GOD (band)
Encyclopedia
God was a rock 'n' roll band
from Melbourne
, Australia
, together from 1986 to 1989 and comprising Joel Silbersher
, Tim Hemensley
, Sean Greenway and Matthew Whittle. All members were 15-16 at the time of the band's formation. Prior to God's formation, Hemensley had been a member of Royal Flush (with Roman Tucker, later of Rocket Science
), Greenway and Whittle were members of Foot and Mouth, and Silbersher had his own radio show on 3RRR
.
Their debut 7" single My Pal from 1987 is their best known track. It got very favourable reviews and sold in the thousands (which was a lot then for an independent band). It became an independent classic and cover versions have been recorded by several bands, including Magic Dirt
, Peabody
, The Hollowmen, Bored! and Bum (from Canada).
God's first mini-album Rock Is Hell (1988), was released on Au-Go-Go Records with 4 different cover designs, one designed by each band member, due to the members' inability to agree on one cover design. Rock Is Hell was variously praised and panned by critics, but still sold respectably.
Their follow-up full-length album For Lovers Only (1989), also on Au-Go-Go, was a bigger budget production, and musically a big improvement. Although God had disbanded by the time it was released, the album was released on vinyl by three European labels. Au-Go-Go later released a CD of For Lovers Only, with My Pal and most of Rock Is Hell as bonus tracks.
The band's last gig was at the Central Club on 30 July 1989. Hemensley joined Bored!, and all the members went on to further musical projects, Hemensley later to the Powder Monkeys
. Silbersher was perhaps the most recognised, forming Hoss
and Tendrils
, releasing solo albums, and working with Tex Perkins
.
Greenway died of a heroin overdose on 21 January 2001. Hemensley died of a heroin overdose in 2003.
My Pal appeared on the soundtrack
to Underbelly (TV series)
.
God's self-titled double CD reissue was released on Afterburn Records in February 2010.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 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...
, together from 1986 to 1989 and comprising Joel Silbersher
Joel Silbersher
Joel Silbersher is a musician from Melbourne, Australia, who was the singer and guitar player for rock and roll band, GOD . GOD had a minor but enduring hit with "My Pal," a song written by Silbersher. Since its release in 1988, "My Pal" has been covered by bands such as Magic Dirt, Violent Soho,...
, Tim Hemensley
Tim Hemensley
Tim Hemensley was a bass player and singer from Melbourne, Australia who was best known for his role as the leader of highly respected punk / garage / hard rock band, Powder Monkeys. Also known for his time in teenage band GOD, Geelong's Bored! and the Yes-Men, Tim Hemensley was in his first band,...
, Sean Greenway and Matthew Whittle. All members were 15-16 at the time of the band's formation. Prior to God's formation, Hemensley had been a member of Royal Flush (with Roman Tucker, later of Rocket Science
Rocket Science (band)
Rocket Science is an Australian alternative rock band that first came to public attention on national youth radio network Triple J around 2000....
), Greenway and Whittle were members of Foot and Mouth, and Silbersher had his own radio show on 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....
.
Their debut 7" single My Pal from 1987 is their best known track. It got very favourable reviews and sold in the thousands (which was a lot then for an independent band). It became an independent classic and cover versions have been recorded by several bands, including Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...
, Peabody
Peabody (band)
Peabody are an Australian four-piece rock band. Forming in Sydney in the mid-90s, the then three-piece Peabody ingrained themselves in the live music scene of Inner-city Sydney...
, The Hollowmen, Bored! and Bum (from Canada).
God's first mini-album Rock Is Hell (1988), was released on Au-Go-Go Records with 4 different cover designs, one designed by each band member, due to the members' inability to agree on one cover design. Rock Is Hell was variously praised and panned by critics, but still sold respectably.
Their follow-up full-length album For Lovers Only (1989), also on Au-Go-Go, was a bigger budget production, and musically a big improvement. Although God had disbanded by the time it was released, the album was released on vinyl by three European labels. Au-Go-Go later released a CD of For Lovers Only, with My Pal and most of Rock Is Hell as bonus tracks.
The band's last gig was at the Central Club on 30 July 1989. Hemensley joined Bored!, and all the members went on to further musical projects, Hemensley later to the Powder Monkeys
Powder Monkeys
The Powder Monkeys were an Australian punk/indie rock band, based in Melbourne, Led by Tim Hemensley, they existed from 1991 to 2002, and were renowned as a live act.-History:...
. Silbersher was perhaps the most recognised, forming Hoss
Hoss (band)
Hoss is a hard rock band based in Melbourne, Australia. One of a string of 90s hard rock bands on Melbourne's Dog Meat Records that included the Powder Monkeys and Splatterheads, Hoss was primarily a vehicle for the songs of front man, Joel Silbersher...
and Tendrils
Tendrils
Tendrils is an irregular collaboration between noted Australian guitarists, Joel Silbersher and Charlie Owen. A difficult sound to describe, Tendrils features two seemingly chaotic but strangely melodic and complementary, guitar parts and occasionally stripped back percussion.Starting out billed...
, releasing solo albums, and working with Tex Perkins
Tex Perkins
Tex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
.
Greenway died of a heroin overdose on 21 January 2001. Hemensley died of a heroin overdose in 2003.
My Pal appeared on the soundtrack
Underbelly (soundtrack)
The soundtrack from the controversial Australian TV series, Underbelly was released on 29 March 2008. It features some of the songs from various artists that played in episodes, and includes elements of the score by Burkhard Dallwitz.-CD Release:...
to Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
.
God's self-titled double CD reissue was released on Afterburn Records in February 2010.
External links
- Webcuts Essay celebrating "My Pal"
- Playlist 10 October 2005 for ABC TV RageRage (TV program)Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
with My Pal still being selected - Official God Myspace
- Official God Facebook