Painters and Dockersare a rock band formed inMelbourne,Australia, in 1982.[1]

Painters and Dockers
OriginMelbourne,Australia
GenresRock,Pub rock
Years active1982–1998; 2014–present
LabelsAu Go Go
Big Time
Dock
White Label
Musicland
Shock
Past memberssee Members list below

Paul Stewart,singer-songwriter and trumpet player,[2]Dave Pace (vocals and trumpet) and Mick Morris (vocals and sax) are all original members in the band which was named for theFederated Ship Painters and Dockers Unionwhen they performed an early gig at apub rockvenue inPort Melbournefrequented by the union's members.[1]Some members of the band went on to form theDili Allstars.

Their best-performing album,Kiss My Art,peaked in the top 30 of theAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA) albumschartsin 1988.[3]The album included two top 50 singles, "Nude School" and "Die Yuppie Die".[4][5]

In 2009, the band was inducted into theMusic Victoria Hall of Fame.[6]

History

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1982−1987: Beginnings,Love PlanetandBucket

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Painters and Dockers formed inMelbourne,Australia in 1982 with five members, Vladimir Juric on guitars and backing vocals, Andy Marron on drums, Phil Nelson on bass guitar, Chris O'Connor on guitars and backing vocals, and mainstay Paul Stewart on lead vocals and trumpet.[1]One of the earliest gigs for the unnamed group was at apub rockvenue inPort Melbournefrequented by members of theFederated Ship Painters and Dockers Unionso they chose Painters and Dockers for the event and retained the name thereafter.[1][7]In their earlier years, they were the headline act at the Port Melbourne Community Festival, and in a government initiative called Rockin' the Rails, where they played songs from the back of a train, as it stopped at various Melbourne stations, includingRingwood,CamberwellandFlinders Street.

Painters and Dockers' first recording, "Mohawk Baby", was released on independent label, Au Go Go records'compilation album,Asleep at the Wheelearly in 1984.[1]Soon after, Marron was replaced by Colin Buckler on drums, and they released their debut album,Love Planet,which was produced by veteranhard rocker,Lobby Loydeand released onBig Time Recordsin 1984 and contained the tracks, "Basia!", also released as a single in March 1985, and "The Boy Who Lost His Jocks on Flinders Street Station". Joining after the album's release were Mick Morris ontenor saxophoneand Dave Pace on trumpet / backing vocals, and with Stewart the horn section was called the Brassholes.[1]Music historian,Ian McFarlane,describes their sound as "adding an earthy R&B edge to the band's raucous, punk-infused power pop".[1]

A four-trackEP,Kill Kill Killwas released in 1985 containingcover versionsof "Kill Kill Kill" originally by The Sacred Cows on "The Groovy Guru" episode of US comedy TV series,Get Smart;Australian groupSupernaut's "I Like it Both Ways";The Ramones' "Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?" andThe Saints' "Know Your Product".[1]Their first single, "Basia!", released in March 1985 onBig Time Records,was apaeantoBasia Bonkowski—lyrics include "B she's so beautiful, A articulate too, S sensual, I international, Ay Ay" and "She's sitting there with her multi-coloured hair / She's sitting there with that multi-cultured stare" —who was presenter ofSBS'music televisionshow,Rock Around the Worldfrom 1982 to late 1984.[8]

A live album,Bucket,released in October 1986 on the band's own label Dock Records (distributed byShock Records) and Big Time Records, featured one of their livepub rockperformances.[1]

1988–1997:Kiss My Art,Touch One, Touch AllandThe Things that Matter

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The band's second studio album,Kiss My Art,was released in August 1988 on White Label Records (a subsidiary ofMushroom Records) and peaked at No. 23 on theAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA) albumschartsin September 1988.[3]The album spawned four singles, "Nude School", "Die Yuppie Die", "Love on Your Breath" and "Safe Sex", and the first two achieved top 50 chart success.[4][5]and were accompanied with video clips directed by exHunters & CollectorsGeoff Crosby.[9]The album was again produced by Lobby Loyde,[2]except for "Nude School" which was produced by Francois Taviaux aka Franswah.

Their third studio album, a live-in-the-studio recording entitledTouch One, Touch All,was released on 20 November 1989, spawning the related singles, "Dirty Filthy Rock'n'Roll" in November, and "Eat Shit Die" in May 1990.[1]Neither album nor singles peaked into the top 50.[5]Morris left in 1989 and Darren Garth had replaced Juric on guitar by early 1990; the band undertook a Canadian tour promoting the album.[1][2]

On 18 November 1991 they released the mini-album,Hickory Dickory Dockwith its track "Merry Christmas, Carol" and the single, "New World Order".[1]Nervous '90sappeared in June 1992 and contained six studio tracks, one a re-recording of "You Know You're Soaking in It" fromTouch One Touch All,and three bonus live tracks recorded with theSalvation ArmyBrass Band.[1]During 1992 they became involved in Performers Releasing Information about Clean Syringes (PRICS), which included running workshops and gigs on safe sex and drug use.[1]In 1993, Garth left and Colin Badger joined on guitar and backing vocals, Painters and Dockers undertook the Australia-wide Return to the Love Planet tour and released apro gaysingle, "I Know Better Queens than That".[1]In 1994, "I Know Better Queens than That" appeared on the band's fourth and last (to date) full-length album,The Things That Matter ".

