Painters and Dockers
OriginMelbourne, Australia
GenresRock, Pub rock
Years active1982–1998; 2014–present
LabelsAu Go Go
Big Time
Dock
White Label
Musicland
Shock
Past memberssee Members list below

Painters and Dockers are a rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1982.[1]

Paul Stewart, singer-songwriter and trumpet player,[2] Dave Pace (vocals and trumpet) and Mick Morris (vocals and sax) are all original members in the band which was named for the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union when they performed an early gig at a pub rock venue in Port Melbourne frequented by the union's members.[1] Some members of the band went on to form the Dili Allstars.

Their best-performing album, Kiss My Art, peaked in the top 30 of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts in 1988.[3] The album included two top 50 singles, "Nude School" and "Die Yuppie Die".[4][5]

In 2009, the band was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.[6]

History

1982−1987: Beginnings, Love Planet and Bucket

Painters and Dockers formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1982 with five members, Vladimir Juric on guitars and backing vocals, Andy Marron on drums, Phil Nelson on bass guitar, Chris O'Connor on guitars and backing vocals, and mainstay Paul Stewart on lead vocals and trumpet.[1] One of the earliest gigs for the unnamed group was at a pub rock venue in Port Melbourne frequented by members of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union so they chose Painters and Dockers for the event and retained the name thereafter.[1][7] In their earlier years, they were the headline act at the Port Melbourne Community Festival, and in a government initiative called Rockin' the Rails, where they played songs from the back of a train, as it stopped at various Melbourne stations, including Ringwood, Camberwell and Flinders Street.

Painters and Dockers' first recording, "Mohawk Baby", was released on independent label, Au Go Go records' compilation album, Asleep at the Wheel early in 1984.[1] Soon after, Marron was replaced by Colin Buckler on drums, and they released their debut album, Love Planet, which was produced by veteran hard rocker, Lobby Loyde and released on Big Time Records in 1984 and contained the tracks, "Basia!", also released as a single in March 1985, and "The Boy Who Lost His Jocks on Flinders Street Station". Joining after the album's release were Mick Morris on tenor saxophone and Dave Pace on trumpet / backing vocals, and with Stewart the horn section was called the Brassholes.[1] Music historian, Ian McFarlane, describes their sound as "adding an earthy R&B edge to the band's raucous, punk-infused power pop".[1]

A four-track EP, Kill Kill Kill was released in 1985 containing cover versions of "Kill Kill Kill" originally by The Sacred Cows on "The Groovy Guru" episode of US comedy TV series, Get Smart; Australian group Supernaut's "I Like it Both Ways"; The Ramones' "Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?" and The Saints' "Know Your Product".[1] Their first single, "Basia!", released in March 1985 on Big Time Records, was a paean to Basia Bonkowski—lyrics include "B she's so beautiful, A articulate too, S sensual, I international, Ay Ay" and "She's sitting there with her multi-coloured hair / She's sitting there with that multi-cultured stare"—who was presenter of SBS' music television show, Rock Around the World from 1982 to late 1984.[8]

A live album, Bucket, released in October 1986 on the band's own label Dock Records (distributed by Shock Records) and Big Time Records, featured one of their live pub rock performances.[1]

1988–1997: Kiss My Art, Touch One, Touch All and The Things that Matter

The band's second studio album, Kiss My Art, was released in August 1988 on White Label Records (a subsidiary of Mushroom Records) and peaked at No. 23 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts in September 1988.[3] The album spawned four singles, "Nude School", "Die Yuppie Die", "Love on Your Breath" and "Safe Sex", and the first two achieved top 50 chart success.[4][5] and were accompanied with video clips directed by ex Hunters & Collectors Geoff Crosby.[9] The album was again produced by Lobby Loyde,[2] except for "Nude School" which was produced by Francois Taviaux aka Franswah.

Their third studio album, Touch One, Touch All, was released in December 1989 spawning the related singles, "Dirty Filthy Rock'n'Roll" in November, and "Eat Shit Die" in May 1990.[1] Neither album nor singles peaked into the top 50.[5] Morris left in 1989 and Darren Garth had replaced Juric on guitar by early 1990; the band undertook a Canadian tour promoting the album.[1][2]

In December 1991 they released the mini-album, Hickory Dickory Dock with its track "Merry Christmas, Carol" and the single, "New World Order".[1] Nervous '90s appeared in June 1992 and contained six studio tracks and three live tracks recorded with the Salvation Army Brass Band.[1] During 1992 they became involved in Performers Releasing Information about Clean Syringes (PRICS), which included running workshops and gigs on safe sex and drug use.[1] In 1993, Garth left and Colin Badger joined on guitar and backing vocals, Painters and Dockers undertook the Australia-wide Return to the Love Planet tour and released a pro gay single, "I Know Better Queens than That".[1] The EP, Hickory Dickory Dock, and the album The Things that Matter were released in 1994.

