2.vanilla chainsaws band members
vocals/guitars
1. 2.
1.Simon Drew........... 2. Mark Alexander
1. Simon Drew: Vocals and rhythm guitar and chief songwriter. "Dynamic, Charismatic and hard as f@#k" is the only way to describe Simon. He totally destroys his guitar every time he straps it on and his voice is fat, raspy and totally unique. He has been a mainstay from the start and although Simon has been involved in various other side projects he has never wavered from the position of Chainsaws no bullshit frontman.
2. Mark Alexander: Lead Guitar and backing vocals. Founding member and Co-songwriter, Mark's wall of guitar style is the characteristic of the Chainsaws sound. A man in a hot situation Mark peels those licks as cool as a cucumber. His lead style has been described as "Jimmy Page re: Led Zepp IV era" and his bulldozer chords leave no room for mistaking his rocking intensions in this Aussie detroit surf punk group.
bass players
3.
4.
5.
6.
3. Cameron Lee...............4. Henning Worner.......5. Sabina Collins.......6. Rudy Morabito
drummers
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
7. Peter Kelly.....8. Duilio Hernandez......9. AndrewMarks...10. Bill Walsh...11.Chekov Helmker...12.Gerard Presland ........*Note: pictures of Murray Shepherd/Martin Sincovic/Richard Matheson/Mick Searson not available.
BASS PLAYERS:
3.Cameron Lee: Original founding member and long time friend Cameron left the group several times but was always welcomed back when opportunity permitted.His style was merciless and created the benchmark in the chainsaws bottom end.
4.Henning Worner: A mean Mother from the wrong side of the tracks in Germany. Henning played on the Chainsaws European tour and stamped his own heavy style into the set. Later Henning went on to tear up Europe for 3 years with his own band "Jonas Jinx". Now he's back with Simon in the European lineup of "Simon Chainsaws Badass Roadshow".
Peter DJ Kelly: friend of drummer Peter Kelly (and member of the group "the Peter Kellys" which featured all members of the same name), Pete joined briefly to record the Red Lights MiniLp.
5.Sabina Collins: A long time friend, Sabby was originally recruited to fill in for a tour between bass players but her enthusiasm, loyalty and "on the money" playing style saw her become an integral part of the band for almost a year.Now a current member of Harpoon and Greg Brady Overdrive
6.Rudy Morabito:(ex Celibate Rifles) Rudy's Bass playing was second to none!! Conservatorium trained on the 6 stringer he played the bass like a lead instrument and was all over the fret board. Witness his style on "Worst Place in the world" CD and the unreleased tracks "Doom" and "Blows my mind" from the Tronador Compilation CD LIBERTY. Outstanding.
DRUMMERS
7. Peter Kelly: Founding member, good buddy and one of the countries best rock drummers!! To say that Petes' relationship with the band was tenacious was an understatement!!!! As a much sought after drummer who couldn't say no, he was often playing in up to 5 bands and as a result rehearsals, gigs and tours were a constant turmoil with cancellations and rebookings being the norm. But his playing was always spot on which saw him he rejoining time and time again.
8.Duilio Hernandez: Poached from Sydney group "No Mans Land" Duilios style matched his personality....laid back with loads of style. But he knew how to rock when it counted!!! He played the songs on "Wine Dark Sea" MiniLp with such feeling that it's doubted whether any other drummer could have done the job. Unfortunately he bailed out when he was almost in the airports departure lounge just prior to the 1st US tour.
Mick Searson: Mick was playing with longtime sparring partners HappyHateMeNots when he was recruited for a tour of Queensland. 2 rehearsals saw the group right for a 2 week tour. A consummate professional.
9.Andrew Marks: We all lucked up at the last minute just prior to the 1st US tour, 17 year old Andrew was a drummer with ability beyond his years. He rocked, he had feel and he was a bloody nice guy!! Unfortunately the rigours of the US and subsequent UK tours were too much for such a young chap and he headed home just prior to some European dates. He later went on to front his own band and drum for Crow
Bill Walsh: Cosmic Psycho and true maniac. Bill joined to record the "thousand" MiniLp in Germany during Xmas 1989. Due to the Psychos own touring schedules it was a bit of an in, out and wipe it type affair but his input to the band is not only lasting but historical.
