Eurogliders
{{Short description|Australian band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Eurogliders
| image = Eurogliders.jpg
| caption = Eurogliders circa 1982
| origin = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| genre = Pop, post-punk, new wave
| years_active = 1980–1989, 2005–2007, 2013–present
| label = CBS, Mercury, Polygram, Universal, MGM, Sony, Columbia, Deluxe
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
- Bernie Lynch
- Amanda Vincent
- Crispin Akerman
- Don Meharry
- Guy Slingerland
- Grace Knight
- John Bennetts
- Geoff Rosenberg
- Ron François
- Scott Saunders
- Rex Goh
- Lindsay Jehan
- Guy Le Claire
- Joy Smithers
- Steve Sowerby
- Phil Whitcher
}}
Eurogliders are a band formed in 1980 in Perth, Western Australia, which included Grace Knight on vocals, Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals, and Amanda Vincent on keyboards.
- First edition (online copy): {{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |title=Encyclopedia entry for 'Eurogliders' |url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=327 |access-date=17 June 2009 |year=1999 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803170050/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=327 |archive-date=3 August 2004 }}
- Second edition: {{cite book | author1 = McFarlane, Ian | others = Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) | title = The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Eurogliders' | date = 31 March 2017 | publication-date = 2017 | location = Gisborne, VIC | publisher = Third Stone Press | edition = 2nd | page = 155 | isbn = 978-0-9953856-0-3 }}
{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127164354/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/e/eurogliders.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/e/eurogliders.html | title = Eurogliders | publisher = Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgrem) | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Stefan | last2 = Warnqvist | first3 = Ron | last3 = Francois | author-link3 = Ron François | first4 = Don | last4 = Meharry | archive-date = 27 November 2013 | url-status = usurped | access-date = 9 March 2014 }} In 1984, Eurogliders released an Australian top ten album, This Island,{{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. which spawned their No. 2 hit single, "Heaven (Must Be There)". "Heaven" also peaked at No. 21 on the United States Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and appeared on the Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=eurogliders|chart=all}}| title=Artist Single Chart History: Eurogliders|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Neilson Business Media|access-date=17 June 2009}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p25201|pure_url=yes}} |title=Eurogliders > Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles |work=allmusic |publisher=Macrovision |access-date=17 June 2009}} Another Australian top ten album, Absolutely, followed in 1985, which provided two further local top ten singles, "We Will Together" and "Can't Wait to See You". They disbanded in 1989, with Knight having a successful career as a jazz singer. Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane described Eurogliders as "the accessible face of post-punk new wave music. The band's sophisticated brand of pop was traditional in its structure, but displayed the decidedly 'modern veneer' (hip clothes, heavy use of synthesiser)". The band reformed in 2005 releasing two new albums followed in 2014 by their seventh album.
History
=Early days (1980–1982)=
Guitarist and singer Bernie Lynch (as Rip Torn) fronted a new wave band, The Stockings, in Perth, Western Australia in the late 1970s. He left in early 1980 to form Living Single, with keyboard player Amanda Vincent. Together, they recruited Crispin Akerman on guitar, Don Meharry on bass guitar and Guy Slingerland on drums through a series of advertisements. The following year, Grace Knight – Lynch's future domestic partner – joined as lead vocalist.{{cite AV media | people = Sutherland, Donnie (interviewer), Vincent, Amanda (interviewee), Knight, Grace (interviewee) | date = September 1984 | title = "Eurogliders – Interview with Grace Knight & Amanda Vincent" | medium = Sounds: TV production | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZ-mpnICAk |access-date= 9 March 2014 | time = 0:22–0:42 | publisher = YouTube | quote = Donnie Sutherland: Amanda you have been with Eurogliders when they were called another name. How long ago was that? Amanda Vincent: Living Single. DS: What were they called? AV: Living Single. DS: Living Single, and how many years ago would that have been? AV: Going on five years. DS: So, when did you join Gracie? Grace Knight: Four years ago… We were still called Living Single and I joined… DS: …and then the name change? GK: Yeah… }} By the end of 1981, drummer John Bennetts replaced Slingerland and the band changed their name to Eurogliders.{{cite web |url=http://www.australianjazzagency.com.au/acts/eurogliders/ |title=eurogliders |publisher=Australian Jazz Agency |access-date=29 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624141318/http://www.australianjazzagency.com.au/acts/eurogliders/ |archive-date=24 June 2009 }} They were signed by manager, Brian Peacock, to their first recording and publishing contracts with PolyGram. They recruited Melbourne bass player Geoff Rosenberg to replace Meharry. In 1982, Eurogliders travelled to Manila, capital of the Philippines, to record their first album, Pink Suit Blue Day, produced by Englishman Lem Lubin, which did not peak into the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart. From Manila, they relocated to Sydney to release their first single in June, "Without You", which peaked into the top 40 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.
