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
- Glenn Davis – Guitar
- Steve Keely – Guitar
- Paul Swain – Bass
Recordings
- Album – Great Gorilla – 1982
- Album – Gorilla Live – 1984
Other Resources
Gigs
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, May 24th 1985 | Mad Gorilla in Greenfield Park | Greenfield Tavern |
| Supported by Bandanna | ||
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi All, Dave (Shovel) here,
Just a cupla things . .
my new email is mrdjowens@optusnet.com.au and my website
did crash but it’s rising out of the ashes again
http://www.dave-owens.com , By late October 2008 my 1st three
cd’s will be on iTunes to purchase completely or by track, and how’s all this communication! You just can’t hide
can you!! And – Roger -congratulations for loading
all those videos onto yootube, Do you have any footage of
the original line-up (pre-1982)?
Geoff – great to hear your alive and well.
Recko you legend – you’re still in the game.
Take Care all
gooday dave
hope u are well.as “time goes by” more old gorillas are turnin up (were is george).i think i lost my bat wings outfitt and it probably srank in the wash anyway, dave u would rember peter beaton, he and i had a band and did a few gigs, peter on base, also met neddy. stay well,play nice an try not to burn anything. geoff.
hey coby, i sent an email to you?. i think i pushed tne right button,geoff.
This is an update to the MAD GORILLA Memorabilia Slide Show 1980-85 version 3. I have added more pics from Radar, some more captions, dates and places etc and changed the music track (FROM THE MANLY GIG)….there is still a lot to do so send me your pics if you have any to add to the DVD. If you want I can send the music as an MP3 and MPEG to Rapidshare as this was the best quality track on video I ever recorded (feedback and all ouch watch yer ears!) just let me know if you want to download it OK. Welcome back Dave the only show I have with you in is from Springwood RSL the video is not the best quality so it will take me a lot of time to get it to a viewable stage, I will release some clips as soon as I can (the conspiracy clip is already online and is from the Springwood tape) You can email me at xtremelaser@gmail.com
Enjoy slideshow version 3 and remember to vote for the clips:-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7DZUb9ZYc
you can see all my YouTube clips here http://www.youtube.com/xtremelaser
Hey Recko….No Sylvania on Friday due to the Cronulla game….
Hey Dave, hows tricks?? Tommy Hanlons Grandson is mate of mine through Wrestling….he got a kick outa seen the Hey Hey clip.
Hi Roger, I’m having trouble getting through to you on your gMail address. Do you have another email I could try?
Cheers mate, Gibbo
roger@tcb99.com
xtremelaser@xtremelaser.com
postmaster@tcb99.com
any of those will get to me gibbo you need to aswe a whitelist challenge on any of the first 2
Cheers
Roger
I think you will get a chuckle out of this, Mad Gorilla have reached the Japanese Internet, slow to load so be patient
http://movie.teacup.com/video/watch/f3de18c0a15b09360a0bdd8de5453c32?kw=1983&page=1
and in South America
http://www.clipcristiano.com/0/video/Stix/11_KkfW4W98.html
Recko came to my gig at the Crest last week….he looks great!!!!…Its so cool to see familiar faces in the crowd.
And Dr Chris cane the following week!!!! Its a wonderfull thing this catching up.
Just curious…. (and probably wrong lol)
Didn’t Paul Swain play bass in Mad Gorilla as well? Or was he just in the Top Dogs?
Hey JR
Paul and I went to Blacktown High together…we’ve been mates since ’73 (aargh!!) when we had our first band in year 1.
I left Gorilla to join Paul in a band called “Strange Heat”…when that disbanded I joined the Beatnix and oddly enough, Paul joined Gorilla (???)
I think he played with the Dog but I could be wrong.
Saw Top Dogs on the way home from my gig the other night….to see Sticko and Gary Shaw singing together after 30 years…..woooow…and Zac on Guitar. When I got up I realised that we all havnt been on the same stage since Oracle back in 79!!!!!
Hi Frank, it’s amazing how well the guys all still sound. I have the pleasure of doing sound for them occasionally and it’s always a blast.
Just curious Frank,
Do you realise who this is?
Duh me…..I’ll see you in 2 weeks….
It is indeed an honour and a privilage to catch up with all you guys. I was never in Mad Gorilla, but I have been to many of their gigs. (Perhaps you might remember Franky’s mate Robert? I use to help occassionally with lugging in and out, and I know that Chris has never quite forgiven me for an event that occured in The Starlight Hotel in Cabramatta… Honestly, I had no tolerance to tabacco!)
I have many great memories attached to Mad Gorilla, and I after all the gigs I went to, I was thrilled when one New Years Eve, along with Frank (guitar), Dave (on drums) a mate George on guitar and myself playing bass and singing Cool For Cats, I was actually able to give something back for all the nights that you entertained me.
I was there for the blast at Seven Hills, and I bought as many people along as I could over the years because I thought that you guys were a total entertainment package. I caught up with Franky 2 weeks ago, and he still has the drive and talent that he always had. I leave you with my favourite saying, “enjoy your lives, you only get one, so make it count.”
It was lovely to catch up with Rob, we’ve know each other since High School and could play a bit himself. Robs always been one of my “Musical conciences” introducing me to Queen, ELO etc.
Happy New Year everyone.
G’day, Stix
It’s Andy Gibb from Revesby Roundhouse late 70′s early 80′s let us know when you guys gunna get your red hot undertaker show back on the road.
if your gunna play anywhere in Australia let every farker know or me and i’ll get every farker there.