10.Chekov Helmker.: The Chainsaws met Chekov while recording in Germany. He ran the local import record store, loved aussie independent music and was slaying 'em in the "Horny Chipmonks". After a big night on the town he was the obvious choice for a skinsman. His powerful "kill 'em all" drumming style was only matched by his on tour antics. Some of which involved trying to drag the SEERS singer off the stage and into the mosh pit mid song and on another occasion sculling half a bottle of Mongolian vodka (during an east German tour), shouting "nastrovia" and smashing the bottle at the feet of a nightclub bouncer!!!!!
Martin Sincovic: Whether the chainsaws were in between drummers or having problems with the current one is unsure but what is clear is that Martin was called upon for this one session only to record a version of Husker Du's Ice Cold Ice for a compilation on German label Snoop records. And judging by his performance he was a great choice for the job!!!! Hear it on the Tronador album "Liberty".
11.Gerard Presland:(ex Hitmen DTK) Gerard was a hard hitting, solid, no frills rock'n'roll soldier. He wouldn't bother putting in pretty little drum fills.... he just smashed the shit out of his kit, made every hit count and played like it was his last day on earth. He had a personality to match and was always the 1st in line to solve any "problems" at a gig!!!
Richard Matheson: Richie was drumming in a group with Rudy......and in the gap between Gerard and Murray was commissioned for a tour of Queensland. After a few rehearsals it was all systems go! He did a bloody good job in the circumstances and although there were no official recordings with Richie, he is "caught on tape" on a live to air performance recorded for 4ZZZ in Brisbane .........and who knows??......one day a track or two from this may see the daylight.
Murray Shepherd:(ex Screaming Tribesmen, Fun Things) Murray's reputation preceded him and his unique brand of skin smashing was totally on point as, in around 1995, the chainsaws sound moved from heavy as fuck to extreme. He played on the unreleased doom session....... hear him break to sound barrier on a couple of tracks from these recordings on the "liberty" album.
who, what, where, when???
August ’86 Vanilla Chainsaws form: Simon Drew (v/g), Mark Alexander(g), Cameron Lee (b), Peter Kelly(d)
Aug 1987 release T.S. Was it really me/Everything
Mar 1988 release Like you/Onslaught
unknown drummer (d) joins for 2 harbour cruise gigs
Mick Searson(d) joins for QLD tour
1988 Peter Kelly(d) sacked / replaced by Duilio Hernandez(d) (no mans land)
Dec 1988 release Wine Dark Sea
May1989 Cameron Lee(b)/Duilio Hernandez(d) quit just prior to U.S. tour.
May1989 Simon Drew(v/g) moves to bass / Peter Kelly(d) rejoins for farewell tour as 3 piece.
June 1989 Andrew Marks(d) joins for US/European tour
July-Nov 1989 US/UK tour
Nov 1989Andrew Marks(d) quits
Xmas 1989 Bill Walsh(d) (Cosmic Psychos) joins to record thousand EP in Germany.
Feb 1990 Germans Chekov Helmker (d) (Horny Chipmonks) & Henning Worner (b) recruited for 1990/91 European touring stints.
1990/91 European Tours
winter 1990 Record Live album in Germany
May 1991 Chainsaws return home.
Peter Kelly (d), Cameron Lee(b) rejoin for return shows
Cameron Lee (b)quits
June/July1991 Peter DJ Kelly(b) (snow leopards) joins for recording of Red Lights MiniLP
Cameron Lee (b) rejoins
1992 record Watching me MiniLP
Peter Kelly(d) joins New Christs and is sacked/resigned
1992 replaced by Gerard Presland (d) (hitmen)
1993Cameron Lee(b) quits
replaced by Sabina Collins (b) (greg brady overdrive)
1994 Sabina Collins (b) leaves
replaced by Rudy Morabito (b) (celibate Rifles)
1994 Gerard Presland(d) Leaves
Peter Kelly (d) rejoins to record "Worst Place" album
Murray Shepherd (d) (Screaming Tribesmen/Fun Things) joins
Final Line up for DOOM Sessions
Simon Drew(v/g), Mark Alexander(g), Murray Shepherd(d/v), Rudy Morabito (b/v) til present
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