Goanna (band)

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Goanna are an Australian rock band which formed in 1977 in Geelong as The Goanna Band with mainstay Shane Howard as singer-songwriter and guitarist. The group integrated social protest with popular music and reached the Top 20 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with "Solid Rock" (1982) and "Let the Franklin Flow" (released under the name Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble in 1983). Their debut album, Spirit of Place, peaked at No. 2 on the related albums chart. They disbanded in 1987 and briefly reformed in 1998.

History

1977–1987

Goanna was formed as an Australian folk-rock group by singer-songwriter and guitarist Shane Howard in Geelong in 1977.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> Alongside Howard, the original line-up was Mike Biscan (guitar), Richard Griffiths (bass guitar) and Rod Hoe (drums).<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> During their early years the line-up changed numerous times, with only Howard as the mainstay. In 1979, the group consisted of Howard, keyboardist and vocalist Rose Bygrave,<ref name="Howl"/> lead guitarist and vocalist Warwick Harwood, bass guitarist Carl Smith, drummer Gary Crothall and vocalist and harmonica player Ian Morrison.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> They recorded an independent 12" EP, The Goanna Band. The four-track EP was produced by Broderick Smith (ex-The Dingoes)<ref name="Howl"/> and released on EMI Music.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> By 1981 the band were now Shane Howard, Rose Bygrave, Warrick Harwood, Peter Coughlan on bass guitar, Marcia Howard (vocalist and synthesisers), Graham Davidge (electric guitar) and Robbie Ross on drums. They had shortened the name to Goanna, and with their increasing popularity they attracted the interest of major record companies.<ref name="Howl"/>

They supported James Taylor on the Australian leg of his 1981 tour. In February 1982, they signed to WEA Australia,<ref name="Howl"/> and Shane Howard established a music publishing company, Uluru Music, headed by Helene Jedwab. The band released its single "Solid Rock" in September.<ref name="McF"/>

According to Howard, the inspiration came on a ten-day camping trip to Uluru during 1980, where he had a "spiritual awakening" which brought "the fire in the belly" to the surface over injustices to Australia's Indigenous peoples.<ref name="Kruger"/>

Template:Blockquote

WEA were at first reluctant to issue it as a single, and even Howard initially had a few doubts about whether commercial radio was ready for such a weighty political subject;<ref name="Kruger"/> however, Howard insisted on its release to make a statement on the British invasion of Australia.<ref name="McF"/> "Solid Rock" peaked at No. #2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, remaining in the Top 50 for 26 weeks.<ref name="Kent"/> It also reached No. #31 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="BillS"/> In November 2013, "Solid Rock" was voted No. 20 in the Triple M Melbourne/Herald Sun Australian Top-40 chart of the last 40 years. Goanna released their debut album, Spirit of Place, in December.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> It was produced by Trevor Lucas, a member of UK folk-rock group Fairport Convention,<ref name="ARDb"/> who had returned to Australia in 1979. Spirit of Place reached No. 2 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart, within two weeks of its release and remained there for 10 weeks, alternating with Midnight Oil's 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the No. 1 & No. 2 spot.<ref name="Kent"/> It also reached No. 179 on the US Billboard 200.<ref name="BillA"/> For the album, Goanna were Rose Bygrave on keyboards, Peter Coughlan on bass guitar, Graham Davidge (ex-Little River Band) on guitar, Warrick Harwood, Shane Howard, his sister Marcia Howard on backing vocals, Mick O'Connor on keyboards and Robbie Ross on drums.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> An ever-changing line-up saw Harwood reluctantly leave the band. The follow-up single "Razors Edge" released in March 1983 reached No. 36 on the national charts.

