Rockmelons
| Rockmelons | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Rockies |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Pop, Electronica, R&B |
| Years active | 1983–2002 |
| Labels | Phantom, Festival, True Tone, Mushroom |
| Associated acts | Peter Blakeley, GANGgajang, Deni Hines, Wendy Matthews |
| Members |
Raymond Medhurst Bryon Jones Jonathon Jones |
| Past members |
Vincent Dale Sandi Chick Peter Kennard Geoff Stapleton Peter Blakeley John Kenny Stephen Allkins Mary Azzopardi Wendy Matthews Deni Hines Doug Williams Eric Sebastian Jeremy Gregory Roxane LeBrasse |
Rockmelons, often referred to as the Rockies, are an Australian Pop/Dance/R&B group formed in 1983 in Sydney. Primary members are Bryon Jones, his brother Jonathon Jones and Raymond Medhurst. They had two Australian top five hit singles in the early 1990s with "Ain't No Sunshine" and "That Word (L.O.V.E.)", both sung by Deni Hines. The associated album, Form 1 Planet, peaked at #3 on the ARIA albums chart in 1992, and was certified platinum in Australia.
The group concept was formed in 1983 at a warehouse party in Sydney when Raymond Medhurst (keyboards) wanted a band to perform for a private party. He contacted the Jones brothers Bryon (keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals) and Jonathon (keyboards, guitar, drums) (both ex-Les Ukuleles, No Heavy Lifting), they asked Medhurst's schoolmate, Vincent Dale (keyboards) (ex-Ish with Bryon Jones) to join.
Sandi Chick (lead vocals) and Peter Kennard (guitar, percussion) entered in late 1983 and were followed closely by Geoffrey Stapleton (keyboards, guitar, percussion) (later in GANGgajang) in early 1984. Stapleton had worked with the Jones brothers when they were in Les Ukeleles and No Heavy Lifting by recording their songs. Vocalists Peter Blakeley and John Kenny (known to Stapleton in Adelaide) were brought in and with Stephen Allkins (operated turntables at gigs) made them a ten-piece. First single "Time Out (For Serious Fun)" was released on Phantom Records (4 February 1985) and had lead vocals by Chick. The second single "Sweat It Out" had vocals by Blakeley on True Tone (1986). Chick and Stapleton left that year. Third single "Rhymes" (1987) had vocals by John Kenny. Blakeley left in 1987 to go solo and had a #3 hit in Australia with "Crying in the Chapel" (not the Elvis Presley song) in 1990.
...
Wikipedia