The Spliffs

The Spliffs were an Australian pop band which formed in Townsville in 1985.[1][2] They broke up in 1988 after a van crash destroyed their equipment.[3] Their single, "Sixteen" (1988), was nominated for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 1989. Bass guitarist and manager, John Watson, later formed Eleven: A Music Company, and managed acts such as silverchair, Missy Higgins, and Gotye.

The Spliffs
OriginTownsville, Queensland
Genresmelodic guitar pop
Years active1985 - 1988
LabelsRevolution Records

History

The Spliffs were formed in Townsville in 1985 by university friends, Ian Christensen on lead vocals, Andrew Reid on drums, Tim Corcoran on guitar and vocals, Jamie Forsberg on lead guitar and John Watson on bass guitar.[4] They entered a local heat of a battle of the bands competition, where they played their four-song repertoire to win.[4] Besides original material they covered 1960s guitar pop.[4]

The Spliffs' debut single, "You Know What They'll Say", was released in 1986, Watson recalled, "We recorded it in a garage in Kuranda, and then had to sit around glueing the sleeve covers together, the usual independent method."[4] The group relocated to Sydney at the end of that year, where the Harbour Agency (see Michael Gudinski), "picked us up. They helped us a lot, we got a lot of gigs through them."[4] The group issued a seven-track extended play, House of Seven, in 1987, which was produced by Alan Thorne (Hoodoo Gurus, Paul Kelly, Weddings Parties Anything).[4][5]

Band members
  • Ian Christensen – lead vocals
  • Andrew Reid – drums
  • Tim Corcoran – guitar, vocals
  • Jamie Forsberg – lead guitar
  • John Watson – bass guitar

Discography

Extended plays
  • House of Seven (1987) - Revolution Records

Singles
  • "You Know What They'll Say" (1986) - Black & White Music
  • "Merry Go Round" (1987) - Revolution Records
  • "Never Say Goodbye" (1987) - Revolution Records
  • "Sixteen" (1988) - Revolution Records

References
  1. Moore, Allyson (2 October 1987), "Spliffs in space", Sydney Morning Herald
  2. Casimir, John (2 September 1988), "AFTERMATH OF A RURAL BIRTH", Sydney Morning Herald
  3. To, Catherine (24 August 2001), "Experience talks", Townsville Bulletin
  4. "Impromptu band still together The Spliffs: silly but successful". The Canberra Times Supplement. 61 (18, 920). 23 July 1987. p. 9. Retrieved 29 November 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Holmgren, Magnus. "Alan Thorne". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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