Steve Gilpin
Encyclopedia
Steve Gilpin was a New Zealand
-born vocalist best known for his work in the rock band Mi-Sex
.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Gilpin began his career as a cabaret singer in hotels. His star rose in 1972 when he was the winner of television talent show New Faces
. After releasing a string of singles until 1977, his focus soon shifted from cabaret to rock. In 1976 Gilpin met with progressive rock
band Father Thyme at the Awapuni Hotel, and suggested that they work together in the future.
In 1978, Gilpin teamed up with Don Martin and Alan Moon, two of the members of Father Thyme, after they disbanded in 1977. However, Moon soon left and was replaced by Murray Burns, and after Steve Osborne
was recruited, he was quickly replaced by Richard Hodgkinson
and guitarist Kevin Stanton. These five members, playing New Wave
, called themselves Mi-Sex (taken from the song by UK New Wave
band Ultravox
). After their unsuccessful debut single, the band decided that they would try their luck on the Australian touring circuit and within a very short time they were among Sydney's most popular bands.
Thanks to strong support from the ABC's Sydney 'youth' radio station Double Jay and its nationally televised pop show Countdown, Mi-Sex
hit their peak in late 1979 with the extremely popular single "Computer Games". This culminated in their performance at the Sydney Opera House
in the Concert of the Decade in November 1979 and led to the group winning the 1979 TV Week
/Countdown Music Awards for 'Most Popular Album or Single', 'Best Australian Single' and 'Best New Talent'.
The next year they recorded their follow-up album Space Race and completed a six week tour of the US, but during the mid-1980s their popularity waned and the group eventually split in 1985. Gilpin remained in Australia and played with a variety of bands. Gilpin joined as guest vocalist with The Incredible Penguins
in 1985, for a cover
of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins
, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report
in December.Mi-Sex released a Greatest Hits collection in 1988.
Gilpin performed with several bands in New Zealand following Mi-Sex's demise, including Under Rapz. In November 1991, while driving from a gig at Byron Bay, on his way home to Mullumbimby, Gilpin was involved in a car accident, sustaining serious head injuries that left him in a coma. He never recovered, and died in Southport
Hospital on Queenland's Gold Coast on 6 January 1992, aged 42.He is buried on his property.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born vocalist best known for his work in the rock band Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex was a New Zealand new wave rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980.-History:...
.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Gilpin began his career as a cabaret singer in hotels. His star rose in 1972 when he was the winner of television talent show New Faces
New Faces (Australian)
New Faces was an Australian talent show that preceded the British show of the same name, produced at GTV-9 Melbourne. The program began in 1963 under the name Kevin Dennis Auditions, sponsored by Kevin Dennis Motors, running on Saturday mornings...
. After releasing a string of singles until 1977, his focus soon shifted from cabaret to rock. In 1976 Gilpin met with 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...
band Father Thyme at the Awapuni Hotel, and suggested that they work together in the future.
In 1978, Gilpin teamed up with Don Martin and Alan Moon, two of the members of Father Thyme, after they disbanded in 1977. However, Moon soon left and was replaced by Murray Burns, and after Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne is a multi-platinum selling British record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, such as New Order, Doves, U2 and KT Tunstall. During the 1990s, Osborne was half of the Perfecto Records team, a production and remix collaboration with Paul Oakenfold; the artists...
was recruited, he was quickly replaced by Richard Hodgkinson
Richard Hodgkinson
Richard Hodgkinson is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler.Born in Mansfield, Hodgkinson joined Nottinghamshire in 2003, but failed to achieve a first-team debut for some time due to a serious ankle injury.He left Nottinghamshire in 2005. In 2007,...
and guitarist Kevin Stanton. These five members, playing New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, called themselves Mi-Sex (taken from the song by UK New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
). After their unsuccessful debut single, the band decided that they would try their luck on the Australian touring circuit and within a very short time they were among Sydney's most popular bands.
Thanks to strong support from the ABC's Sydney 'youth' radio station Double Jay and its nationally televised pop show Countdown, Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex was a New Zealand new wave rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980.-History:...
hit their peak in late 1979 with the extremely popular single "Computer Games". This culminated in their performance at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
in the Concert of the Decade in November 1979 and led to the group winning the 1979 TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
/Countdown Music Awards for 'Most Popular Album or Single', 'Best Australian Single' and 'Best New Talent'.
The next year they recorded their follow-up album Space Race and completed a six week tour of the US, but during the mid-1980s their popularity waned and the group eventually split in 1985. Gilpin remained in Australia and played with a variety of bands. Gilpin joined as guest vocalist with The Incredible Penguins
The Incredible Penguins
The Incredible Penguins were an Australian supergroup formed in 1985, which reached the top ten on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with their cover of "Happy Xmas " in December. Contributors included Angry Anderson , Bob Geldof, Brian Mannix , Scott Carne , Colleen Hewett, and John...
in 1985, for a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
"Happy Xmas " is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono and released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir....
", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
in December.Mi-Sex released a Greatest Hits collection in 1988.
Gilpin performed with several bands in New Zealand following Mi-Sex's demise, including Under Rapz. In November 1991, while driving from a gig at Byron Bay, on his way home to Mullumbimby, Gilpin was involved in a car accident, sustaining serious head injuries that left him in a coma. He never recovered, and died in Southport
Southport, Queensland
-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
Hospital on Queenland's Gold Coast on 6 January 1992, aged 42.He is buried on his property.