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The Candy Harlots were a glam rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1987 (see 1987 in music). The group was infamous for its suggestive lyrics, explosive stage act and at one time were dubbed 'Sydney's biggest live secret!'. This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ...
Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ...
A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ...
Sleaze rock or Sleaze glam is a subgenre of the glam metal. ...
Glam rock (also known also as glitter rock), was a style of rock and roll music popularised in the early 1970s. ...
This is about the city of Sydney in Australia. ...
1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
See also: 1986 in music, other events of 1987, 1988 in music, 1980s in music and the list of years in music // January 3 - Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ...
History
The Candy Harlots were a glam rock band from Sydney Australia. They were formed in 1987 by vocalist Mark Easton who had previously been a member of Soggy Porridge, The Glam Savages, Kelpies and Suicide Squad. After a couple of early bass player changes (former Glam Savage Nick Zencutti spent six months in the role, followed by Scott Millard), the best known line-up from 88-90 consisted of the flamboyant Easton, his ex-Soggy Porridge drummer Tony Cardinal, Marc Lee De Hugar on lead guitar, ex-Glam Savages guitarist Ron Barrett and Leeno Dee on bass (ex-Roxx). Combining pulsating original songs with suggestive lyrics - they developed a huge underground following around Sydney - largely due to an exciting stage show and the fact that they were unlike anything the Australian music scene had witnessed before. Amazingly, the Candy Harlots were offered a recording deal with Virgin Records after only three shows, but their manager turned the offer down ! The contract was never signed until the band had got out of their management deal some four years later. For a time they were dubbed 'Sydney's Biggest Live Secret' - securing support slots with The Cult, Cheap Trick, Divinyls, Angels, Sunnyboys and Kings Of The Sun along the way. They played in many surburban Sydney pubs, but their stomping grounds were the Kardomah Cafe in Kings Cross, and the St James Tavern in the city.
Their popularity was massive, but due to their reputation - no big label would touch them ! It was Melbourne label Au Go Go who issued their debut 7" single (Red Hot Rocket b/w When Will I Know) in April, 1989. Initial copies of the record were pressed on red vinyl and came wrapped in a pair of womens Candy Harlots knickers. The single (produced by Mick Cocks from Rose Tattoo) sold out in minutes and lept to the top of the local charts. They did an in-store appearance at Galleon Records in Fairfield - followed by a whirlwind tour of Melbourne in mid-1989 (this included a Friday night show at the Barwon Club in Geelong, an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in Bourke Street, then playing to a packed Saturday night crowd at the Corner Hotel in Richmond. Rose Tattoo are an Australian blues/hard rock band, led by Angry Anderson. ...
Easton and Lee De Hugar let rip: 1988 - Dee Why Hotel, Sydney
The gigging continued and they were one of the most prominant bands on the Sydney live scene. The band's follow-up single was 'Danger b/w Hot Love Child' which was released in 1990 on the Sydney label Timberyard. A friendship between New Jersey's Skid Row and the Candy Harlots was struck after Skid Row's Hordern Pavillion show in 1990. The band jammed with The Candy Harlots on The Troggs' Wild Thing at an after show party at the Kardomah Cafe - with members of Motley Crue (touring at the time) also in attendance. The American term skid row or skid road is used to refer to the rundown area of a city where alcoholics and vagrants congregate. ...
Lee De Hugar was the first casualty and was replaced in 1990 by Phil Bowley (ex-Rags n Riches). Tragedy struck not long after, when in October 1990 original rhythm guitarist Ron Barrett passed away. He was 26 years old. Ex-Flying Tigers member Peter Masi was recruited to fill Barrett's shoes. After a lengthy career, Easton quit rock n roll and his final performance with The Candy Harlots was fittingly, at the Kardomah Cafe on Fri 22 March 1991.
New vocalist Aiz Lynch came via a band called Backstreet Shuffle. Lynch walked into a band already signed to a major label (Virgin Records) and with many strong songs all set to go. The 'Aiz Lynch' line-up achieved far greater media attention than the late 80's Easton fronted line-up. But the 'new' Candy Harlots was far removed from the New York Dolls-like cool and tongue-in-cheek charm which the 'Mark Easton late 80's' line-up possessed; a band who'd set inner-city stages ablaze with original, well choreographed, killer performances. For many, they were a stadium act who were treading the boards of smaller venues, biding their time - awaiting that big break. The New York Dolls are a rock music group formed in New York City in 1971. ...
When the big break came via the aforementioned major deal - Easton was long gone and the Candy Harlots were now a whole new beast (albeit brimming with rock star cliche's and often lacking originality). Nevertheless, they still proved popular with the Australian hard rock and metal fraternity, gaining many new fans via the Virgin-backed promotion; but alienating many early fans in the process.
