The Church

Formed and launched in Sydney in April 1980, The Church carved out one of the longest-surviving international music careers ever to come out of Australia.

The group was formed by English-born songwriter Steve Kilbey, who had started his music career in Canberra, where he played with several bands. Settling in Sydney, Steve spent a number of years writing and recording songs in his bedroom studio with his friend Peter Koppes. Adding drummer Nick Ward they finally emerged out of Steve's bedroom and played a handful of inauspicious shows before becoming a quartet with the inclusion of former itinerant busker, Marty Willson-Piper, just arrived from England.

The band decided to pool its resources and return to Steve's bedroom studio to record a four-track demo, which not just found them a publishing deal, but a record contract with EMI Australia. The first album was recorded without the usual long apprenticeship Australian bands needed to serve on the live circuit. However, the album sat on the shelves for several months while singles were released and career-establishing wheels were set it motion. When it was time for an album, the tapes were sent to be remixed in America by Bob Clearmountain. Just before the album's release Nick Ward was replaced by teenage drummer Richard Ploog and this line-up was to remain intact for the next eight years.

From the release of the first single, 'She Never Said', The Church distinguished themselves with their jangling acoustic guitar sounds reminiscent of the sixties folk rock practiced by the Byrds and early Simon and Garfunkel. With its mystical lyrics the second album, 'The Blurred Crusade' brought the group's own style more into focus. On the third album, 'Seance' they added stings and other effects. The Church was off on its own unique musical adventure. Capturing international release for their music almost immediately ensured that the group could concentrate on their recording career rather than slogging it out on stage, as most Australian artists need to do to survive. That's given The Church both their longevity and their willingness to experiment in the studio.

In 1986 Willson-Piper quit the group during the European leg of their third international tour. He agreed to come back to the fold on the condition that future recordings by The Church be collaborative rather than comprise almost exclusively Steve Kilbey songs. The resulting united album, 'Starfish' brought The Church back into the commercial spotlight with the album's hit, 'Under The Milky Way'.(YouTube)

Since the departure of Richard Ploog in 1991 The Church has remained a fluid proposition where each album could easily have been, but did not end up being, the last. Steve Kilbey, Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes record solo albums, and are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, particularly Steve. Rather than a contractual commitment, each new Church album or tour evolves naturally out of their mutual desire to do it again.