Thanks so much to Ian Freeman for the interview! In the past I had interviewed Ian about The Palisades, another classic Perth band, and now it was time to talk about The Mars Bastards! Don’t know if it will be the last interview as Ian has been involved in so many fantastic jangly bands, the latest being The Golden Rail who have released an album this year. The Mars Bastards may not be much of a household name but the band released a bunch of tapes back in Australia and had quite a following. Sadly there were no proper releases at the time. Fast forward and today we have access to most of their songs thanks to them uploading “Observation City“, the album that was to be, on Bandcamp. And now everyone can rediscover this brilliant band from down under!
++ Hi Ian! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? You are still making music with The Golden Rail and have put a new album this year! It is great! For those who haven’t heard it yet what can people expect from it?
Hi Roque! It’s great to talk to you again. All good here just getting set for another great Melbourne winter. We had a lot of fun making the first album (Electric Trails From Nowhere). Quite a lot of different styles on there really, power pop, jangle, folk rock I guess, some baroque pop for good measure. We didn’t really know what we were going to get until we went into Aviary Studios and Fraser and Nick (producer/engineer) pulled a great sound out of us. Very happy with the final product.
++ And what is in store for the future for The Golden Rail? Are you working on a new release? Perhaps gigs?
We just released an interim single “Shouldn’t Get Hung Up About It/Fined For Wrestling” … very much in that C86 ball park. We have written the next album, a little more focused on what we want this time around, a little heavier in parts, which has been influenced by our live performances. We play as often as we can. Hoping to bring some strings in and additional musicians for the second album as well. Hopefully be finished by end of this year.
++ In the past we did an interview about The Palisades, that great band you were involved with. Now it is time to talk about the Mars Bastards. But first I kind of want to do a recap, how many bands have you been involved with? And which bands were they?
Wow! I sometimes lose count! The bands were Palisades, Mars Bastards, Header, Lazybirds, Village Idiots and now Jangle Band and The Golden Rail. There have been side projects as well along the way though like Los Palicassos Brothers which was me and Marty from Stolen Picassos.
++ Let’s start from the beginning. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
My first music memories are of watching David Bowie on Top of the Pops when I was kid back in the UK. I was obsessed with music from that point forward. I had always been involved in choirs, school, church choirs etc. right up to my teens. The only instrument we had in our house was a kids xylophone! I didn’t get my first guitar until I was about 18 which I bought for about $50. A plywood copy of a Gibson 335. At home my mum listened to a lot of soul and R & B and my dad wasn’t very interested in music but he did drag home two Beatles albums (Rubber Soul/Revolver) and a Slade LP he picked up from somewhere. That was enough! Oh and there was an ABBA album and John Denver greatest hits. The first LP I paid for with my own money was All Mod Cons by the Jam.
++ When did the Mars Bastards start as a band? Was it immediately after the demise of The Rainyard?
It’s a long convoluted story really. I was in Sydney with the Palisades. I’d moved there in the late 80’s although Jeff had stayed in Perth. Our good friend Gil Bradley joined on guitar in his place and the Palisades gigged around Sydney for a year or so. The Rainyard had started in Perth during that time and Jeff joined them on guitar. I would get sent tapes to Sydney and really dug what they were doing so went back for a holiday to check them out. Had a great time and Perth was really jumping music wise whereas Sydney was starting to become a drag so we all moved back to Perth. Jeff and I started writing on the side and recorded a single released as the Mars Bastards. Liam from The Rainyard actually sings backing vocals and Gil did some guitar. We decided to play a show as the Mars Bastards with myself, Jeff, Gil, Mark Scarparolo on bass and Shaun Lohoar on drums. Mark later left and was replaced by Cliff Kent. Jeff quit The Rainyard to concentrate fulltime on The MB and Dave Chadwick replaced him in the Rainyard and now plays bass in The Golden Rail! We can also slide Header, Lazybirds, Ammonia, A Month of Sundays into this story of musical chairs.
++ Were all of you originally from Perth?