1998–present: The Things that Matter

A mini-album, Advance Australia Where?, was released in August 1998 with the single "You're Going Home in the Back of a Divi Van".[1] By that stage, original members, Nelson and O'Connor had left, mainstay Stewart now with Badger and Buckler were joined by Paul Calvert on bass guitar, Sonja Parkinson on trombone and backing vocals, and Jenny Pineapple on saxophone and backing vocals.[1] This line-up appeared at Mushroom 25 Live concert in November to celebrate the record label's anniversary, their track "Divi Van" appeared on the related VHS release, Mushroom 25 Live: The Concert of the Century.[1]

In 2009 Stewart featured on the ABC Compass religious program following a liver transplant with the episode featuring Painters And Dockers songs Nude School and Die Yuppie Die. Stewart is actively involved in fundraising for the Alma Nuns, a Timorese-based Catholic order who care for disabled children and orphans.[10]

On 20 November 2009, early members, Paul Stewart, Chris O'Connor, Colin Buckler, Vladimir Juric, David Pace and Mick Morris, with Michael Badger (not an original member) reformed for a one-off show at the Prince Bandroom in St Kilda, Melbourne, where the band was inducted into Music Victoria's Hall of Fame.

In 2017, Painters and Dockers undertook their 30th Anniversary, Kiss My Art tour.

Members

Painters and Dockers members:[1][2]

Member Instrument Years active
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Disbanded 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Vladimir Juric guitar, backing vocals
Andrew Marron drums
Dahl Murphy drums
Paul G Roberts keyboards, vocals
Phil Nelson bass guitar
Chris O'Connor guitar, backing vocals
Paul Stewart trumpet, lead vocals
Colin Buckler drums
Mick Morris tenor saxophone
David Pace trumpet, backing vocals
Darren Garth guitar, backing vocals
Colin Badger guitars, backing vocals
Michael Badger guitars, backing vocals
Dali Platt bass guitar
Paul Calvert bass guitar
Richard Bradbeer bass guitar
Sonja Parkinson trombone, backing vocals
Jenny Pineapple saxophone, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[11]
Love Planet
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Big Time (BT 7046)
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
Kiss My Art
  • Released: August 1988
  • Label: Mushroom (MUSH32274.2)
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
23
Touch One, Touch All
  • Released: December 1989
  • Label: Musicland (MUS LP2011)
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
The Things That Matter
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Dock (DOCKCD6000)
  • Format: Cassette, CD

Live albums

Title Album details
Bucket
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: DOC Records (DOC R002)
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
  • Note: Live recording from Melbourne in March and April 1986
Overt and Deliberate
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Painters and Dockers
  • Format: Limited edition (500 copies) CD
  • Note: Live at the Gluepot Auckland, 1988
You Know You Want To (Live)
  • Released: August 2020
  • Label: Painters and Dockers
  • Format: LP, download, streaming
  • Note: Recorded live February, 2020. Mixed by Michael Badger.

Extended plays

Title EP details
Kill Kill Kill
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Big Time (BTB-910)
  • Format: LP
Hickory, Dickory, Dock
  • Released: 1991
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (CD2000)
Nervous '90s
  • Released: 30 June 1992
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (CD3000)
  • Format: CD, cassette
Advance Australia Where?
  • Released: 31 August 1998
  • Label: Painters and Dockers (DOC10000)
  • Format: CD

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart
positions
AUS
[12]
"Basia!" 1985
"Bend Me Shape Me"
"Nude School" 1987 29
"Die Yuppie Die" 49
"Love on Your Breath" 1988
"Safe Sex"
"Dirty Filthy Rock 'n' Roll" 1989
"Eat Shit Die" 1990
"New World Order" 1991
"I Know Better Queens Than That" 1993
"Let's Give It a Go with the Flybz" 2012
"Holiday On Ice" 2018

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1988 Painters and Dockers ARIA Award for Best New Talent Nominated [13]

The Age EG Awards

The Age EG Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009Painters and DockersHall Of Fameinductee

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Painters and Dockers'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 1 October 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Holmgren, Magnus; Miles, Richard. "Painters and Dockers". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 1 March 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Painters & Dockers – Kiss My Art". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  4. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. 1 2 3 "Discography Painters & Dockers". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  6. "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  7. "Painters & Dockers". Nostalgia Central. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. "Top 40 TV". Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  9. "The Music Video Database". Themvdb.com. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  10. Paulie Stewart, Strong, selfless love: The Alma Nuns of Timor Leste, Melbourne Catholic, 5 December 2019
  11. "Discography Painters & Dockers". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 228. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "Winners by Year 1988". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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