Icehouse – Flowers
I still remember seeing Flowers at the Stardust Hotel in Cabramatta around 1979. They were brilliant yet their best was still to come. Flowers became Icehouse in 1981 to avoid problems with a Scottish band by the name of The Flowers. The project that became Icehouse was driven essentially by Iva Davies who remains the sole original member. He was a classically trained Oboe player who turned out to be a brilliant pop song writer and performer.
About
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success utilising synthpop and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S. The mainstay of both Flowers and Icehouse has been Iva Davies (singer-songwriter, record producer, guitar, bass, keyboards, oboe) supplying additional musicians as required. The name Icehouse, which was adopted in 1981, comes from an old, cold flat Davies lived in and the strange building across the road populated by itinerant people.
Davies and Icehouse extended the use of synthesizers particularly the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (“Love in Motion”, 1981), Linn drum machine (“Hey Little Girl”, 1982) and Fairlight CMI (Razorback trailer, 1983) in Australian popular music. Their best known singles on the Australian charts were “Great Southern Land”, “Hey Little Girl”, “Crazy”, “Electric Blue” and “My Obsession”; with Top Five albums being Icehouse (1980, as Flowers), Primitive Man (1982) and Man of Colours (1987).
Icehouse’s iconic status was acknowledged when they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 16 August 2006. ARIA described Icehouse as “one of the most successful Australian bands of the eighties and nineties… With an uncompromising approach to music production they created songs that ranged from pure pop escapism to edgy, lavish synthesised pieces…” Icehouse has produced eight Top Ten albums and twenty Top Forty singles in Australia, multiple top ten hits in Europe and North America and album sales of over 28 times Platinum in Australasia alone. As of 2006, Man of Colours was still the highest selling album in Australia by an Australian band.
From Wikipedia
Members
- Iva Davies (1977– current) : lead vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, oboe
- Keith Welsh (1977–1981) : bass guitar, backing vocals
- Don Brown (1977–1979) : drums
- Michael Hoste (1977, 1982–1983) : keyboards
- Anthony Smith (aka Adam Hall) (1977–1982) : keyboards
- John Lloyd (1979–1984) : drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Bob Kretschmer (1982–1989) : guitars, backing vocals
- Guy Pratt (1982–1986) : bass guitar, backing vocals
- Andy Qunta (1982–1988) : keyboards, backing vocals
- Glenn Krawczyk (1986) : bass guitar
- Simon Lloyd (1986–1991) : saxophone, trumpet, keyboards
- Steve Morgan (1986–2004) : bass guitar
- Paul Wheeler (1986–2004, 2009 – current) : drums, percussion
- Roger Mason (1989–1990) : keyboard
- Paul Gildea (1990–2004, 2007 – current) : guitars
- Tony Llewellyn (1991–2004) : keyboards
- David Chapman (1993–1995) : guitars
- Max Lambert (1995) : piano
- Adrian Wallis (1995–2004) : cello
- Steve Bull (2007) : bass guitar
- Peter Maslen (2007) : drums
- Glen Reither (2007) : keyboards, saxophone
- Michael Paynter(2011 – ): keyboards, guitar, vocals
Video
Check out this awesome clip of a live version of Icehouse playing outside Parliament House, Canberra on Australia Day 2005. The guitarist is a guy called Paul Gildea who I had the pleasure of touring with in about 1992 with Rick Price. He’s a brilliant player and a damn nice bloke.
Albums
- Icehouse 1980
- Primitive Man 1982
(aka Love In Motion UK 1983) - Sidewalk 1984
- Measure for Measure 1986
- Man of Colours 1987
- Code Blue 1990
- Big Wheel 1993
- The Berlin Tapes 1995
Known Gigs as Flowers
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 25/04/79 | Sydney | Civic Hotel |
| + Yound Modern | ||
| 01/12/79 | Edensor Park | Marconi Club |
| +The Angels, Cold Chisel, Dave Warner, The Hitmen, Rose Tattoo | ||
| 08/03/80 | Manly Vale | Manly Vale Hotel |
| + Lonely Hearts | ||
| 11/04/80 | Sydney | Stagedoor Tavern |
| + Swanee & INXS | ||
| 21/06/80 | Sydney | Chequers |
| with The Angels and Ward 13 | ||
| 07/09/80 | Sydney | Capitol Theatre |
| 17/11/80 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Church | ||
I saw Flowers at the Paris Theatre (knocked down to make way for the Connaught) when I was 13.
