Only Thinking/Where Do They Go/Antipodes Army/Blue Day/I Lose Control/Don't Look Back In Anger/5 O'clock In The Morning/Why Did You Leave/Stranger In You/Delinquent Daddy/Lady Janice
It was New Zealand that gave birth to Mi-Sex. A name and a sound in 1977 that grew out of combining the collective creative energies of a cabaret singer Steve Gilpin, an art-rock Bass player Don Martin, a talented Southern drummer Richard Hodgkinson, a frustrated guitarist/song writer Kevin Stanton and a funk/dance keyboard player Murray Burns. Together Kevin & Murray forged a song writing partnership that anchored Mi- Sex throughout its four albums. These five new connections quickly dissolved their pasts, as they reinvented themselves, passing into the new era of new wave/electronic music and uniting fully as the sound that was to become Mi-Sex... Mi-Sex (the name originating from a song they performed by the British group Ultravox), recorded their début single, “Straight Laddie” in New Zealand. A punk parody with hints of Ian Duryesque vocals and a snatch of The Stranglers in the keyboards.
Now setting house records in New Zealand Mi-Sex decided to take their new found sound & look to Australia. Within a very short time, on the strength of their highly energized and semi-theatrical live shows, were soon one of Sydney’s most popular bands. Mi-Sex were signed by A&R/record producer Peter Dawkins to CBS. This relationship proved highly successful, and in 1979 released their début vinyl LP, “Graffiti Crimes” with singles “But You Don’t Care” and the prophetic single, “Computer Games” going top ten in New Zealand, Canadian, German & South African charts. Thanks to strong initial support from the ABC's Double Jay radio station and its nationally televised pop show ''Countdown'', Mi-Sex went number one in Australia. In November 1979 this culminated in a landmark performance at the Sydney Opera House in the ''Concert of the Decade'' Quote: “Credit must go to this New Zealand band for its international hit single, "Computer Games," which preceded the glut of similar-sounding British chart entrants by a year or more.”
A follow up album, 1980's “Space Race”, was also a multi platinum hit, with singles “People”, “Space Race“ and “It Only Hurts when I’m Laughing”. 1981 Mi-Sex undertook a ground breaking tour of America & Canada, playing venues with “The Ramones” and “Iggy Pop”, also selling out most of their own East & West coast shows. During this time, back in Australia, MiSex were awarded 'Most Popular Album', 'Best Australian Single' and 'Best New Talent' in the 1980: TV Week/Countdown Music Awards. The band was greeted at the airport with a televised presentation of these awards by Molly Meldrum when they arrived back from America/Canada... In 1981 drummer Richard exited, replaced by Paul Dunningham who spurred the infectious single “Castaway”. Their third album “Shanghaied” was released in 1982 which included “Falling in and Out”and the brooding single “Shanghaied” sung by Kevin Stanton. In 1983 Mi-Sex decided musically to become a 6 piece adding new member Colin Bayley, a previous Wellington band mate of Murray Burns, and songwriter of "I Wanna Be with U" from the “Graffiti Crimes” album. Colin added second guitar, vocals and with Murray, co- wrote the timeless “Blue Day”.
This new line up carried on to record album No 4 “Where Do They Go”, produced by Bob Clearmountain. The singles “Blue Day” & “Castaway” both had strong chart success in several states of the USA & Canada. 1984 Mi-Sex semi-retired from touring & living on the road as one identity. They agreed to take a well deserved break and to seek solo ventures. Always remaining the very closest of friends they came back together in the late 80’s for two more Australian tours. The summer 1990 saw the band collectively begin writing fresh material and talking of recording again... Sadly that was just before Steve Gilpin’s fatal car crash in November 1991, lapsing into a coma from which he never recovered. Steve died in Southport Hospital on January 6, 1992.... Shortly afterwards the cream of Australian artists and performers collaborated to hold consecutive concerts in Sydney & Melbourne to farewell & celebrate Steve Gilpin’s wonderful life & achievements. Mi-Sex became the sleeping giant laid to rest with Steve.
Many thanks sir ♥
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