Preserving South African Musical History
Johannesburg band who were originally known as Lincoln. Changed name to Bite in 1980 when their line-up was Shaun Potts (lead vocals, guitar), Kevin Mason (guitar, vocals), Gawksy Madiera (bass), Gus Thompson (keyboards) and Ian Webster (drums). Sandy Robbie (guitar) joined in 1981 and Deon Mattheus replaced Gawksy Madiera on bass.
They released four singles in 1980 and 1981, with “Loud Radio” receiving airplay in 1981.
Heavy metal band based in Rolf Prommel (vocals, synthesizer), Carl Appels-Riley (guitar), Ian Simpson (drums) and Mark Proctor (bass).
Released the album Live By It (1984).
Blondie And Papa Makhene started out singing as a duo in 1977.
They released the single “Don’t Burn Your Bridges” in 1978 and over the next few years went on to release several more singles and three albums: (“Tell It All Brothers”, 1979; “24-Hour Service”, 1980 and “Together” in 1982).
They broke up in order to pursue solo careers.
Brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland were born and grew up in Port Elizabeth before moving to Holland with their parents during their teens. They made their living as produces but did release a series of singles and albums from the early 1970s right through into the mid-1990s. Their song ‘You’re in the army’ (1982) is their most well-known song and was covered by Status Quo in 1986. It was taken from The Domino Theory album released in 1981. They are also known as Bolland and Bolland.
They produced and co-wrote the hit ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ with German singer, Falco.
Formed in Soweto in 1969 with Vusi Xhosa (guitar), Vusi Nkosi (bass), Lukas Pelo (saxophone) and Phillippe Mziza (drums).
Released a steady flow of singles throughout the early to mid-1970s, beginning with “Boyoyo 800” in 1972 and including “Puleng” (1975) which Malcolm McLaren famously ‘used’ for his song “Double Dutch”(1983).
They later released two albums, Back in Town (1983) and TJ Today (1987).
Johannesburg group who began as the backing band for Blondie And Papa but became a band in their own right in 1983 when Brenda Fassie joined as their leading vocalist.
The rest of the band were: Rufus Klaas (guitar), David Mabaso (bass), Desmond Malotana (keyboards), Dumisane Ngubeni (keyboards) and Job Mlangeni (drums).
Released the highly successful Weekend Special EP and single in 1983. Thereafter released the albums Let’s Stick Together (1984), Higher and Higher (1985) and No! No! Senor (1986). In 1987 when Brenda Fassie left the group to go solo they continued as The Big Dudes, releasing three further albums: Pulling Very Hard (1987), No Share For The Boys (1988) and S’good S’nice (1989).
Cape Town born singer who began her music career at 16 when she moved to Johannesburg and joined Joy as temporary member.
She went on to become the lead singer for Brenda and the Big Dudes until 1987 when she went solo with the release of her debut single “Mr.
No Good” and solo album Brenda.
She went on to become one of South Africa’s top selling singers, releasing albums such as Too Late For Mama (1989) and Black President (1990).
She died in May 2004.
Photograph of Brenda Fassie courtesy of Harold Gess Photography.
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Bright Blue: Formed in Cape Town in 1983 with Robin Levetan (vocals), Tom Fox (guitar, vocals), Ian Cohen (bass, vocals), Dan Heymann (keyboards) and Peter Cohen (drums).
They released their self-titled debut album in 1984 and received radio play with their first single “Window on the World”. A second single “Living in Africa” did not do as well. The band lost some momentum when two band members (Dan Heymann and Ian Cohen) were conscripted to the army but released a second album The Rising Tide in 1988, by which time Robin Levetan had left.
The single “Weeping” topped the charts in 1987. A follow-up single “Where would I go” also received radio play. Later in 1988 they released the single “Time On My Own” which received some radio play.
After that Dan Heymann left the group when he moved to the United States.
The remaining three members released the 3-song e.p “Open Your Eyes” in 1996 and then in 2003 (with Dan Heymann) they released the song “Madiba” as a free-to-download single (recorded in 1990).
In 2008 the original five members reunited to play at an End Conscription campaign concert at Spier Estate in the Western Cape.