Uncanny X-Men (band)
Encyclopedia
Uncanny X-Men are a pop
/rock
band which formed in Melbourne in 1981, and temporarily disbanded in 1987. They are fronted by lead singer Brian Mannix
and originally included Chuck Hargreaves on guitar
, Steve Harrison on bass guitar
, Nick Manthandos on drums
and Ron Thiessen on guitar. John Kirk replaced Harrison and Craig Waugh replaced Manthandos by 1984.
The band's debut album, Cos Life Hurts, peaked at #2 on the Australian Kent Music Report
in 1985, and included their highest charting single "50 Years" which reached #6 on the singles chart. Thiessen left to be replaced temporarily by Joey Amenta on guitar and more permanently by Brett Kingman. Their second album, What You Give is What You Get!, was released in 1986 and peaked at #11, it included the Top 20 hit single "I Am". After disbanding in 1987 there was a brief reunion during 1998. In March 2011, the band played three gigs with Tim Rosewarne (guest keyboards; The Chelsea Heights Hotel (17 March 2011), Trak Live Lounge Bar, Toorak Melbourne (18 March 2011) and the V8 Supercar Clipsal 500 event in South Australia (19 March 2011). The band played a new original song, 'Take it from Me', for its encore performance at the Chelsea Heights Hotel. In March 2011, the band re-entered the studio to record a number of new original songs.
The line-up changed when Helm left and at some stage after that the band included Chuck Hargreaves on guitar
, Steve Harrison on bass guitar
, Brian Mannix
as lead singer, Nick Matandos on drums
and Ron Thiessen on guitar.
Mannix became known for his mischievous and comical send-ups of other artists. The band was signed by Mushroom Records
early in 1982 and released their debut EP
"Salive One" in November, which peaked at #15 on the Kent Music Report
with "Pakistan" listed as the first single (although not released individually).
They toured Australia in support of US rock act Joan Jett
and the Blackhearts.
Early in 1983, Harrison was replaced on bass by John Kirk and they released their single "How Do You Get Your Kicks?" in March. Craig Waugh replaced Matandos on drums and they released another single "Time Goes So Fast". They toured through 1984 and released an EP, Beach Party, in July which included the single, "Everybody Wants to Work".
"The Party" was released as a single in March 1985 and peaked at #17 on the Kent Music Report
. The related debut album Cos Life Hurts was released and peaked at #2 in June and its next single "50 Years" peaked at #6.
Around this same time they also toured Australia with Rod Stewart.
Uncanny X-Men performed two songs for the 1985 Oz for Africa
concert (part of the global Live Aid
program) – "Everybody Wants to Work" and "50 Years" on 13 July. It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network
and Nine Network
) and on MTV
in the US.
A third single "Still Waiting" from their debut album was released in August, the song becoming the unofficial anthem for Channel 9's popular Wide World Of Sports program throughout the remainder of the '80s, used as 'play ins' and 'play outs' to and from commercial breaks.
Kirk, Mannix and Thiessen joined as guest musicians with The Incredible Penguins
in 1985, for a cover
of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins
, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report
in December.
Thiessen had left early in 1986 and briefly joined Kings Of The Suns, replaced in the X-Men temporarily by Joey Amenta on guitar and more permanently by Brett Kingman.
The band signed with CBS Records
in 1986 and released "I Am", which had reached #18 in May, before releasing the album "What You Give Is What You Get!" which peaked at #11 in November 1986.
Further singles provided Uncanny X-Men with little chart success, and with internal tensions occurring they disbanded in 1987, although there was a brief reunion during 1998.
Kingman, Mannix and Waugh joined with bass guitarist Derek O'Leary to form Dead Legends during 1989, Mannix then pursued a solo career including performing in pub rock bands and in stage plays.
In 1998, the Uncanny X-Men reformed for a brief reunion tour playing Crown Casino's Mercury Lounge and the Hallam Hotel amongst a number of other venues, its line-up the same as at the height of its popularity – Brian Mannix, Ron Thiessen, Chuck Hargreaves, John Kirk and Craig Waugh.
