Music, Bands. Ross Farnell
This page is under construction - it's a work in progress - links to come !
Band Bio
Ross Farnell was playing in bands in the indie pub scene before he finished school. A part of Melbourne’s ‘Little Bands’ scene at the beginning of the 80’s, he switched from guitar to bass and joined post-punk icons The Ears - a band made infamous by the film Dogs In Space.
Morphing into Beargarden, the band recorded and toured extensively across Australia, enjoying moderate success with early singles until they imploded spectacularly around 1986. Then followed 5 years with various Sydney bands, most notably The Seamonsters followed by Crash Politics, who recorded 2 albums and an EP, garnering regular radio play and solid following.
Back in Melbourne by the early 90s Ross played in numerous bands fronted by singers such as Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men), Mick Pealing (The Stars, The Ideals), and Tottie Goldsmith (Chantoozies).
Reuniting with longtime friend and drummer Carl Manuel, together they formed Halo Effect, a studio band drawing on trip hop and early sampling influences. Recruiting Mark Woods on vocals (Jump Incorporated), they released their only completed album Symbol of Today in 1998, attracting strong air-play on Radio JJJ. Halo Effect also produced a remix of Fiona Horne’s ‘Lets Go Out Tonight’ single in 1999, and worked with Monique Brumby in the studio. During this time Ross and Carl were gigging with The Craw, featuring Rob Craw of the Huxton Creepers, who produced one album.
In 2012 The Ears reformed with Ross on bass, playing numerous gigs and recording an EP, Deja Moo.
Most recently Ross has been holding down the bottom end with The Peptides playing post-punk classics in St Kilda, where else? He is also getting into the spirit of coastal living playing with new Bass Coast based surf rock band, El Rollo.
Ross Farnell was playing in bands in the indie pub scene before he finished school. A part of Melbourne’s ‘Little Bands’ scene at the beginning of the 80’s, he switched from guitar to bass and joined post-punk icons The Ears - a band made infamous by the film Dogs In Space.
Morphing into Beargarden, the band recorded and toured extensively across Australia, enjoying moderate success with early singles until they imploded spectacularly around 1986. Then followed 5 years with various Sydney bands, most notably The Seamonsters followed by Crash Politics, who recorded 2 albums and an EP, garnering regular radio play and solid following.
Back in Melbourne by the early 90s Ross played in numerous bands fronted by singers such as Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men), Mick Pealing (The Stars, The Ideals), and Tottie Goldsmith (Chantoozies).
Reuniting with longtime friend and drummer Carl Manuel, together they formed Halo Effect, a studio band drawing on trip hop and early sampling influences. Recruiting Mark Woods on vocals (Jump Incorporated), they released their only completed album Symbol of Today in 1998, attracting strong air-play on Radio JJJ. Halo Effect also produced a remix of Fiona Horne’s ‘Lets Go Out Tonight’ single in 1999, and worked with Monique Brumby in the studio. During this time Ross and Carl were gigging with The Craw, featuring Rob Craw of the Huxton Creepers, who produced one album.
In 2012 The Ears reformed with Ross on bass, playing numerous gigs and recording an EP, Deja Moo.
Most recently Ross has been holding down the bottom end with The Peptides playing post-punk classics in St Kilda, where else? He is also getting into the spirit of coastal living playing with new Bass Coast based surf rock band, El Rollo.
The Ears live in 2012
The EARS
In 1979 popular Melbourne Art-Punk outfit, The Ears were born, with Sam Sejavka becoming their enigmatic and theatrical front man. Alongside bands like The Boys Next Door, Models, Whirlywirld and The Fabulous Marquises, The Ears became one of the most popular bands on the Melbourne inner-city/Crystal Ballroom scene. (credit ‘Punk Journey’)
The 1986 cult film film Dogs in Space was based on the Ears and a notorious share house loosely inhabited by Sam and various members. (and in which lead singer Sam Sejavka was played by Michael Hutchence of INXS. Director Richard Lowenstein). More here: https://w.wiki/D46k
Original members from circa 1979 to 1981 were:
Sam Sejavka (vocals)
Mick Lewis (guitar)
Cathy McQuade (bass, vocals)
Chuck Meo (drums)
Carl Manuell (drums)
Tim McLaughlan (keyboards)
Gus Till (keyboards)
Steve Vanguard (keyboards)
In 1981 Cathy and the band parted ways, with Ross Farnell joining on bass. After a long gestation period the band metamorphosed into Beargarden before their first gig in the emperors new clothes. (See Beargarden below)
In 2012 The Ears exhumed themselves from an early grave and realised their frightening potential for madness, whimsy and mind-destroying rock.
Line up.
Sam Sejavka (vocals)
Mick Lewis (guitar)
Carl Manuell (drums)
Ross Farnell (bass)
In December of that year they released DeJaMoo, a six track EP of new songs (and one old one rerecorded).
Available on Bandcamp. theears.bandcamp.com/album/d-j-moo
After a few years of gigging around Melbourne, apathy and distance intervened and an indefinite hiatus has followed.
A compilation of original 1979-1980 Ears songs is available as the ‘Dogs in Space’ album. theears.bandcamp.com/album/dogs-in-space
More Ears Info available on this great resource:
Punk Journey: The history of the Melbourne Punk Scene 1977 - 1987. www.punkjourney.com/ears.php
The Ears on Facebook
www.facebook.com/The.Ears
In 1979 popular Melbourne Art-Punk outfit, The Ears were born, with Sam Sejavka becoming their enigmatic and theatrical front man. Alongside bands like The Boys Next Door, Models, Whirlywirld and The Fabulous Marquises, The Ears became one of the most popular bands on the Melbourne inner-city/Crystal Ballroom scene. (credit ‘Punk Journey’)
The 1986 cult film film Dogs in Space was based on the Ears and a notorious share house loosely inhabited by Sam and various members. (and in which lead singer Sam Sejavka was played by Michael Hutchence of INXS. Director Richard Lowenstein). More here: https://w.wiki/D46k
Original members from circa 1979 to 1981 were:
Sam Sejavka (vocals)
Mick Lewis (guitar)
Cathy McQuade (bass, vocals)
Chuck Meo (drums)
Carl Manuell (drums)
Tim McLaughlan (keyboards)
Gus Till (keyboards)
Steve Vanguard (keyboards)
In 1981 Cathy and the band parted ways, with Ross Farnell joining on bass. After a long gestation period the band metamorphosed into Beargarden before their first gig in the emperors new clothes. (See Beargarden below)
In 2012 The Ears exhumed themselves from an early grave and realised their frightening potential for madness, whimsy and mind-destroying rock.
Line up.
Sam Sejavka (vocals)
Mick Lewis (guitar)
Carl Manuell (drums)
Ross Farnell (bass)
In December of that year they released DeJaMoo, a six track EP of new songs (and one old one rerecorded).
Available on Bandcamp. theears.bandcamp.com/album/d-j-moo
After a few years of gigging around Melbourne, apathy and distance intervened and an indefinite hiatus has followed.
A compilation of original 1979-1980 Ears songs is available as the ‘Dogs in Space’ album. theears.bandcamp.com/album/dogs-in-space
More Ears Info available on this great resource:
Punk Journey: The history of the Melbourne Punk Scene 1977 - 1987. www.punkjourney.com/ears.php
The Ears on Facebook
www.facebook.com/The.Ears
The Ears, recording, rehearsal, circa 2014
|
The Ears, recording, rehearsing circa 2014
|