Died Pretty

At a time when Australian rock meant pub rock and every other band sounded like Cold Chisel, Died Pretty were something of an anomaly. Influenced more by the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, and the Doors than they were by early Icehouse, Died Pretty spent most of the '80s and '90s struggling for recognition and finding it only in Europe. Diminutive singer Ron Peno channeled Iggy Pop and Jim Morrison in equal measure, whirling dangerously while on-stage. After his band the 31st broke up, he formed Died Pretty with keyboardist Frank Brunetti, guitarist Brett Myers, and a series of bass players and drummers including Radio Birdman's Rob Younger. Finally they settled on bass player Jonathan Lickliter and drummer Colin Barwick, both of whom had been members of Brisbane band the End along with Myers. While playing around Sydney venues like the Trade Union Club they were spotted by John Needham, founder of the indie label Citadel Records, who offered to manage them and release some of their songs. After several singles and the EP Next to Nothing, all of which made the local alternative charts, the rhythm section changed once again. Mark Lock (formerly of the Phantom Agents) and Chris Welsh (who had played drums with Peno in his old band the 31st) joined them for the recording of their first album, Free Dirt, which was released in 1986. A European tour followed, and they signed to British label Beggars Banquet for their overseas distribution. As a result, their second album, 1988's Lost, made it into the Italian charts. In Australia, the album was released on Blue Mosque, a collaboration between Citadel Records and major label Festival. Frank Brunetti and then Mark Lock left the band during the period of intense overseas touring that followed Lost's release and were replaced...