Geisha (band)
| Geisha | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Geisha Detail |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Pop rock, glam rock, New Romantics |
| Years active | 1983–1988, 2007–present |
| Labels | EMI, Diamond Dog, Almacantar |
| Members | Chris Doheny Tom Hosie Alby Stefani |
| Past members | Donoghue Doheny John Nyman Peter Robertson Ken Sheppard Brett Luton Steve Carter Laurence Maddy Rob Dean Joe Matera |
Geisha are an Australian pop rock band, which formed in 1983 as Geisha Detail with founding mainstay Chris Doheny on lead vocals and guitar (later also on bass guitar). Their highest charting single, "Part Time Love Affair" (1986), peaked at No. 24 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. They issued two albums, Geisha (October 1985) and Midnight to Dawn (October 1987), before disbanding in April 1988. Geisha briefly reformed in April 1998 and released a compilation album, The Very Best of Geisha, late that year. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their style as "1970s glam rock and early 1980s English New Romantic bands such as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet". Another version of Geisha was established by Doheny in 2007.
In 1983 Geisha were formed in Melbourne as Geisha Detail with Chris Doheny on lead guitar and vocals; his younger brother, Donoghue Doheny, on bass guitar and backing vocals; John Nyman on keyboards; Peter Robertson on drums; and Ken Sheppard on guitar. They shortened their name to Geisha and signed with EMI Records. In April 1985 the group released their debut, "Fool's Way", which appeared on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. It was produced by Dave Marett (The Exponents) and was written by Chris Doheny.
Later that year they had two more charting singles, "Rainy Day" (July) and "Kabuki" (September). Their singles sold well in the local market – "Kabuki" reached No. 20 on the Melbourne charts – as they had developed popularity on the suburban pub circuit. Nationally they had less chart success, where "Kabuki" reached the top 50. Their debut self-titled album appeared in October 1985, other than "Fool's Way", it had been recorded from May to June with Peter Dawkins (Dragon, Australian Crawl and Air Supply) producing and Richard Lush engineering. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their style as "1970s glam rock and early 1980s English New Romantic bands such as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet".
In March 1986 Geisha re-released "Rainy Day" and followed with "Part Time Love Affair" in August, which reached No. 24 on the Kent Music Report and No. 3 on the Melbourne charts. Another single was issued, "Girl Like You", which also charted nationally. However by the end of the year they had become a three-piece with Chris Doheny and Sheppard joined by Brett Luton on drums. In 1987 Geisha's line-up was Doheny joined by Steve Carter on bass guitar; Rob Dean on guitar (ex-Japan); Tommy Hosie on drums (James Freud's Berlin) and Laurence Maddick on keyboards (ex-Strange Tenants). In August they issued another single, "Calling Your Name", which reached the top 100. They followed in October with their second album, Midnight to Dawn, and another charting single, "Normal People". The album's tracks were produced by David Courtney except "Normal People" by Kevin Beamish and "Part Time Love Affair" by band members. Geisha broke up in April 1988.
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