Boom Crash Opera: Biography

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• EMF
• The Candyskins
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• U2
• INXS

Genres:

Rock Music, Alternative Rock Music

Decades Active:

1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Ratings Guide

Originally a 5 piece formed in Melbourne, 1985. This Australian rock band, like many before them, got their grounding from the pub rock circuit. Striking debut blended the muscular rock of "Listen Like Thieves" period INXS with an almost English melodic richness - not dissimilar from Tears For Fears. Power vocalist Dale Ryder is backed by a trademark chant style vocal from the others; which included the talent of founding members and writing partnership Richard Pleasance (guitar/bass) and Peter Farnan (guitar) credited also as executive producers, alongside tragic producer Alex Sadkin, who died shortly after. BCO were made full by Greg O'Connor (keys) and drummer Peter Maslen. After five hit singles at home including No. 1 "Great Wall," another "Her Charity" did well in getting them noticed in the States as did "Onion Skin" (a top ten rock chart hit) and "Talk About It" from second disc These Here Are Crazy Times. Sadly the hand of fate that helped INXS, Icehouse and Midnight Oil find success abroad has thus far eluded BCO, although they well deserve it. Further misfortune would occur in the departure (due to Tinnitus) of Pleasance and label wrangles. They finally settled on BMG for their next album Fabulous Beast which debued Pleasance replacement Ian Tilley. Many more singles were notched up in Australia culminating in a 1998 best of appropriately titled Best Things, after which O'Connor left. Pleasance has gone on to produce other artists such as Deborah Conway (Do Re Mi), Noiseworks' Jon Stevens, and work with Suzanne Vega and Elvis Costello. Two solo albums Galleon and Colourblind were issued by John Farnham's Gotham Records.

- Kelvin Hayes, All Music Guide