Smokin weed’ Smithy (Andy Gibb)
I’ve gotta say thanks to George Grainger, as much as I loved the sound of the Hammond I used to curse it especially when it was only me & Al or me & Ned lugging it into places like Maroubra seals or the Astra etc. But the payback came in the mid ’90s. The phone rang, it was Michael Dafnis from Live crewing ( a true gentleman ) he said ” Do you know anything about Hammond organs ?” ” I can’t play one but i’ve worked with ‘em before, love the sound” I replied. ” Great!” he said sounding very relieved ” Can you work on ( can’t remember the date)?, I’ve got no one on the books that knows about them” I checked my diary & yes I wasn’t booked for that day ” That’s cool Michael, who’s it with?” I couldn’t believe my ears when he said “BB King” “ARE YOU KIDDING ?, Michael be serious!” After some convincing that it wasn’t april fools day I was booked for BB King at the Entertainment centre. YEE BLOODY HAH! ! ! A great gig,awesome band & they paid. So thanks George, I owe you a beer for that one!……..Recko.
Hey Recko,
Good to hear from you. Mate I tried to buy another hammond but couldn’t find one as good. What are you doing these days? Good to hear from you and hope all is well.
cheers,
Look forward to hearing from you.
George
G’day George,
Sorry haven’t been on here in a while. Am living in the shire. Worked in the industry on & off till 2008 & the quacks put me off work ( am on the pension ) due to a bike accident back in ’88. The surgeon couldn’t believe back then that I walked into his office, said I should be a quad ! Got the quacks to xray me in ’08 ( lots of pain & massage & accupuncture weren’t helping ) & they couldn’t believe I was still working. Just stubborn I s’pose. Do sound/ manage & allegedly sing with The Melodies ( Gig this sat 1st May 3-6pm at The Town & Country Hotel St Peters ) Also work in advertising ( I do a junk mail run ! ) Spend the rest of the time doing physio to stay out of a wheelchair as long as I can. Good to hear from ya !………Recko.
Hi everbody
Just got sent a link of me playing with gorilla.
I was the youngest gorilla, glenn with the green les paul.
link was to highway robbery, apart from stix and langs,
the other members in the footage were jeff wellbourne and greg watts.
In my time other members i played with were frank (who purchased aguitar from me,
that i believe ended up with zac) steve keely, paul swain, glenn the sax player and zac of course, im missing a couple of bass players here can any one fill me in?
remember roger and gary seach and jimmy the mad bugger!!
it was an awesome time for a young guitarist to have the opportunity to work
in the band, some very interesting times!!!!
Hope everyone is well!
Cheers
Glenn.
Glenn…..here the hell are you…haha
Tobacco sunburst Ibanez Les Paul…remember it well…Zac iherited it when his Ibanez artists neck feel off at the Bombay rock…haha
Bass players Chri DeBeltem, Rod Ward, Shovel….Paul Swain and I grew up together so I still hear from him at xmas..haha. The core (Stix, Zac) are killing it with the Credence thing. I think Jimmy works with Langs on the PA side of things….Terry does Tezza and the Twist Tops, I still play/gig.
also…where is Joe McConville…..last time I saw him was at the Generations single launch at Auburn RSL (Stags???) back in 1988.
Great to hear from you,
Let me know where you are gigging!
Thanks so much for your comments Glenn. I’ve added the missing members you mentioned.
WELL MR GIBSON…U REALLY STARTED SOMETHING HERE! CONGRATS ON SUCCESS OF YOUR SITE…RECKO TELLS ME ITS BEING ARCHIVED..
FOUND SOME OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS OF THE BAND…PLUS HAVE LOTS AUDIO…LAST GIG WITH JOE MAC WAS AUSTRAL BOWLING CLUB XMAS EVE 1989…HE DID THE DRUM SOLO FROM HEAVEN ON “TASTE AND TRY” A FOGHAT COVER….I’LL SEND IT….DON’T FORGET THE NIGHT AT BOULEVARD HTL WHEN HARD WORKING PHIL MEDBURY LITERALLY GOT RUN OVER ON THE STAIRS BY A RUN AWAY WW BIN!! AND THE BOMB WE MADE AT A SOCCER CLUB I WON’T MENTION…WHEN WE BLEW UP THE ENTIRE STAGE, FRANKY WAS UNCONSCIOUS…JOE IN SHOCK..HE DROVE STRAIGHT TO QLD AND CAME BACK A WEEK LATER….BUT LOST HIS JOB IN THE BAND..FUNNY I DROVE PAST THE FLACKS HOUSE TONIGHT……NO ALBUMS WERE RELEASED..BUT ONE IS BEING RELEASED AS WE SPEAK………WORKING 5 NIGHTS A WEEK WAS HARD..BUT NO PAY WAS HARDER…TIME TO GET PAID NOW…KEEP UP THE ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS…AND ROK ON….LOVE ALWAYS….DOC X
Hi Doc, thanks for your kind words.
I’d love to see some of those old newspaper clippings and audio. If you send them over I’d love to publish them here.
Cheers, Gibbo
hah..Phil Medbury is still one of my closest friends….he lived near me in Padstow and stared roadieing in nearly every band I worked with.
Hey Doc ,love your new stuff…..still sings like you could punch a hloe through concrete….it was such an honour playing with singers like you, Stix and Gary Shaw.
Hi Geln…website is http://www.frankyvalenty.com.au all my gigs are on there!!!..gog to hear from you.
try http://www.frankyvalentyn.com.au that might work…hahahaha
(sick as….spelling worse than usual today..hehe)
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