On 13 February 1983, Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble performed "Let the Franklin Flow" at the Stop The Drop nuclear disarmament concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.<ref name="AllFiredUp"/><ref name="Franklin"/> The ensemble included members of Goanna and fellow folk rock group Redgum and Lucas.<ref name="AllFiredUp"/> In April, "Let the Franklin Flow" was issued as a single with Lucas and Jeff Campbell as producer.<ref name="ARDb"/> Howard, the song's writer, was credited as F. River.<ref name="APRA"/><ref name="NLAFranklin"/> The single reached No. 12 nationally.<ref name="Kent"/> Proceeds supported the Tasmanian Wilderness Society's campaign against the proposed damming of Tasmania's Gordon and Franklin rivers for a hydroelectricity project.<ref name="Howl"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> Howard physically supported the protests by joining the picket lines.<ref name="Howl"/> The B-side of the single, "Franklin River – World Heritage", was written and recorded by the society's director, Bob Brown, who later became a senator and the leader of Australian Greens.<ref name="Franklin"/><ref name="Brown80s"/>

On 19 April 1983, Goanna won three Countdown Music and Video Awards for their work in 1982: Spirit of Place won Best Debut Album, "Solid Rock" won Best Debut Single and the band itself won the Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award).<ref name="Cameron"/><ref name="Count87"/> "Solid Rock" is the first charting rock record to feature extensive use of the didgeridoo, one of the world's oldest wood instruments, played by Billy Inda (No Fixed Address) and Bobby Djabanunga.<ref name="ARDb"/>

By late 1983, Goanna included new guitarists Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool, Mighty Kong) and Russell Smith (Company Caine, Mighty Kong) with Robert Ross replaced by Geoff Bridgford (Bee Gees),(Jim Keays Band) on drums.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> In October they released a third single, "That Day (Is Coming Sooner)",<ref name="McF"/> which peaked at No. 67.<ref name="Kent"/> Surprisingly WEA dropped the band from the label. Howard then travelled around the world looking for other record companies to pick them up. During this time he visited Ireland, the home of his ancestors and experienced another cultural awakening. Template:Blockquote The band were just on the verge of signing a worldwide deal with CBS, when Warners in Australia contacted them and re-signed the band, who then spent much of 1984 recording a new album at John French's Fast Forward studio in Melbourne, the Music Farm Studio in Byron Bay, and also in Los Angeles at George Massenburg's The Complex studio, with Little Feat's keyboard player Billy Payne. The band's second album, Oceania, produced by Billy Payne,<ref name="Howl"/><ref name="ARDb"/> was released in April 1985 and reached No. 29.<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name="Kent"/> The first single from this album, "Common Ground", had been released in December 1984<ref name="McF"/> and peaked at No. 42. The second single, "Dangerous Dancing", released in May 1985 only reached No. 91.<ref name="Kent"/> Throughout 1985, the band toured relentlessly in support of the album, with a constantly revolving line-up of members, including at one stage ex-Little River Band drummer Derek Pellicci. The band then released a non-album single, "Song for Africa", dedicated to famine relief, in September but it failed to chart.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Kent"/> WEA dropped Goanna from their roster again.Template:Cn

On 13 July 1985, Goanna performed three songs for the Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program) – "Common Ground", "Song for Africa", "Solid Rock". It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network) and on MTV in the US.<ref name="OzAfrica">Template:Cite web</ref> In September, still promoting Oceania and the newly released "Song for Africa", Howard went "walkabout", and the band was forced to cancel $20,000 worth of bookings.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> Eventually a disillusioned Howard had travelled to South Australia to perform with Aboriginal musician and didgeridoo player Bart Willoughby (No Fixed Address).<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/> With Howard no longer involved, Goanna effectively disbanded but reformed, self-managed, for one final farewell tour of Victoria, NSW, and Tasmania with aboriginal band Coloured Stone in October 1986.Template:Cn The final gig of the tour was on 25 October 1986 for the Baha'i Concert For Peace at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.Template:Cn The live version of "Solid Rock" featured on the re-mastered release of "Spirit of place" comes from this performance.Template:Cn

The final line-up consisted of Shane & Marcia Howard, Rose Bygrave; Dave Stewart drums; Jo Imbrol bass; Simon Curphey and Selwyn Burns guitars; Bunna Lawrie, Bart Willoughby, Tony Lovett and Nicky Moffatt on Didgeridoo & percussion: Bill Dart F.O.H sound and recording engineer for db Concert Sound.<ref name="McF"/> On 24 & 25 January 1987 yet another final fling occurred when much the same ensemble played at the Tamworth Country Music Festival sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia.Template:Cn

