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A bit about the band….. Special Patrol is a band that has been around since the beginning of time. Or at least since Rob (drums) and Myles (guitar/vocals) met in their year two classroom. Even though they did not pick up a musical instrument until the ninth grade they had formed the Special Patrol ideal.
Through high school they spent weekends experimenting with booze and recording in a variety of houses, beach houses and garages around Adelaide with friends (Tom, Chris, Russy, Sqirrel, Tunas, Ted, Sharn, Simon, Hooves at different times and all with different talents) that would drift in and out of the band for the next few years. Some of these recordings (with Chris Vallejo) were put onto CD and sold at gigs and would be know as Lead Pipe Dreams (LP), Little Man (EP), and Chin Up (EP). They played their first gigs, very badly, in hotels well before they were legally allowed to be on the premises…. mind you not many kids at these early shows were of legal drinking age.
Years passed and band members came and went before a semi-permanent line up formed. Ben Opie decided he was going to stay for a while and play the bass and help Myles craft his songs. Kate Bailey, long time family friend of Myles put her hand up to play the piano & synth noises and put all her years of choir vocal training to no use what so ever.
Then, one fateful evening in June 2003, Rob was out watching a local band play. He locked eyes with a scruffy looking boy in the audience named Damien Holland. They felt a connection and went to a quiet corner for a chat where Damo told Rob all about his love for music and his ability to play the guitar. Rob asked Damo to join the band but Damo said, “I’m too busy with my other band” which was a lie because he didn’t have another band. Rob sent him a demo anyway and after realizing that he quite liked the music Damo decided to become a member of Special Patrol.
These five made an album called The Golden Mean. The band received much national airplay and played hundreds of great gigs and festivals all round the country.
A few years of playing and touring went by and Ben Opie finished his Law degree and got a real job so he handed over his bass guitar to old friend Paul Banytis (Nighteyes/Cream buns) and boy could he play.
They had some new songs up their sleeve and decided to go record them with an old friend Chris in Sydney (Linear Studio). Also returning to help with production was old friend Russy. The album would be called Handy Hints from the Undertaker and would eventually develop and become a kooky-character, concept album.
To be continued…….
Special Patrol is:
and most of the time with..... The last couple of years has seen some great moments for Special Patrol. They have recieved heaps of national and local airplay. They played at the Big Day Out, Falls Festival and toured Australia consistently. They have travelled and played support for International bands like Ben Kweller (USA), The Bees (UK), Turin Brakes, Idlewild, The Mountain Goats, Donovan Frankenreiter and Evermore as well as many great Australian bands like Youthgroup, The Whitlams, Paul Kelly, Pete Murray, The Church, The Vasco Era, TZU, Little Birdy, Love Outside Andromeda, Old Man River and Andy Clockwise. Special Patrol signed to Mushroom Publishing and have had their songs played all over the radio airwaves as well as being played on many TV shows and films. Press... Forget Snow Patrol, Special Patrol have got the hottest album right now: a twisted concept album about three young South Australians – George, Emily and the writer. Handy Hints From The Undertaker (on MGM) is an album destined to be regarded as an Australian classic, and glowing reviews are fi nally coming in. The Age’s Andrew Murfett called it “a quiet gem of an album”, while another review stated: “Special Patrol are what Coldplay would sound like if they grew up in Adelaide and had more lyrical depth.” Click to read the full articleInpress Magazine
"The finest, most thought provoking and intelligent band to come out of this city in this new millennium. To back this claim, one just has to consider their ever-growing list of airplay-worthy singles to garner FM attention right across the nation."
"This band's live performance is as good as it gets. Special Patrol delivers incredibly melodic and intelligent musical landscapes with passion..."
"Changing Emily – Download of the week."
"Intelligent Australian pop at its best…
Well-crafted songs, guaranteed to stir your emotions……
Cleverly Uncomplicated, thought provoking , yet rich."
"These songs are as good as any released this year! "
Click for a list of stores around Australia that stock the album, or it can ordered in through MGM at the others 
Click for a list of stores around Australia that stock the album, or it can ordered in through MGM at the others |
