Buffalo (band)
Encyclopedia
Buffalo was an early heavy metal
band formed in Sydney, Australia
in 1971. The band left a legacy with Australia's heavy metal
, pub rock
and alternative rock
movements. The band had evolved from the Brisbane blues-rock
outfit Head, which was originally formed in 1968 by Dave Tice and Peter Wells. A change of lineup and a shift in musical direction saw the new band emerge - the name Buffalo was chosen (according to legend, randomly off a map of Australia
) as it was seen a more marketable name than the previous Head, which had been considered to be offensive due to its sexual and drug connotations.
band, pre-dating other pioneering Australian hard rock
and heavy metal acts, such as Coloured Balls, AC/DC
, The Angels
, Taste and Rose Tattoo
. Like many pioneering heavy metal acts, Buffalo incorporated strong influences of blues-rock
and progressive rock
. The band toured across Australia, at venues ranging from school dances in tiny halls to large outdoor concerts. Overall, the band's sound is comparable to Black Sabbath
, whom they supported during an early 1970s tour.
Despite being the first non-Europe
an or British
act to sign to Vertigo Records
, Buffalo remained an underground band
. This was largely due to a lack of airplay on radio, with commercial radio virtually blacklist
ing the band, and the non-existence of public radio stations in Australia (such as Triple J
and 3RRR
) until the mid-1970s. Also, the controversial artworks for their albums Volcanic Rock
(1973) and Only Want You For Your Body
(1974) saw some record chains refuse to stock their albums. After 1975, the band underwent various line-up changes and a change of music direction. The lineup and direction change was followed by decreased album sales and critical acclaim. The band disbanded following their last release in 1977.
The two albums "Volcanic Rock" and "Only Want You For Your Body" are now regarded as prog/stoner/hard rock masterpieces.
Despite public demand, the members of Buffalo have resisted a reformation & now with Peter Wells sadly no longer with us, the chances are slim at best.
Dave Tice can sometimes be heard slipping a Buffalo song into one of his live sets.
slide guitar
ist Norm Roue joined Buffalo in late 1974, but at the start of 1975 John Baxter was dismissed from the band - an event seen as the catalyst of Buffalo's decline. Baxter was replaced by Karl Taylor, who recorded on the Mother's Choice
album. By 1976, both Roue and Taylor had departed the band and were replaced by Chris Turner and Colin Stead - although Stead's spell with the band was very brief. The final lineup change also occurred in 1976 with Ross Sims replacing Peter Wells.
and had a solo career. Dave Tice went to the United Kingdom to join the Count Bishops but returned to Australia to work as a solo artist and as a member of The Headhunters. He is currently playing with ex AC/DC bassist Mark Evans
as Tice & Evans. John Baxter played with Boy Racer and Southern Cross. Alan Milano was also a member of Southern Cross. Chris Turner went on to a long career in the Sydney music scene (including various musical projects with Peter Wells) and is also involved with Big Rock Records.
Their song "Writing on the Wall" was used as an underlying sample for the song "Gold Rush" by the Quiet Village
The band's back catalogue was re-released in Australia by Aztec Music in a re-mastered and extended form.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band formed in Sydney, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1971. The band left a legacy with Australia's heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, pub rock
Pub rock (Australia)
Pub rock is a style of Australian rock and roll popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and still influencing contemporary Australian music today....
and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
movements. The band had evolved from the Brisbane blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
outfit Head, which was originally formed in 1968 by Dave Tice and Peter Wells. A change of lineup and a shift in musical direction saw the new band emerge - the name Buffalo was chosen (according to legend, randomly off a map of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) as it was seen a more marketable name than the previous Head, which had been considered to be offensive due to its sexual and drug connotations.
Achievements
Largely unrecognised within the Australian music scene, Buffalo was possibly Australia's first heavy metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, pre-dating other pioneering Australian hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and heavy metal acts, such as Coloured Balls, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, Taste and Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
. Like many pioneering heavy metal acts, Buffalo incorporated strong influences of blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
. The band toured across Australia, at venues ranging from school dances in tiny halls to large outdoor concerts. Overall, the band's sound is comparable to Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, whom they supported during an early 1970s tour.
Despite being the first non-Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an or British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
act to sign to Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
, Buffalo remained an underground band
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
. This was largely due to a lack of airplay on radio, with commercial radio virtually blacklist
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
ing the band, and the non-existence of public radio stations in Australia (such as Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
and 3RRR
3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
) until the mid-1970s. Also, the controversial artworks for their albums Volcanic Rock
Volcanic Rock (album)
Volcanic Rock is the second album for Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1973 on the Vertigo label. The album was stylistically a much harder, heavier and rawer release than its predecessor – marking a move away from the band's previous progressive rock...
(1973) and Only Want You For Your Body
Only Want You For Your Body
Only Want You For Your Body is the third album for Australian proto-metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1974 on the Vertigo label. A far more structured and polished release than the previous album Volcanic Rock, Only Want You For Your Body was conversely a much harder and...
