Earthquacke cc Musicians

Warren Shaw
Alto Sax, Clarinet (also Tenor)

An Australian player of Alto & Tenor & Baritone Saxophones, Clarinet & Flute in various established bands and in short term & scratch bands at a variety of club & pub venues around Sydney and suburbs during the 70's and 80's, including backing of artists, talent quests and for dancing & entertainment.
Played on short tour shows backing recognised local and overseas artists and musicians.
Prepared band arrangements for small & medium sized groups (4-8 pieces) and for vocals.
Various Theatre Orchestras & Pit Bands for operettas and musical comedies and revues shows.

1999 - present : Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band
2000 - present : Swing-Era Big Band in Sydney (fill-in player)
1991 - 1997 : Ted King Big Band
1991 - 1997 : "Bandamonium" Big Band (fill-in player).
1976 - 1977 : Jazz studies at the NSW Conservatorium Of Music,
1972 - 1973 : The Daly Wilson Big Band
1971 - 1972 : The "Downunder" Big Band (including recording studio)

Debbie Milne
Tenor Sax

an Australian saxophonist
1999 - present : Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band
19?? - 19?? : Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Big Band
19?? - 19?? : Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Junior Band - 2nd Tenor

Brendan "Miley" Render
1st Trumpet

an Australian trumpeter
2001 - present : Heavy Tones - trumpet and band leader
1999 - present : Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band
1989 : Jenny And The Jets
1985 - 1987 : Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Big Band
1982 - 1987 : Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Junior Band
1986 - 1989 : Soul Survivors

Josh Davis
Trombone (also Bass Bone)

1999 - present : Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band

Peter Lewis
Bass Trombone
picture unavailable at this time
Peter has been playing Trombone since 1976 and, as the all important bottom end of the trombone section, .has provided a considerable presence in a number of big bands, concert bands and orchestras for more than twenty years.

History
since 1999 Earthquacke
1983-1998 Powerhouse Big Band
1979-1998 Frenchs Forest Concert Band
1995-1997 Balmain Symphonia
1990-1992 Sydney Occasional Orchestra
1982-1984 & 1986-1988 Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Swing Orchestra
1980-1985 Beacon Hill High School Concert Band
1976-1979 Allambie Heights Primary School Brass Band

Dean Hosken
Guitar
picture unavailable at this time
2002 - present : Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band

Dean is an effects genius. Words cannot adequately describe the feeling you get when he is in full flight using his "chainsaw the bagpipes" sustain, or the notorious "interfere with my brain activity" vibrato. Dean is currently the longest serving employee at Monolith Recording Studios, having risen over the last 20 years to the position of Team Leader of Carpet cleaning staff. Dean's interests include vocalists and nuclear physics. He has recently been inducted into the Guitarist's catwalk of fame for his ceaseless attempts to put the vocalist off. Note: due to size limitations the "tilt-a-door" wah-wah or "93 speakers in a row" chorus may not be used in all venues.

George Stanton
Bass

"My musical career started in 1952 when I played double bass with the Piccadilly Orchestra in Cowra.
From there I moved to the Gold Coast and played with various bands for the next six years.
Some of the musicians I played with at the time were Stan Beavis, Stan Bourne, Ricky Farback, Chris Karon, Charles Lee, Splinter Reeves, Norm Turner, Stan Walker and many other great musos of that era.
The venues included the Paradise, Southport and Coolangatta Hotels, Lennons Broadbeach, Claude Carnells Playroom and the Corroboree Club.
The group at the Kirrabelle Hotel was Bob Gilette, Dave Darnley, Mike Nock and myself.
In 1961 I left Queensland and moved to Sydney where I was privileged to team up once again with some great musicians.
These included Frank Pickford, Jerry Goodwin, Charlie Munroe, Gus Merzy, John Edgecombe, Judy Bailey and Mark Bowden.
During the sixties I played with both local and overseas artists, namely Shirley Bassey, Domita Jo, Billy Eckstine etc.
After these shows I was lucky enough to jam with many individual musos, both American and British, who were part of the entertainer's team.
I also had a stint with Graeme Bell at the Yarra Bay Sailing Club.
For the next eleven years, in the seventies and eighties, I was band leader at the German Austrian Club at Cabramatta.
Our programme included German, Italian, Latin American and Hungarian music.
My band also entertained each year at the Oktoberfest in Fairfield, Sydney.
For the last few years I have played with various local jazz groups".

Now uses Roland Vdrums exclusively for all studio and live performance requirements.

An Australian drummer with over 30 years drumming in a diverse range of musical groups and the latter half of that period also conducting.