1988–present: After Goanna

Template:Main Shane Howard returned to a solo career, releasing Back to the Track (1988), River (1990), Time Will Tell (1993), Live in Ireland (1994), Clan (1996), Beyond Hope's Bridge (2000), Another Country (2004), Retrospect (2004), Songs of Love & Resistance (2006), Tarerer (compilation, 2006), Two Songmen with Neil Murray (2007), Goanna Dreaming (2010), Driftwood (2010), Other Side of the Rock (2012) and Deeper South (2015). Howard also appears on numerable compilation recordings. He wrote and recorded the song "Palya Wiru Uluru" with senior Anangu songwriter Trevor Adamson. They at performed live at the Close of the Climb at Uluru, 26 October 2019.Template:Cn

In 2000, Howard formed his own recording label, Goanna Arts. He was a founding member and musical director for the Black Arm Band productions Murundak (2006) Hidden Republic (2008) and repertoire consultant for Dirt Songs (2009), as well as a performing artist with the ensemble. He was creative director and producer for the stage concerts, CD and DVD of Exile: Songs & Stories of Irish Australia (2016).Template:Cn

Howard also produced albums for the Wirrinyga Band (Dreamtime Wisdom, Modertime Vision, 1995, the Pigram Brothers (Saltwater Country, 1995, Jimmy Chi (Corrugation Road, 1996), Andy Alberts (Gunditjmara Land, 1996 and Close To Home, 2001) with Pete Bird, Joe Geia (Old Friends, 2000), Tonchi McIntosh (Bridges, 2001, Mossie Scanlon (Tanam Ort, 2001), Patricia Clarke (Keep The Fires Burning, 2001), Oriel Glennon (Two Pink Turtles, 2000), Dead Reckoning (2016) with Pete Bird (2015) and Archie Roach (Journey, 2006) with Nash Chambers.Template:Cn

In 1986, Rose Bygrave toured briefly playing reggae with Australian singer Wendy Saddington. Bygrave, issued a solo single, "Maybe Midnight", in June 1989 and started working on a solo album which was not released at the time.<ref name="McF"/> Bygrave's first solo album, White Bird, finally appeared in 1999 and was followed by Walking Home (2001), North (2009) and The Yabby Catcher (2019).Template:Cn

Marcia Howard released the solo albums Butterfly (2000), Burning in the Rain (2004), Nashville Sessions EP (2015) and Everything Reminds Me (2017). Her song, a musical rendering of the William Blake poem "Poison Tree" (recorded with Mary Black), was released on the compilation CD A Woman's Heart-a Decade on (2003). In 2016, she appeared on The Voice. She was named Artist of the Year at the Port Fairy Folk Festival (2017).Template:Cn

Marcia Howard and Rose Bygrave released an album, Pearl (2011).Template:Cn

In October 1998, Shane Howard, Marcia Howard, and Bygrave re-formed Goanna and recorded a third album, Spirit Returns, released in November.<ref name="McF"/> Joining the line-up was Kerryn Tolhurst (the Dingoes),<ref name="Howl"/> with other guest musicians on the album including Steve Cooney, Liam O'Maonlai, Bill Jacobi (bass guitar) and Greg Sheehan (drums).<ref name="McF"/> The tracks ranged from the bluesy "What Else is a Life" (which was released as the first single), the country-inflected "This Old Town", to the politicised "Song for East Timor", as well as a cover of the Tolhurst-penned Dingoes' track "Your Song".<ref name="McF"/> Marcia Howard's "Sorry" was influenced by the documentary Lousy Little Sixpence, based on Margaret Tuckers' story, If Everyone Cared, which chronicled her story of the "stolen generation" of Indigenous people. Shane Howard recorded in Ireland with Stephen Cooney and Liam O'Maonlai (Hot House Flowers), while Tolhurst added the final touches in New York. Goanna performed the song at the first National Sorry Day at Parliament House in Canberra in 1998, the same morning the "Bringing Them Home" report was released. "Sorry" was released by Goanna both on CD and as a resource book and video as a Sorry Day resource by Fraynework Media.Template:Cn

