Goanna (band)
| Goanna | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Ectoplasmic Manifestation The Goanna Band Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble |
| Origin | Geelong, Australia |
| Genres | Folk rock, Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1977–1985, 1998 |
| Labels |
WEA Australia ABC EMI Big Heart |
| Associated acts | Redgum |
| Past members | see Members list |
Goanna is an Australian folk rock group which formed in 1977 in Geelong as The Goanna Band with mainstay Shane Howard as singer-songwriter and guitarist. The group integrated social protest with popular music and reached the Top 20 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with "Solid Rock" (1982) and "Let the Franklin Flow" (released under the name Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble in 1983). Their debut album, Spirit of Place peaked at No. 2 on the related albums chart. They disbanded in 1987 and briefly reformed in 1998.
The Goanna Band was formed as an Australian folk rock group by singer-songwriter and guitarist Shane Howard in Geelong, in 1977. Alongside Howard, the original line-up was Mike Biscan (guitar), Richard Griffiths (bass guitar) and Rod Hoe (drums). During their early years the line-up changed numerous times, with only Howard as the mainstay. In 1979, the group consisted of Howard, keyboardist & vocalist Rose Bygrave, lead guitarist & vocalist Warwick Harwood, bass guitarist Carl Smith, drummer Gary Crothall and vocalist & harmonica player Ian Morrison. They recorded the independent 12" EP, Livin' on the Razor's Edge as The Goanna Band. The four track EP was produced by Broderick Smith, ex-The Dingoes, and released on the EMI subsidiary label Custom Press. By 1981 the band was now Shane Howard, Rose Bygrave, Warrick Harwood, Peter 'Brolga' Coughlan on bass guitar, Marcia Howard vocalist & synth player, Graham Davidge electric guitar and Robbie Ross on drums.They had shortened the name to Goanna and with their increasing popularity they attracted the interest of major record companies.
They supported James Taylor on the Australian leg of his 1981 tour with Rose, Marcia & Shane invited to sing backing vocals in part of Taylor's set. It was here where they met Billy Payne (Taylor's keyboard player) who would later become the producer of their second album. In February 1982, they signed to WEA Australia, and also established their own music publishing company Uluru Music headed by Helene Faiman. The band released its single, "Solid Rock" in October. According to Howard, the inspiration came on a ten-day camping trip to Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) during 1980 where he had a "spiritual awakening" which brought "the fire in the belly" to the surface over injustices to Australia's indigenous peoples.
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