(1974) saw some record chains refuse to stock their albums. After 1975, the band underwent various line-up changes and a change of music direction. The lineup and direction change was followed by decreased album sales and critical acclaim. The band disbanded following their last release in 1977.
The two albums "Volcanic Rock" and "Only Want You For Your Body" are now regarded as prog/stoner/hard rock masterpieces.
Despite public demand, the members of Buffalo have resisted a reformation & now with Peter Wells sadly no longer with us, the chances are slim at best.
Dave Tice can sometimes be heard slipping a Buffalo song into one of his live sets.
Members
The original lineup was unconventional for a rock band, featuring two lead vocalists (Dave Tice and Alan Milano) and filled out by John Baxter (guitar), Peter Wells (bass) and Paul Balbi (drums). Its best-known lineup (during its most successful years during 1973-1975) saw the exit of Milano, resulting in Tice as the sole vocalist, with Jimmy Economou replacing Paul Balbi on drums. Ex-Band of LightBand of Light
Band of Light was an Australian heavy blues style based rock band formed in October 1972 and disbanded in late 1974. Phil Key was the founding member, bringing with him Peter Roberts, both of whom were originally with The La De Das. Ian Rilen replaced Roberts after three gigs, with Norm Roue and...
slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
ist Norm Roue joined Buffalo in late 1974, but at the start of 1975 John Baxter was dismissed from the band - an event seen as the catalyst of Buffalo's decline. Baxter was replaced by Karl Taylor, who recorded on the Mother's Choice
Mother's Choice
Mother's Choice is the fourth album for Australian proto-Heavy Metal band Buffalo, recorded during 1975 and 1976 and originally released in 1976 by Vertigo Records...
album. By 1976, both Roue and Taylor had departed the band and were replaced by Chris Turner and Colin Stead - although Stead's spell with the band was very brief. The final lineup change also occurred in 1976 with Ross Sims replacing Peter Wells.
Breakup and subsequent projects
After Buffalo disbanded, several members went on to other projects. Peter Wells formed Rose TattooRose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
and had a solo career. Dave Tice went to the United Kingdom to join the Count Bishops but returned to Australia to work as a solo artist and as a member of The Headhunters. He is currently playing with ex AC/DC bassist Mark Evans
Mark Evans (musician)
Mark Whitmore Evans is an Australian bass guitarist who was an early member of hard rock band AC/DC from March 1975 to June 1977. His playing featured on their albums T.N.T, High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock and 74 Jailbreak...
as Tice & Evans. John Baxter played with Boy Racer and Southern Cross. Alan Milano was also a member of Southern Cross. Chris Turner went on to a long career in the Sydney music scene (including various musical projects with Peter Wells) and is also involved with Big Rock Records.
Their song "Writing on the Wall" was used as an underlying sample for the song "Gold Rush" by the Quiet Village
Releases
- Dead Forever...Dead Forever...Dead Forever... is the debut album for Australian proto-Heavy Metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1972. Considered by some to be the first Australian heavy metal album, Dead Forever... also strongly displayed the band's progressive rock and psychedelic influences...
(1972) - Volcanic RockVolcanic Rock (album)Volcanic Rock is the second album for Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1973 on the Vertigo label. The album was stylistically a much harder, heavier and rawer release than its predecessor – marking a move away from the band's previous progressive rock...
(1973) - Buffalo (EP)Buffalo (EP)Buffalo is the eponymous EP for Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, originally released in 1974 on the Vertigo label. It was essentially a compilation of tracks from previous singles releases by the band. The EP has never been reissued after its original pressing, and is now considered a...
(1974) - Only Want You For Your BodyOnly Want You For Your BodyOnly Want You For Your Body is the third album for Australian proto-metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1974 on the Vertigo label. A far more structured and polished release than the previous album Volcanic Rock, Only Want You For Your Body was conversely a much harder and...
(1974) - Mother's ChoiceMother's ChoiceMother's Choice is the fourth album for Australian proto-Heavy Metal band Buffalo, recorded during 1975 and 1976 and originally released in 1976 by Vertigo Records...
(1976) - Average Rock 'n' RollerAverage Rock 'n' RollerAverage Rock 'n' Roller is the fifth and final studio album for Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, recorded in 1976 and originally released in 1977 on the Vertigo label. The album is considered to be their most commercially oriented release – with the band going as far as attempting ballads...
(1977) - Rock Legends: BuffaloRock Legends: BuffaloRock Legends: Buffalo is a compilation album of Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, issued in 1980 by Vertigo Records.-Track listing:# Suzie Sunshine - from the album Dead Forever......
(compilation - 1980) - Skirt Lifters: Highlights & Oversights 1972-1976Skirt Lifters: Highlights & Oversights 1972-1976Skirt Lifters: Highlights & Oversights 1972-1976 is a compilation album of Australian proto-heavy metal band Buffalo, issued in 1989 by Raven Records.-Track Listing:...
(compilation - 1989)
The band's back catalogue was re-released in Australia by Aztec Music in a re-mastered and extended form.