Albums:
1987 Bloody Mary
1988 Punch Out that Loony Sappy Tune
1990 Murder Cycle
1993 Guide Dogs for the Spiritually Impaired
Video:
1994 Kosmic Ganda - A Tribute to Goose
Formed from the ashes of Sydney group Madroom, founding members Goose & Susie took the band name from a 17th century old English seafaring slang term for masturbation. Box the Jesuit went through a number of lineup changes and indie record labels between 1986 and their breakup in 1995. They released their debut EP Bloody Mary on Snoyd Records (released by then roadie Simon Grungehead financed via an inheritance) then later signed to Timberyard releasing 'Punch Out That Loony Sappy Tune' in 1988. The album spent 6 weeks at the top of the Sydney Alternative Chart. 'Murdercycle' was released in 1990, also by Normal Records in Europe. Their final album 'Guide Dogs for the Spiritually Impaired' was released on Kosmic Ganda, the band's own label, again financed by a roadie, Les Ferguson. It was also released on Normal Records. They released the track 'Satan' on the Waste Sausage (Black eye) LP.
The band became renowned for their wild and entertaining glam rock stage shows, lead singer Goose would often climb the speaker stacks. They also played a few of the Black Eye Records showcases and were known to feature dance ensemble "The Butchered Babies" during some live performances in the late 1980s.
The 'Box the Jesuit Stark Raving Elvis Show', a huge annual event featuring a host of inner-city bands doing nothing but Elvis covers, starred frontman Goose as Elvis complete with Vegas jumpsuit and white limousine, with the extended Box the Jesuit Big Band.
In January 1992 Box the Jesuit supported Nirvana at the inauguaral Big Day Out. They released their final CD 'Guide Dogs For The Spiritually Impaired' in July 1993. The album received substantial airplay on Triple J, the national youth radio network, but sadly Goose died just three weeks later on 1 August 1993 following a long battle with lymphoma.
"He left this Earth to the sounds of Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman, as sung by Glen Campbell. As Stephen's casket left the church, the song seemed for a moment an absurd choice. But Goose was a complex sort of fellow who approached both life and music with equal parts black humour and sincerity. That he chose the song himself tells us that be both liked a joke and knew a stirring bit of music when he heard one."
SMH Radar Blog - Posted by Jack Marx, May 25 2005
It was one of Goose's final wishes that the band continue after he died, as he felt that the last line-up was the band's best. Ben Brown, lead singer of the Hellmen, took over as frontman for a year. He was replaced by Martin Laud, Goose's younger brother in 1994. Even though the band felt they were writing some of their best music, it seemed that the audience's interest had died along with Goose. The last line-up recorded an album that was never released and later broke up in 1995.
Goose was an influence on and close friend of Tim Rogers, who dedicated You Am I's debut album "Sound as Ever" to him...
"Goose... championed the band when no one else would and gave us a lot of what we became, not least the deep belief that rock 'n' soul played from somewhere near the heart or pants could lift you out of anywhere."
Rogers recalls how Gray was the king of the compilation tape, "everything from Alice Cooper to Big Star, Lou Reed. Those tapes were some of the most valuble things I've ever recieved. Much of what I am today is because of what he passed along to me, what he stood for. I really needed it too, because [at the time] I was trying to be really straight. Goose and Susie grabbed me and said 'you can give yourself to your art and not be a cocksucker'."
Tim Rogers/www.youami.net
This site is currently run by Paul Vedant (previously known as Paul Wonderlick - ex Box the Jesuit guitar player)
See also the excellent fansite: Box the Jesuit - Loony Sappy Tunes . Thanks Roger!
