Tactics (band)
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| Origin | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
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| Years active | 1977–1989 |
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Tactics were a post punk (or art-punk) group which formed in Canberra in 1977. The line-up changed periodically, with songwriter and vocalist, David Studdert, as the mainstay. They released four studio albums, My Houdini (December 1980), Glebe (November 1981), Blue and White Future Whale (1986) and The Great Gusto (1990). Which were critically acclaimed and they were respected for the quality of their live performances. However, they did not achieve wider commercial success and remained largely unacknowledged outside of the alternative independent music scene. Their reputation for running against the grain musically, lyrically, and stylistically was described by Bob Blunt as "frenetic, discordant, [and] full of unusual rhythms." Tactics disbanded late in 1989 and Studdert relocated to London.
Tactics were formed as a post punk, pop group in 1977 in Canberra. An early line-up was Angus Douglas on lead guitar, Steve Kilbey (ex-Baby Grande) on bass guitar, Dave Studdert on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and Robert Whittle on drums and percussion. Kilbey played "about four gigs" during his month long stint in the group before being asked to leave by Studdert. During 1978 Steve Ball became the bass player.
Studdert's inspirations included "Tom Verlaine (Television's vocalist and songwriter), as well as Arthur Lee (of Love), Dylan, Neil Young and the poet Rimbaud", which were "strong initial influence on his own songwriting style." He told The Canberra Times' Marie Ryan that "What I'm really aiming for with this band is our own identifiable sound. I want Tactics to sound like themselves in the way that Talking Heads sound like themselves, Love sound like themselves and Television sound like themselves." The band's "quirky, embryonic sound met with virtual indifference in Canberra."
In February 1979 Tactics relocated to Sydney at the invitation of fellow punk band, Thought Criminals, which were pioneering alternative performance and recording opportunities there. Tactics worked at inner-city venues, such as "French's, the Stage Door and the Civic", and began to build up a following. Prior to the shift Steve Ball had left. Geoff Marsh became the band's bass player and backing vocalist. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, their early recordings – Long Weekend, a three-track extended play (June 1979) on the Folding Chair label, and a single, "Hole in My Life", on the Thought Criminals' Doublethink label (July 1980) – "suffered from poor sound quality and really only hinted at the band's potential."
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