With thanks to Greg Morris and breakmyface.com..
ROCKS
The Rocks EP is an Aussie want list standard especially since its inclusion on the great Feel Lucky Punk compilation LP (1991). The record packs in six songs, all winners. The original issue of 500 copies on the Point Blank label is predictably tough to find... even the reissue (Little Axe 1996) has become scarce.And now a few words from a Rock...
ROCKS (Never put a "THE" in front) started out as a three piece in late 1976 with Bill Webb (a.k.a. Bill Posters) on Drums/Lead Vocals, Peter Davie on Guitar/Vocals & Steve Vanderschoot on Bass/Lead Vocals. Doing what came naturally, it was a combination of original songs and covers (Ramones, Sex Pistols, Dead Boys Etc.) that made Rocks what they were to become, one of Australia's best Punk bands. Their first gig was at the legendary Grand Hotel on Broadway in Sydney... the bands at The Grand Hotel were booked by Johnny Dole And The Scabs, this was in November of 1977. How Rocks got this first gig would be the catalyst for them becoming a four piece, I was to join soon after.
We were always looking for new bands to play at The Grand Hotel, so I started to look for bands around the area where I lived, this was in the southern suburbs of Sydney. I decided to give Bill a call to see if he was still playing, we had started playing together while still at school, playing in my mum and dad's garage (how unique). I figured if anyone was going to be into punk it would be Bill. Of course, I wasn't wrong. When I went down to see them rehearse who would be there with him but Peter& Steve, also from the early days of jamming in my mum and dad's garage. So it was inevitable that I would not only give them gigs at The Grand Hotel but also if the opportunity arose I would join the band. This was to happen sooner than I thought as I was to get kicked out of Johnny Dole And The Scabs not long after Rocks' first gig at The Grand Hotel, so I got straight on the phone and within two weeks of rehearsal I made my debut with Rocks supporting of all bands Johnny Dole And The Scabs.
The lineup now was Bill Webb on Lead Vocals, Peter Davie on Guitar/Vocals, Steve Vanderschoot on Bass/Lead Vocals and Greg Morris on Drums/Vocals.
We had employed the services of a manager by the name of Lori Brown, he was a nice guy and to my recollection the best thing he managed to do was misspell the title of our EP we had just recorded. This EP should have been called "YOU'RE SO BORING" not "YOU'R SO BORING". We recorded at Axcent Recording Studios at Kogarah NSW and was engineered by Ross Mcgregor. Ross was blind, and he made his way around a desk better than most. It took about eight hours to record and we came back the following week to mix it down; that took about four hours. Our manager financed the pressing. The EP was received OK, though we weren't around much longer after it was released so that didn't help. Most bands didn't last very long in those days, there weren't many places to play and not many people coming along to see the bands. So bands tended to play, record, split up. If you were lucky enough to release a record then it seems to go on and become a collectible no matter how good or bad it was.
Rocks played all the popular venues of the time and some not so popular, some of these were "Blondies" in Bondi Junction "The Last Resort" in Taylor Square and the biggest one was "The Paris Theatre" in Sydney supporting JAB and The Boys Next Door , both from Melbourne.
Everything was going along nicely until one particularly unsavory bust-up between some band members. We decided not to continue. Some time later, Bill called me and we got together and formed another band called The Prisoners, however this later folded and since then we have gone our separate ways musically.
.. Greg Morris
July 2000
Rocks reformed in the 80's and played many shows with some great bands going at the time like: The Hard Ons, Massappeal, The Spunkbubbles, The Mothers, The Wet Ones, Thrust, The Vultees, The Extremes & SSDC.
The lineup was Bill Posters on Lead Vocals/Guitar, Peter Davie on Bass/Vocals, and Nassar Sultan on Drums
Rocks recorded the 12" EP "Final Assault" on Sydney's Waterfront Records with this lineup
Tracks were also recorded for the waterfront compilation: "Swinging from the Trees"
A short break, whilst Pete played guitar in Sydney Hardcore Punk band: Toe To Toe in the early 90's.
In 1996 Pete, and Toe To Toe's drummer: Bibs, decided to reform the band, with Bill, yet again, and they played a wild and memorable show at Sydney's Sandringham Hotel in Newtown.
The gig had scenes of people dancing on the huge old school horseshoe bar and taking ceiling fans out with their heads!
The album: "Combat Zone", which had been recorded with the 80's 3 piece lineup was released on Dutch label: Kangaroo Records (go figure!) around this time with Bibs replacing Sultan on the drum stool for the live shows.
From there it was their annual appearances at the "Sydney Hardcore Superbowl" shows, that were put on by Toe To Toe's bass player: Sean No Deal, that showed the world the energy and sound of Rocks.
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001 - These were great shows and great times. Rocks also did some great supports with Zeke & Dropkick Murphys from the USA & Moccasin from Japan.
Some songs were recorded, and a split 7" was produced with San Francisco band: The Loudmouths
Another short break of a couple of years, as members got married, moved interstate, toured with other bands, had kids, farewelled family, and basically played the life game, until original bass player: Steve Vanderschoot, got in touch with Bill, and it all kicked off again!
A "30 year anniversary show" was played in 2007, with the 3 piece lineup of Bill, Steve & Bibs, being joined mid set by Greg Morris and Peter Davie to play the "You're So Boring" EP, plus various 70's classics at the Vic On The Park Hotel in Sydney's Enmore neighbourhood to a ecstatic crowd. You could hear the chorus' across the road in Victoria Park!
In March 2009 Rocks were asked to play the inaugural "Monster Session"- A benefit show to raise money and awareness of Multiple Sclerosis. - A roaring success, a huge crowd, and the whole night was kindly recorded by the chaps at Moshcam. See some footage here on this website, and at Moshcam.com
2010 sees Rocks never slowing, never quietening, still playing, and still loving it.
See you in the Combat Zone! She'll be right!
.. Bibs
Jan 2010
.. ..