1998–present:The Things that Matter

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A mini-album,Advance Australia Where?,was released in August 1998 with the single "You're Going Home in the Back of a Divi Van".[1]By that stage, original members, Nelson and O'Connor had left, mainstay Stewart now with Badger and Buckler were joined by Paul Calvert on bass guitar, Sonja Parkinson ontromboneand backing vocals, and Jenny Pineapple on saxophone and backing vocals.[1]This line-up appeared atMushroom 25 Liveconcert in November to celebrate the record label's anniversary, their track "Divi Van" appeared on the related VHS release,Mushroom 25 Live: The Concert of the Century.[1]

In 2009 Stewart featured on the ABC Compass religious program following a liver transplant with the episode featuring Painters And Dockers songsNude SchoolandDie Yuppie Die.Stewart is actively involved in fundraising for the Alma Nuns, a Timorese-based Catholic order who care for disabled children and orphans.[10]

On 20 November 2009, early members, Paul Stewart, Chris O'Connor, Colin Buckler, Vladimir Juric, David Pace and Mick Morris, with Michael Badger (not an original member) reformed for a one-off show at the Prince Bandroom in St Kilda, Melbourne, where the band was inducted into Music Victoria's Hall of Fame.

In 2017, Painters and Dockers undertook their 30th Anniversary,Kiss My Arttour.

Current Painters & Dockers bassist Dali Platt has also embarked on a solo dance-pop career under the name "Darley".

Members

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Painters and Dockers members:[1][2]

Member Instrument Years active
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Disbanded 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Vladimir Juric guitar, backing vocals
Andrew Marron drums
Dahl Murphy drums
Paul G Roberts keyboards, vocals
Phil Nelson bass guitar
Chris O'Connor guitar, backing vocals
Paul Stewart trumpet, lead vocals
Colin Buckler drums
Mick Morris tenor saxophone
David Pace trumpet, backing vocals
Darren Garth guitar, backing vocals
Colin Badger guitars, backing vocals
Michael Badger guitars, backing vocals
Dali Platt bass guitar
Paul Calvert bass guitar
Richard Bradbeer bass guitar
Sonja Parkinson trombone,backing vocals
Jenny Pineapple saxophone, backing vocals

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[11]
Love Planet
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Big Time (BT 7046)
  • Format:LP,Cassette,CD
Kiss My Art
  • Released: August 1988
  • Label:Mushroom(MUSH32274.2)
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
23
Touch One, Touch All
  • Released: December 1989
  • Label: Musicland (MUS LP2011)
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
The Things That Matter
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Dock (DOCKCD6000)
  • Format: Cassette, CD

Live albums

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Title Album details
Bucket
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: DOC Records (DOC R002)
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
  • Note: Live recording from Melbourne in March and April 1986
Overt and Deliberate
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Painters and Dockers
  • Format: Limited edition (500 copies) CD
  • Note: Live at the Gluepot Auckland, 1988
You Know You Want To (Live)
  • Released: August 2020
  • Label: Painters and Dockers
  • Format: LP, download, streaming
  • Note: Recorded live February, 2020. Mixed by Michael Badger.

Extended plays

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Title EP details
Kill Kill Kill
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Big Time (BTB-910)
  • Format: LP
Hickory, Dickory, Dock
  • Released: 1991
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (CD2000)
Nervous '90s
  • Released: 30 June 1992
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (CD3000)
  • Format: CD, cassette
Advance Australia Where?
  • Released: 31 August 1998
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (DOC10000)
  • Format: CD

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart
positions
AUS
[12]
NZ[13]
"Basia!" 1985
"Bend Me Shape Me"
"Nude School" 1987 29
"Die Yuppie Die" 49 44
"Love on Your Breath" 1988
"Safe Sex"
"Dirty Filthy Rock 'n' Roll" 1989
"Eat Shit Die" 1990
"New World Order" 1991
"I Know Better Queens Than That" 1993
"Let's Give It a Go with the Flybz" 2012
"Holiday On Ice" 2018

Awards and nominations

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ARIA Music Awards

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TheARIA Music Awardsis an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres ofAustralian music.They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1988 Painters and Dockers Best New Talent Nominated [14]

The Age EG Awards

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TheAge EG Awardsare an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Painters and Dockers Hall Of Fame Inductee

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrsMcFarlane, Ian(1999)."Encyclopedia entry for 'Painters and Dockers'".Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop.St Leonards, NSW:Allen & Unwin.ISBN1-86508-072-1.Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2004.Retrieved8 June2009.
  2. ^abcdHolmgren, Magnus; Miles, Richard."Painters and Dockers".Passagen.se.Australian Rock Database(Magnus Holmgren). Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2004.Retrieved13 January2024.
  3. ^ab"Painters & Dockers –Kiss My Art".Australian-charts.Retrieved8 June2009.
  4. ^abKent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.St Ives, NSW:Australian Chart Book.ISBN0-646-11917-6.NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 untilARIAcreated their ownchartsin mid-1988.
  5. ^abc"Discography Painters & Dockers".Australian-charts.Retrieved8 June2009.
  6. ^"Previous Winners".Music Victoria.Retrieved13 August2020.
  7. ^"Painters & Dockers".Nostalgia Central. Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2012.Retrieved29 April2020.
  8. ^"Top 40 TV".Retrieved10 January2008.
  9. ^"The Music Video Database".Themvdb.Retrieved24 November2020.
  10. ^Paulie Stewart,Strong, selfless love: The Alma Nuns of Timor Leste,Melbourne Catholic, 5 December 2019
  11. ^"Discography Painters & Dockers".australian-charts.Retrieved5 September2022.
  12. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 228.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^"charts.org.nz - Painters And Dockers - Die Yuppie Die".charts.nz.Retrieved18 November2024.
  14. ^"Winners by Year 1988".Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2007.Retrieved4 December2013.
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