They released their debut album 'Five Wicked Ways' in 1992 which is a very solid recording, highlighted by Leeno Dee's strong songwriting skills. Virgin Records was eventually bought out by EMI and the band were then signed to EMI's US label. Aiz Lynch was apparently sacked (going on to form the short lived Angry Snuff Puppett) and he was replaced by Hayden Watt; now the third Candy Harlots vocalist. Long serving skinsman Tony Cardinal quit the group along with Peter Masi. However Watt, Bowley and Dee formed a new outfit called Helter Skelter (with the addition of drummer Tubby Wadsworth (ex-Kings Cross). They released one single: an Iggy Pop cover 'Cry For Love', before Watt was replaced by Jordan Howe. Now known simly as The Harlots, the band issued a self-titled CD in October of 1994 before dissolving the following year. James Newell Osterberg, Jr. ...
Post-Breakup - Mark Easton - continues to perform and record with his blues-rock outfit Mark Easton Limousine. They have produced three releases: 'Coast To Coast', 'Greener', and 'Bandwagon' released in September 2006. In October 2003 he performed a reunion gig with his former band The Kelpies at The Annandale Hotel in Sydney.
- Tony Cardinal - joined The Screaming Tribesmen in the mid-90's.
- Leeno Dee - played with Phil Bowley in Velet Claws, The Killer Kowboys and Dearly Beloved - who released an EP 'Pushover' in February of 1997. He achieved further success most recently as a member of Jerk.
- Marc Lee De Hugar - once known as 'The Maestro', this talented guitar whiz was a member of small time Sydney outfits Strip Poker and Brindle Suite. In the mid-90's he played in The Screaming Tribesmen alongside Tony Cardinal. He is now with QLD band Dragonfly.
- Peter Masi - played with the Angry Anderson/Peter Wells Band, Mark Easton Limousine and is currently in Beware of The Dog with former Harlots vocalist Jordan Howe.
- Aiz Lynch - Formed the short-lived Angry Snuff Puppett, after his stint in the Candy Harlots. In early 2005 he was listed to appear at a Tsunami Benefit show in Richmond, NSW !
Trivia - The Candy Harlots used to their start their shows to a backing tape of The David Rose Orchestra's 'The Stripper'.
- In 1990, Leeno Dee was apparently mobbed and chased down a city street by Alice Cooper fans, mistaking Dee for Cooper who was touring at the time !
- A third single with Easton-line up was recorded: 'Sex Crazy' b/w 'Take Me Or Leave Me and "Where No One Dares' but was never released.
- 'Foreplay' and 'Sister's Crazy' reached no's 6 and 26 respectively on the Australian Music Charts. The album 'Five Wicked Ways' reached no. 15
- Sections of the video for 'Red Hot Rocket' were filmed at the 'Harlots Ball' - a gala evening held at the Coogee Bay Hotel on 19 November 1988, although the majority was filmed at Sydney’s St James Tavern.
- In 1989 the band played under the guise of 'The Red Hot Rockets (featuring The Peroxide Prancer)' - this was a humorous response to a scathing letter penned to a local music street mag.
- Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan was photographed in US rock mags sporting a Candy Harlots tee-shirt.
- Mick Blood from The Lime Spiders once duetted live with the band - adding his vocals to a cover of The Glitter Band's 'Angel Face'.
- The Aiz Lynch fronted Candy Harlots supported AC/DC in Melbourne 1992
- Many local bands shared the bill with late-80's era Candy Harlots, however local all-girl band The Rum Babas would have kicked off most evenings for them.
- Leeno Dee and Aiz Lynch appeared on 'Saturday Morning Live' in 1992 - a music video program aimed at the teen market !
- The Candy Harlots undertook a triple-bill tour in 1992 alongside The Maybe Dolls and The Screaming Jets.
- 'She Shines' - a popular late 80's live song penned and sung by Leeno Dee ended up on The Harlots EP in 1995.
- Backstreet Shuffle (fronted by a young Aiz Lynch) once supported the Candy Harlots at the Coogee Bay Hotel.
Discography - Red Hot Rocket/When Will I Know 7" (Au Go Go Records - ANDA96)
- Danger/Wrap 2 Arms 7" (Timberyard Records - BUZZ069)
- Danger/Hot Love Child 7" (Virgin Records - VOZ117)
- The Tease Tapes - Hot Metal Magazine giveaway (Virgin Records - FILTH1)
- Foreplay EP (Virgin Records - VOZCD134)
- Sister's Crazy (Virgin Records - VOZCD136)
- What Are We Fighting For (Virgin Records - VOZCD1??)
Albums - Five Wicked Ways (Virgin Records - VOZCD2056LE)
Related Discography - Helter Skelter: Cry For Love (EMI Records - 8740292)
- The Harlots: EP (Red Room Records - RR001)
- Dearly Beloved: EP Pushover
External links - candyharlots.tk - a Candy Harlots site
- Candy Harlots myspace page
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