Peter Gifford
Encyclopedia
Peter Gifford sometimes known as "Giffo," is an Australian musician. From 1980 until 1987 he played bass guitar
for Australian rock band Midnight Oil
.
(1981), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
(1982), Red Sails In The Sunset
(1984) and Diesel and Dust
(1987), as well the band's two studio EPs, Bird Noises
(1980) and Species Deceases
(1985).
He is credited with the bass lines of some of the band's most popular songs, including "Only the Strong", "US Forces", "Power and the Passion
", "Best of Both Worlds", "When the Generals Talk", "Progress", "The Dead Heart
", "Put Down That Weapon", "Dreamworld" and "Beds Are Burning
".
Gifford joined the band in 1980 after hearing on the radio about the auditions for a replacement bass guitar player for Andrew 'Bear' James. He was actually driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge
to work as a roadie at the time. Andrew James was quite ill by this time and he had to withdraw from the band. The band was looking for a much more aggressive style of bass playing (an 'animal' as described by guitarist Jim Moginie) and Gifford fitted perfectly.
Gifford predominantly played a Fender Precision bass guitar and this can be seen in the 'Oils On The Water' Goat Island (Sydney, Australia) concert in 1985. His bass solo work in live performances of "Stand in Line" was his signature. Other songs featuring great bass line by Gifford include "No Time for Games", "Don't Wanna be the One", "Written in the Heart", "Lucky Country", "Power and the Passion", "'Somebody's Trying to Tell Me Something" as well as the songs from the Species Deceases EP. He also played the Chapman Stick
on the tracks 'Sleep' and 'Who Can Stand in the Way' on the Red Sails in the Sunset
album and in concert.
Gifford contributed significantly to backing vocals for the band, and is credited by long time producer Nick Launay as being a significant contributor in the recording studio.
In Australia, the Oils were most popular and successful in the 1980s and the sound Gifford brought to the band was an important part of that.
, a direct marketing
business specialising in micro bikinis. The company has built an international reputation for female swimwear and underwear.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for Australian rock band Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
.
Midnight Oil
Peter is credited with creating a significant part of the tight, driving sound that was the Oils, described as being an aggressive bass guitarist. He played on many of the band's most popular albums, including Place without a PostcardPlace without a Postcard
Place Without a Postcard is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1981 under the Columbia Records label. Cover photography and all other photographs by Robert Butcher.-Reception:The album scored 3/5 from Allmusic....
(1981), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 is an album by Midnight Oil that was released on vinyl in 1982 under the Columbia Records label. The lengthy name is often pronounced "ten-to-one" or "ten-nine-eight" by fans. It peaked at No. 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and remained on the...
(1982), Red Sails In The Sunset
Red Sails in the Sunset (album)
Red Sails in the Sunset is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1984 under the Columbia Records label. This album was recorded and produced in Tokyo, Japan and is significant for becoming their first No. 1 album in Australia...
(1984) and Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1987 under the CBS record label.The album is a concept album about the struggles of the Australian Aborigines and environmental causes, issues both near and dear to the band, and drew inspiration from the Black Fella White Fella tour...
(1987), as well the band's two studio EPs, Bird Noises
Bird Noises
Bird Noises is an EP by Midnight Oil that was released in 1980 under Midnight Oil's Sprint Music independent label, and manufactured & distributed by the CBS record label.-Track listing:# "No Time for Games"...
(1980) and Species Deceases
Species Deceases
Species Deceases is an EP by Midnight Oil that was released in 1985 under the CBS record label. It was released on 6 August 1985, the 40th anniversary of Hiroshima being bombed by the USA....
(1985).
He is credited with the bass lines of some of the band's most popular songs, including "Only the Strong", "US Forces", "Power and the Passion
Power and the Passion (song)
"Power and the Passion" is the first single by Midnight Oil from their widely-acclaimed 1982 studio album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The song is one of the band's most famous, and it appeared on every Midnight Oil tour since the issue of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 as well as at the WaveAid...
", "Best of Both Worlds", "When the Generals Talk", "Progress", "The Dead Heart
The Dead Heart
"The Dead Heart" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. It was first released as a single in Australia in 1986 and in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1988 after it had been included on the 1987 album, Diesel and Dust. It peaked at number four on the Australian singles chart...
", "Put Down That Weapon", "Dreamworld" and "Beds Are Burning
Beds Are Burning
"Beds Are Burning" is a 1987/1988 worldwide hit single by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, the first track from their album Diesel and Dust. This song was the second from the album to be released as a single, and is among the band's best-known songs outside Australia.It reached No. 1 in the New...
".
Gifford joined the band in 1980 after hearing on the radio about the auditions for a replacement bass guitar player for Andrew 'Bear' James. He was actually driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
to work as a roadie at the time. Andrew James was quite ill by this time and he had to withdraw from the band. The band was looking for a much more aggressive style of bass playing (an 'animal' as described by guitarist Jim Moginie) and Gifford fitted perfectly.
Gifford predominantly played a Fender Precision bass guitar and this can be seen in the 'Oils On The Water' Goat Island (Sydney, Australia) concert in 1985. His bass solo work in live performances of "Stand in Line" was his signature. Other songs featuring great bass line by Gifford include "No Time for Games", "Don't Wanna be the One", "Written in the Heart", "Lucky Country", "Power and the Passion", "'Somebody's Trying to Tell Me Something" as well as the songs from the Species Deceases EP. He also played the Chapman Stick
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
on the tracks 'Sleep' and 'Who Can Stand in the Way' on the Red Sails in the Sunset
Red Sails in the Sunset (album)
Red Sails in the Sunset is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1984 under the Columbia Records label. This album was recorded and produced in Tokyo, Japan and is significant for becoming their first No. 1 album in Australia...
album and in concert.
Gifford contributed significantly to backing vocals for the band, and is credited by long time producer Nick Launay as being a significant contributor in the recording studio.
In Australia, the Oils were most popular and successful in the 1980s and the sound Gifford brought to the band was an important part of that.
Business interests
After leaving the band, he started Wicked WeaselWicked Weasel
Wicked Weasel is an Australian company that manufactures "risque" swimwear and lingerie for women.The company was founded in 1994 by Peter Gifford, formerly the bass player for Midnight Oil, and named after his girlfriend's nickname. Initially, the company's products were trial marketed to...
, a direct marketing
Direct marketing
Direct marketing is a channel-agnostic form of advertising that allows businesses and nonprofits to communicate straight to the customer, with advertising techniques such as mobile messaging, email, interactive consumer websites, online display ads, fliers, catalog distribution, promotional...
business specialising in micro bikinis. The company has built an international reputation for female swimwear and underwear.