Band File

Rip It Up, Issue 23, 1 June 1979, Page 17

Band File

N 0.6 Street Talk HISTORY Started July 1974 with Hammond Gamble, Andy MacDonald and Walter Ormsby. Mike Caen joined early 75. Members before 1978 included Steve Butler, Brent Eccles, Noel Cristian, Peter Cuddihy, Andrew Kay and Malcolm McCallum. Street Talk concentrated on R & B music. Had a break from May 77 to May 78. Hammond, Andy and Mike started again with Jim Lawrie on drums. Stuart Pearce joined January 79. RECORDS Singles: "Leaving the Country'VFallin’ to Pieces” (Produder Chris Hillman, recorded at Stebbings June 1978 and released 16/10/78). "Street Music’Vlt’s Not Easy" (Producer Kim Fowley, recorded at Mandrill Studios, January 9-23,1979 and released as 12 inch single 26/3/79). "Poison’VLazy Pauline” (Same, released 11/6/79). Albums: Street Talk produced by Kim Fowley at Mandrill Studios and engineered by Glyn Tucker. Released 17/2/79. Street Talk is in production or on release in Australia, Japan, Belgium, Germany, Canada and Holland. Street Talk is scheduled to commence recording a second album in September 1979. All the above recordings are released on Asylum Records through WEA. MANAGEMENT Street Talk are self-managed, with assistance from WEA and Kim Fowley. MIKE CAEN Guitar and vocals Born May 27, 1956 Education Five years high school and one year university. Musical Career Self taught, started at the age of eight. First professional band was Noazark (glitter rock), then Elysium (classical rock), then Split Enz (3 weeks), Elysium again and then Street Talk. Early 1977 went to Australia (did adverts) and mid 1977 went to London. Played in Mister Sister for nine months. Formed own band but ran out of money and enthusiasm slogging in London. Returned to join Street Talk in May 1978. Other Jobs Pot washer, toy packer and leaflet distributor Favourites Albums Parachute Pretty Things, Rock'n'Roll Animal Lou Reed and Live Bob Marley and the Wailers. Single "Something In The Air" Thunderclap Newman. Guitarist No idea, changes all the time. Singers Elvis Presley and Willy De Ville.

Musicians Lots Equipment Gibson SG with Les Paul picks ups and Fender twin reverb.

HAMMOND GAMBLE Guitar and vocals Born September 25, 1951. Education none worth mentioning. Musical Career No formal training. Got my first guitar when I was 11 but didn't play in a full time band until Street Talk in 1974. Other jobs Clerical work Favourites Albums King Of The Delta Blues Singers Robert Johnson and Music Of My Mind Stevie Wonder. Singles “Strawberry Fields Forever” The Beatles and “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" Aretha Franklin. Guitarist Can’t make up my mind. Singer Stevie Wonder Musician Stevie Wonder Equipment Fender Stratocaster guitar, Fender twin reverb amp and occasionally use Gibson L6S instead of Stratocaster.

JIM LAWRIE Drums Born May 29, 1951 Education Most education gained after leaving school. Musical Career First professional band was Highway recorded an album with them and played in Australia for a year. Returned to NZ in 1972. Highway reformed. Joined Country Flyers in 1974 for two years. Then played with Rocking Horse until joining Street Talk in May 1978. Other jobs have not worked at anything else for a long time. Like to keep it that way. Favourites Albums Is Having A Wonderful Time Geoff Muldaur and Heavy Weather Weather Report. Single "Lowdown” Boz Scaggs. Drummer Jeff Porcaro (Scaggs sessions etc). Singer Stevie Wonder Musician Stevie Wonder Equipment Fibes and Tama drums with Zildjian cymbals.

ANDREW MACDONALD Bass guitar Born January 1,1955 Education Auckland Grammar tb UE level. God knows how I stuck it out that long. Musical Career Self taught (no formal training) but did a lot of listening. First professional band, Street Talk. Joined Hello Sailor for about four months. Played for glamour band in Sydney (called Australia) and recorded an album. Sacked for falling asleep on stage. Other jobs Sydney taxi driver, truck driver, digger of holes and also unemployed. Favourites Albums Roxy Music, Dixie Chicken Little Feat, Layla Derek and the Dominoes, Blow By Blow Jeff Beck and Axis Bold As Love Jimi Hendrix. Single "Man Of, The World" Fleetwood Mac. Bass guitarist Chuck Rainey Singer Lowell George Musician Jimi Hendrix Equipment Gibson Ripper bass, Holden graphic 200 watt and Fender quad box.

STUART PEARCE Keyboards Born January 26, 1956 Education 3 1 /2 years at Wellsford High School. Musical Career 2 years “teaching little fingers to play". Basically sitting at home playing along with the radio until joined Chapeaux. Other bands/gigs include Queen Street Express, Fantasy, 18 months playing in London dives and Chandris Line ship’s piano player. Other Jobs milkman, van driver. Albums Mink De Ville Mink De Ville, Innervisions Stevie Wonder. Singles “Maybe I'm Amazed" Wings Keyboard players Mac Rebannack. Leon Russell, Richard Tee Musicians Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney Singers John Lennon, Aretha Franklin Equipment Eavestaff mini-piano with Helpinstill pick-up. Yamaha CS 60 synthesizer. Hi-watt amp with 2 Kl3O cabinets. Lotsa leads.