Girl Monstar
{{Short description|Australian rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Girl Monstar
| image = Girl_Monstar_Band_Photo.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Left to right: Damian Child, Sue World, Sherry Valier, Anne McCue; 1990
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| genre = Indie rock
| years_active = {{start date|1988}}–{{end date|1993}}
| label = Timberyard
| associated_acts = Obscure Alternatives, Cactus Fever, Vertigo, The Screaming Tribesmen, Wet Ones, The Mudcakes
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = Damian Child
Anne McCue
Sherry Valier (aka Sherry Rich)
Ritchie Hine
Sue World
Janene Abbott
}}
Girl Monstar were an all female Australian rock band which formed 1988 with the line-up of Damian Child on bass guitar; Anne McCue on lead guitar and vocals; Sherry Valier (aka Sherry Rich) on vocals and rhythm guitar (ex-Cactus Fever); and Sue World on drums and vocals (ex-The Wet Ones). Both of their singles, "Surfing on a Wave of Love" / "He's Hell" (1989) and "Joe Cool" (1990), topped the Australian Independent charts. They issued one album, Monstereo Delicio, in July 1992 on Timberyard Records. Child was replaced by Janene Abbott but the group disbanded in 1993. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described their sound "trash pop style mixed tough guitar riffs with strong harmonies". Valier as Rich, is a country rock artist and has issued solo material as well as performing in bands. McCue is also an alternative country artist, she relocated to Nashville and has released several solo albums.
History
Girl Monstar formed in 1988 in Melbourne with the line-up of Damian Child (Feline Touch) on bass guitar and vocals; Anne McCue (Vertigo) on lead guitar, slide guitar and vocals; Sherry Valier (aka Sherry Rich)(Obscure Alternatives, Cactus Fever) on lead vocals, harmonica and rhythm guitar; and Ritchie Hine on drums. After a few months Hine left the band to join the newly formed Screaming Tribesmen and was replaced by Sue World (Wet Ones).{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Girl Monstar' | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040809222234/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=836 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=836 | accessdate = 14 June 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | archivedate = 9 August 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}{{Cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110805212321/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/girlmonstar.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/girlmonstar.html | publisher = Australian Rock Database. (Magnus Holmgren) | title = Girl Monstar | work = Passagen.se | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | archivedate = 5 August 2011 | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 10 May 2014 }} The group signed with Timberyard Records and in October 1989 issued their debut double-A-sided single, "Surfing on a Wave of Love" / "He's Hell". Both tracks are written by Valier.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Surfing on a Wave of Love' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Surfing%20on%20a%20Wave%20of%20Love |accessdate=14 June 2013 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='He's Hell' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Hes%20Hell |accessdate=14 June 2013 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Early in 1990 Girl Monstar supported the Australian leg of a tour by Danish hard rock group, D. A. D., which was followed by a similar support for United States heavy metal band, Skid Row. Later that year they issued a second single, "Joe Cool", which is also written by Valier.{{cite web | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | title = 'Joe Cool' at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Joe%20Cool | accessdate = 14 June 2013 }}
Both of their singles, "Surfing on a Wave of Love" / "He's Hell" and "Joe Cool", topped the Australian Independent charts.{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p1616424|pure_url=yes}} |title=Girl Monstar – Music Biography | last = Rovi | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation | accessdate = 14 June 2013 }} The single "Joe Cool", was produced by Kevin 'Cavemen' Shirley.[http://www.cavemanproductions.com/discogplus.html Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, Discography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217021038/http://www.cavemanproductions.com/discogplus.html |date=17 December 2012 }} The band provided a support show for The Buzzcocks and then The Ramones.
In July 1992 Girl Monstar released their debut album, Monstereo Delicio, which was produced by Paul Kosky (Not Drowning, Waving) and Jedd Starr. After it was recorded but before it was issued Child was replaced on bass guitar by Janene Abbott. The group disbanded in early 1993. Valier has a recording career as a country rock artist, Sherry Rich, which has included an album recorded with members of Wilco. She formed the groups, Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels and Sherry Rich and Courtesy Move. Rich performed as part of The Grapes with Ash Naylor on guitar, and from 2004 in The Mudcakes, which included former Girl Monstar bandmate, Sue World and Rich's husband, Rick Plant. Anne McCue is based in Nashville and has a recording career as an alternative country solo artist.
In 2010, Girl Monstar were featured in 'Rock Chicks' – an exhibition held at Melbourne's Arts Centre, which highlighted the achievements of women in the Australian music scene.[https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110815144600/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/15184/20110816-0046/www.theartscentre.com.au/about-us/media-centre/newseba0.html Rock Chicks cement their place in history]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, 10 Sep 2010, The Arts Centre
Members
- Damian Child – bass guitar, vocals (1988–92)
- Ritchie Hine – drums (1988)
- Anne McCue – lead guitar, vocals (1988–93)
- Sherry Valier – lead vocals, guitar (1988–93)
- Sue World – drums, vocals (1988–93)
- Paddy Chong – bass guitar (1991)
- Janene Abbott – bass guitar (1992–93)
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
!Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Monstereo Delicio
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
!Year !Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Surfing on a Wave of Love" / "He's Hell"
| 1989 | {{n/a|non album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Joe Cool"
| 1990 | Monstereo Delicio (bonus track) |
=Other appearances=
- "Dead by Christmas" on Rockin Bethlehem – Timberyard (SAW025) (1989)
- "Is that You?" on Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation – Waterfront Records (DAMP121) (1990)
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}}
|-
| 1990
| "Surfing on a Wave"/"He's Hell"
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1991
| "Joe Cool"
| Best Independent Release
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Australian rock music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993
Category:Victoria (state) musical groups
Category:Australian girl groups
Category:Timberyard Records artists