air - беспроводная связь. be labeled - whatever labels we apply to them - какой бы аспект не рассматривать ======================Girl Monstar===History======================== This is by no means a definitive, detailed history of Girl Monstar - complete with gig dates (though I have remembered a few of them), etc. Rather, it is a concise look at the band's five year existence with notable highlights. Read on! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Эта биография - не столь подробная история группы Girl Monstar, как на сайте gig dates. Скорее, это краткий обзор пяти лет существования группы, с освещением наиболее значительных событий. Итак, читайте! Upon arriving in Melbourne from her native Queensland (Bribie Island, then Brisbane) Sherry Valier set about forming an all-girl rock n roll band - one that was hot enough to pack the punters in yet also give the indie charts a rattle (something she achieved in a relative short space of time). In 1988, Valier placed an ad in the local press asking for 'wild women to form an all-girl band'. Anne McCue (a Jimi Hendrix fan who grew up in Campbelltown in Sydney's sprawling outer west) had only also recently arrived in Melbourne with her brother's $60 SG copy under her arm, answered the ad - as did rock chick bassist Damian Child (who was playing in the band Feline Touch). A young blonde teenage drummer named Bonnie rehearsed with the band a couple of times and was included in some early publicity shots. She was replaced soon after by Ritchie Hine on drums - debuting live on the 11th of November 1988 at Heroes in North Melbourne. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Приехав в Мельбурн из роднго Квинсленда (Queensland - Bribie Island, затем Brisbane), Шерри Вэйлер (Sherry Valier) приступила к созданию женской рок-н-ролльной группы - во-первых это было "круто", а также /one that was hot enough [to pack the punters]/ in yet also give the indie charts a rattle (something she achieved in a relative short space of time). В 1988 г. Вэйлер поместила объявление в местной газете о том, что требуются "темпераментные девущки для женской группы". Энн МакКью (Anne McCue), фанатка Джимми Хендрикса из Кэпмпбэллтауна (Campbelltown) /in Sydney's sprawling outer west/ также недавно приехала в Мельбурн с копией SG за 60 долларов в руке, ответила на объявленние, как это сделала /рок-басистка/ Дэмиан Чайлд (Damian Child), игравшая в группе Feline Touch.Светловолосая девушка-барабанщица по имени Бонни (Bonnie)репетировала с группой долгое время и была принята /in some early publicity shots/. Вскоре её сменила Ричи Хайн (Ritchie Hine), дебютировавшая на концерте 11 ноября 1988 г. на /Heroes/ в Северном Мельбурне (North Melbourne). A couple of months after gigging, Ritchie jumped ship in the newly assembled Screaming Tribesmen line-up - along with fellow Radio Luxemburg member Jeff Silver and Kings of The Sun axe man Glen Morris. He recorded two albums with them: the 'Take Cover' EP, and the 'Bloodlust' LP - where the girls cop a thankyou credit!). Ex-Wet Ones drummer Susie World (who stepped in to appear in the 'Teenage Dinosaur' video) replaced Ritchie and the all-girl puzzle was complete. Armed with a stack of catchy Valier-penned songs (combined with some well chosen covers), the now all-female Girl Monstar created a buzz almost immediately. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Через пару месяцев после /gigging/, Ричи "покинула корабль", перейдя в только что созданную группу Screaming Tribesmen line-up - along вместе с парнем Radio Luxemburg member Jeff Silver and Kings of The Sun axe man Glen Morris. Он записал с ними два альбома: 'Take Cover' EP, и 'Bloodlust' - в которых девушки /cop a thankyou credit!)/. Бывшая барабанщица группы Ex-Wet Ones Сьюзи Волд (Susie World), дебютировавшая в видео 'Teenage Dinosaur', сменила Ричи и "all-girl паззл" был собран. Вооруженая кучей заводных песенок авторства Вэйлер (в сочетании с несколькими хорошо подобранными "каверами"), группа Girl Monstar заставила о себе говорить почти сразу. 1989 and the mainstream music scene in Australia was greeting heavy rock once again. Guns n Roses and Metallica were ridiculously massive, closely followed by a hoard of impersonators and B-grade outfits. Consequently a lot of these fans showed up at Girl Monstar gigs. This was also the year that Girl Monstar filmed their first official video - for the song 'Teenage Dinosaur'. Thursday 19 January saw the girls on at The Palace with The Trilobites. The girls recorded a special 'live to air' for RAT TV, Channel 47 - the television station of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Fri 30 June they were at the Prince of Wales with the New Christs and Exploding White Mice. On Saturday 3rd July Girl Monstar supported the Candy Harlots at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. The band made another TV appearance - this time on the ABC youth/music show The Factory one Saturday morning in July. Miming to a thumping loud version of 'You're A Suck', which I presume was an early studio effort - the kids in the audience loved it whilst the band looked awesome. I am left scratching my head as to why 'You're A Suck' never got released. