The Stems

Bio from somethingold-somethingnew.blogspot.com --The Stems were considered by many to be the most seminal rock band of the 1980`s to emerge from Australia. They were formed in Perth in 1983 by Dom Mariani and Richard Lane (Julian Matthews and Gary Chambers rounded out the band on bass and drums respectfully up thru and including the "Love Will Grow' eepee. Dave Shaw filled in the throne-slot from "at first sight ... violets are blue" 1st elpee worth o'toons proper onward and to this day!), with a musical (and sartorial) style initially influenced by sixties garage punk and later by power pop.Playing such local legendary (and now long-gone) venues as The Wizbah, The Old Melbourne and The Shenton Park Hotel on a regular basis, the group built up a substantial following in Perth.In mid 1985 a trip to Sydney to meet up with their new label Citadel and to promote their first single Make You Mine b/w Shes A Monster was perfectly timed with the Sydney inner city scene rediscovering 60's music and fashion.The Stems completed several Australian tours and were perhaps one of the first bands to gain national success while remaining in Perth, and despite never having toured internationally (until their reunion) they are held in high esteem in Europe and the US amongst fans of classic 1960's inspired rock 'n' roll.The Stems released a total of 5 singles, an E.P. and a full length album, and set an impressive record with each release reaching No 1 on the Australian alternative charts. It was their debut album though, "At First Sight Violets Are Blue" released in 1987 that received national and international critical acclaim and would be one of the best selling Australian albums of that year, despite the lack of commercial airplay in the corporate FM dominated 1980's. The album has been named in the top 100 Australian albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. The Stems also appeared on one of the last episodes of Countdown.Unfortunately their success was short lived when at the height of their powers and on the eve of a 6 week European tour they mysteriously disbanded.The Stems epitomised 80's indie rock and are one of only a handful of bands, including the Hoodoo Gurus (half of the original line-up of the Hoodoo Guru's also came from Perth) and The Sunnyboys that cracked the mainsteam Australian charts with an indie approach in the 1980's.The Stems reunited for a tour in early 2003 and played a number of very well received gigs and they are still gigging today, including playing festivals such as Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival.The Stems have a new album due in 2007.Dom Mariani has also performed solo as well as in such acclaimed bands as The Someloves, DM3, the all over the place instro Dom Mariani & the Majestic Kelp, the all surf instro The Stonefish, the all-star The Stoneage Hearts and the most recent The Rippled Souls, amongst others.