Bughouse (band)

Bughouse were an independent band from Sydney, who toured the East Coast of Australia from 1989–1994.

Bughouse
Bughouse 1990. Left to right Steve Campbell, Genevieve Maynard, Peter Brookes, Lea Cameron.
Background information
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresIndie rock
Years active1989–1994
LabelsUrsula, Mushroom
Associated actsStella One Eleven, Wet Taxis, Lucky Dinosaurs, Climbing Frame.
Past membersPeter Brookes
Steve Campbell
Lea Cameron
Genevieve Maynard
Nick Fisher

History

1989–1991: Formation and early period

Formed by drummer Peter Brookes in 1989 as a recording project, the original line-up was completed by Lea Cameron (vocals), Steve Campbell (guitar) and Genevieve Maynard (bass).[1][2] Their first show was on Saturday 27 May 1989 at the Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills. In their first six months Bughouse played around Sydney, predominantly at the Hopetoun, Annandale, Lansdowne and Sandringham hotels, and at various university campuses.

Their debut single "V for Vendetta"/"Burn it Back" was produced by Damien Lovelock, lead singer of The Celibate Rifles[3] and featured Louis Tillett of the Wet Taxis on piano.[4] "V for Vendetta" was released on the band's own Ursula label, receiving high rotation on radio station 2JJJ[5] and reaching number six[6] on the Australian Independent Charts. ABC TV made a video of the song for an "undiscovered" section on weekly music show RAGE. The band recorded their first Live at the Wireless for JJJ at ABC Studio 1 in Darlinghurst.

Bughouse returned to the studio some months later to record the Bughouse EP with engineer John Hresc at Powerhouse Studios.[7] The EP included four tracks – "Tax Stamp", "Bruce's Song", "Salad Days" and "One More Thing".[8] The EP reached number four on the Australian Independent Charts[9] These two first records showcased the band's assured and eclectic sound.[10][11]

After this early success, the band were courted by several major labels eventually signing a record deal with Mushroom Records' White Label.[12]

The band's debut album, Every Fool in Town was recorded over ten days again with Lovelock producing and Tony Espie[13] engineering. It included guest performances by Amanda Brown of the Go-Betweens[14] and James Cruickshank of the Cruel Sea. The album received positive reviews,[15][16][17] and reached number 1 on the Australian Independent Charts.[18] A video was made for the single[19] "Hell for Leather".

1992–1994 Bardo and Fink Tank

For the rest of their career, Bughouse toured extensively around Australia, playing shows with many notable local and international bands, including Crowded House,[20] the Hoodoo Gurus, Hunters and Collectors, Yothu Yindi,[21] Concrete Blonde[22] and Bob Dylan.

During the period between Every Fool in Town and Bardo, Peter Brookes left the band and was replaced by Nick Fisher (Wet Taxis, New Christs).[23]

Bughouse recorded the EP Bardo in 1992.[24] The name of the EP came from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and referred to the limbo the band had been in as a result of record company indecision in moving their recording schedule ahead. The EP contained five tracks, and a video was made for the song "Brightest Firework".

After parting ways with Mushroom Records, a final album Fink Tank was released through Mushroom Distribution Services in 1994 to strong reviews,[25] including by Rolling Stone magazine who described it as a "screaming surprise packet".[26] The album was recorded by Tim Powles, and mixed by Paul McKercher. The band released a video for the album's second track "Fathom" and also appeared on ABC TV's Live and Sweaty.[27]

Their final performance was on 4 October 1994 at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney.

Discography

Albums and EPs
Release Year Label type
Bughouse 1989 Ursula EP
Every Fool in Town 1990 Ursula/Mushroom Album
Bardo 1992 Ursula/MDS EP
Fink Tank 1994 Ursula Album

Singles
Release Label type Year
"V for Vendetta" Ursula Records Single 1989
"V for Vendetta" Ursula/Waterfront Re-released / single
"Somebody To Love" Ursula/Mushroom 12" single 1990

References
  1. "Bughouse discography". RateYourMusic. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  2. John, Casimir (26 July 1990). "Group Therapy"". The Sydney Morning Herald – musical notes. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  3. "Bughouse – V For Vendetta". Discogs. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. "BUG HOUSE". Tharunka (Kensington, NSW : 1953–2010). 13 August 1990. p. 29. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. "Bughouse". Tharunka. Kensington, NSW. 2 October 1990. p. 14. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  6. "Aria Singles Charts". Canberra Times. 1 November 1990. p. 29. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. "Bughouse – Bughouse". Discogs. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. "Reviews". Tharunka. Kensington, NSW. 2 October 1990. p. 28. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  9. "Aria charts". Canberra Times. 26 July 1990. p. 27. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  10. "Webcuts Music – Secret History of Australian Music Bughouse – V For Vendetta". www.webcutsmusic.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  11. "BUGHOUSE". historyofaussiemusic.blogspot.ch. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  12. "Bughouse". www.threemileshigh.net. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  13. "Tony Espie". Discogs. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  14. "Australian Rock Database – Amanda Brown". ozrockdb.com. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  15. "Music". Tharunka. Kensington, NSW. 22 April 1991. p. 35. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  16. "Disc Reviews". Canberra Times. 4 March 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  17. "Unusual voice gets good introduction". Canberra Times. 11 July 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  18. "Aria Charts". Canberra Times. 25 July 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  19. "MUSIC". Tharunka. Kensington, NSW. 20 May 1991. p. 29. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  20. "Gig Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 September 1990. p. 62.
  21. "LIVE". Tharunka. Kensington, NSW. 8 October 1991. p. 29. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  22. "Blonde's power pop". Canberra Times. 20 December 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  23. "BUGHOUSE". historyofaussiemusic.blogspot.ch. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  24. "Release "Bardo" by Bughouse – MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  25. "HOME ENTERTAINMENT". Canberra Times. 16 May 1994. p. 34. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  26. "Backstage Screaming surprise packet". Canberra Times. 9 June 1994. p. 30. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  27. Divola, Barry (3 June 1994). "Under a Mushroom Cloud". The Age. p. 75. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
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