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1989 год и музыкальная сцена Австралии вновь приветствовала тяжёлый рок. Guns n Roses и Metallica были слишком тяжеловесными, /closely followed by a hoard of impersonators and B-grade outfits/. Поэтому многие из их фанов оказались на концертах Girl Monstar. В этом году Girl Monstar сняли своё первое официальное видео - для песни 'Teenage Dinosaur'. В четверг 19 января девушки выступили в Palace вместе с The Trilobites. The girls recorded a special 'live to air' for RAT TV, Channel 47 - the television station of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Fri 30 June they were at the Prince of Wales with the New Christs and Exploding White Mice. On Saturday 3rd July Girl Monstar supported the Candy Harlots at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. The band made another TV appearance - this time on the ABC youth/music show The Factory one Saturday morning in July. Miming to a thumping loud version of 'You're A Suck', which I presume was an early studio effort - the kids in the audience loved it whilst the band looked awesome. I am left scratching my head as to why 'You're A Suck' never got released. The month of July saw Girl Monstar invade Sydney for the first time - (13 July Hopetoun Hotel Surrey Hills, 14 July early Sutherland Royal, late Max's at Petersham, 15 July early The Venue at Dee Why and late at the Lansdowne in Broadway - two gigs in once night showed the band's drive and energy). 18 Oct saw the band at Chasers in Melbourne with Killing Time. Sun 29 October a gig was played at The Tote with The Huxton Creepers, followed by a gig at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda on the 1 November. Slogging it out around Melbourne's pubs to an ever growing audience did prove rewarding though, when the girls nabbed a coveted Ramones support at the Palace in November. I reckon Joey would've loved 'em (a photo of the girls with Joey appeared in a following issue of Juke Magazine). The final month of 1989 saw Girl Monstar crash land in Sydney once again - with shows on 7 Dec at the Lansdowne in Broadway (supported by the Plunderers) - a Fri/Sat night double on the 8th and 9th at the Kardomah Cafe in Kings Cross; before a Sunday night Hopetoun special on the 10th. -------------------------------------------------------------- *В июле Girl Monstar впервые прибыли в Сидней - (13 июля Hopetoun Hotel Surrey Hills, 14 July early Sutherland Royal, late Max's at Petersham, 15 July early The Venue at Dee Why and late at the Lansdowne in Broadway - two gigs in once night showed the band's drive and energy). 18 Oct saw the band at Chasers in Melbourne with Killing Time. Sun 29 October a gig was played at The Tote with The Huxton Creepers, followed by a gig at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda on the 1 November. Slogging it out around Melbourne's pubs to an ever growing audience did prove rewarding though, when the girls nabbed a coveted Ramones support at the Palace in November. I reckon Joey would've loved 'em (a photo of the girls with Joey appeared in a following issue of Juke Magazine). The final month of 1989 saw Girl Monstar crash land in Sydney once again - with shows on 7 Dec at the Lansdowne in Broadway (supported by the Plunderers) - a Fri/Sat night double on the 8th and 9th at the Kardomah Cafe in Kings Cross; before a Sunday night Hopetoun special on the 10th. The band also released their first ever 7" - the double A side 'Surfing On A Wave of Love' b/w 'He's Hell' in late 1989, which is in my humble opinion, one of the best ever independent releases to come out of Australia (alongside The Saints, Birdman et al). The band received an ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) nomination for best independent single for 'Surfing' and the song shot straight to number 1 on the indie charts. The band appeared on Countdown Revolution performing 'He's Hell' - with Damian being interviewed before the band's performance. --------------------------------------------------------------- The band also released their first ever 7" - the double A side 'Surfing On A Wave of Love' b/w 'He's Hell' in late 1989, which is in my humble opinion, one of the best ever independent releases to come out of Australia (alongside The Saints, Birdman et al). The band received an ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) nomination