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Underground Lovers
The
innovative Underground Lovers are the premier group bridging Australian
music from the traditional drums and guitar rock of the past to the
technology and electronic influenced music of the late 80s and beyond. It
all started as the musical expression of Glen Bennie and Vincent Giarrusso,
and within the space of ten years and six albums ended up that way again.
As GBVG
(their initials) Glen and Vince released their first single 'Blast' in 1988, establishing the Underground Lovers'
basic characteristics, Glen's striking hypnotic guitar atmospheres balanced
against Vince's acute pop sense. By forming a group the following year,
late 1989, they were able to extend their imaginations. The serene vocals
of Philippa Nihill offered another colour again, compared to Vince's
rhythmic leanings. On stage Philippa and Vince swapped both vocals and
keyboard duties, supported by bass and drums, and encased by Glen's unique
guitar approach. The Underground Lovers played their first gig in Melbourne
in May 1990. Two gigs later they
recorded their independently distributed debut album.
Their
second album 'Leaves Me Blind', produced by Wayne Connolly of Welcome Mat, was
released in England even before Australia, after the head of England's cult
label 4AD happened to be Australia, heard the finished record and offered
the group a one album deal on 4AD 's sister label Guernica. 4AD's spotlight
led to strong sales on import in the US. The Americans assumed the band was
British. The British thought the Underground Lovers were in tune with the
burgeoning Manchester 'scene'. The Underground Lovers knew they'd developed
what they were based on British influences like Joy Division and New Order
and local inspirations like Melbourne's Essendon Airport. The band's third
album 'Dream It Down' became their mainstream label debut, produced by
ex-Essendon Airport mainstays Robert Goodge and David Chesworth, creating a
lush record which almost gave the band a hit record with 'Las Vegas'.
The
Underground Lovers didn't enjoy their tenure under a major record company
and chose to leave rather than be told what they had to do in order to
achieve that hit single. The next album, 'Rushall Station', back in the
hands of Wayne Connelly, was released on the group's own Mainstream label.
Phillipa Nihill had left for a solo career, but still appeared on a couple
of the tracks. It just meant that Glen and Vince could please themselves
where they pushed the Underground Lovers next. On record and on stage the
Underground Lovers could be whatever they needed to be to suit the
occasion. While Glen and Vince are in charge it's always unmistakably
Underground Lovers.
Under
the same methodology they've created two more albums, 'Ways T'Burn' and
'Cold Feeling'. In between Glen and Vince have released another single and
performed as GBVB, Glen produced Phillipa Nihill's debut album and Vince
wrote and directed the movie 'Mallboy'.
Underground
Lovers played their last shows supporting New Order during their Australian
tour in January 2002. Giarusso and Bennie quietly went their separate ways
later that year. Glenn Bennie has an ongoing solo project named GB3.
Giarrusso concentrated on developing a number of film and music projects
with funding from private and government bodies.
In
December 2009 the original Underground Lovers line-up reunited for Sydney’s
Homebake Festival and extended the reunion to a handful of shows at select
venues in Sydney and Melbourne.
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