Nicky Bomba

Nicky Bomba
Nicky Bomba, as a member of John Butler Trio, at the 2012 Southbound Festival
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Caruana
Born	(1963-09-07) 7 September 1963 (age 53) Malta
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Reggae, funk, roots, jazz, ska, mento
Instruments	Drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Transmitter FOUR FOUR
Associated acts	Melbourne Ska Orchestra The Truth Bomba John Butler Trio Bustamento
Website	nickybomba.com

Nicholas Caruana aka Nicky Bomba (born 7 September 1963, Malta) is an Australian musician and singer-songwriter. He is the leader of the ARIA Award-winning Melbourne Ska Orchestra, frontman of his band, Bomba, as well as the former drummer and percussionist of John Butler Trio (2003–04, 2009–13). He has performed in other acts and as a solo artist. His youngest sister, Danielle Caruana, (who performs as Mama Kin), is married to his former band mate, John Butler. His older brother, Michael Caruana, is a member of Bomba and of Mama Kin's backing band.

Nicholas Caruana was born on 7 September 1963 in Malta, he later performed under the name Nicky Bomba. His father, Nicholas "Nicol" Caruana (born 4 June 1933) and mother, Iris (born 8 October 1934) had four children, Josephine, Michael, Carmen and Nicholas, in Malta. The family migrated to Australia in late 1964 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of Newport. They had two more children, including their youngest daughter, Danielle (who later performed as Mama Kin). Bomba started learning drums when he was six years old.

In 1978 Bomba formed a cover band with his brother, Michael, called Fugitive Flight. In 1982 they began playing original music with Peter Miller on lead vocals, Steve Morgan on bass guitar (later of Icehouse), and Peter Weeda on guitar. They soon changed their name to Guided Tour. After working in a variety of lesser known bands, Bomba formed The Truth in 1991 in Melbourne as a funk group. Initially Bomba was on drums with Michael on keyboards, Tony Kopa on lead vocals and Geoff Wells on guitars. Their debut single, "Secrets", was recorded in December 1992 and was followed by "My Heavy Friend" (1993). The Truth released a self-titled album in 1995, and in 1997 added a bass player, Mick Girasole, for the release of their second album, Headspace with the band re-branded as Truth. The Truth broke up in late 1997.

Back in September 1996 Bomba had supplied drums for The Ross Hannaford Trio, with Hannaford on lead vocals and guitar and Howard Cairns on bass guitar. The trio issued a self-titled album on Mushroom Records before Hannaford disbanded the group. By 1998 Bomba had formed a jazz band, Banana Oil, with Andy Baylor on guitar, Tim Neal on keyboards and David Williamson on saxophone. They released an album, Guavo Lampo. At the APRA Awards of 1998 Banana Oil members, Bomba (as Nicholas Caruana), Chris Tabone and Trevor Wright, won Most Performed Jazz Work for their composition, "My Family".