for best independent single for 'Surfing' and the song shot straight to number 1 on the indie charts. The band appeared on Countdown Revolution performing 'He's Hell' - with Damian being interviewed before the band's performance. Fri 19 January and Sat 20 January, 1990 at the POW, saw a triple billing of Girl Monstar with the Celibate Rifles & New Christs ! Fri 2 and Sat 3 February Girl Monstar gigged at the Palace supporting The Buzzcocks and Ratcat. In early 1990 the band supported Denmark's D.A.D. (who were touring on the back of their 'I'm Sleeping My Day Away' single), and once again ventured to Sydney - (15 February 1990 - Kardomah Cafe at Kings Cross, 16 February - The Den, Penshurst, 17 February - North Wollongong Hotel, Sun 18 Hopetoun Hotel Surrey Hills - where original drummer Ritchie Hine jammed on the Runaways thumping classic 'Don't Abuse Me' !!). The band's frequent Sunday night billings at the Hopetoun were to become something of a tradition - they were always a packed and rockin' affair, and a ton of fun was had by all in attendance. Sunday April 15th saw the girls booked in to the Manhattan Hotel at Punt Hill. On Saturday 19th May of that year the girls supported US metal band Skid Row at Festival Hall. Over the years, I have met several Melbourne punters who saw GM supporting Skid Row at Festival Hall who were mighty impressed, and made the effort to see them locally soon after. Opinionated view maybe, but my guess is they blew the lame assed, posing Jersey boys off the stage. The band's second single was a couple of live favourites - 'Joe Cool' b/w the Anne McCue penned 'Egomaniac'. The single was given heavy rotation by Triple J and the record buying public simply loved it ! It topped the independent charts again and was ultimately nominated for a 1991 Aria award. The band appeared again on Countdown Revolution - performing 'Joe Cool' to awestruck viewers across the country. August saw the band undertake another well received Sydney tour. So in late August the band hit the Hume again for a run of dates (including North Wollongong Hotel Wednesday 22nd - Annandale Hotel on the 23rd - Sans Souci Hotel 24th - Feathers in Crows Nest on the Sat 25th and the Hopetoun on Sunday 26th). Returning to Melbourne, for a Fri 14 September spot at The Club with Serpentine - then Saturday 15th September at the Sandown Park Hotel. Tuesday 18th September 1990 at Asylum in Parramatta, Thu 20th at The Lansdowne, Fri 21st at Dee Why Hotel and Saturday 22nd at the Long Jetty Hotel on the NSW Central Coast. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri 19 January and Sat 20 January, 1990 at the POW, saw a triple billing of Girl Monstar with the Celibate Rifles & New Christs ! Fri 2 and Sat 3 February Girl Monstar gigged at the Palace supporting The Buzzcocks and Ratcat. In early 1990 the band supported Denmark's D.A.D. (who were touring on the back of their 'I'm Sleeping My Day Away' single), and once again ventured to Sydney - (15 February 1990 - Kardomah Cafe at Kings Cross, 16 February - The Den, Penshurst, 17 February - North Wollongong Hotel, Sun 18 Hopetoun Hotel Surrey Hills - where original drummer Ritchie Hine jammed on the Runaways thumping classic 'Don't Abuse Me' !!). The band's frequent Sunday night billings at the Hopetoun were to become something of a tradition - they were always a packed and rockin' affair, and a ton of fun was had by all in attendance. Sunday April 15th saw the girls booked in to the Manhattan Hotel at Punt Hill. On Saturday 19th May of that year the girls supported US metal band Skid Row at Festival Hall. Over the years, I have met several Melbourne punters who saw GM supporting Skid Row at Festival Hall who were mighty impressed, and made the effort to see them locally soon after. Opinionated view maybe, but my guess is they blew the lame assed, posing Jersey boys off the stage. The band's second single was a couple of live favourites - 'Joe Cool' b/w the Anne McCue penned 'Egomaniac'. The single was given heavy rotation by Triple J and the record buying public simply loved it ! It topped the independent charts again and was ultimately nominated for a 1991 Aria award. The band appeared again on Countdown Revolution - performing 'Joe Cool' to awestruck viewers across the country. August saw the band undertake another well received Sydney tour. So in late August the band hit the Hume again for a run of dates (including North Wollongong Hotel Wednesday 22nd - Annandale Hotel on the 23rd - Sans Souci Hotel 24th - Feathers in Crows Nest on the Sat 25th and the Hopetoun on Sunday 26th). Returning to Melbourne, for a Fri 14 September spot at The Club with Serpentine - then Saturday 15th September at the Sandown Park Hotel. Tuesday 18th September 1990 at Asylum in Parramatta, Thu 