GANGgajang

Ganggajang (styled as GANGgajang) are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz" Bidstrup.title=Ganggajang

History

1980s

The new band's formation grew out of songwriting and performing sessions the trio undertook for the ABC-TV music-drama series Sweet and Sour broadcast in July 1984. The original lineup was completed by former The Aliens keyboard player Geoffrey Stapleton, guitarist Robert James and singers Kayellen Bee (co-wrote "The Heart Plays Tricks" as K Bidstrup aka Kay Bee with Bidstrup and Callaghan for Sweet and Sour)publisher= APRA and Marilyn Delaney.

The band gained a solid following around Australia during 1984-85, aided by considerable support from Triple J and Countdown. Their biggest commercial success came in 1985 with the release of their self-titled debut album, which sold over 120,000 copies. The LP included the classic single "Sounds of Then (This is Australia)", as well as the hit singles "House of Cards", "Giver of Life" and "Gimme Some Lovin" (their 1984 debut single, which was originally recorded as a 'demo' in a single take).

In 1987, Ganggajang's music was featured exclusively in the Quiksilver surf movie Mad Wax

. The film became a cult surf classic and introduced the band to a worldwide audience. Ganggajang was named 'World's Best Band' two years in a row by the Association of Surfing Professionals.

The group released their second album, GangAgain, in 1987, after which the various members pursued solo projects although the band continued doing the odd gig and tour.

Over the next few years Callaghan released a solo album, reformed the Riptides and released a live album "Resurface" and a studio album "Wave Rock", and then went on to work as an executive for the now-defunct Festival Records group. Bidstrup played sessions, produced albums and movie soundtracks. Bailey worked with artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes, Alannah Miles and Nathan Cavaleri. Stapleton toured Australia and Europe with Absent Friends and then went on to form The Dukes with Sean Kelly. James wrote a book, "The Second Best Book of Disunderstandabilism" and recorded his songs with Wendy Matthews.

1990s

In 1993 they recorded their third album, Lingo (without Bee and Delaney, who had gone on to successful careers in the film industry) which was released in 1994 on RooART and released three singles, "Hundreds of Languages", "Talk To Me", and "Ordinary World"/"Future Days".

In 1995, the first two albums were repackaged into The Essential Ganggajang, which has now sold over 30,000 on the Shock label.citation needed
In 1996 the Nine Network used the song "Sounds of Then" for use in its station ID promotion, and they returned to Brazil for their second tour.

2000s

Ganggajang played the Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour as part of the Corroboree 2000 celebrations and during the 2000 Summer Olympics the band was in demand for concert appearances around Sydney as part of the Olympic Arts Festival. In February 2001 the band completed its third tour of Brazil.

October 2002 saw the release of the long awaited fourth album, Oceans and Deserts featuring the singles "Nomadsland", "Anodyne Dream" and "Trust", to critical acclaim and extensive airplay across Australia on ABC radio. Several tracks featured additional backing vocals from original members Kayellen Bee and Marilyn Delaney (aka Marilyn Sommer).

In 2004 a live concert featuring a selection of new songs and some of the classics was filmed for the ABC's "Live At The Basement" series.

Late 2006 saw the release of their double dvd "The Complete GANGgajang" which featured all of their film clips, live performances, interviews, and a doco of their first tour of Brazil.

Over the past ten years and up to today, when not performing or recording together as GANGgajang each member is otherwise occupied.

Singer Mark Callaghan was General Manager of Shock Music Publishing, and is now with AMPAL. He is currently writing songs for GANGgajang's next album - due to begin recording in early 2010.

Drummer Buzz Bidstrup has managed Australian music personality Jimmy Little since the release of his 1999 ARIA award winning CD The Messenger,citation needed
Bass player Chris Bailey has worked in a wide variety of music cultures in Sydney and produced an album for singer/songwriter Dave Debs. Bailey also plays in Jimmy Little's live band, and like Buzz has been playing again with the Angels since 2002.

Guitarist Robert James has released two solo albums "Suzannah Suite" (1999) and "Secrets In The Sand" (2006). He was also a member of Australian icons Yothu Yindi from 2001 when they toured Brazil with Ganggajang. He is currently in the final stages of composing a classical symphony, and writing songs for his next solo album and the new Gang album, in his studio in Brisbane.

Keyboard player and resident artist Geoffrey Stapleton is now living in Adelaide and preparing his next exhibition of paintings to be called "Oceans and Deserts". He has made several film clips for the band and others, whilst maintaining and developing the band's website and writing new songs.

Like several other Australian bands of the period, such as The Saints and The Church, Ganggajang have a strong following in other regions, but whilst the former acts have their major fan base in Europe (especially Scandinavia), GANGgajang have become very popular in Brazil.citation needed

Group members

Mark 'Cal' Callaghan - guitar, vocals (1984-present)
Chris Bailey - bass, vocals (1984-present)
Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup - drums, percussion, guitar, keyboards, vocals (1984-2006); (2007-present)
Robert 'Robbie' James - guitar, vocals (1985-present)
Geoffrey Stapleton- keyboards, guitar, vocals (1984-1992); (1995-present)
Kayellen Bee - backing vocals (1984-85)
Marilyn Delaney - backing vocals (1984-85)
James Black - guitar, keyboards (1984)
Gordon Sullivan - guitar (1984-1985)
Mark O'Connor - keyboards (1993)
Mike Gubb - keyboards (1993-1995)

Discography

Studio albums

Ganggajang True Tone Records (1985)
GangAgain True Tone Records (1987)
Lingo RooART (1994)
Oceans and Deserts Shock Records (2002)

Compilation albums

True to the Tone Shock Records (1995)
The Essential Shock Records (1996)
Chronologica Tronador Records (2000)

DVDs

The Complete Ganggajang(2006)

Singles

"Gimme Some Lovin" / "Noisy Talking (Part 1)" (1984)
"House of Cards" / "From the Top to the Bottom" (1985)
"Giver Of Life" / "Mysterious" (Live)(1985)
"Sounds of Then" / "House Of Cards" (Live) (1985)
"Dream At Night" / Allen "Tunkleys Leave Home" (1986)
"The Bigger They Are" / "Giver Of Life" (1986)
"Initiation" / "Sounds Of Then" (Instrumental) (1987)
"American Money" / "The Roof Only Leaks When It's Raining" (1987)
"Luck Of The Irish" / "Tree Of Love" (1987)
"Hundreds Of Languages" / "Funny Old Street" / "Give Peace Another Chance" (1993)
"Ordinary World" (1994)
"Talk To Me" (1994)
"Nomadsland" / "Nomadsland" (Orchestral) (2000)
"Nomadsland" (2003)
"Anodyne Dream" (2003)
"Trust" (2003)

Signed Music Artists