Yes we are all from the West Coast.
++ How was Perth then? Were there any bands that you liked? What were the good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?
Looking back it was really quite a scene. Heaps of great bands around that 1985 to 1995 time. I guess Mars Bastards was 1990 to 1993? So during that time, A Month of Sundays was one of my faves and of course the new version of the Rainyard with Davey C on guitar. Orange was Dom Marianis band at that time. Human Jukebox was Kim Salmons outfit. The Cherrytones, Jack and the Beanstalks, Fuzzswirl, Northern Lights, Mardi Picasso, so many… Some good record stores as well 78’s, Da Da’s, Mills Records. Pubs at the time; the Coronado, Shenton Park, Newport, The Grosvenor, Old Melbourne..too many too mention really.
++ Why the name The Mars Bastards?
Jeff came up with the name. I’m not sure why…I think it had something to do with Melbourne Bitter beer? They had MB on the cans back then so we used that as our guide or inspiration..there was definitely beer involved!
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
Jeff and I would write usually together around the kitchen table or in the lounge. We would then take the tunes down to a rehearsal space in East Perth next to a VW repair shop (Herbies!) across from the East Perth Tavern, all knocked down now. We would spend a few hours jamming them out. Then off to the pub for a cheese and onion toasty. Then back to rehearsal. Then get shut down around 11pm by Herbie screaming “Wrrrrrapppp it upppp!!!! It worked for us.
++ And who would you say were influences of the band?
Around this time I was listening to a lot of XTC. Wedding Present. Always had some Pale Fountains playing. Wonderstuff was another big influence around this time. The Beatles, Byrds, Bowie always a constant. Jelly Fish. I would say all the Perth bands we were watching at the time was really inspiring as well. They encouraged you to write.
++ You were supposed to release an album in 1992 called “Observation City”. What happened? Why did it never come out?
Not sure what happened there to be honest. I think I was just burned out and decided to take a break. Then we never got back to it.
++ What’s the story behind the name of the album?
Observation City was the name of a hotel that was built on the beach in Perth. They knocked down an old icon of a hotel called the “Snake Pit’ that went back to the 50s that had so much history and heritage and replaced it with this monstrosity. Think Alan Bond may have been behind it, before he got sent to prison.
++ And where was it recorded? And how were those recording sessions?
I think at Planet Studios with James Hewgill. That time is all a little fuzzy for me.
++ The Bandcamp album has a bonus song, “It’s Been a While” which was recorded live. Where was it recorded live?
Yes that was recorded at the old Perth ABC studios for radio station JJJ Live at the Wireless. Played live to the whole of Australia! Well, to those who were listening!
++ Now the album is up on Bandcamp and I’ve had such a great time listening to it. But I wonder if there is any intention in releasing it in physical format at some point?
There’s a bunch of songs from various singles, eps, albums, that Jeff tied into the Rainyard Bandcamp page. We are thinking of revisiting the back catalogue and putting together a selected works type release.
++ Which label was supposed to have released it? Was there much interest for it at the time?
We had our own label Candlestick Records and released all our music on cassettes independently and we produced small runs that would all sell out. We would have released Observation City through that outlet. We have just revived the label for The Golden Rail single.
++ And why did you decide to shelf it?
We did well in Perth. We got to the same point as the Palisades where it was time to talk about taking the band to the next step – going to Melbourne or Sydney and touring the East coast. But everyone had pretty established jobs and other bands etc. We just decided to step back for a little while.
++ But there were two tapes released back in the early 90s, right? The first one being “This Windy City” / “That Was My First Mistake” tape released by Candlestick Records. This was your own label, no? How was running it? Did you make many tapes? How did you distribute them?
We released 6 tapes in all. Last Night I Dreamt I Killed My Best Friend (Ricky Dickson), Crazy, This Windy City, Six, Rollercoaster …and one other I can’t recall (plus the unreleased Observation City).
