Preserving South African Musical History
Energetic Cape Malay rock fusion band who formed in Cape Town in 1986 with Hilton Schilder (keyboards, vocals), Mac Mackenzie (bass, vocals), Gerard O’Brien (guitar) and Ian Herman (drums).
Released their debut album, Goema, in 1986. They were joined by Mac Mackenzie’s father, Samuel ‘Mr Mac’ MacKenzie for their second album, Mr Mac And The Genuines released in 1987.
They released two further albums in the early 1990s before breaking up.
Formed in Vereeniging in 1981 with Bernard Binns (guitar, vocals), Pete Koen (guitar), Bert Askes (bass) and Maciek Schejbal (drums). In 1985 Peter Koen left and in 1986 Nik Matzukis replaced Maciek Schejbal on drums and Alistair Broadhead replaced Bert Askes on bass. Paul Hughes (guitar, vocals) also joined in 1986.
There were other comings and goings during the band’s existence, although it is not clear to us exactly when these took place. The band’s debut single was “Flying High” released in 1981 but it was with “Mysteries And Jealousies“ in 1984 that they rose to prominence in South Africa.
They released several more singles until 1987 and an EP, What Affair, in 1988 after which they broke up. They also released two albums: Love Attack (1985) and In The Flesh (1987).
Durban-based group formed in the mid-1980s under the mentorship of Darius Brubeck: Zim Ngqawana (alto sax, flute), Victor Masondo (bass), Lulu Gontsana (drums, percussion), Kevin Gibson (drums), Andrew Eagle (guitar), Melvin Peters (piano, keyboards), Nic Paton (tenor sax, soprano sax) and Johnny Mekoa (trumpet, valve trombone), and Rick van Heerden (alto sax, tenor sax).
Released the album We Have Waited Too Long in 1988 and toured the USA.
Johannesburg-based group formed in the mid-1980s by Gary Herselman: (aka Methylated Purple) on vocals and guitar, Gary Sparks (aka Citrus Orange) on bass, and Neil Fishwick (aka Crimple Green) on drums.
Released the album Ek Sê and single “Golden Days” in 1988 and the album Chrome Sweet Chrome in 1995.
The Leather Omnibus was a multiracial band comprising students at Rhodes University and residents of Rhini Township outside Grahamstown during the apartheid-era of the late 1980s.
The band played a mixture of covers and original material commenting on the socio-political conditions of the time.
They released one single, ‘Neighbours’ which received airplay on the local campus radio station, ‘RMR’.
The classic line-up was: Leon Lazarus (bass & vocals), Mini Dial (drums & vocals), Brett Lock (guitar), David McCluskey (saxophone), and Nombelelo Futuse (keyboards and backing vocals).
For their final run of gigs in December 1989 at the famous club Jameson’s in Johannesburg, they were augmented by: Chris Letcher (lead guitar), Alan Finlay (keyboards), Vusi Kama (percussion), and Rene Benade (backing vocals).
Formed in Alexandra in 1967. The original line-up included Sophie Thapedi (vocals), Oupa Hlongwane (guitar), Sankie Cluenyane (organ), Norman Cluenyane (bass), Archie Mohlala (drums), Lula Nasekela (alto sax), Thomas Phale (tenor sax). Early on Maxwell Kubheka replaced Norman Cluenyane on bass.
They launched their career with the release of the singles “Apple Tart” (1969) and “Movers Underground”.
They released their first solo album Crying Guitar in 1970. They experienced several line-up changes over the next decade and by 1981 their line-up had changed to: Ben Rhikoto (guitar), Jabu Sibumbe (bass and percussion), Lloyd Lelosa (keyboards and vocals), Mafa Pholo (drums), Thomas Phale (tenor sax), Eaglett Ditsi (vocals) and Joy White (vocals).
They released singles and albums on a regular basis throughout the 1970s and until their last album, Space, released in 1981.
Formed in 1985, developed out of Neill Solomon’s band Bazar with Neill Solomon (guitar, vocals), Greg Georgiades (bass), George Spencer (percussion) and George Voros (drums).
Later versions of the band included Chris Bekker (bass), Stuart Woods (keyboards), George Spencer (drums), Dan Chiorboli (percussion), Thathi Pule (bass), Karriem Daries (drums) and Anthony Stevens (guitar).
The Passengers released the singles “Hold on” in 1987, “Got to get Away” in 1988 and “Honeytown” and “What?” in 1989.
All four were included on their only album Rule Of The Swallow released in 1989.
The band broke up in the early 1990s and Neil Solomon continued with studio, theatre, film and solo work.
Springs-based band with Radio Rat Jonathan Handey (guitar vocals), Safari Suit Steve Moni (guitar) and Chauffer Graham Handley (bass). Also Larry Friedburg and Julian Platt (drums).
Released the single “Home Address … The Burning Road/Keep It A Secret” in late 1980. The song “Shock Time For Rock” was included on the international compilation World Class Punk (1984).
In 1999 an unofficial album, The Complete Pop Guns 1980/1981 was compiled, including fourteen songs that were part of the original recording session.
Cape Town band who formed in 1968 and are still performing. The original line-up morphed out of The Fantastics and included George Carelse (lead guitar), Robbie Jansen (guitar, sax, flute), John Barron (drums, lead vocals), Claude Brown (bass, sax) and Bones Delight (vocals).
They started their career releasing the singles “Itchy Fingers” (1968), “Argie” (1968) and “In orbit”/“Enchantment” (1969). In 1969 they won the South African Battle of the Bands competition. They went to England in late 1969 and appeared on Top of the Pops and supported John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band at the Marquee and Credence Clearwater Revival on their European tour.
On their return to South Africa George Carelse and Robbie Jansen were replaced by Gerry Watt (guitar) and Cliffie Valentine (keyboards).
They released their first album Loving You in 1975, followed by A Place in the Sun (1980), Thank You Thank You (1984), Check it Out! (1988), We Are All African People (1989), Tomorrow (1990) and Please Don’t Go (1992). They were the support act for various overseas artists when they toured South Africa in the early 1980s: Tavares, Champion Jack Dupree, The O’Jays and Curtis Mayfield. In 1982 they were Leo Sayer’s backing band when he performed at Sun City.
They have had numerous line-up changes over the years including Ronnie Joyce joining on vocals in 1984. Ricardo later joined as vocalist.
London-based indie rock band, with several South African members – including Brett Lock, formerly of The Leather Omnibus, Occam’s Razor and One Large Banana – formed in 2014. Members — Dean Sobers (vocals, guitar), Brett Houston-Lock (bass), and Chris Houston (percussion, violin), sometimes augmented by David Toube (keyboards) and Brett Collings (drums).
Their debut album Ground was released in November 2014, followed by Lie in January 2017, Dust in April 2019, and Present in June 2024. Singles include “After Charlie” (2016), “More Than Blue” (2021) — a collaboration with South African poet David Chislett — and “Bird Shot” (2022). BBC broadcaster Tom Robinson described one of their tracks as “a work of howling genius”.