Bam Balams
Encyclopedia
The Bam Balams were a Sydney, Australia rock band. They formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1992. The band was led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brendan Kibble
aka "Wig".
The "Bambas", as their fans called them, got their name from a track on Supersnazz by the Flamin' Groovies. Their influences included Gene Vincent
, Johnny Burnette
, Tony Joe White
, Creedence Clearwater Revival
, The Byrds
, Buck Owens
and The Standells
. While many of their Sydney-based contemporaries exploited Detroit-inspired hard rock(i.e. MC5
, The Stooges
, Radio Birdman
). The Bam Balams played a mix of Garage Rock
, Swamp Rock/Swamp Pop
, R&B, Rockabilly
, Jangle Pop
and 50s/60s style Country Music
. All their records did well in the Australian independent charts. Today fans of the 80s Garage Rock
Revival acknowledge the band as being part of that scene.
.
Kibble formed a second lineup in 1987, in which he was backed by Steve Carlin (guitar), Amr Z. Abdallah (bass) and Warren Elford (drums), which recorded "Surfin' In The Swamp" (1987) for Citadel's Green Fez label.
This lineup split and a third formed, with Kibble backed by Abdallah (bass), Ian "The Reverend" Little (guitar) and Joe Breen (drums), and recorded the album Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (1988) and its single "Wheel Of Fortune" (1988).
Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass in 1989 and this lineup recorded the single "Hellfire" (1989) and "Munster Rock'n'Roller" for the Munster Records compilation Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol 3. Dave Castellari replaced Marchant in 1989, this lineup recording the Extended Play 45 RPM 12"EP, featuring the track "10,000 Miles". In 1990, the lineup changed again with Terry Stanley on Bass, and Tim Denny on Drums. This lineup remained until the band split in 1992.
Like many Australian independent acts of the 1980s, the Bam Balams gained far more popularity overseas than in their own backyard. In their case, Spain
, France
and Italy
took to the band. Unfortunately, the band never toured outside of Australia, and as the Grunge
scene took hold of the early 1990s, the band split up in 1992.
Kibble went on to form the Navahodads
in the mid-1990s, who played a similar style of swampy r&b as the Bam Balams. The Navahodads
released two albums, Mumbo Gumbo and Madame Mojo's. Unlike the Bam Balams, the Navahodads toured outside of Australia.
The Bam Balams Discography:
Brendan Kibble
Brendan Kibble aka "Wig" is an Australian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his work with the Bam Balams and the Navahodads.-Musical history:...
aka "Wig".
The "Bambas", as their fans called them, got their name from a track on Supersnazz by the Flamin' Groovies. Their influences included Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Johnny Burnette
Johnny Burnette
John Joseph "Johnny" Burnette was an American rockabilly musician. Along with his older brother Dorsey Burnette, and also a friend named Paul Burlison, Burnette was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio. He was the father of 1980s rockabilly singer Rocky Burnette.-Early life:Johnny Burnette...
, Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
, The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and The Standells
The Standells
The Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
. While many of their Sydney-based contemporaries exploited Detroit-inspired hard rock(i.e. MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
, The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands in Australia along with The Saints. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974...
). The Bam Balams played a mix of Garage Rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, Swamp Rock/Swamp Pop
Swamp pop
Swamp rock is a musical genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s and early 1960s by teenaged Cajuns and black Creoles, it combines New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and traditional French...
, R&B, Rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, Jangle Pop
Jangle pop
Jangle pop is a genre of alternative rock from the mid-1980s that "marked a return to the chiming or jangly guitars and pop melodies of the '60s" bands such as The Byrds, with their electric twelve-string guitars and power pop song structures. Mid-1980s jangle pop was a non-mainstream "pop-based...
and 50s/60s style Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. All their records did well in the Australian independent charts. Today fans of the 80s Garage Rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
Revival acknowledge the band as being part of that scene.
