Do-Re-Mi (band)

Do-Ré-Mi
Do-Ré-Mi, 1985 publicity shot L–R: Stephen Philip, Helen Carter, Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray
Background information
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Pop rock, new wave
Years active	1981–1988
Labels	Green, Larrikan, Virgin
Associated acts	The Benders, Thought Criminals, Deborah Conway, Ghostwriters
Past members	Dorland Bray Helen Carter Deborah Conway Stephen Philip

Do-Ré-Mi a.k.a. Do-Re-Mi was an Australian rock/pop band formed in Sydney in 1981 by Deborah Conway (lead vocals), Dorland Bray (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Helen Carter (bass, backing vocals) and Stephen Philip (guitar). They were one of Australia's most respected and successful post-punk groups. Do-Ré-Mi recorded self-titled EP andThe Waiting Room for independent label Green Records before signing to Virgin Records and recording their first LP, Domestic Harmony in 1985 with Gavin MacKillop producing.Domestic Harmony contained their most played song, "Man Overboard", which was a top 5 hit single in 1985. This song was notable for its lyrical references to penis envy and pubic hair. Do-Ré-Mi's follow-up singles and second album, The Happiest Place in Town, produced by Martin Rushent, had little chart success. After Conway was offered a solo deal by Virgin Records, Do-Ré-Mi disbanded in late 1988.

One of Dorland Bray's first groups was Shotgun Willie. They played several gigs in the Melbourne pub scene mainly performing country material gathered from artists such as the relatively unknown Delbert McClinton and Willie Nelson.

Conway and Bray were both in Melbourne-based band The Benders with Neville Aresca, Les Barker, John Campbell, Daniel Solowiej and Greg Thomas. Before joining The Benders, Bray had been in punk rock group the News. Vocalist Conway joined The Benders in 1979 whilst still at Melbourne University. The Benders performed mostly in Melbourne and gigged around pubs playing original material (mostly written by Conway and Thomas) and Blondie and Devo covers. Conway and Bray also wrote songs together. In Sydney, Philip had been a guitarist for Thought Criminals and was also a session musician. Carter was a member of punk band Friction. Carter had been living with punk rocker Roger Grierson of Thought Criminals (later an executive of Festival Mushroom Records).