- West Of The World (1981)
- Cut The Talking (1984)
- : The Best Of The Dugites (2004)
Singles
- "Hit Single" / "Bruce" (1979)
- "Goodbye" / " No God, No Master" (1980)
- "In Your Car" / "13 Again" (1980)
- "South Pacific" / "Gay Guys" (1980)
- "Waiting" / "Who Loves You More" (1981)
- "Part Of Me" / "Never Touch" (1981)
- "No Money" / "Decide" (1982)
- "Cut the Talking" / "Michael and Rodney" (1983)
- "Juno and Me" / "Everything Must Change" (1983)