Scientists | Artist

Scientists aka The Scientists was a post-punk band formed 1978 in Perth, Western Australia, by frontman Kim Salmon. The core lineup was Salmon (vocals, guitar, bass), Boris Sujdovic (bass), James Baker (drums), Roddy Ray'da (guitar, vocals), and Ian Sharples (bass). Tony Thewlis became guitarist in 1981, replacing Roddy Ray'da who joined the Hoodoo Gurus. The band's early punk sound morphed over the years into a swampy psych-tinge rock sound. In 1980 the band moved from Perth to Sydney, then in 1984 relocated to London. Scientists are regarded as one of Australia's best and most influential post-punk acts. At the end of 1987 the band split and Salmon formed Kim Salmon and The Surrealists. Outstanding Scientists albums include The Scientists (1981). You Get What You Deserve! (1985), Weird Love (1986), The Human Jukebox (1987), the live album Sedition (2007) and the 2000 compilation Blood Red River 1981-1984. They also released many excellent Singles and EP's including The Scientists EP (1980), Demolition Derby (1985), and Atom Bomb Baby (1985). After their stint in London where they toured with Siouxsie and the Banshees, the band returned to Australia in 1987 for The Human Jukebox album tour. Salmon moved back to Perth with his wife Linda Fearon and son. The band toured Australia in November 1987, with a lineup of Salmon, Thewlis, Combe on drums and Rixon rejoining on bass. Their last show was at the Shenton Park Hotel in Perth on 27 November 1987. Salmon then formed Kim Salmon and the Surrealists with Brian Hooper on bass and Tony Pola on drums playing live solo, with the Surrealists or with "Kim Salmon's Human Jukebox", formed with Kim Williams and Pola to promote the 1991 Scientists compilation Absolute. Salmon also played with the second incarnation of the Beasts of Bourbon from 1988 until 1993. Guitarist Tony Thewlis formed the Interstellar Villains, exploring a musical direction much more rooted in '60s rock, psychedelia and surf music. In May 2006, the Scientists (with a line-up of Thewlis, Salmon, Sujdovic and Chock) were invited by Mudhoney to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK. They also supported Mudhoney at a performance at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 11 May 2006. In 2007, a live recording of that performance, Sedition, was released on the ATP Recordings label. The same lineup played in London in April 2007 and at the ATP festival the same month. In February 2008, they supported Sonic Youth for their Australian Daydream Nation shows, performing the mini album Blood Red River in its entirety as part of the ATP-curated Don't Look Back series.

Artist Website: wikipedia/the_scientists kimsalmon.com.au

Featured Albums: Scientists

Related Artists: Kim Salmon, Beasts of Bourbon, Hoodoo Gurus, The Scientists