Bam Balams

The Bam Balams were a Sydney, Australia rock band. They formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1992. The band was led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brendan Kibble aka "Wig".

The "Bambas", as their fans called them, got their name from a track on Supersnazz by the Flamin' Groovies. Their influences included Gene Vincent, Johnny Burnette, Tony Joe White, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Byrds, Buck Owens and The Standells. While many of their Sydney-based contemporaries exploited Detroit-inspired hard rock(i.e. MC5, The Stooges, Radio Birdman). The Bam Balams played a mix of Garage Rock, Swamp Rock/Swamp Pop, R&B, Rockabilly, Jangle Pop and 50s/60s style Country Music. All their records did well in the Australian independent charts. Today fans of the 80s Garage Rock Revival acknowledge the band as being part of that scene.

History

The first lineup was Kibble (vocals, guitar), Brad Fitzpatrick (guitar), Steve Cole (bass) and Matt Manchester (drums), and recorded the first two singles, "Deliver My Love" (1985) and "No-One Else" (1986) on Citadel Records.

Kibble formed a second lineup in 1987, in which he was backed by Steve Carlin (guitar), Amr Z. Abdallah (bass) and Warren Elford (drums), which recorded "Surfin' In The Swamp" (1987) for Citadel's Green Fez label.

This lineup split and a third formed, with Kibble backed by Abdallah (bass), Ian "The Reverend" Little (guitar) and Joe Breen (drums), and recorded the album Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (1988) and its single "Wheel Of Fortune" (1988).

Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass in 1989 and this lineup recorded the single "Hellfire" (1989) and "Munster Rock'n'Roller" for the Munster Records compilation Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol 3. Dave Castellari replaced Marchant in 1989, this lineup recording the Extended Play 45 RPM 12"EP, featuring the track "10,000 Miles". In 1990, the lineup changed again with Terry Stanley on Bass, and Tim Denny on Drums. This lineup remained until the band split in 1992.

Like many Australian independent acts of the 1980s, the Bam Balams gained far more popularity overseas than in their own backyard. In their case, Spain, France and Italy took to the band. Unfortunately, the band never toured outside of Australia, and as the Grunge scene took hold of the early 1990s, the band split up in 1992.

Kibble went on to form the Navahodads in the mid-1990s, who played a similar style of swampy r&b as the Bam Balams. The Navahodads released two albums, Mumbo Gumbo and Madame Mojo's. Unlike the Bam Balams, the Navahodads toured outside of Australia.

The Bam Balams Discography:

LP

• Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (Green Fez) 1988

Singles

• "Deliver My Love/Mean Thang" (Citadel Records) 1985 (produced by Rob Younger)
• "No-One Else/Gettin' Over You" (Citadel Records) 1986 (produced by Rob Younger)
• "Same Old Tune" / split single with September Gurls (Guiding Light Records) 1986
• "Surfin' In The Swamp/Fire In My Soul" (Green Fez) 1987
• "Wheel Of Fortune/Rock It To The Moon" (Green Fez) 1988
• "Hellfire/Hold On Me" (Green Fez) 1989

12"EP

• Extended Play 45 RPM ("10,000 Miles") (Pink Flamingo Records)1989

Compilation tracks

• "Munster Rock n Roller" - Munster Dance Hall Favourites Volume 3 (Munster) 1989
• "10,000 Miles" - Powerpop to the People Volume 5 (Power Pop Criminals) 2007

References

"Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop by Ian McFarlane" (Published by Allen & Unwin) (2000)

"Who's Who of Australian Rock" by Chris Spencer (Published by The Five Mile Press) (2002)