Bam Balams

Bam Balams were formed in Sydney in April 1984 with the line-up of Brendan "Wig" Kibble (ex-Vampire Lovers) on lead vocals and guitar; Dave Stead on guitar and backing vocals; Steve Cole on bass guitar and backing vocals; and Matt Manchester on drums, backing vocals. Dave Stead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Brad Fitzpatrick.[1][2][3] The group got their name from a track on Supersnazz (1969) by the Flamin' Groovies,[1] and are referred to as Bambas by fans. Their influences included Gene Vincent, Johnny Burnette, Tony Joe White, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Byrds, Buck Owens and The Standells.[1]

The band released their first two singles, "Deliver My Love" (December 1985) and "No-One Else" (June 1986), on Citadel Records with Rob Younger (ex-member of Radio Birdman) producing.[1][2][3] Also in 1986 they released "Same Old Tune", as a split single with September Gurls' "Precious" on Guiding Light Records as a give-away with Adventure #2 magazine in Denmark.[4] In 1987, the original line up split up (Fitzpatrick, Cole, and Manchester went on to form The Hexbreakers, who cut a single 'Faraway Years' for Green Fez Records).Kibble formed a second line-up in 1987 with Amr Z. Abdallah (later of ARIA No 1 chart toppers Ratcat) on bass guitar, Steve Carlin on guitar, and Warren Elford on drums, which recorded a single, "Surfin' in the Swamp" (March 1988), for Citadel Record's Green Fez label.[1][2]

Soon after a third line-up formed, with Kibble and Abdallah joined by Ian "The Reverend" Little (ex-Grooveyard) on guitar and Joe Breen (Coupe DeVille) on drums, they recorded the group's one album, Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (December 1988) and its lead single, "Wheel of Fortune" (November).[1][2] Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass guitar in 1989 (Abdallah left the band to join Ratcat), and this line-up recorded the single, "Hellfire" (November 1989).[1][2] Dave Castellari replaced Marchant later that year, and they recorded a 12" extended play, 45 RPM Extended Play, with the track "10,000 Miles (A España)" on Pink Flamingo Records.[1][2] The group provided the lead track, "Munster Rock'n'Roller", for the 1990 Munster Records compilation, Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol III.[5] In 1990, the line-up changed again with Terry Stanley on bass guitar, and Tim Denny on drums, they remained until the band split in 1992. The gained popularity overseas including Spain, France and Italy; but they had never toured outside Australia.

According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[w]hile many of their Sydney-based contemporaries exploited Detroit-inspired hard rock, ... 1960s acid-punk ... or 1960s psychedelia", Bam Balams played a mix of garage rock, swamp rock-swamp pop, R&B, rockabilly, jangle pop and 1950s-1960s style country music.[1] Their records did well on the Australian independent charts but they did not appear on the ARIA Charts.[1] Kibble formed the Navahodads in 1995, which played swampy R&B, Country, and Rock n Roll, they released two albums and toured overseas.

Releases:[1][2]