Judge Mercy

by Mark Gibson on June 15, 2007

About

Judge Mercy was formed in 1991 by Andy Cichon, a former bass player for Swanee.

History

The band’s first product would be the live EP ‘Live With It’, recorded at The Venue in Sydney’s northern beach suburbs on 9th May 1991 and released that June. A full length album, ‘Protocol So Holy’, arrived in late 1993. JUDGE MERCY garnered an enviable live reputation and such was the band’s standing they landed the prestigious support slot to AC/DC’s ‘Razor’s Edge’ Australian dates. Other noteworthy guest spots saw the band opening for IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH and IAN GILLAN.

JUDGE MERCY was set to record a follow up during 1994 but a protracted legal battle with Management ended the bands career. With the band’s demise drummer Mick O’Shea teamed up with the final line up of Kiwi act DRAGON in 1996. Cichon relocated to New York where he came to the fore as touring bassist for Pop-Rock diva SHANIA TWAIN as well as working for BILLY JOEL.
From Rock Detector

Video

Mr Attitude

Live It All Tough

Bury Me Down

Open It Up

Members

Andy Cichon – Vocals and Guitar
Ismet Osmanovic – Guitar
Craig Forster – Bass
Mick O’Shea -Drums

Recordings

EP “Live With It” – 1991
Album “Protocol So Holy” – 1993

Images

Known Gigs

Date	City	Venue
18/04/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

26/04/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

27/04/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

18/05/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

31/05/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

01/06/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

27/09/91	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

28/12/91	Judge Mercy in Gladesville	Bayview Hotel

17/01/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

18/01/92	Judge Mercy in Sylvania	Sylvania Hotel

31/01/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

06/02/92	Judge Mercy in Parramatta, NSW	Cobra Club

07/02/92	Judge Mercy in Gladesville	Bayview Hotel

08/02/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Tom Tom Club

07/03/92	Judge Mercy in Chippendale, NSW	Lansdowne Hotel

13/03/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields
	+ Thunderjam
14/03/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields
	+ Thunderjam
05/06/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

06/06/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

05/07/92	Judge Mercy in Mt Druitt, NSW	Mt Druitt Town Centre
	Admission: $5. The Screaming Jets, The Almighty, Judge Mercy & Koma Red
07/08/92	Judge Mercy in Dee Why, NSW	The Venue
	supported by Surrender & Baby Sugar Loud
11/09/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

12/09/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

26/09/92	Judge Mercy in Pendle Hill, NSW	Garters, Pendle Inn

13/11/92	Judge Mercy in Kings Cross, NSW	Springfields

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Clara Rado December 12, 2007 at 2:19 am

For ANDY CICHON 11 December 2007
I have seen YOU in a live concert with Billy Joel at Rome July 2006, YOU are a peerless bass player.
After I have looked something about YOU, I have listened your wonderful song…open it up, straight time, bury me down….all fantastic!!!
Andy, why don’t you sing again?
Your voice is heavently, your music is great! Why not???
Nobody can do it well as YOU, YOU are the ONE!!!
Please, come back in Italy and play again!!!Do it quickly!
I’m waiting for YOU here in Italy for your live concert.
Why not to Venice? it’s near my house.
I’m your huge fan, Please Andy, come to my place!
If YOU’ll come in Italy for a live concert,
I’ll be there with YOU!!!
Your friend Clara Ciao!!!
clarado@alice.it

2 Clara Rado December 12, 2007 at 2:19 am

3 Clara Rado December 12, 2007 at 2:19 am

4 Bradley D May 21, 2008 at 11:59 am

Andy!
You should take Clara up on her offer – she’s obviously got taste. ‘The Judge’ was the kind of band that made Springfields worth visting – you and the boys will long be remembered as one of the most promising musical offerings that the Ozzy industry let slip through it’s fingers.

Respect.

5 Josie King July 24, 2008 at 11:38 am

Yes, I remember Judge Mercy at Springfields. Hmmm.

6 Iommi_is_God August 15, 2008 at 4:22 pm

I bought the Judge Mercy album in 93 from a promo mailer through Hot Metal. Having lost the cd around 2002, I just bought another copy off Ebay. Still a solid, enjoyable album. Good guitar and vocals from a seemingly otherwise bassplayer. I knew Andy had played with Angry/Tatts and Shania Twain, but looking around today, he sure has played bass with a lot of artists. If bass pays the bills, good luck to him, but it would be cool to hear another Andy vocal/guitar album. If not, join god Coverdale in Whitesnake when they get rid of yet another bassist (By buying a WS shirt through Hot Metal, they contacted me about the Judge M album). Time goes by, riffs rule eternal.

