Porcelain Bus

about

Not much was ever written about Porcelain Bus while they were around in the ten year period 1981 to 1991. Since then little has become virtually nothing. And that’s a tragedy, because this was a terrific band that didn’t deserve to be lost amongst Sydney contemporaries like Died Pretty, the Celibate Rifles, New Christs, Happy Hate Me Nots, and a host of other bands that shared the Citadel label with them or appeared on other local labels. A couple articles do come to mind, and from them and from conversations with former band members Rob McKiernan and Ian James, a reasonably complete picture can be sketched. One of these articles was a 1985 interview with David Tamsitt in the crucial Sydney fanzine B Side, and the other was in Melbourne’s Lemon, written in 1989 by Louis Dickinson. Porcelain Bus actually began in 1980 when Rob, Ian and bassist Paul Patrick got together while still in school. They began stumbling about trying to play, influenced both by their local favorites and also by overseas groups ranging from straight rock bands like the Who and the Flaming Groovies, to more off center groups like Pere Ubu, Wire, the Soft Boys, Velvet Underground and the Feelies, to country-edged pop/rock like the Long Ryders and early REM. An eclectic mix, and one that contributed heavily to the unique sound that Porcelain Bus came to have. The debut single in 1986 launched Porcelain Bus into the midst of a heady time in Australian rock. Overseas recognition of the Australian underground

top songs

albums

Talking To God

Fragile

Sacred Relics

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Positively Elizabeth Street

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Positively Elizabeth Street - A Citadel Compilation

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Take Everything - Leave Nothing (CITADEL REC. Australia)

Indignation

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Take Everything - Leave Nothing

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Positively Elizabeth Street (A Citadel Compilation)

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Take Everything Leave Nothing

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The Well Is Dry / The Hands Have Control

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Steel Bros

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