=International success (1983–1985)=
Eurogliders changed record labels from Polygram to CBS in 1983. They replaced bass guitarist, Rosenberg, with Scott Saunders and travelled to the UK in July. While there, they recruited bass guitarist Ron François, formerly of The Sinceros, The Teardrop Explodes and Lene Lovich. With this line-up they recorded This Island, produced by Nigel Gray (also worked with the Police) which was released in May and peaked at No. 4 on the Australian albums chart. The single, "Heaven (Must Be There)", also released in May, reached No. 2 on the Australian singles charts. Released several months later in North America, the single peaked at No. 47 in Canada, and at No. 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album peaked at No. 140 on the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=eurogliders|chart=all}}| title=Artist Album Chart History: Eurogliders|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Neilson Business Media|access-date=17 June 2009}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p25201|pure_url=yes}} |title=Eurogliders > Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums |work=allmusic |publisher=Macrovision |access-date=17 June 2009}} In Australia, "Heaven" was followed by a domino effect of two more top 10 hits, with "We Will Together" (No. 7, April 1985), and "Can't Wait to See You" (No. 8, November 1985). Their third album Absolutely, which peaked at No. 7, spent 47 weeks in the Australian charts. Between 1984 and 1986, Eurogliders toured Australia, the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and New Zealand.
At the height of the band's success, Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch reconciled their relationship and were married in 1985 but the union was short-lived. Despite their marital separation, they stayed together in the band for another four years. Lynch and Knight dismissed Brian Peacock, and took over the band's management.
=Demise (1986–1989)=
In early 1987, journalists documented Lynch and Knight's claim that Bennetts, François and Vincent left the band voluntarily. Vincent went to London on a world tour with the Thompson Twins, and stayed in the UK to tour and co-wrote with Boy George. François became a session musician in Australia, while Bennets toured with Eartha Kitt, and later worked in the Educational IT industry before founding Monkeydrum Studios.{{cite web|url=http://www.monkeydrum.com.au/corporate/corporate_intro.htm|title=Corporate Idol |publisher=Monkeydrum Studio|access-date=3 August 2010}}
Reduced to a duo, Lynch and Knight recorded their fourth album (Groove) with session musicians, including Akerman. However, despite Akerman's presence on the album it was clear that Lynch and Knight by themselves were now the Eurogliders, as they were the only people pictured on the album cover or inner sleeve, or on any of the album's associated singles.
Groove peaked at No. 25 on the Australian charts in April 1988. The related single, "Groove" had peaked at No. 13 in February but the next singles, "It Must Be Love" in June, "Listen" in September and "Precious" in March 1989 did not reach the top 50.
For the album tour, Lynch, Knight and Akerman were joined by Guy Le Claire on guitar, Rex Goh on guitar (ex-Air Supply), Lindsay Jehan on bass guitar and Steve Sowerby on drums. Later in 1989, the Eurogliders disbanded. Akerman returned to his visual art background and became a painter,{{cite web|url=http://www.crispinakerman.com.au/curriculum_vitae.php|title=Crispin Akerman curriculum vitae|last=Akerman|first=Crispin|publisher=Crispin Akerman|access-date=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507134623/http://www.crispinakerman.com.au/curriculum_vitae.php|archive-date=7 May 2009|url-status=dead}} Lynch initially pursued a solo music career; while Knight became a successful jazz singer.
