Sydney spawned a couple of bands who fit our more refined view of pub rock - from early years there's the Mangrove Boogie Kings and the Model Husbands, and then there's this one, by Coupe De Ville. Recorded at Leichhardt Hotel, it's pub rock both literal and figurative. The two A-side tracks can be heard below. The original is a decent piece of revved up R&B, and the Flamin' Groovies cover is made unique by some pretty good sax by Pepper, Ted. Side B has a jazz instrumental and a lacklustre cover of Just A Little Bit.
Coupe De Ville played around for a few years around from 1982 to 1984, making one tour to Melbourne and this one record. Bandleader was Cub Callaway who briefly appeared in the Chris Bailey Saints, and wrote and produced the first New Christs 7". The rest of the band was Brett Stevenson (vocals), Bruce Tindale (Maton guitar, later Decline Of The Reptiles), Phil Sommerville (bass, ex-Hitmen), Joe Breen (drums, later Bam Balams) and Ted and Charlie Pepper on sax and piano. Bailey produced and the record appeared on Lost Records, home of Paralytic Tonight Dublin Tomorrow and The Monkey Puzzle.
Coupe de Ville [Download]
Teenage Head [Download]
 |
| Coupe De Ville, a coupe, and a pub. |
 |
| Melbourne tour poster. |
5 comments:
Saw the Uno Ariba show. What a hole that joint was. Cool band. EP sounds better than I remeber it
Coupe de Ville - formed in 1980 by Brett Stevenson, aka "Eldorado" aka "Sven", whilst he was managing the Newtown Hotel, where the first gig was performed (Brett Stevenson on vocals, Phil Sommerville RIP on bass, Sean Maguire on drums and Bruce Tindale on guitar). Brett took up the lease on the Leichhardt Hotel soon after and managed the venue "Sonias" for about two years. A great venue which featured the Art Deco stage set from the movie "Undercover". Chris Bailey (The Saints) lived there for some time and played many solo gigs before launching the newer versions of The Saints. Coupe de Ville had many members over it life (no death certificate has yet been issued for the band). These included Joe Breen (drums), Ted Pepper (saxaphone), Bruce Callaway (guitar), Barbara de Ville (piano), Bruce Tatham (piano), Jimmy Niven (piano), Chris Bailey (bass once), Rob Younger (drums once), Richard Burgmann (guitar), Rex Keleher (guitar), Munerark Cornwall (bass), Little Robbie (drums), Bones (guitar), Eddie Fisher (drums), Rob Green (guitar) and others too numerous. When Eddie Fisher arrived as the new drummer he asked what his band name would be. Brett replied "You're number 41!". Coupe de Ville backed Bo Diddley three times (Sonias 1982, Sydney Entertainment Centre 1982, and Graphic Arts Club 1983). Coupe de Ville recorded a 13 track CD "Coupe'd Up" in late 2005.
Was recently reminded that Michael Charles (ex- Shy Imposters, Lipstick Killers and other great bands) also played drums in Coupe de Ville.
Hard to imagine what happened to all these band greats. Wishful thinking but I would really have loved to be at the Leichhardt Hotel in person all those years ago. What a night it would have been.
Coupe de Ville released the CD "Coupe'd Up" in 2005 with the line up: Brett Stephenson (vocals); Joe Breen (drums); Jimmy Niven (piano); Mark Cornwall (bass); Dominic O'Donnell ((guitar); Rex Keleher (guitar); and Bruce Tindale (guitar).
Post a Comment