Donnette Thayer
Encyclopedia
Donnette Thayer is a vocalist and guitarist most active in the 1980s and early 1990s underground rock scenes. Thayer has been described as "the enchantress" (Bucketful Of Brains), "a suave (post-paisley) successor to California flower-pop" (Trouser Press Record Guide, 4th edition), and "Gaea personified" (Hard Report). Thayer is known for her heavy interest in mathematics and science.
/ college rock
band Game Theory
in the late 1980s. As a guitarist/vocalist with Game Theory, Thayer toured extensively promoting the cult classic, Lolita Nation
(Enigma). Thayer played on the band's subsequent recording, Two Steps From The Middle Ages
.
Following the release of Two Steps, Thayer teamed up with Steve Kilbey
of Australia
n psychedelic rock
band The Church
, whose Top Ten hit, "Under The Milky Way
," was #12 for the year of 1988. (Kilbey's nickname for her was "Starfish;" this was later used as the title of The Church's album Starfish
, which featured "Under The Milky Way.") In 1987, Kilbey and Thayer created their Hex project, whose self-titled debut album was originally released on First Warning, then on Rykodisk (1989), as well as on Demon (U.K.). The Kilbey-Thayer duo returned to the studio to produce their second Hex recording, Vast Halos (1990).
In 1997, Thayer released a solo album, Chaos And Wonder, on Escapist Music.
In 2007 and 2008, Thayer taught chemistry and tenth grade English at Benjamin Franklin Senior High School in Los Angeles.
In 2009, Donnette contributed vocals and lyrics to the song "Peregrine", music by Tony Pucci and Stefan Horlitz, for the ALS Charity CD "Songs for Jenny" . The CD was released on Heyday Records in October 2009. The "Songs for Jenny" CD also features vocal performances by Margot Smith, Tim Powles of The Church, and many others.
Donnette lives in Alberta, Canada, with her partner John Gamon
.
Biography
She was a guitarist/singer for power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
/ college rock
College rock
College rock is a term that was used in the United States to describe 1980s alternative rock before the term "alternative" came into common usage. The term's use of the word "college" refers to campus radio stations located at institutions of higher education in Canada and the United States, where...
band Game Theory
Game Theory (band)
Game Theory was an American rock band from 1981 to 1989. The group's lead singer, Scott Miller, went on to front the band The Loud Family. Game Theory is best known for its double LP Lolita Nation. The band favored hyper-literary references, a la Jean-Luc Godard, including the evident...
in the late 1980s. As a guitarist/vocalist with Game Theory, Thayer toured extensively promoting the cult classic, Lolita Nation
Lolita Nation
Lolita Nation is the fourth official album by Game Theory. Originally released in 1987 as a double LP, it is often considered to be the group's finest work. Mark Deming of Allmusic notes that the album contains "more than a few flat-out brilliant tracks" [], while William Ham, writing for Dancing...
(Enigma). Thayer played on the band's subsequent recording, Two Steps From The Middle Ages
Two Steps from the Middle Ages
Two Steps from the Middle Ages is the final album of original material released by Game Theory before breaking up. Band leader Scott Miller went on to form The Loud Family....
.
Following the release of Two Steps, Thayer teamed up with Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey
Steven John Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church, an Australian rock band. He is also a music producer, poet, and painter....
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...
n psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
, whose Top Ten hit, "Under The Milky Way
Under the Milky Way
"Under the Milky Way" is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church released in February 1988 with their album, Starfish. The song was written by bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend, Karin Jansson...
," was #12 for the year of 1988. (Kilbey's nickname for her was "Starfish;" this was later used as the title of The Church's album Starfish
Starfish (album)
The breakthrough 1988 album by The Church, Starfish has remained the band's most commercially successful release. The first single, "Under the Milky Way", charted well into the American Top 40, peaking at #24 and #2 on Mainstream Rock Tracks leading to significant exposure of the then relatively...
, which featured "Under The Milky Way.") In 1987, Kilbey and Thayer created their Hex project, whose self-titled debut album was originally released on First Warning, then on Rykodisk (1989), as well as on Demon (U.K.). The Kilbey-Thayer duo returned to the studio to produce their second Hex recording, Vast Halos (1990).
In 1997, Thayer released a solo album, Chaos And Wonder, on Escapist Music.
In 2007 and 2008, Thayer taught chemistry and tenth grade English at Benjamin Franklin Senior High School in Los Angeles.
In 2009, Donnette contributed vocals and lyrics to the song "Peregrine", music by Tony Pucci and Stefan Horlitz, for the ALS Charity CD "Songs for Jenny" . The CD was released on Heyday Records in October 2009. The "Songs for Jenny" CD also features vocal performances by Margot Smith, Tim Powles of The Church, and many others.
Donnette lives in Alberta, Canada, with her partner John Gamon
John Gamon
- Background :Dr. John Gamon, a prolific researcher overseeing numerous field research projects, pioneered the use of the relationship between leaf xanthophyll cycle pigment content and spectral reflectance to improve satellite monitoring of photosynthesis. Gamon's seminal work resulted in the...
.