History
The first lineup was Kibble (vocals, guitar), Brad Fitzpatrick (guitar), Steve Cole (bass) and Matt Manchester (drums), and recorded the first two singles, "Deliver My Love" (1985) and "No-One Else" (1986) on Citadel RecordsCitadel Records
Citadel Records are an independent record label from Sydney, Australia. They were created in the early 80s by John Needham. Bands that released through Citadel include Died Pretty, Deniz Tek, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, The Trilobites, Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin, Harem Scarem, New...
.
Kibble formed a second lineup in 1987, in which he was backed by Steve Carlin (guitar), Amr Z. Abdallah (bass) and Warren Elford (drums), which recorded "Surfin' In The Swamp" (1987) for Citadel's Green Fez label.
This lineup split and a third formed, with Kibble backed by Abdallah (bass), Ian "The Reverend" Little (guitar) and Joe Breen (drums), and recorded the album Genuine Rock & Roll Medicine Show (1988) and its single "Wheel Of Fortune" (1988).
Greg Marchant replaced Abdallah on bass in 1989 and this lineup recorded the single "Hellfire" (1989) and "Munster Rock'n'Roller" for the Munster Records compilation Munster Dance Hall Favourites Vol 3. Dave Castellari replaced Marchant in 1989, this lineup recording the Extended Play 45 RPM 12"EP, featuring the track "10,000 Miles". In 1990, the lineup changed again with Terry Stanley on Bass, and Tim Denny on Drums. This lineup remained until the band split in 1992.
Like many Australian independent acts of the 1980s, the Bam Balams gained far more popularity overseas than in their own backyard. In their case, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
took to the band. Unfortunately, the band never toured outside of Australia, and as the Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
scene took hold of the early 1990s, the band split up in 1992.
Kibble went on to form the Navahodads
Navahodads
The Navahodads were a Roots Rock band from Sydney, Australia. They formed in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band was led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brendan Kibble, who had previously performed as "Wig" in the Bam Balams. The Navahodads released two CD albums: Mumbo Gumbo and Madame Mojo's...
in the mid-1990s, who played a similar style of swampy r&b as the Bam Balams. The Navahodads
Navahodads
The Navahodads were a Roots Rock band from Sydney, Australia. They formed in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band was led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brendan Kibble, who had previously performed as "Wig" in the Bam Balams. The Navahodads released two CD albums: Mumbo Gumbo and Madame Mojo's...
released two albums, Mumbo Gumbo and Madame Mojo's. Unlike the Bam Balams, the Navahodads toured outside of Australia.
The Bam Balams Discography:
Singles
- "Deliver My Love/Mean Thang" (Citadel RecordsCitadel RecordsCitadel Records are an independent record label from Sydney, Australia. They were created in the early 80s by John Needham. Bands that released through Citadel include Died Pretty, Deniz Tek, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, The Trilobites, Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin, Harem Scarem, New...
) 1985 (produced by Rob YoungerRob YoungerRob Younger is an Australian rock musician, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the influential Sydney-based punk rock group Radio Birdman, which formed in 1974. After the Radio Birdman break-up, Younger joined the super-group, New Race, who were active in 1981...
) - "No-One Else/Gettin' Over You" (Citadel RecordsCitadel RecordsCitadel Records are an independent record label from Sydney, Australia. They were created in the early 80s by John Needham. Bands that released through Citadel include Died Pretty, Deniz Tek, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, The Trilobites, Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin, Harem Scarem, New...
) 1986 (produced by Rob YoungerRob YoungerRob Younger is an Australian rock musician, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the influential Sydney-based punk rock group Radio Birdman, which formed in 1974. After the Radio Birdman break-up, Younger joined the super-group, New Race, who were active in 1981...
) - "Same Old Tune" / split single with September Gurls (Guiding Light Records) 1986
- "Surfin' In The Swamp/Fire In My Soul" (Green Fez) 1987
- "Wheel Of Fortune/Rock It To The Moon" (Green Fez) 1988
- "Hellfire/Hold On Me" (Green Fez) 1989
Compilation tracks
- "Munster Rock n Roller" - Munster Dance Hall Favourites Volume 3 (Munster) 1989
- "10,000 Miles" - Powerpop to the People Volume 5 (Power Pop Criminals) 2007