Guttersnipes (band)

"Guttersnipes" redirects here. For the film, see Guttersnipes (film).

Guttersnipes
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Punk pop
Years active	1990 (1990)–2001 (2001)
Labels	Au-Go-Go
Past members	Paul Brockhoff Ian MacKaye Michael McManus Andrew Rice Mark Hurst

Guttersnipes were a four-piece punk, pop band, which formed in 1990 by Paul "Brocky" Brockhoff on guitar and vocals, Ian MacKaye on drums, Michael "Macca" McManus on bass guitar and Andrew "Ricey" Rice on guitar and vocals. Soon after MacKaye was replaced by Mark "Hursty" Hurst on drums. They issued an eight-track album, Blurred, in November 1991 (expanded with three bonus tracks in July of the following year) via Au-Go-Go Records. The group disbanded in 2001, although they occasionally reformed for additional shows.

History

Guttersnipes were formed as a four-piece punk, pop band, in Melbourne in 1990 by Paul "Brocky" Brockhoff on guitar and vocals, Ian MacKaye on drums, Michael "Macca" McManus on bass guitar and Andrew "Ricey" Rice on guitar and vocals. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "Taking their cue from the likes of Hüsker Dü, Lemonheads, Fugazi and other 1980s US guitar bands, [they] traded in guitar-heavy pop. 'Melodic grunge' was a term often used to describe the band's loud, distorted yet tuneful approach." MacKaye was replaced on drums by Michael "Macca" McManus.

The band were signed to Au Go Go Records and released their debut single, "It's Over", in early 1991. The group's debut album, Blurred, followed in November of that year, initially as an eight-track, 10" long play. It was recorded with Simon Grounds as producer, audio engineer and mixer, from August to November. A CD version followed in July of the next year, with three bonus tracks from the "It's Over" single. During 1992 they supported gigs by visiting international groups, Lemonheads, Fugazi and Nirvana. During the 1990s they toured the eastern states, often together with fellow local label mates, Spiderbait, the Meanies and/or the Throwaways.

In the early 1990s they formed a triad of bands with the Throwaways and Spiderbait, to organise shows under the umbrella, Tell 'em It's Healthy. This combined their audiences so that venues would see them as a worthwhile attraction. The Tell 'em It's Healthy shows frequently outsold those of the more established headline acts of the time. The Guttersnipes supported other international bands touring Australia, including Sonic Youth, Ween, Buffalo Tom, L7 and Bob Mould. They played with other Australian acts, including Cosmic Psychos, the Beasts of Bourbon, the Hard-Ons, the Splatterheads, Magic Dirt, Regurgitator, Screamfeeder, You Am I, Something for Kate and Kim Salmon and the Surrealists. They performed at festivals, including Meredith in 1991 and 1992. The Guttersnipes are no longer a professional working band since 2001. They played the occasional show in Melbourne but these were rare.

Members

• Paul Brockhoff – guitar, vocals
• Ian MacKaye – drums
• Michael McManus – bass guitar
• Andrew Rice – guitar, vocals
• Mark Hurst – drums

Radio broadcasts

Guttersnipes were the subject of two broadcasts on Triple J, Australia's national youth radio network. The first was a half an hour acoustic performance, which aired on 30 June 1992 as part of the Triple J Acoustic Sessions. The second broadcast was a forty-minute live performance, aired on 25 February 1993 as part of the Live at the Wireless program.

Discography

Albums

Blurred (2 November 1991) – Au Go Go Records (ANDA 144) 10" long play

• • "Never"
  • "Anything
  • "You
  • "No One
  • "Sister
  • "Just Can't See
  • "Work
  • "Blurred
  • "It's Over
  • "Tide
  • "How Can I?

Extended plays

Face the Day (1996) Au Go Go Records (ANDA 201)

• • "Face the Day"
  • "Pyromania"
  • "Try"
  • "Centrifugal Force"

Singles

• "It's Over" (1990) Au Go Go Records (ANDA 129)
  • "It's Over"
  • "Tide"
  • "How Can I?"

Split singles

• "Elephant Beer" (1992) on Hog / Cosmic Psychos / Guttersnipes / Empty Set with Ron Asheton, give-away with Lemon Fanzine, issue 15

Other appearances

• "Threw It all Away" (1991) on Teeth 10" Au-Go-Go Records (ANDA 140) Other tracks by the Meanies, The Throwaways, Spiderbait.
• "Crossroads", "Sister" (1991) on Wally's Wild Weekend live album, Au-Go-Go Records (ANDA 141) Other tracks by Hoss, the Throwaways, the Meanies, Spiderbait, Nursery Crimes, Unclean Spirits.
• "Pyromania" (1992) on Crack in the Sun or Fade in the Shade Roo-Art. Other tracks by Screamfeeder, the Meanies, Fridge, Massappeal, Nursery Crimes, Rootbeer, Seaweed Goorillas, Tumbleweed, Supergrass, Daisygrinders, You Am I. Headache.
• "Face the Day" (1993) on RRR Reel to Real
• "Adrift" (1993) on Totally Wireless, The Triple J Acoustic Sessions Polygram Australia. Other tracks by Tex, Don and Charlie, Glide, You Am I, The drunk, the monk and the spunk, Smudge, Daisychains, Blindman's Holiday, the Blackeyed Susans, the Madisons, Tiddas, My Friend The Chocolate Cake, Ed Kuepper, Mark Dawson, Evan Dando, Stephen Cummings, Dave Graney, the Plums.

See also

• Punk rock in Australia

References

• Spencer, Chris; McHenry, Paul; Nowara, Zbig (2002). Who's Who of Australian Rock (5th ed.). Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.
• Taylor, Thomas (17 July 1992). "Guttersnipes and Antichriiiiists" (Publisher's site). The Age, Friday 17 July 1992. Fairfax Media.
• Roberts, Luke (2 March 1992). "Tell 'em it's healthy" (Publisher's site). Beat Magazine, Issue (?) Wed 4 March 1992. Furst Media.
• Ball, Carolyn (1 May 1991). "Spiderbait, Guttersnipes, Throwaways - MCG Hotel (Live Review)" (Publisher's site). Beat Magazine, Issue (?), Wed 1 May 1991. Furst Media.
• Au Go Go Records (2002). Au Go Go Discography by Artist. Retrieved Apr. 18, 2007.

External links

• Guttersnipes page
• Grunnen Rocks listing