In April 2006, the band reformed for a 'one night only' concert again at the now defunct Mercury Lounge at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
In July 2009, founding member Steve Harrison, who featured on "Salive One", died after a long battle with cancer.
In September 2010, it was announced the Uncanny X-Men would again reform to play at the 2011 Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar race in Adelaide, the 80s line-up including Mondo Rock, Pseudo Echo and the Chantoozies.
In January 2011, Brian Mannix told undercover.fm that the reformed band may also record some new music around the time of the reunion.
On November 23rd 2011 Uncanny X-Men closed out the final episode of popular ABC music quiz show Spicks and Specks.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/rock
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 which formed in Melbourne in 1981, and temporarily disbanded in 1987. They are fronted by lead singer Brian Mannix
Brian Mannix
Brian Mannix is an Australian rock music singer and actor.He guest-starred in several episodes of Australian soap Neighbours in 1993 as Conor Cleary, a love interest for Lauren Carpenter....
and originally included Chuck Hargreaves on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Steve Harrison on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Nick Manthandos on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Ron Thiessen on guitar. John Kirk replaced Harrison and Craig Waugh replaced Manthandos by 1984.
The band's debut album, Cos Life Hurts, peaked at #2 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
in 1985, and included their highest charting single "50 Years" which reached #6 on the singles chart. Thiessen left to be replaced temporarily by Joey Amenta on guitar and more permanently by Brett Kingman. Their second album, What You Give is What You Get!, was released in 1986 and peaked at #11, it included the Top 20 hit single "I Am". After disbanding in 1987 there was a brief reunion during 1998. In March 2011, the band played three gigs with Tim Rosewarne (guest keyboards; The Chelsea Heights Hotel (17 March 2011), Trak Live Lounge Bar, Toorak Melbourne (18 March 2011) and the V8 Supercar Clipsal 500 event in South Australia (19 March 2011). The band played a new original song, 'Take it from Me', for its encore performance at the Chelsea Heights Hotel. In March 2011, the band re-entered the studio to record a number of new original songs.
History
Uncanny X-Men were originally a four piece band formed in the late 1970s and consisted of Brian Mannix (vocals, guitar),Michael Helm (bass),Nick Matandos (drums) and Ron Thiessen (guitar) and were regular Wednesday night attraction at the Pier Hotel in Frankston and many other venues around the city like Club Chevron, Doncaster Inn and also played a birthday party at the Tyabb Public Hall. They were the support act for Cold Chisel at the Pier Hotel on a very hot Sunday night which was the night Cold Chisel walked off stage after a few songs, apparently because security would not let anyone else in the venue.The line-up changed when Helm left and at some stage after that the band included Chuck Hargreaves on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Steve Harrison on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Brian Mannix
Brian Mannix
Brian Mannix is an Australian rock music singer and actor.He guest-starred in several episodes of Australian soap Neighbours in 1993 as Conor Cleary, a love interest for Lauren Carpenter....
as lead singer, Nick Matandos on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Ron Thiessen on guitar.
Mannix became known for his mischievous and comical send-ups of other artists. The band was signed by Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
early in 1982 and released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
"Salive One" in November, which peaked at #15 on the Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
with "Pakistan" listed as the first single (although not released individually).
They toured Australia in support of US rock act Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
and the Blackhearts.
Early in 1983, Harrison was replaced on bass by John Kirk and they released their single "How Do You Get Your Kicks?" in March. Craig Waugh replaced Matandos on drums and they released another single "Time Goes So Fast". They toured through 1984 and released an EP, Beach Party, in July which included the single, "Everybody Wants to Work".
"The Party" was released as a single in March 1985 and peaked at #17 on the Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
. The related debut album Cos Life Hurts was released and peaked at #2 in June and its next single "50 Years" peaked at #6.
Around this same time they also toured Australia with Rod Stewart.
Uncanny X-Men performed two songs for the 1985 Oz for Africa
Oz for Africa
Oz for Africa was an Australian concert held on 13 July 1985 at the Sydney Sports and Entertainment Centre. It was broadcast locally and internationally as part of the worldwide Live Aid performances to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The concert featured 17 bands performing some of their...
concert (part of the global Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
program) – "Everybody Wants to Work" and "50 Years" on 13 July. It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and 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...