7 Steve D October 12, 2008 at 2:59 am

My Brother Has just moved OS and left me his old CD’s. As soon as i saw the Live With It EP, I flipped out! I remembered seeing them in the Tom Tom club at the Cross in Sydney around 92’3 and at the Forrest Inn at Bexley. I was 16 and it blew me away. I threw the album on and WOW. The memories that came back had been suppressed deep down for years. Would love to hear more of Andy’s original stuff, if there is any.

8 Andy (English) November 8, 2008 at 6:12 am

Hi Andy (oz)

If you ever read these messages it would be great to get a reply. We worked together in surry hills in that fabric company with Bruce. Judge mercy must have just begun, around that time you were playing in that concert bar in kings cross. “Two of the same one of a kind” did you ever publish that one ? it would have been at hit but maybe not the right image for the group !
Still, great to find this blog and thanks for some fantastic memories
Andy

9 Kosmiester March 27, 2009 at 5:38 pm

Saw the guys (the “JUDGE”) at least 8 or 9 times over a 2 year period – whether headlining or supporting. Have the album and EP. Just awesome. Definitely filled a real big void back then. Good luck to all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

10 Clara March 28, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Venice, 28.03.2009 H.B.!!!
Ciao Andy,
You are my hero, no one can compare with you!
Every day, at home, I listen to your amazing songs: Open it up, Straight time, Live it though’, Bury me down and ( my favourite) Three different things… but they are all excellent!
You are like a friend, a mate for me and in such pleasant company the day seems short, so I don’t feel all alone. I know that I have nothing to do with you…but the wish is father to the thought. Every your song emits an energy that I can catch and shut it into myself. Thank you!
You can’t only play with other artists because you are a shining star and
you must twinkle of your own light. You have to compose music, to play your songs and to sing them too! “…..You are still not jaded !” I believe in you!
Andy please, follow my humble advice, let this happen again, contact John Meyer once more. I would like to see you here in Italy, I hope at Venice for your own live concert and I’m sure I’ll be there with you!
Venice is unique and it has a peculiar charm, but it isn’t as wonderful as you!
I wish you so well in every way, love, ciao!
Clara
PS: Andy please forgive my bad English, I don’t speak your language!!!

11 L from Newie January 19, 2011 at 9:55 pm

Judge Mercy lead guitarist Ismet went on to play with The Screaming Jets and is currently touring with Kevin Borich’s Party Boyz.
Craig Forster (Judge Mercy Bassist) and Ismet are both much-loved Newcastle lads.

12 Jamie Fisher May 29, 2011 at 3:26 pm

I remember seeing Judge Mercy playing outdoors at Mt. Druitt supporting the Screaming Jets in the early 1990s. I still rate the band as one of my all-time favourites. The songs, the arrangements, the rhythm section, all had a profound effect on my own playing and style. I knew Andy’s name from many of the CDs of artists he had recorded with. Judge Mercy had the catchy type of hard rock music that hooked you at first listen.

I was lucky enough to meet Andy around 1994 when I auditioned for a band that he was producing an EP for. Playing his 5 string Warwick during the audition and meeting him is a memory that will stay with me for a long, long time. If ever there was proof of fate, it was this. I had advertised in Sydney’s Drum Media looking for a band and had listed one of my influences as Judge Mercy and the band had kept my ad and called me some 12 months later.

My own music career has never amounted to a great deal but it’s great to see Andy go so well on the world stage. I’d love to see a Judge Mercy reunion tour!

13 Jamie Fisher May 30, 2011 at 11:37 am

Just been checking through my diaries from the time. Some memorable Judge Mercy Gigs I went to.

Sat 16 January 1993 at the Tom Tom Club in Kings Cross supported by Vaseline Machine Gun.

Sat 26 September 1992 Garter’s Nightclub at Pendle Inn, Pendle Hill supported by Sabra Cadabra.

Fri 7 August 1992 at The Venue at Dee Why supported by Surrender & Baby Sugar Loud. I think this was the Live With It! EP launch.

Sun 5 July 1992 at Mt. Druitt Town Centre. The Screaming Jets, The Almighty, Judge Mercy & Koma Red. The ticket cost $5!

The audition I mentioned where I met Andy was for a band called Opium in March 1994.

Some great memories there.

14 ANDY CICHON June 8, 2011 at 4:52 am

I don’t usually post on any of these things but this is for a lost comrade.

