The Lipstick Killers
The Lipstick Killers grew out of two of the most notorious late 70s punk
bands in Sydney (Australia); Psycho Surgeons and Filth.
Their Americanised
brand of hard glitter rock drew on The Stooges and
The New York Dolls
(from whence they derived the band name) for inspiration, although Gary
Glitter was also cited as a key musical influence. In 1979 the band
issued the Deniz Tek-produced independent single Hindu Gods (Of
Love).
Drummer David Taylor departed in 1980 and was replaced by Michael
Charles (ex-Shy Impostors). The Lipstick Killers then spent a year
living in Los Angeles where they became involved in the burgeoning
Californian hardcore scene that had already produced bands such as Black
Flag and Circle Jerks. During their American sojourn, Stephen Mather
replaced Giddy on bass.
The band made little headway, and spent most of their time in the US
living in poverty. Following a Christmas dinner of boiled onions and
refried beans, the band broke up and the members limped home to
Australia at the start of 1982. Mark Taylor took up computer graphics,
Mather joined Decline Of The Reptiles and Charles joined The Screaming
Tribesmen.
Citadel Records issued the live album Mesmeriser in December
1984. It had been taken from a cassette recording of one of the band's
infrequent Los Angeles gigs and the sound quality was rough but the
energy and atmosphere provided a retrospective insight into the band's
true spirit.
The independent Vi-Nil label also issued a single (Sockman)
in January 1985, from demos the band had recorded at the end of 1978.
The Lipstick Killers reunited for a brief Sydney tour in January
1989.
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