The Bamboos (rock band)

For other bands with similar names, see The Bamboos.

The Bamboos were a swamp and alternative rock band from Collie, Western Australia which formed in 1984 by mainstays Mark Gelmi on bass guitar and Craig Hallsworth on guitar and vocals. They relocated to Perth by the following year and were joined by Greg Hitchcock (ex-The Go-Starts, Graverobbers) on guitar, and by Shakir Pichler (ex-The Kryptonics) on drums in 1986 who was replaced by Russell Hopkinson in the next year. The Bamboos released an album, Rarer than Rockinghorse Shit and an EP, Born Killer, before they disbanded in late 1987.

The Bamboos
Origin	Collie, Western Australia, Australia
Genres	Swamp rock, alternative rock
Years active	1984 (1984)–1987 (1987)
Labels	Citadel, Cleopatra
Past members	see Members

1984-1987: History

The Bamboos were formed in 1984 in the West Australian rural town of Collie,^[1] which is 213 kilometres (132 mi) south of Perth. The line-up was Tony Chiallella on drums; Mark Gelmi on bass guitar; Craig Hallsworth on guitar and vocals; and Roger Russell on guitar.^[1] By 1985 they had relocated to the capital where Russell was replaced by Greg Hitchcock (ex-The Go-Starts, Graverobbers) on guitar.^[1][2] This line-up recorded three tracks for a 6× extended play box set, Cooking with George – Mark Too, with Ian Davis producing at Australian Broadcasting Corporation Studio 621 in Perth.^[3]

In 1986 Chiallella was replaced by Shakir Pichler (ex-The Kryptonics) on drums.^[1] According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the group performed "raw guitar trash and country-swamp rock [which] caught the attention of Citadel Records boss John Needham".^[1] In September they released a single, "Snuff", on Citadel.^[1] A cassette album, Rarer Than Rockinghorse Shit, followed on Cleopatra Records in the same year.^[1] Another single, "Dead Girl", was succeeded in May next year by a six-track EP, Born Killer, on Citadel.^[1]

After two national tours Pichler left to form his own rockabilly band, The Howlin MoonDoggies,^[4] and was replaced by Russell Hopkinson (ex-Vicious Circle).^[1] They issued their final single, "With Which to Love You", in October 1987 and then disbanded.^[1] During their career The Bamboos supported Lime Spiders, Johnny Thunders, The Dammed, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Johnnys, Hoodoo Gurus, Violent Femmes and The Cramps.

Afterwards

After disbanding ex-members of The Bamboos joined other groups. Hallsworth formed The Healers, Wild Palms, Zuvuya, Outstation, Tangled Star and The Slow Beings. In 2016 Craig released a solo album - What's The Story With This Hole? through Hidden Shoal. This is available for digital download. In 2019/20 Craig reunited with Jim Butterworth on bass (The Healers, Outstation, Zuvuya, Wild Palms and Tangled Star) and they enlisted Michael Newman on drums to form Magnets Have Souls. In 2024 Magnets Have Souls released their debut album, Evidence, which is available on all streaming platforms. They are currently working on a second album. Hitchcock has been associated with The Neptunes, The Kryptonics, New Christs, The Verys, Challenger 7, You Am I, The Dearhunters, and The Monarchs.^[2] Hopkinson joined Nursery Crimes and then You Am I.^[5] Hopkinson has also worked with Australian punk act, Radio Birdman, and managed a record label and distribution company, Reverberation Records from 2003 to August 2007, when it was taken over by Fuse Music Group.^[6][7] Pichler formed The Howlin MoonDoggies,^[4] Fink, Brutal Pancho and toured with Amphetish and United States band, Wish You Weres. Pichler also established his own label, Sexbeat Records, and appeared in feature films, Mission: Impossible 2, On Our Selection, and Fat Pizza: The Movie; and a TV series, Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King.

Members

• Tony Chiallella: drums (1984–86)
• Mark Gelmi: bass (1984–87)
• Craig Hallsworth: guitar, vocals (1984–87)
• Greg Hitchcock: vocals, guitar (1985–87)
• Russell Hopkinson: drums (1986–87)
• Shakir Pichler: drums (1986)
• Roger Russell: guitar (1984–85)

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [8]
Bamboos & Mutants of Desire (with Mutants of Desire)	Released: 1985 Format: CS Label: The Bamboos	-
Born Killer	Released: June 1987 Format: mini-LP, CS Label: Citadel Records (CITLP 506)	94
Rarer Than Rockinghorse Shit	Released: 1987 Format: LP, CS Label: Cleopatra (CLP227)	-

References

1. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Bamboos'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 27 April 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
2. Holmgren, Magnus. "Greg Hitchcock". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
3. "Bamboos". Divine Rites Records (Didier Georgieff). Retrieved 13 July 2014.
4. "The Howlin' MoonDoggies". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
5. "You Am I". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
6. "Reverberation Enters into Joint Venture with Fuse Music Group". Fuse Music Group. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
7. "Reverberation Distribution". Reverberation Records. Archived from the original on 20 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 25. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.