In August and September 2006, Shane Howard performed "Solid Rock" as part of the Countdown Spectacular tour<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> and was joined at the Melbourne concerts by his sister, Marcia, and Bygrave. In October, a number of Goanna's tracks featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown of songs (which was voted and chosen by the listeners) including:Template:Cn

  • "Solid Rock" (ranked 427 out of 2006 songs)
  • "Razor's Edge" (ranked 1232 out of 2006 songs)

Two of the Goanna Band's guitarists, Mike Biscan and Warrick Harwood, died in April 2020.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

Starting in June 2022, the band returned to tour around Australia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Spirit of Place, with band members Shane Howard, Rose Bygrave, Marcia Howard and Graham Davidge playing, amongst others.<ref name="tour2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2022, Goanna performed "Solid Rock" at the 2022 AFL Grand Final. In December 2022, Goanna re-released the song with Emma Donovan and William Barton.<ref name="Solid Rock 40">Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2023, Goanna released "Takayna", their first new music in 25 years.<ref name="Takayna"/> Shane Howard described the song as "A hymn to the natural world, to takayna/Tarkine and the palawa peoples long custodianship of that country".<ref name="Takayna"/>

Members

Current members

  • Shane Howard - vocals, acoustic and electric guitar (1977–85, 1986, 1998, 2021–present)
  • Rose Bygrave - vocals, piano, synthesizer (1980–85, 1998, 2021–present)
  • Marcia Howard - vocals, synthesiser, acoustic guitar (1980–85, 1986, 1998, 2021–present)
  • Graham Davidge - guitar (1982–83, 2021–present)

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Former members

  • Mike Biscan - guitar (1977–78; died 2020)<ref name="auto"/>
  • Warrick Harwood - guitar (1978–83; died 2020)<ref name="auto"/>
  • Rick Griffiths - bass guitar (1977)
  • Carl Smith - bass guitar (1978–80)
  • Peter "Brolga" Coughlan - bass guitar, vocals (1981–85)
  • Rod Hoe - drums (1977-1979)
  • Gary "Zos" Crothall - drums (1979–80)
  • Dave Stewart - drums (1980–81, 1986)
  • Greg Martin - drums (1981-1982)
  • Robert "Robbie" Ross - drums (1982–83)
  • Ian Morrison - vocals, harmonica, percussion (1979-1984)
  • Mick "The Reverend" O'Connor - organ, piano (1979 EP, 1982–1983; died 2022)

Template:Col-2

Touring & unofficial members

Template:Col-end

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:150 bottom:95 top:5 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy # isolate next tag Period = from:01/01/1977 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1977 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977

Colors =

 id:vocals     value:red         legend:Vocals
 id:guitar     value:green       legend:Guitars
 id:synth      value:purple      legend:Synthesiser
 id:piano      value:lightpurple legend:Piano
 id:organ      value:lavender    legend:Organ
 id:bass       value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:drums      value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:harmonica  value:tan2        legend:Harmonica,_percussion
 id:studio     value:black       legend:Studio_album
 id:bars       value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

BarData =

 bar:Shane   text:Shane Howard
 bar:Marcia  text:"Marcia Howard"
 bar:Roslyn  text:"Roslyn 'Rose' Bygrave"
 bar:Mike    text:"Mike Biscan"
 bar:Warrick text:"Warrick Harwood"
 bar:Graham  text:"Graham Davidge"
 bar:Rick    text:"Rick Griffiths"
 bar:Carl    text:"Carl Smith"
 bar:Peter   text:"Peter 'Brolga' Coughlan"
 bar:Rod     text:"Rod Hoe"
 bar:Gary    text:"Gary 'Zos' Crothall"
 bar:Dave    text:"Dave Stewart"
 bar:Greg    text:"Greg Martin"
 bar:Robert  text:"Robert 'Robbie' Ross"
 bar:Ian     text:"Ian Morrison"
 bar:Mick    text:"Mick 'The Reverend' O'Connor"