[…] was plenty, as support for Flowers (wish I could have videod those gigs we did with them with some 20 or so punters only in the hotel, […]
I remember seeing them many times at the stagedoor taven which was under a tall office block opposite the park near eddy ave in sydney.Before they went all pop and sync they used to play a lot of punk rock covers.Iva was dressed all in black with a black Les Paul Guitar and Keith had a red rickenbacker bass. Iva used to stand in a classic legs apart rock guitarist stance and belt out the songs while Keith was jumping all over the place while playing. All the Girls used to cream themselves over Iva he just looked sooo cool!The band were shit hot and they played all the punk rock songs of the time . The joint was a small low cealinged sweatbox with exposed water pipes and not much decor. Perfect for a punk rock venue! I had some wild nights there!
I remember the” Flowers ” playing before very old early cold chisel at the Star hotel in Sydney before china town was fully chinese , fuck im old !! But lucky enough to have grown up with every decent and in your face songs by the best bands ever to grace our country , thier album War was ducks nuts back then and i still play it to this day ,
[…] nights no matter who was on, but it was usually good. I saw bands like Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Flowers, Dee Minor, Hoi Polloi, Cockroaches, Daytime Actors, Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs, Ol […]
I saw Flowers at Sydney Uni in 77 or 78 (flowers taped to their mike stands) & they where playing Bowie, T Rex, Ian Hunter, 801 (Eno, Manzanera) which introduced those artists to me. There was this great lead guitarist playing a gold top les paul with a brilliant command of frets & feedback. The guitarist in question (I’ve dreamed of owning my own gold top ever since) is not listed. Anybody know who I mean?
Yes,The Guitar player was Ashley Sharpe he left and played a little with other bands briefly , he was a friend as was Don Brown the original drummer ( who sadly passed on some years ago from an asthma attack ) , the original Keyboard player Mike Hoste co-wrote 5 songs off the first album and came back to tour overseas with Icehouse, I still see him often , he is inventing computer peripherals at present . Ashley was a great natural musician and soloist but hasn’t kept up the playing .
Hi Mike, any idea what happened to Ashley Sharp? I played drums with him & Keith Welsh prior to Flowers. I took a bit of Super mm film of them in 1977:
If you know his email or phone no.it would be great. Thanks, Gary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LrDDntipbw&t=14s
The mention of Phil Manzerera inspiring Icehouse is interesting. He definitely did. Loved seeing Flowers at Macquarie University at around the same time. Try listening to Phil Manzenera’s 1990 “A Million Reasons Why” (a single then an album of the same name) and Icehouse’s 1986 “Spanish Gold” (on “Measure for Measure”). Maybe the compliment was repaid.
Caught Icehouse in the early 80’s at the “BARN”
in Mount Gambier SA.
Great sound and superb use of video. also a couple of old oil filled projectors.
Always great memories and hope to interveiw Iva one day
Mike
hi i love the music of the flowers how can i get all there albems from the net i am 53 you understand i grow up with them
Two of the most influential syth artists are Gary Numan and Iva Davies. Love them both dearly and have enjoyed their music over many years. Good to see they are both still going strong. In reply to Neil….ask the grandchildren!
Early 1980 we supported Flowers at The Earlwood hotel. From memory they were getting lots of airplay and on the verge of becoming HUGE. We were a little in awe of this great live band but unfortunately, any attempt to communicate or pick their brains was met with contempt. Iva was quite ignorant and we found him to be unapproachable. It seems the years have mellowed him a little and he appears far more approachable these days.
