…Obscurity. Another overlooked Australian powerpop/punk record. If I had the insert I maybe would be able to present some more information. Ahhh that darn Rob Noxious forgotten it. Fatal Slip and Gee, Why? should’ve made a lot more talked about 7inch I guess. On the Doublethink label.
Country: Australia
Year: 1979
Label: Doublethink
Format: 7″
Songs:
Flaming Road
Fatal Slip.mp3
Gee Why?.mp3
Nightmares.mp3
Great post. Looks like Mr. Noxious strikes again, what a cunt.
Even OZ Rock writers like Clinton Walker and Ian Mcfarlane seemed to of been content to leave people in the dark on this outfit in they’re written works, not to mention them being absent from Phil Turnbulls excellent Sydney post-punk site No-Night Sweats – although none of them regarded Popular Mechanics too highly compared to other talent on the scene at the time so maybe that’s why.. maybe someday the story will be fully revealed if Roger G. ever gets a Doublethink Singles collection out!! Until then this is the random amount of info I can share…
‘New Wave’ pop band from Sydney (Darlinghurst to be more specific I believe) active from 79-82 at least.. Good friends with and supported to some degree by the Thought Criminals. The lineup at the time of their first release was:
Mark Foster ~ Vocals
Russell Handley ~ Farfisa/Vocals
Gary Doyle ~ Guitars
Garry Manley ~ Bass
Beck ~ Drums
(additional songwriting credits for Richard Sheehan, Craig Youden and Dave Lemon)
The EP ‘From Here To Obscurity’ was recorded/mixed during Sept.-Nov. 1979 and released in December on the Thought Criminals Doublethink label (dtdt-4) and came in a 7”x7” foldover P/S which also included a nice 12”x12” insert.
After Doublethink had folded the band underwent some line-up changes, but continued recording and produced one further 7” recorded in June of 1980 and released in Feb.81 on the Basilisk imprint (You Get The Picture b/w Furniture ~ BAZ-3). The line-up at that time was:
Russell Handley ~ Farfisa/Vocals
Garry Manley ~ Bass/Vocals/Guitars
Jim Heywood ~ Drums
Gary Dodd ~ Guitars
P.S.
TO THE BLOGGER: The tracks on the 2nd 7” are (in my opinion at least) as good if not more solid than the debut so feel free to get in touch if you want to hear them.. theonechordwonders@yahoo.com
Thanks for the info Mark! I’m definetly interested in hearing their second 7inch. You can contact us through the “Contact” link on the left.
I saw them perform infrequently between 79 and 81, often with other Doublethink acts–though the Pop Mechanics sound was distinctly different. Believe that R. Handley was the first person to die from HIV-AIDS in Australia. RIP. A great band.
Hi
I can offer some light on Popular Mechics story. Sadly, Gary Doyle and Russel Handley are no longer with us. They both died in the 80s, Gary maybe ‘81, before Russell in mid-decade. I won’t say how they died as it may offend the families.
Beck left first and was replaced by Jim Heywood (drummer from the legendary Sydney rhythm n blues band The Layabouts) just after the ‘From Here to Obscurity’ ep.
Then Gary decided he didn’t want to do it anymore and disappeared up to north west NSW. He was replaced by Gary Dodd. Around this time too, Mark Foster left; just after and probably because of Gary’s leaving. Before Dodd joined, the other 4 recorded the second release. It was rushed, and the production isn’t as raw as the first ep. I thought it a failure.
Pop Mex played a few gigs after that with the new Gary on gtr. After the band Tactics lost their bass player Geoff Marsh, Garry Manley joined Tactics, as two things were happening to PopMex.
1) NZ band Pop Mechanics came to Oz to tour and the Sydney PM’s manager (Russell’s brother) Mark Handley decided to sue, with help and cynical encouragement of PM’s producer/engineer/owner of Basilisk Studio, Martin Bishop (he of the co-production-ship of the remarkable My Houdini, by Tactics). So there was a court case, but it was obvious that Mark and Russel and Martin weren’t going to get anywhere as the NZ band were on Sony or something like that, so it got kind of sour. God, even Molly fcnk Meldrum was called to give evidence of ‘confusion’ in the names…
But Martin was thinking of ways to ‘get them’. Garry Manley left PM to join Tactics at this point, because apart from all that above, 2) PopMex was falling apart anyway. And Tactics was a big drawcard.
Beck teamed up with Mark Foster a bit later and joined Geoff Datson in a band called Samurai Trash. Funky punkpop.
Jim Heywood continued (and continues to play regualrly) in various blues, jazz and pop bands of his own, teaching, playing, improvising, recording, and running a corner shop to boot!
Garry Manley continues to play with dave Studdert in various incarnations and bands (spec. Tactics and their alter-ego The Inside Up) until this day.
Gary Dodd disappear from (my) view.
Though brief, this is solidly true.
I was there, knowing them all. I wish to remain anon.
Thanks.
That should read “north-east NSW” – up Lismore etc way
Jim Heywood here yeah i remember those days well even though brief i started a family although after a few years i got back into it and havent stopped since 1986 believe it or not i make most of living playing music.
The thing that drove me up the wall in those days was if you weren’t in clique and pretended to cool and hip forget about being accepted as a popular band the musical dexterity and energy we gave out went over many heads and we weren’t given much of a go not to worry i enjoy a good life and i’m able to perform with many fine artists at the ripe old age of 54 i have always tried to be true to myself and bypass all the bullshit.
Hi there
My name is Donna Black, and I am the ex-partner of Mark Handley (now deceased 2004 from cancer), who was brother to Russell.
I am very interested in any more information in relation to Popular Mechanics. My two boys (who would be Russell’s nephews) are now in their own band and are looking for more information on Russell and Popular Mechanics.
I also believe that there should be a myspace or website or something dedicated to the band.
I can be contacted at: shf69@hotmail.com.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who may be able to help.
Donna.
I don’t believe it! A site that features Popular Mechanics! I reckon ruahri(?who’s this?an insider?) got it pretty right. And also Jim (whom i see occasionally, living in different towns).
I don’t know where we fitted in – but that suited me. It wasn’t really extreme anything – just a pop group. But it was all over so soon. I didn’t like MBishop – who did? – so that’s why i left and joined a group that was a little more intense.
Pop Mex were floundering a bit tho’, which was a shame, because i dug Russell who was the main energy. Mark was cool too, but he left after Gary Doyle. Gary was the mate i saw mostly outside the band. But everything, sadly, ended just too soon.
A tragedy really – so much wasted talent caught up the rigmarole of the days.
Contact welcome: fivepianos@hotmail.com – gz