PlotData =

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 color:vocals
 bar:Shane    from:01/01/1977 till:08/31/1985
 bar:Shane    from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Shane    from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Shane    from:11/11/2021 till:end
 bar:Marcia   from:01/01/1981 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Marcia   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 bar:Roslyn   from:01/01/1977 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Roslyn   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 
 color:guitar
 bar:Mike     from:01/01/1977 till:06/30/1978
 bar:Warrick  from:07/01/1978 till:10/25/1983
 bar:Graham   from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1983
 bar:Graham   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 
 color:bass
 bar:Rick     from:01/01/1977 till:12/31/1977
 bar:Carl     from:01/01/1978 till:12/31/1980
 bar:Peter    from:01/01/1981 till:12/31/1985
 color:drums
 bar:Rod      from:01/01/1977 till:06/30/1979
 bar:Gary     from:07/01/1979 till:06/30/1980
 bar:Dave     from:07/01/1980 till:06/30/1981
 bar:Dave     from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Greg     from:07/01/1981 till:06/30/1982
 bar:Robert   from:07/01/1982 till:12/31/1983
 color:harmonica
 bar:Ian      from:01/01/1979 till:12/31/1984
 color:organ
 bar:Mick     from:01/01/1979 till:12/31/1979
 bar:Mick     from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1983
 width:3
 color:guitar
 bar:Shane    from:01/01/1977 till:08/31/1985
 bar:Shane    from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Shane    from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Shane    from:11/11/2021 till:end
 color:vocals
 bar:Ian      from:01/01/1979 till:12/31/1984
 bar:Peter    from:01/01/1981 till:12/31/1985
 color:piano
 bar:Mick     from:01/01/1979 till:12/31/1979
 bar:Mick     from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1983
 
 width:7
 color:synth
 bar:Marcia   from:01/01/1981 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Marcia   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 
 color:piano
 bar:Roslyn   from:01/01/1977 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Roslyn   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 width:3
 color:guitar
 bar:Marcia   from:01/01/1981 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Marcia   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Marcia   from:11/11/2021 till:end
 
 color:synth
 bar:Roslyn   from:01/01/1977 till:12/31/1985
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1986 till:10/25/1986
 bar:Roslyn   from:07/01/1998 till:12/31/1998
 bar:Roslyn   from:11/11/2021 till:end

LineData =

 at:11/01/1982  layer:back
 at:04/01/1985  layer:back
 at:11/01/1998  layer:back

</timeline>

Discography

Albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS (Kent)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>
1982 Spirit of Place
  • Released: November 1982
  • Label: WEA (600127)
2
1985 Oceania
  • Released: April 1985
  • Label: WEA (251556-1)
29
1998 Spirit Returns -

Live albums

Title Album details
Live at the Canberra Workers Club 1985
  • Released: 1 September 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Format: CD (limited), DD, streaming
  • Label: Big Heart, Black Box Records/ MGM Distribution

Extended plays

Title Details
The Goanna Band

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
AUS (Kent)<ref name=aus/>
1982 "Solid Rock" 3 Spirit of Place
1983 "Razor's Edge" 36
"Let the Franklin Flow"
(credited as Gordon Franklin and the Wilderness Ensemble)
12 Template:N/a
"That Day...Is Comin' Sooner" 67 Template:N/a
1984 "Common Ground"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 42 Oceania
1985 "Dangerous Dancing" 91
"Song for Africa" - Template:N/a
1998 "Sorry" - Spirit Returns
"What Else is a Life" -
2022 "Solid Rock"<ref name="Solid Rock 40"/>
(re-release featuring Emma Donovan and William Barton)
- Template:N/a
2023 "Solid Rock"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(re-release featuring Moss, Tasman Keith and William Barton)
- Template:N/a
"Takayna"<ref name="Takayna">Template:Cite web</ref> -

Awards and nominations

Countdown Australian Music Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="3" |1982 | Spirit of Place | Best Debut Album | Template:Won |- | "Solid Rock" | Best Debut Single | Template:Won |- | themselves | Best New Talent | Template:Won |- Template:End

References

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General
Specific

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