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The Manikins

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The Manikins
Also known asCheap Nasties
OriginPerth, Western Australia, Australia
GenresPunk, new wave
Years active1976–1981
Past membersKim Salmon
Neil Fernandes
Ken Seymour
Mark Betts
Robbie Porritt
Dave Faulkner
Dan Dare
Bradley Clark

The Manikins were an Australian punk rock and new wave band from Perth, Western Australia. Founding mainstay Mark Betts (drums) was joined by various lead vocalists, Robert Porritt, Christine Bodey and Christine Anne Trent. They issued a self-titled album in 1988 before disbanding in the early 1990s.[1]

History

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The Manikins were formed in August 1976 in Perth as a punk rock band Cheap Nasties by Mark Betts on drums, Dan Dare on bass guitar and vocals, Neil Fernandes on guitar and vocals, Robert Porritt on vocals and Kim Salmon on guitar and vocals.[2][3][4] Their debut gig was at The Rivervale Hotel in mid-1977.[5] The Cheap Nasties claimed to be Perth's first punk band.[6] Salmon left Cheap Nasties in December 1977 to join the Invaders and then formed the Scientists.[3][7]

The rest of the band with Ken Seymour replacing Dare on bass guitar continued as Manikins.[2][6] The raw sound of Cheap Nasties gave way to a poppier, new wave-oriented musical direction with tougher post-punk power pop.[2] They issued two singles, "I Never Thought I'd Find Someone Who Would Be So Kind" (November 1978) and "Premonition" (August 1979).[2] The group toured Australia's eastern states, "but was met with virtual indifference".[2] Dave Faulkner p.k.a. Dave Flick (ex-the Victims) joined on keyboards late in 1979.[2][8] They issued another single, "Love at Second Sight" (October 1980) before Flick left.[2] As Dave Faulkner, he is a mainstay member of Sydney-based Hoodoo Gurus since 1981.[8][6] Seymour also left and was replaced by Dan Dare.

Manikins had several residencies in Perth, including at the Broadway Tavern in Nedlands and the nightclub Hernando's Hideaway.[9] They relocated to Melbourne in early 1980 but broke up in late 1981.[2][6] In 1986 Mark Betts registered the Manikins name.[6] Betts and Porritt formed another version of the group with Paul Blackbee on guitar and keyboards (ex-Screaming Fits) and Bradley Clark on guitar and bass guitar (ex-Billy Orphan's Tears).[2] Porritt was replaced on lead vocals by Christine Bodey, while Alexander Nettelbeck replaced Blackbee on keyboards.[2] Manikins released new romantic synth style recordings including a self-titled album in February 1988.[2][6] Christine Anne Trent replaced Bodey on lead vocals. They disbanded in early 1990s.[2]

In 2004 Kim Salmon was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Association Hall of Fame. In 2007 Salmon was inducted into the Music Victoria Awards Hall of Fame.[10] A retrospective compilation album, From Broadway to Blazes, was issued in February 2017.[6] Tim Sendra of AllMusic rated it as four-out-of-five stars, writing:[11]

singles that come at the beginning are the most immediate songs, jumping out of the speakers with live-wire energy. [... Those] recorded later show a little more sophistication and take a minute to reveal their charms [...].

Members

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  • Mark Betts – drums, percusssion
  • Dan Dare – bass guitar, vocals
  • Neil Fernandes – guitar, vocals
  • Robert Porritt – lead vocals
  • Kim Salmon – guitar, vocals
  • Ken Seymour – bass guitar
  • Dave Faulkner p.k.a. Dave Flick – keyboards
  • Paul Blackbee – guitar, keyboards
  • Bradley Clark – guitar, bass guitar
  • Christine Bodey – lead vocals
  • Alexander Nettelbeck – keyboards
  • Christine Anne Trent – lead vocals

Discography

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Albums

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  • Live Locally - Inner City Sound (live album, cassette) (1979)
  • Last Gasp - Inner City Sound (cassette) (1981)
  • Manikins (February 1988)
  • The Manikins - Two Tribes Records (compilation CD) (2004)[12]
  • From Broadway to Blazes (compilation, February 2017)

Singles

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  • "I Never Thought I'd Find Someone Who Would Be So Kind"/"Radio World" - Independent (7") (SMX-46904) (November 1978)[13]
  • "Premonition"/"Laugh Too Loud" - Independent (7") (SMX-46969) (August 1979)
  • "Love at Second Sight"/"Nuisance"/"All I Care About" - Independent (7") (SMX-55051) (October 1980)[14]
  • "What Are You On?"/"Dictator's Dream" (July 1986)
  • "Cruel World"/"Dracula's Slut" (November 1987) #52
  • "Scent"/"Life Underground" (May 1988)

References

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  1. ^ Manikins (Musical group); Betts, Mark, (instrumentalist.); Fernandes, Neil, (instrumentalist,); Porritt, Robbie, (singer.); Seymour, Ken, (instrumentalist.) (2004), The Manikins, Two Tribes Records and Management, retrieved 6 June 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Manikins'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Scientists'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Miles, Richard. "Kim Salmon". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 12 April 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "How the Manikins Became the Biggest Band in Perth, Australia". Bandcamp Daily. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Sendra, Tim. "The Manikins Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Album Review: Swedish Woods by the Manikins – Amplify the Noise". 14 November 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Hartung, Stephan. "Hoodoo Gurus". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 24 February 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ Baxter, Robert (1978), The Manikins performing at Hernando's Hideaway, East Perth, Western Australia, 1978, retrieved 6 June 2024
  10. ^ "Previous Wi nners & Nominees". Music Victoria. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. ^ Sendra, Tim. "From Broadway to Blazes - The Manikins | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  12. ^ Manikins; Betts, Mark; Fernandes, Neil; Porritt, Robbie; Seymour, Ken (2004), The Manikins, Two Tribes Records and Management, retrieved 6 June 2024
  13. ^ Manikins (1978), Models for Mankind, Nakatsugawa, Japan: Freshwater Records, retrieved 6 June 2024, Performer: Mark Betts, drums, percussion; Ken Seymour, bass, vocals; Robert Porritt, lead vocals; Neil Fernandes, guitar, vocals.
  14. ^ Manikins; Betts, Mark; Fernandes, Neil; Porritt, Robbie; Seymour, Ken (2004), The Manikins, Two Tribes Records and Management, retrieved 6 June 2024, Credits: Produced by Graham Bidstrup and Dave Flick, Neil Fernandes. Performer: Neil Fernandes, Robert Art, Ken Seymour, Mark Betts, Dave Flick.
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