Flotsam Jetsam were an Australian synth pop band formed in 1983. ^[1] Originally formed as a studio band they started performing live to increase their profile. ^[2]

The group released two singles and one EP which peaked inside the Australian top 100 charts. Their single "Show Me" was engineered by Guy Gray and it earned him a nomination for the 1987 ARIA Music Award for Engineer of the Year.

The band supported A-ha, Queen ^[3] and Simply Red on Australian tours. ^[4]

History

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First beginnings - 1983

Flotsam Jetsam were formed in 1983 by Stephen Ferris, Tony Gilbert and Anthony Iacono. Nick Ferris joined soon after. This was in 1983. The band at the time didn’t have a drummer so instead they used Roland TR-808 drum machine and a Korg Polysix keyboards on a four track Tascam reel to reel tape recorder. They perform this way live for awhile until they got the services of a drummer named Warren Maclean, who would leave in 1984 and return in 1985. Warren Maclean was also in a band with Nick Ferris called Four-Four previous to Flotsam Jetsam.

There were various musicians and singers who joined Flotsam Jetsam over the next year including Ade Akisanya on keyboards, three backup singers known as The Shonkettes, Annie Swanton, Emma De Teliga and Katina Cremona. Keyboardist Peter Pitcher, percussionist Bill Kay

During that time percussionist John Swanton would join permanently, and Michael Iacono on keyboards would replace Ade. When Warren Maclean left Flotsam Jetsam for the Machinations, the band decided not to have a drummer, instead they purchased a Sequential Circuits Drumtracks drum machine a Roland MSQ 700 and later a Roland MC-500 Micro Composer, and use that along with John Swanton on percussion, to form the drum section.

In 1983 the band recorded at Ramrod Studios Brookvale with legendary drummer/engineer Herman Kovac, a song called “115 BPM” for a short video made by director Lucinda Clutterbuck specialising in rotoscope animation. The song vocals were sung by Kate Ceberano, of I’m Talking, no lyrics were involved just singing in noises.

Cooking With George - 1984

In 1984 the band were approached by ABC radio station 2 Triple J about being on a compilation box set album call “Cooking With George”. George, being George Wayne, the DJ host at Triple J’s afternoon/evening shift. This was a boxset comprising bands from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to promote young bands coming through the system. It was recorded at ABC recording studios in Darlinghurst by Keith Walker, and the song “R27s in Godlike Intercession” was chosen to be on the compilation.

WEA and 100% One Second Love - 1985

April 1985, Just before signing with WEA records, Flotsam Jetsam got to play 4 show as the opening act to Queen at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney. On April 30th 1985, Flotsam Jetsam signed a record contract with WEA records, who was then run by Paul Turner and Peter Ikin (who was probably responsible for the band being on the bill with Queen).

Flotsam Jetsam recorded the first single for WEA, a song called “100% One Second Love” under the production of Keith Walker, who had previously worked with the band. This was recorded at EMI 301 studio B, in Castlereagh Street Sydney. A Fairlight CMI systems was used to record their drums and some instruments they also use the services of the jazz pianist Tony Ansell to play on two songs. I was carry someone. The B-side is that that record was two songs one was the “Butchers of lust” and the other one was “115 BPM/Crystal Disco”.

The single “100% One Second Love” was directed for video by Kimball Rendle. The inspiration for the video was John Water film Polyester, with the band performing at a Wedding winning based on John Waters film and it was set in a motel and reception for a wedding where things went slightly wrong with some very shady characters involved. It was filmed on 16mm down at a motel in Bondi Beach which doesn’t exist any more, and the interiors filmed in the Tiki bar in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, which also doesn’t exist any more. With the help of all their friends in the video playing the guests. The video features some the members of the Ferris family. Virginia Ferris with Philip Hutch dancing and Pee Wee Ferris sitting at the bar and John Ferris in the audience. It had also cameos by Pat Powell, Andy Glitre and many others.

Members

• Stephen Ferris (vocals)
• Nick Ferris (bass, drum programming)
• Tony Gilbert (guitar)
• John Swanton (percussion)
• Michael Iacano ( keyboards)
• Ashley Cadell (keyboards)
• Warren Mclean (drums 1984-1986)
• Peter Ciabo (drums 1986-1988)
• Lee Borkman (Keyboards 1986-1988)
• Russell Gamble (Keyboards 1988)
• Anthony Iacano (guitar, synth)
• Ade Akisanya (synth, bass)

Discography

EP

Singles

References