It was a pretty handmade affair. We water coloured the covers on some of the singles ourselves. Would press a few hundred and sell them at gigs or in the local record stores. We had total control over the whole production. We had a list of promos, friends we would post off copies to. It was a quick turn around and onto the next single, ep whatever. Fun times.
++ Afterwards you released “Roller Coaster” also on tape. That was in 1991. This tape has 6 songs and I’m for sure wondering how rare are these tapes. But also curious about the engineer credited on it, James Hewgill. How was working with him? IT seems he had worked with many classic Australian bands like Kryptonics or the Chevelles.
Yeah as mentioned earlier we only produced a few hundred of each tape so they are pretty rare now. I seem to have misplaced the elusive fifth cassette. James was lovely to work with. He played piano on one or two tracks. He worked with various bands with differing styles so had a lot of production ideas to bring to the table. I got on really well with him.
++ I really like the songs “Lollipop” and the super jangly “Dan Electro vs The Single Girl”. Was wondering if in a couple of sentences you could tell me the story behind them?
They are very Perth centric to my ears. Sum up the scene in a guitar/power/jangle pop way.
“Dano” was a contest we had going with Marty Picasso (Martin Gambie) to see who could write the shortest pop song. We had a couple others, Only Happy When I’m Right and Can’t See For Smiles that are sub 1 minute. He ended winning with a 15 second ditty. Very competitive was Marty.
++ And from all your songs, what would you say was your favourite and why?
“This Windy City”. Key changes. Ode to Perth.
++ I couldn’t find any information, but did the band appear on any compilations? I think there was just the one, “The Western Front”?
Yeah just that one to my knowledge. There could have been a Bedtime Beats You Brainless comp? Or was that the Rainyard???
++ Are there more unreleased songs by the band?
In a way they are all unreleased in a global sense. Only Observation City really. There are some demos I have on tape that will remain there.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
We played heaps of shows. Continually gigging. It was a very active time.
++ And were there any bad gigs at all?
Hmmm…there was a fight on stage one night so I guess it was bad for that guy! But no we generally played pretty well all things considered.
++ There are videos of you all playing “Lollipop” and “Crazy” at the Fremantle Metropolis! Wow! Do you know if there are more videos of live footage? And do you remember at all that gig?
I think that whole gig was filmed. We had played the night before and got home pretty late in the a.m. from memory. That was an all ages afternoon gig the next day. Shaun and myself where particularly struggling. Irony is that it was an alcohol awareness benefit or something. Respect Yourself children! Actually that was one of the bad ones!
++ When and why did The Mars Bastards stop making music?
We stopped end of 92 early 93 I think? Can’t remember why we stopped really. Just to have a break I guess. Then we all went off and did other things.
++ And afterwards came Header, is that right?
93 … I was writing a bit, had a jam with Brad Bolton (Rainyard guitarist ex Stolen Picassos) then Davey C turned up then Liam so it was basically the Rainyard with myself singing. Call the cops!!
++ Did you get much attention from the radio or press?
Mars Bastards? We had always been lucky in getting attention.
++ What about from fanzines?
Not sure if we were picked up in many fanzines besides Party Fears which was an ace Perth publication.
++ And today, aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
Writing, rehearsing, recording, playing, watching music takes up pretty much all my spare time. Travel when I can to France, Spain, Italy.. as an ex-chef I try to eat out a bit or cook at home.
++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
We won local music awards and made the cover of street press etc. which is always nice but the biggest highlight was the comradery. Just hanging out with the guys making music. Loved every second of it.
++ Never visited Perth, nor Australia. So maybe I can ask for some suggestions? Like what are the sights I shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?
Go to South Perth foreshore, hire a catamaran , sail it out into the Swan river, get it stuck in the mud bank and make the hire dude come out in his tinny and tow you back in. Heaps of fun. Best food; a Chico roll with a cold frothy.
++ Thanks again Ian! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for taking me down memory lane Roque. They were great times even if we didn’t realise it when they were happening. Cheers
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Listen
The Mars Bastards – Lollipop