20th at The Lansdowne, Fri 21st at Dee Why Hotel and Saturday 22nd at the Long Jetty Hotel on the NSW Central Coast. Girl Monstar appeared on Triple J's 'Live At The Wireless Program' - airing across Australia, on Monday 24th September and sounded damn great ! The girls really are in peak form here, crashing into their live-to-air set with 'Man Eater' and they never let up. The time was now set to release an album - but it was not to be, and looking back it was a missed opportunity. The crowds were there - both at the pubs and via the radio - and an album's worth of material was just what the doctor ordered. It would be nearly two years on before the debut album was released. --------------------------------------------------------------- Girl Monstar appeared on Triple J's 'Live At The Wireless Program' - airing across Australia, on Monday 24th September and sounded damn great ! The girls really are in peak form here, crashing into their live-to-air set with 'Man Eater' and they never let up. The time was now set to release an album - but it was not to be, and looking back it was a missed opportunity. The crowds were there - both at the pubs and via the radio - and an album's worth of material was just what the doctor ordered. It would be nearly two years on before the debut album was released. To close out a blazing 1990, Girl Monstar hit the road on the 'In Search of Joe Cool Tour' ! The itinerary - which took in Queensland and South Australian shows was as follows: November 15th at the Lyric Night Club in Geelong; 17th at the Annandale in Sydney; 18th at the Hopetoun; 21st at the Arts Factory in Byron Bay; 22nd at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club; 23rd at the Queensland Institute of Technology; 24th at The Patch in Coolangatta; 25th at The Underground in Caloundra; 29th at the MCG Hotel in Melbourne; 30th at The Palace in St Kilda; Dec 1 at the Manhattan Hotel in Punt Hill; 6th at the Caledonian Hotel in Warrnambool; 7th at the Venue in Adelaide; 8th at the Jolly Swagman also in Adelaide; 14th back in Geelong at the Barwon Club before ending the tour on the 15th at Hearts in Melbourne. ------------------------------------------------------------- The new year of 1991 rolled around - and it saw the band yet again blasting it out live for their Sydney fans. Fri 25th January at the Forest Inn in Bexley. Sat 26th January at The Annandale. The band played their first Canberra show on Sunday 27th January 1991 at Tilley's in Lyneham - helping to celebrate the venue's 8th birthday. Fri 8th and Sat 9th February saw the band trek to Geelong's Barwon Club then Richmond's Corner Hotel with The Mad Turks. Thursday 18th July saw Anne and Sherry gigging as The Honeybees - which a local gig guide referred to as 'Girl Monstar acoustic' - at the Prince of Wales with Lovecraft. Thursday 29 August, the girls were at the Pier Hotel in Port Melbourne with Grind, then again at the Pier on 5 September with Bloodstone.A lengthy hiatus ensued which ultimately saw a change in personnel - Damian Child splitting from the band. In November the band advertised for a new bass player. The period of December 1991 where they were auditioning bass players was also spent on the road supporting Sydney's Ratcat. Gigs were performed at Fairfield RSL (6th), Cronulla Leagues Club (7th), Waves Nightclub in Wollongong (8th) and the ANU in Canberra on the 9th. Ratcat had been thrust from the inner city indie scene and into the pages of Juke and Rolling Stone magazine, courtesy of the catchy 'That Ain't Bad'. GM enlisted the services of St Kilda identity Paddy Chong on bass for these shows. Although not suited to the band, Paddy however did what was required of him, and was only a stand-in until Janene Abbot joined ranks. I can recall seeing Ratcat bassist Ahm Zaid sporting a Girl Monstar t-shirt on stage at the Canberra show, in which Anne and Sherry also made a guest encore appearance!). --------------------------------------------------------------- On 18 January 1992, Girl Monstar kicked off the year with a Saturday night gig at the Prince of Wales. This was also the live debut of Janene Abbot, who from memory grooved away at her bass lines like she'd always been there. Not as menacing as her predecessor, but doing just fine at stage left. Around this time, Anne played guitar in some locally produced pantomime performances of 'The Three Little Pigs' .Sun 16 Feb saw the band play a mid afternoon set at The Palace in St Kilda. Other gigs ensued: Tue 18 February at The Prince of Wales; Girl Monstar participated in the Women Alive 92 shows - which was part of the Melbourne Music Festival, performing at the Punters Club in Fitzroy on 22nd February. Other acts taking part in the 10 day festival were Frente, Deborah Conway and Cleopatra Wong. Janene travelled to Sydney with the band for her first shows there - 29 February at the Annandale and March 1 at The Hopetoun. Mon 9th March and Mon 23rd March saw the girls once again at the Prince of Wales. 