I grew up in the country Victoria and never had the opportunity to see great bands like Icehouse, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel etc. I envy all those who were able to see these great Aussie bands live.
My first “tape” was Flowers “Icehouse” which was posted to me on its original release date in 1980 whilst I was living in India … That was a hundred years ago and that album (and every other Icehouse album) now proudly live on my iPod.
Long live Iva Davies and the iconic Icehouse tunes!
I was the tour manager for Flowers on their last Aussie tour before they changed their name to Icehouse. That was Jan Feb and March 1981. I have the tour dates that I will forward to Mark here at AMH. I had come down to Australia from England, tour manager for XTC, and Flowers was one of the support acts we had in 1980 on that tour. Dirty Pool, their management co were helping promote XTC, and it was through this connection that I was invited to come doen to Sydney for the summer to tour manage Flowers, and what a blast that turned out to be. You can see much more on my website
In 1980 I was a sailor in the US Navy. We came to Perth for a week and while there I saw Spirit at a large civic center type venue with a band called Spirit, I believe…or Angel, not sure. It was wild because the audience was so calm, sitting through the songs. I had never gone to a concert that had an intermission, where people stepped outside for a smoke break, or rest room visit, but a group of 12 US Sailors and I, kept standing and whistling, screaming, “yeah!” and being pretty vocal. The ushers kept telling us to sit down and be quiet, shining their flashlights in our faces!
But pretty soon we inspired our whole seating section to be a bunch of foot stomping, screaming, concert goers. What a great memory.
Hi Richard I have wanted to thank you for years, I did not know you had a website so will look for it. Many years ago Duran Duran were playing at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney. I went to the first show with IceHouse Drummer to be Paul Wheeler. We were two 1st year High School kids who after the show went to the stage door to try to meet the Band. Lots of screaming girls and me and Paul, not screaming though! I saw you there and I asked if Paul and I could meet the band. Unbelievably you said yes and two come back the next night. Paul did not believe it would happen so did not come with me, but I showed up with a girl I knew and true to your word, you arranged for us to meet John Taylor and gave us two tickets for that nights show. Paul was kicking himself the next day! It was a really unexpected gesture on your part. SO many thanks for your kindness, it has never been forgotten.
I have a recording of RRR’s first live to air broadcast of a Flowers gig on 26 March 1979 at Hearts In Melbourne. It has an interesting story. Email me if you are interested
[…] nights no matter who was on, but it was usually good. I saw bands like Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Flowers, Dee Minor, Hoi Polloi, Cockroaches, Daytime Actors, Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs, Ol […]
[…] “Electric Blue” – Icehouse […]
Does anyone remember any on the sound and road crew in particular Marcus Schulz? Live to know where he is now. Followed the band for many years through the 80’s in Sydney.
I play drums prior to Flowers with Keith Welsh & Ashley Sharpe. I left in about 1975/6 I think. Anyway remained friends. I did light for Flowers at one of their first gigs at Time & Tide Hotel in Dee Why, NSW. I filmed it too. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LrDDntipbw&t=14s
My first ever concert and I saw The Flowers along with The Numbers in 1980 at the Caringbah Scout Hall. At the time there were various concerts being held in Sydney for 99cents. How Cool.
Can anyone tell me if Flowers played at the 2SM concert of the decade at the Opera House in 1979. I was sure I first saw them there but can’t see them in any set lists?♀️
Hi Jenny, I’m still good friends with Keith Welsh since tour managing Flowers in early 1981 so I asked him your question, his reply
No, Flowers didn’t play that show. We didn’t release our first single until 1980 and 2SM were late getting onto it so we weren’t on their radar in 1979.
Cheers
Hi guys, does anyone remember the flowers playing in Canberra in the early 80’s? Cheers.
Hi Tim, I saw Flowers with Cold Chisel & The Angels at Canberra Showgrounds in 1979. Fantastic concert.