Mad Gorilla

About Mad Gorilla

** Updated **
Sydney based Theatrical Rock band of the 1980’s. Well known for their “Graveyard Show”.

History

• 1978-1985.
• The core of the band still play together as Creedence and Beyond.

Update: Here is a live video of Mad Gorilla playing at the Manly Hotel in 1983. Thanks to Roger Garrod for making the video available and for his comments.

Yet another update! Thanks again to Roger Garrod who has unearthed a classic clip of Mad Gorilla doing their original song “Parramatta Road”.

The ultimate update!!! Once again roger garrod has come through with a classic video clip. This time it’s the famed “Undertaker Show” filmed at Riverstone RSL Club in 1983. Enjoy!

Update: Here is a contribution from Dave Owens, the original bass player.

“For the record, I was the bass player in the original Gorilla
line-up ( with Steve Stickney- Vox, Zac Flack- Gtr, George Grainger- Hammond organ, Geoff Hillier – Drums ). Boy were they halcyon days! – writing our own material, coming up with “show” ideas; it seemed like we were just thrown together in some mushroom growing shed up in Riverstone (in Sydney’s north western suburbs) that the keyboard players Dad owned.
God if his Dad only knew what was being developed in there!

I can tell you that the original 5 piece band did kick some considerable ass, but we guys were’nt satisfied with only playing – we wanted to entertain, and so that’s where the idea of the “Undertaker Show” emerged from. But to be fair, the concept was born in Zac Flack’s head while he was hospitalised with a huge boil on his upper thigh, and upon his healthy return to the mushroom shed rehearsal enviroment
the show was born. It was to be a “Horror Show” to rival any other “show” rival bands could stage; we had set our sights pretty high looking back on it.

I could go on and regale you and your readers with some pretty wild stories that happened “on the bus” and “off the bus” if you know what I mean, from those early years – but maybe I’ll draught a few out before I just sit and type like I have today.

A couple of things though before I depart this time:

Mark “Zac” Flack (and for a time his partner Coby)
worked tirelessly, full time on the bands P.A. gear, road crew and costumes -and if it needed doing -it was done (unbelievable committment in my observation-for little or no return)

Steve “Stix” Stickney ability as a word-smith, front-man and agent/corporate liaison was just awesome – though my fading memory seems to recall “Zac” being involved in acquiring work from time to time too, Steve was generally known around town as the Face of Mad Gorilla, which naturally he usedto great enterprise.

Big Al and Steve “Reckless” Reckley were our first two roadies, and they too deserve praise for the long hours and many miles they gave in service to Gorilla. They were times we worked 5,6,7,8 gigs a week – regularly – all with some variation on 10-20 can light show and single/double 4way PA systems!)

Sure there were more people involved down the track when the line-up started changing, but these original band members and crew all laid down the foundation of what has become somewhat of a mini-legend ( and a great talking point when we all get together- Imagine it – when was the last timw you caught up with an old mand-mate and said ” Remeber when we blew up Black Soccer Club?, Remember when Sticko punched that idiot out at the Touramaline Hotel for stabbing oue speakers-in front of the audience? Remeber when we supported Jimmy and the boys at The Coogee Bay Hotel and THEY wombatted us? It just goes on and on and on, but any I’ll save it all up for next time.”

Members

• Steve “Stix” Stickney – Vocals
• Mark “Zack” Flack – Guitar
• Mark “Langs” Langfield – Drums
• Glen Chalice – Sax
• Frank Seckold – Keys
• George Granger – Keys
• Dave Owens – Bass
• Peter Keller – Drums
• Geoff Hillier – Drums
• Dr Chris De Beltran – Bass and Vocals
• Joe McConville – Drums
• Rod Ward – Bass

Recordings

• Album – Great Gorilla – 1982
• Album – Gorilla Live – 1984

Other Resources

• Gibbos War Stories

Related articles:

• Creedence and Beyond
• The Wombat Switch – Mad Gorilla