26 March 1992 at the Pier Hotel, Port Melbourne then again on 24 April. Then setting up the guitars and amps back at the POW on the 9 May. ----------------------------------------------------------------- On the 7th June the band played at the Punters Club. In late June, Girl Monstar recorded the video clip for 'Higher Than High' on the roof top of the Hyatt Hotel in the heart of Melbourne. The clip was aired on Rage. On the 3rd and 4th July the band entered Atlantis Studios in Melbourne and recorded three songs 'Walk On By', 'If Only You Knew' and 'I Still Want You'. This was of course the year when the long awaited debut album was released - parts of which were recorded in Tim Finn's (Split Enz, Crowded House) studio in Melbourne. 'Monstereo Delicio' was issued mid-year via Sydney's Timberyard Records. Although the release charted in the indies, it's a damn shame the thing wasn't rush-released to capitalise on the buzz of excitement generated by the two 7"s. If I am to be brutally honest, the sound which the producers achieved on this effort sucked the big one - too clean and polished for my liking - with only flashes of the tight, tough live sound which the band were reknowned for (compare the two 'Caveman' Shirley produced tracks 'Joe Cool' and 'Egomaniac' with the rest of the album, and judge for yourself - fortunately the strength of the songs, with their catchy hooks and even catchier melodies shine through - and ultimately the album stands on its own as a bonafide classic. 11th July saw the band play to a packed Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Sherry and Anne set up window displays promoting the CD at Au Go Go Records in Melbourne and Phantom in Sydney. The album was launched in Sydney with some dates in July. 17th at the Lansdowne Hotel, 18th Crows Nest Hotel (strangely, this gig was cut short due to a bomb scare !). The band hightailed it up to Newcastle and played at the Cambridge Tavern on the Sunday evening of 19th July to a small but appreciative crowd. On Tuesday 21st July, Sherry was interviewed by Richard Kingsmill on the Australian Music show on Triple J and four songs off the album were aired. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri 24th July saw the girls at The Palace in St Kilda. Planned gigs in Queensland for August never eventuated, though the band did perform some South Australian shows around this time in Adelaide and even Mt Gambier ! Girl Monstar had included new material in their live set, with tracks such as 'Invincible', 'If Only You Knew' and 'Mystery' - not to mention a thrashed out version of 'Egomaniac'. Sherry and Anne performed live on Triple J - 9 August 1992 - as the Honeybees on the Acoustic Session Program. Their set was great. Another Sydney trip loomed - this time a 5 date trek - Thursday 13 at Vic On The Park, Fri 14th August at Sans Souci, Sat 15 at Max's Petersham, Sun 16 August Hopetoun, Mon 17 August - a lunch time gig for the students at Wollongong University ! Before the Saturday show at Max's, a BBQ was held amongst band members and friends to celebrate the looming 200th gig. Sat 5th September was a big night for the band - At the Central Club in Richmond their 200th gig and Video Launch Party was held ! Joining in the festivities were Fester Fanatics and The Fireballs. October saw the band play what was ultimately their final Sydney shows. Friday 23 October at the Manly Vale Hotel early and a late gig at The Pumphouse in Darling Harbour. Sat 24th at Victoria On The Park. Sun 24th October at The Hopetoun in Surrey Hills would be the band's final Sydney date - fittingly closing the door on their last Sydney tour at the first venue they played at some three and a bit years earlier. Fri 4th December they played the Broadford Hells Angels Festival and Sat 5 December at the Barwon Club in Geelong. Sunday 24 January 1993 saw Girl Monstar appear on the Melbourne leg of the Big Day Out Concert - alongside Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth and Nick Cave. Sadly, this was to be the last time which the band played together as Girl Monstar. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Girl Monstar scored many great support slots in their brief career. In my opinion, the two biggest supports were The Ramones in 1989 and Skid Row in 1990, both gigs exposing the band to larger audiences. In no particular order, here is a list of the supports: Ramones (USA) Buzzcocks (England) Skid Row (USA) D.A.D. (Denmark) - plus Australian artists such as The Divinyls, Skyhooks, Candy Harlots, Kings of the Sun, Nick Barker and The Reptiles, Hard Ons, Ratcat, The Hoodoo Gurus, Died Pretty, Celibate Rifles, Screaming Tribesmen, New Christs and Spy v Spy. ----------------------------------------------------------------- I have racked my brain trying to remember some of the rockin' covers which the girls played - here are some of them: Bad Boy - Beatles, Boys - Beatles, Dead By Christmas - Hanoi Rocks, Denis - Blondie, Don't Abuse Me - Runaways, Don't You Ever Leave Me - Hanoi Rocks, Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie, I Love Playing With Fire - Runaways, I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones, I'm Gonna Runaway - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Is That You - Kiss, Kissing Cousins - Elvis Presley, One Of The Boys - Rose Tattoo, Raped and Freezing - Alice Cooper, Stupid Girl - Rolling Stones, Tomorrow - Kiss, Walk On By - Dion Warwick, Wig Wam Bam - The Sweet, You Drive Me Wild - Runaways, You Need Us - Honeybees. What separates a good band from a really great band is the quality of songs - and Girl Monstar possessed an abundance of them. You're A Suck, Sick of You (oh man that intro!), Teenage Dinosaur, He's Hell, Surfing On A Wave of Love, Riding With You, Dreaming, Doing It For Money, Man Eater, Johnny, Don't Blame Me, He's So Cruel, Jason Please, My Baby (Makes Me Stay Up All Night), Johnny, Joe Cool, Egomaniac, Higher Than High, Are You Ever…the list goes on and on - not to mention the awesome tunes which the band unleashed in 1992: I Still Want You, Invincible, If Only You Knew and Mystery. These four new songs were extraordinary. Sherry and Anne are two of the finest singer/songwriters which Australia has produced. Any rock band would be blessed to have one of these talented girls in their line-up. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Fortunately Girl Monstar was home to both of them and the exceptional musical offerings they produced during the bands career speak for themself. It was hard to categorise Girl Monstar though many tried….Bangles, Pandoras, Girlschool…even Motorhead and L7 were some of the comparisons ! The magic of Girl Monstar could not be labelled - early in their career they looked tough and played dirty, loud, denim and leather rock n roll with catchy hooks. But by 1992/93 the clothes were a little more colourful - their set list was woven with hot sounding melody-laced originals, and the Runaways covers were a distant memory. Personally speaking, Girl Monstar sounded like - well…Girl Monstar ! ------------------------------------------------------------------- Girl Monstar possessed all of the ingredients required to hit the big time and I can only speculate as to why they didn't: The band taking a break in 1991 didn't help - plus there was the album being delayed - when it should've been released in 1990 or 1991. The rise of grunge also played a large part - cos when Nirvana broke, all eyes shifted from what was happening locally towards Seattle - and consequently all international and local bands playing this kind of dross sapped the local market - and it ultimately killed off many rock n roll bands. See, the kids who dug hard rock like Skid Row and the Crue were now into Cobain, the Chilli Peppers, Pearl Jam etc. The local scene never really recovered and many great rock bands of the mid to late 80's either limped their way through the early 90's or simply died out. Who knows why they never made it on a larger scale…. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Girl Monstar ultimately could've been anything. Each member of the quartet was more than proficient on her chosen instrument, could sing, and much like other distinguishable rock four-pieces of the past (Beatles, Kiss, Bangles etc), each had their own endearing personality. They outgrew the novelty all-girl tag which is bestowed upon girl groups and truly proved their worth as one hell of a rock n roll outfit. Valier and McCue possessed an abundance of talent and have subsequently gone on to leave their mark elsewhere. Both of their singles weer nominated for ARIA awards and sat at the top of the independent charts - quite an achivement, considering most outfits never come close to one nomination. The music of Girl Monstar has spread all round the world - because good music will always find it's audience. I have seen their singles in record stores in New York City, San Francisco (where I also spied a Wet Ones 7" !), London and other cities whose names escape me. Their star shone brightly in the Australian sky for a brief moment - and indeed it was a magical time. If I close my eyes and drift - I can still see em, belting it out to the packed hordes at Richmond, Surrey Hills, St Kilda, or wherever - I smile - magical days indeed ! ---------------------------------------------------------------------