It is with a heavy heart that I write these lines. My friend Greg Clarke is no longer with us and there is one less reason to smile.
Clarkie was a mate, a friend firstly and by chance, a colleague. Back in 1990 when I put together the band Judge Mercy, Greg joined us as our sound engineer and quickly became our road manager, production manager, security co ordinator and I always considered him our fifth member.
Together with Brownie, The Booger Brothers gave us their lives for three long hard years as we toured the country trying to make this thing work.
Six of us and all our backline gear in a toyota commuter bus, sitting on roadcases from Brisbane to Adelaide and back again, over and over.
And for what? Surely not for the money, but because Clarkie believed in us, probably more than we believed in ourselves.
There was nothing he wouldn’t do for us, he just gave and gave and gave most P.A.s a hiding in the process. I seem to remember having to smuggle him into some venues because he was banned for blowing up the house system on too many occasions. Greg was great company. A man with diverse interests, we could chat for hours about anything and it was good to stop talking music for a while and rap with Clarkie about Austin Healeys or weather patterns or whatever.
We stayed in touch and I spent the last few days going over old emails from Clackers and reliving great days with him. We worked together again in mid 90s with Billy Thorpe and it was great that Mick O’Shea was on board for one of those tours so that 3 old Mercy Brothers were reunited.
I saw him again when I was in Sydney with Billy Joel in 2008, so great to see that big smile and grab a big bear hug.
I’ll miss you my brother. You were loved.
Rest in peace Greg Clarke.
Andy Cichon

15 Rado Clara September 2, 2011 at 8:26 pm: Venice, 2 September 2011

Andy, I’m very sorry that you suffer for the loss of your dear friend Greg.
I’m very close to you in this difficult time, you are always in my thoughts.

It’s very nice that you express and share your feelings with us, your fan.
Your behaviour shows your value, the wonderful Person that you are.
I realize among your lines that, you are a good-hearted person and your feelings are sincere and deep.

You were lucky to have a loyal and generous friend like Greg.
He gave you so much and with care. He did this not for “god money” but for his deep friendship he felt for you Andy. This make him honour.

A friend is very important, he is like a lighthouse in the storm. He helps you to overcome life’s troubles and together is easier. So, you feel stronger, understood and protected by him. I’m sure that you have a lot of friends and familiars who help you to go over this hard time and they soothe your pain.

I would like to do for real something for you. I offer you a little bit of serenity. I give hospitality to you at my place.
My town is rather little, I mean 1200 inhabitants in all. It’s situated in the
neighbourhood of the Venice’s lagoon. Here there’s a lot of stillness and peace.
Here the life is simple and people are common. We work for a living.

I live with my family in an old house, unluckily I haven’t got a guest-room.
Don’t worry, I’ll find accommodation for your nights in a hotel. You’ll be able to stay with me during the day. I’m sorry, I do what little I can.
I’m sure, here in the countryside you could move away your sad thoughts and get peace of your mind. It could be a delightful experience for you.

I would like to have the chance to give you one reason more to smile.
I’m holding out a hand to you. You are loved, I love you!
A big bear hug, you are welcome Andy!
Clara

PS – Please, forgive me because I couldn’t find better words, English
isn’t my language.
– Please, don’t wait too much, I’m getting older…? Ciao Andy!

Reply
16 Jamie Fisher September 3, 2011 at 9:45 am: If you get to read this Andy, you’ll be pleased to know that the Judge Mercy boys still rocked it last night at the Enmore. While Dave from Wrecking Crew did well, it wasn’t quite the same without you. Every band on the bill was awesome right from the Tatts down to the boys ex-Candy Harlots. It was fantastic to see all that awesome Aussie talent again.

Jamie

Reply

17 Jamie Fisher June 8, 2011 at 2:29 pm

One thing that always stuck with me is how awesome Judge Mercy sounded. I don’t remember ever hearing a bad sound mix . It’s amazing how much drive comes from the people that truly believe in us. Whether it’s performing music, driving trains, coaching a sports team, etc., it’s good to have the reassurance that what you are doing has a purpose.

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like Judge Mercy has lost the glue that kept it all together. RIP.

18 Branko August 16, 2011 at 6:21 am

Good brothers and sisters of rock,
I had the pleasure of witnessing the might and power that was a Judge Mercy gig numerous times at my local pub, “The Northgong”. These four guys never failed to entertain and amaze everytime they graced the stage. I distinctly remember one occasion when I was standing next to the drummer of a well known thrash metal band from “The ‘Gong”, who was called on stage to play an “AC/DC” cover with the lads. I’ll never forget that night “Red”.
Around this time (early ’92), Judge Mercy were supporting the Baby Animals on an Australian tour. They were due to play at Waves Nightclub in Towradgi, but Suze DeMarchi (lead singer “Baby Animals”) had a sore throat. So the “Judge” were asked to headline the gig. This is where my own story comes in. I was a member of a local Wollongong band called “Razorback”. We had been called by the gents from Judge Mercy to support them and MATE, what a gig. HUGE P.A., HUGE stage, and HUGE crowd (thank you? “Frankentein’s Monsters”).

19 Rona January 8, 2012 at 12:23 am

Hey, I would love to get in contact with a very dear and old friend Craig Foster. Craig if you read this I would love to see you again after all these years and introduce you to my family.
Rona