) and on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the US.
A third single "Still Waiting" from their debut album was released in August, the song becoming the unofficial anthem for Channel 9's popular Wide World Of Sports program throughout the remainder of the '80s, used as 'play ins' and 'play outs' to and from commercial breaks.
Kirk, Mannix and Thiessen joined as guest musicians with The Incredible Penguins
The Incredible Penguins
The Incredible Penguins were an Australian supergroup formed in 1985, which reached the top ten on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with their cover of "Happy Xmas " in December. Contributors included Angry Anderson , Bob Geldof, Brian Mannix , Scott Carne , Colleen Hewett, and John...
in 1985, for a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
"Happy Xmas " is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono and released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir....
", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
in December.
Thiessen had left early in 1986 and briefly joined Kings Of The Suns, replaced in the X-Men temporarily by Joey Amenta on guitar and more permanently by Brett Kingman.
The band signed with CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
in 1986 and released "I Am", which had reached #18 in May, before releasing the album "What You Give Is What You Get!" which peaked at #11 in November 1986.
Further singles provided Uncanny X-Men with little chart success, and with internal tensions occurring they disbanded in 1987, although there was a brief reunion during 1998.
Kingman, Mannix and Waugh joined with bass guitarist Derek O'Leary to form Dead Legends during 1989, Mannix then pursued a solo career including performing in pub rock bands and in stage plays.
In 1998, the Uncanny X-Men reformed for a brief reunion tour playing Crown Casino's Mercury Lounge and the Hallam Hotel amongst a number of other venues, its line-up the same as at the height of its popularity – Brian Mannix, Ron Thiessen, Chuck Hargreaves, John Kirk and Craig Waugh.
In April 2006, the band reformed for a 'one night only' concert again at the now defunct Mercury Lounge at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
In July 2009, founding member Steve Harrison, who featured on "Salive One", died after a long battle with cancer.
In September 2010, it was announced the Uncanny X-Men would again reform to play at the 2011 Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar race in Adelaide, the 80s line-up including Mondo Rock, Pseudo Echo and the Chantoozies.
In January 2011, Brian Mannix told undercover.fm that the reformed band may also record some new music around the time of the reunion.
On November 23rd 2011 Uncanny X-Men closed out the final episode of popular ABC music quiz show Spicks and Specks.
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart peak position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
||
| 1985 | Cos Life Hurts | 3 |
| 1986 | What You Give is What You Get! | 19 |
EPs
| Year | Title | Chart peak position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
||
| 1982 | Salive One | 40 |
| 1984 | Beach Party | 32 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart peak position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
|||
| 1982 | "Pakistan" | 40 | Salive One EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... |
| 1983 | "How Do You Get Your Kicks?" | 51 | single-only release |
| "Time Goes So Fast" | 63 | single-only release | |
| 1984 | "Everybody Wants to Work" | 32 | Beach Party EP |
| 1985 | "The Party" | 18 | Cos Life Hurts |
| "50 Years" | 4 | ||
| "Still Waiting" | 43 | ||
| 1986 | "I Am" | 18 | What You Give is What You Get! |
| "Don't Wake Me" | 31 | ||
| 1987 | "Nothing Touches My World" | 97 | |
| "Start Believing" | 63 | ||
Members
- Chuck Hargreaves — guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1981–Current) - Steve Harrison — bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1981–1983) - Brian MannixBrian MannixBrian Mannix is an Australian rock music singer and actor.He guest-starred in several episodes of Australian soap Neighbours in 1993 as Conor Cleary, a love interest for Lauren Carpenter....
— lead vocals (1981–Current) - Nick Matandos — drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1981–1983) - Ron Thiessen — guitar (1981–Current)
- John Kirk — bass guitar (1983–Current)
- Craig Waugh — drums (1983–Current)
- Joey Amenta — guitar (1986)
- Brett Kingman — guitar (1986–1987)