=Post-Eurogliders (1990–2005)=
After Eurogliders, Knight made a cameo appearance in the 1990 TV series Come In Spinner and sang on its soundtrack, Come In Spinner, recorded with jazz artist Vince Jones, which peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Grace+Knight|title=Discography Grace Knight|publisher=australian-charts.com|access-date=19 June 2009}} This launched a new career for Knight as a jazz singer with her first solo album, Stormy Weather, which peaked at No. 16 in 1991. Lynch became involved in theatre and soundtrack composition, and as the business manager of his second wife, fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. Vincent, who had a successful popular music career with credits including Boy George, Gang of Four and Billy Bragg, moved into ethnomusicology, specialising in African and Cuban music.{{cite web |last1=Sublette |first1=Ned |author1-link=Ned Sublette |title=Amanda Villepastour: Ancient Text Messages of the Yorùba Bàtá |url=https://afropop.org/articles/amanda-villepastour-interview-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117141217/https://afropop.org/articles/amanda-villepastour-interview-2 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |website=Afropop Worldwide |access-date=21 January 2022 |date=11 February 2016 |url-status=live}}
=Reformations=
Eurogliders reformed in October 2005, with Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch using session musicians including former member, Rex Goh,{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rex-goh-mn0000660959 | title = Rex Goh Credits | publisher = Allmusic (All Media Network) | access-date = 22 March 2014 }} and they released their fifth studio album, simply called Eurogliders and included the single, "Hummingbird", but neither album nor single peaked into the ARIA top 50 charts.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Eurogliders|title=Discography Eurogliders|publisher=australian-charts.com|access-date=19 June 2009}} NOTE: Information supplied by ARIA shows that Eurogliders has no Top 50 charting albums or singles since they started their charts in mid-1988. They started touring again in April 2006 and performed on the Countdown Spectacular during June to August, which was a nostalgic tour of Australian bands from the 1970s and 1980s, as featured on the pop television show Countdown with its host Ian "Molly" Meldrum. The group's sixth album, Blue Kiss, was recorded during the same sessions as the previous and was released in mid-2006, it also had no top 50 charting.{{cite web | url = http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2006/jan06/20060131_eurogliders.html | title = Eurogliders Reform | author = Cashmere, Paul | author-link = Paul Cashmere | website = undercover.com.au | date = 31 January 2006 | via = National Library of Australia | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060525231059/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/11299/20060518-0000/www.undercover.com.au/news/2006/jan06/20060131_eurogliders.html | archive-date = 25 May 2006 | access-date = 10 October 2020 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Eurogliders official website was shut down in September 2008. In 2013 it was announced that the Eurogliders were expected to reform to support The Boomtown Rats on a planned reunion tour of Australia in May. However, the tour was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Their seventh studio album, Don't Eat the Daisies, appeared in 2014.{{Citation | author1 = Eurogliders | title = Don't Eat the Daisies | date = 2014 | publisher = MGM Distribution | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192859482 | access-date = 10 October 2020 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/eurogliders-will-together-again-but-not-like-you-might-expect/news-story/c8f723c3dcf602ee8807ded04d090157 | title = Album reviews: Eurogliders, ABC Classics, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Father John Misty, Shane Howard, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard | last = Brown | first = Sally | work = The Courier-Mail | date = 27 February 2015 | access-date = 10 October 2020 }} In May 2017 they headlined the entertainment on Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup Day during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Eurogliders plan to tour Australia in support of Simple Minds and OMD in December 2021.{{cite web | url = http://www.noise11.com/news/australian-simple-minds-and-omd-dates-rescheduled-for-2021-20200701 | title = Australian Simple Minds and OMD Dates Rescheduled For 2021 | work = Noise11.com | date = 1 July 2020 | access-date = 10 October 2020 }}
Members
Eurogliders' members (arranged chronologically):
- Bernie Lynch – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1980–1989, 2005–2007, 2013–present)
- Amanda Vincent – keyboards (1980–1987)
- Crispin Akerman – guitar (1980–1987)
- Don Meharry – bass guitar (1980–1981)
- Guy Slingerland – drums (1980–1981)
- Grace Knight – vocals, saxophone, keyboards (1981–1989, 2005–2007, 2013–present)
- John Bennetts – drums, percussion (1981–1987)
- Stephen Clarke - drums (1981)
- Geoff Rosenberg – bass guitar (1981–1983)
- Ron François – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–1987)
- Scott Saunders – bass (1983)
- Rex Goh – guitar (1988–1989)
- Lindsay Jehan – bass guitar (1988–1989)
- Guy Le Claire – guitar (1988–1989)
- Joy Smithers – backing vocals (1988–1989)
- Steve Sowerby – drums (1988–1989)
- Phil Whitcher – Keyboards (1988–1989){{cite web | title=Eurogliders - Precious | website=45cat | url=http://www.45cat.com/record/6546767 | access-date=6 May 2020}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |
| rowspan="2" width="250px"| Title
!rowspan="2" width="250px"| Album details !colspan="1" width="120px"| Peak chart positions !rowspan="2" width="130"| Certifications |
|---|
| width="30px"| AUS {{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=182}} |
| scope="row" | Pink Suit Blue Day
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 54 | |
