Died Pretty

Died Pretty are responsible for some of the most inspirational and eclectic Australian rock of the 80s and 90s, without ever climbing to the "heights" of commercial success.

Died Pretty was formed when guitarist Brett Myer's group The End broke up in 1983. Originally from Brisbane, the Velvet Underground/Doors influenced group had relocated to Sydney by the time they decided to call it a day. Someone who used to turn up often at gigs by The End was Ron Peno, who was always telling the band they were great but needed a lead singer, and he was the man they needed.

Ron had learned his passion for music standing in the audience at Radio Birdman shows. He'd gone on to earn a considerable reputation as a frontman with Sydney's New York Dolls-styled covers band the Hellcats, and was later part of a Brisbane group, the 31 st with would-be Screaming Tribesman leader Mick Medew. Peno had been part of an embryo Screaming Tribemen line-up which didn't work out.

After The End, Brett Myer and rock journalist Frank Brunetti formed an experimental group in the style of confronting New York group Suicide. Peno was invited to sing vocals, and for their first two months, the new group's drummer was Radio Birdman singer Rob Younger. Younger had been part of a casual group called Super K with Frank Brunetti. This version of the band never actually got beyond the rehearsal stage. After a couple months, the band re-organized themselves without Younger and with two other former members of The End, Jonathan Lickliter on bass and Colin Barwick on drums.

Their first live shows were back in Brisbane, poorly attended and patchy. A couple of venues decided not to have them back. For the first five performances they called themselves Final Solution after a Pere Ubu song they loved. They ditched that name but couldn't come up with another one everyone was prepared to work under. Then Ron came up with Died Pretty, a name the Screaming Tibesmen had been toying with. No-one in Ron's new group actually liked Died Pretty as a name, but they didn't dislike it either.

In January 1984 Died Pretty recorded its first single, 'Out Of The Unknown, produced by Rob Younger, and released through indie label Citadel. Between recording the single and a tour to Melbourne, Johnathan Lickliter was replaced by Mark Lock on bass. That Melbourne tour seems to have been an important turning point for Died Pretty. In Brisbane and Sydney audiences had seen the members in their previous combinations. Melbourne took the band as it was, and for their part Died Pretty took advantage of that time to consolidate as a band.

In August 1984, Died Pretty recorded another Rob Younger production, 'Mirror Blues', an epic 10 minute song split over both sides of the single. This proved to be the last recording with Colin Barwick. Colin wanted to move on, so Died Pretty set their sights on Screaming Tribesman's drummer Chris Welsh. There was just one complication. Welsh didn't have a drum kit, and Died Pretty couldn't afford to finance one. The better off Screaming Tribesmen could, so Welsh played with the Tribesmen until the kit was payed for and then he joined Died Pretty. The new Died Pretty line-up was launched with the 'Next To Nothing' EP.

It was another year before Died Pretty recorded its first album, 'Free Dirt', also released in England, the US and France. Interest was respectable in Australia but reverent off shore. In October 1996 Died Pretty departed for their first tour of Europe and the USA. The second album 'Lost', was released on Citadel's offshoot label, Blue Mosque, like 'Free Dirt', a mix of rockers and brooding ballads. In Italy the album reached the No.3 spot.

Before 1990's American produced 'My Brilliant Eye', Mark Lock and Frank Brunetti were replaced by Steve Clark and John Hoey. Still one of Australian rock's best kept secrets, with 1991's 'Doughboy Hollow' the band moved to Festival Records and hopefully into the mainstream. The album, if not their best, was equal to their best, brim with majestic rock drama. The album sold well, but not enough for Festival. Two years later Died Pretty delivered 'Trance' with Sony, followed by 'Sold' (reuniting the band with Rob Younger as producer). they were back where they started, independent heroes, delivering powerful and passionate rock to anyone who wants to seek them out.

In mid 2002 Died Pretty announced their farewell tour. Ron Peno joined forces with Kim Salmon in 2005 under the name Darling Downs. They recorded an album titled How Can I Forget This Heart Of Mine? and followed up in 2007 with 'From On The The Other'. Ron and Brett Myers came together again in 2007 and recorded an album under the name NOISES And Other VOICES. It comprises material that was originally slated for Died Pretty's final album.

The Died Pretty performed 'Doughboy Hollow' in its entirety as a part of the Don't Look Back concerts in Australia in February 2008, without the services of long-time bass player, Robbie Warren, and drummer, Simon Cox. Instead, the lineup that recorded the album - Myers, Peno, Steve Clark (bass), Chris Welsh (drums) and John Hoey (keyboards) - played together for the first time in sixteen years. Out of print for the past few years, the album was also be remastered, expanded and reissued through Citadel Records in 2008.