His musical experience began in Primary School under the tuition of conductor Bob Petrie with the Allambie Heights Primary School Brass Band. "We didn't realise it at the time, but Bob laid the foundations of musicianship in a package at the feet of each person in the band. The magic part was that he encouraged and helped us to open the package, and to build and develop the things inside. It was significant that somebody, who could actually play correctly, took the time to help us beginners. He was the first person I ever knew who put his heart and a minimum of 110% into his, and our, playing. It was also through him I became involved with the Manly District Brass Band. From there, Cliff Price (another musician immersed in the music) has been instrumental in developing my big band playing. I never knew what Swing was until I started in the Harbord Diggers Band."

High School years marked the beginning of a busy time. "I played in bands and orchestras all over the place with many technically better musicians. It definitely was a period of learning and experiencing a vast range of musical styles."

Any highs or lows? "Most of the groups used charts, so we were playing some one else's music to the best of our ability, but it was in Rum Jungle, playing originals, that I actually shared in the creativity and experimentation. That was a fantastic experience and my biggest disappointment was when the band folded."

What's the story behind Earthquacke? "I was fortunate enough to be there at the beginning of the Harbord Diggers Big Band. Any band can play charts, it just seems that Cliff Price was the catalyst for the band to bring the charts to life. Early in 1996, the Youth Club made the decision to dispose of the band, so I acquired it. The task at hand is to get the big band back on the top."

Is there a problem satisfying different band styles? "No. A band is really a group of individuals working together. If each player has a similar appreciation of the music, then the overall sound should be right (given that their actual playing skills are sufficient). It's not very constructive to have, say, a heavy rock drummer thinking heavy rock in a jazz band - there may be some similarity in certain aspects (yes, the sticks do touch the skins) but the actual methods and effects may be quite different - the heavy rock drummer must think jazz in order for the chart to work in the jazz band. It's also important to be able to adapt to the requirements of each piece which is being played.
An individual's unique characteristic style of playing, or signature, can still exist within the group as long as the demands of the piece are met."

Anything In the crystal ball? "Raising the technical standard. Functioning as a single unit. More performances, publicity and exposure. Less expenditure. Performing more of the charts we like to play."

So what's the end result? "I suppose a more realistic approach to exactly what the audience wants."

Mark is married to reeds player Debbie, and they are both fulltime entertainment for their young sons.

History
since 2001 Heavy Tones - 9 piece funk - Drums
since 1999 Earthquacke Central Coast Big Band - Conductor/Drums
since 1996 Earthquacke - 18/12 piece stage - Drums/Conductor/owner
1998-2001 East Coast Horns - 14 piece covers - Drums
1994-2001 Market Day - 5 piece jazz - Drums
1995-1999 C.C.Shooter - 4 piece rock covers - Drums
1991-1996 Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Big Band - Conductor/Drums
1976-1996 Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Big Band - Drums
1985-1991 Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Junior Big Band - Conductor
1983-1988 The Enormous Horns - 12 piece covers - Drums
1977-1982 Rum Jungle - 5 piece fusion/covers - Drums
1971-1980 Manly District Brass Band - Drums

Productions
Barry Reilly's Entertainers "Babes On Broadway", "The Boyfriend", "Camelot", NSW Conservatorium of Music "The Canterville Ghost", "Charlie Girl", "A Coward Line", "Grease", "Hans Christian Andersen", "Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", "Love Rides The Rails", "Mack And Mabel", "Oliver", Sydney Hospital "Revue", "West Side Story", "The Wiz".

Milestones
1992 Harbord Diggers RSL Youth Club Big Band recording and subsequent audiocassette released
1978 NSW High Schools Drama Festival Music Section: Most Outstanding Student Orchestra "GREASE"
1976 NSW State Junior Championships Percussion: Third Prize

A few years of piano lessons and exams soon gave way to pub work (barman) and experiencing life on the other side of the bar (drinking). Eventually met up with a college mate (Chazz) and joined the group calling ourselves Four-Wheel-Drive (inspired by Bachman Turner Overdrive). Those were the days of high-heeled shoes and flares!!!!. Eventually we signed up with an agent and renamed ourselves Harmony Road. We were a 4-piece band and played songs from the 60's and 70's. The band consisted of Graham (Drummer/Singer), Kevin (Bass Guitar/Singer), Chazz (Lead Guitar) and myself (Keyboards) and performed at events like Weddings, 18th/21st parties and corporate evenings.

Since arriving in Australia I have not touched a keyboard, until recently when my musical interest was revived having listened to some Michel-Jean Jarre and the completion of my first mini-Synthesiser since my experiments back in the UK.

A phone call from Mark (Quack) and I became the resident Sound Engineer (sounds a bit better than the `sound guy'!!!!) and roadie (that was one reason I got out of the band thing in the first place (I can still remember plodding home at 3am on a Sunday morning having left home at noon on Saturday for a gig....... groan!!!)

I am 5ft 10" have dark hair, blue eyes and am easy going!!!!! I like a good time and I like playing with my organ when I get the chance!!!!!!!

ABOUT NEWS Contact