| scope="row" | This Island
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | |
| scope="row" |Absolutely
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 | |
| scope="row" |Groove
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 | |
| scope="row" |Eurogliders
|
| {{sdash}} | |
| scope="row" |Don't Eat The Daisies
|
| {{sdash}} | |
| scope="row" |The Blue Kiss Project
|
| {{sdash}} | |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |
| rowspan="2" width="250px"| Title
!rowspan="2" width="250px"| Album details !colspan="1" width="120px"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| width="30px"| AUS {{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/eBKYxWV| title=Eurogliders ARIA chart history (albums), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=8 July 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. |
| scope="row" |12" Mixes
|
| {{sdash}} |
| scope="row" |Greatest Hits: Maybe Only I Dream
|
| 134 |
| scope="row" |The Essential Eurogliders
|
| {{sdash}} |
=Singles=
{{Singles discography | all_albums=yes | charts=5 | include_footnote = yes
| chartA = AUS
Australian (ARIA Chart) peak for "It Must Be Love" (N.B. it reached the same peak as on the Australian Music Report chart): {{cite web|url=http://chartbeat.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/25-years-ago-this-week-july-3-1988.html|title=25 Years Ago This Week: July 3, 1988|publisher=chartbeat.blogspot.com.au|access-date=18 September 2015}}
| chartB = CAN
{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9636&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=o25ndcs01id77c0jldmsj5jp72 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=1 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309154645/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9636&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=o25ndcs01id77c0jldmsj5jp72 |archive-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}
| chartC = NZL
{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=eurogliders&cat=s |title=charts.nz > Eurogliders (singles) |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=18 September 2015 }}
| chartD = US Hot 100
| chartE = US Main
| title1 = Without You | album1 = Pink Suit Blue Day | albumspan1 = 2 | year1 = 1982 | yearspan1 = 2 |peak1A = 34
| title2 = Laughing Matter
| title3 = No Action | album3 = This Island | albumspan3 = 4 | year3 = 1983 | yearspan3 = 2 | peak3A = 97
| title4 = Another Day in the Big World | peak4A = 66
| title5 = Heaven (Must Be There) | year5 = 1984 | yearspan5 = 2 | peak5A = 2 | peak5B = 47 | peak5C = 6 | peak5D = 65 | peak5E = 21
| title6 = Maybe Only I Dream | peak6A = 56
| title7 = We Will Together | album7 = Absolutely | albumspan7 = 5 |year7 = 1985 | yearspan7 = 3 | peak7A = 7
| title8 = The City of Soul | peak8A = 19
| title9 = Can't Wait to See You | peak9A = 8
| title10 = Absolutely | year10 = 1986 | yearspan10 = 2 | peak10A = 29
| title11 = So Tough | peak11A = 91
| title12 = Groove | album12 = Groove | albumspan12 = 4 |year12 = 1988 | yearspan12 = 3 | peak12A = 13
| title13 = It Must Be Love | peak13A = 72
| title14 = Listen
| title15 = Precious | year15 = 1989
| title16 = Hummingbird | album16 = Eurogliders | year16 = 2005
}}
Awards and nominations
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2024
| Eurogliders - realestate.com.au: Keep Moving (72andSunny)
| Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement
| {{nom}}
| {{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-26/aria-awards-2024-nominations-royel-otis-kylie-minogue-dom-dolla/104398174|title= ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 September 2024|access-date=29 September 2024}}
|}
=Countdown Australian Music Awards=
Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974–1987, it presented music awards from 1979–1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.{{Cite web | url = http://www.countdownmemories.com/magazines/pdfs/1987_03.pdf | title = Countdown to the Awards | work = Countdown Magazine |date=March 1987 | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | format = Portable document format (PDF) | access-date = 16 December 2010 }}
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |1982
| "Pink Suit Blue Day"
| Best Debut Album
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Without You"
| Best Debut Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5" |1984
| rowspan="2" | "Heaven Must Be There"
| Best Single
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| Themselves in "Heaven Must Be There"
| Best Group Performance in a Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| Bernie Lynch (Eurogliders)
| Best Songwriter
| {{nom}}
|-
| Grace Knight
| Most Popular Female Performer
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1986
| Grace Knight
| Most Popular Female Performer
| {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
=West Australian Music Industry Awards=
The West Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards celebrating achievements for Western Australian music. They commenced in 1985.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2017 || Eurogliders || Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web |last1=Hamey |first1=Sharyn |title=Rock Club 40 chats with BERNIE LYNCH (EUROGLIDERS) |url=https://rockclub40.com/rock-club-40-chats-with-bernie-lynch-eurogliders/ |website=Rock Club 40 |access-date=14 October 2022 |date=16 February 2015}}
- {{cite web |last1=Pinnegar |first1=Shane |title=INTERVIEW – Bernie Lynch, Eurogliders |url=https://100percentrock.com/2015/12/interview-bernie-lynch-eurogliders/ |website=100% ROCK MAGAZINE |access-date=14 October 2022 |date=4 December 2015}}
{{refend}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm4492494}}
- [http://www.graceknight.com.au/ Grace Knight's official website]
{{Eurogliders}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 1980
Category:Musical groups from Perth, Western Australia
Category:Australian new wave musical groups
Category:Australian pop music groups
Category:Australian post-punk groups