Wednesday, March 2, 2016

CATHY GREEN


Cathy Green is a drummer and bass player

Canberra-based drummer Cathy Green was a huge fan of the band X and, already knowing the songs, replaced drummer Cafiero in 1984 for the Melbourne tour on a few days notice. Not long after that, Cafiero died when injected with a dye prior to an X-ray for a back complaint, and Cathy became a permanent member of X. The band's second album, At Home With You (1985) was recorded in Melbourne at Richmond Recorders. The album stayed in Australia's top 20 Independent charts for 29 months. A third album, X And More (1989) followed, and like the previous albums, was produced by Lobby Loyde who had been in the hard rock group Rose Tattoo with Ian Rilen in 1979–1980.

As of 2004, Rilen had settled on a fairly stable line up of his current project, Ian Rilen & the Love Addicts, with Cathy Green now playing bass. Rilen was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006.
Rilen was unable to play his last gig. Just a week after his benefit show, the Love Addicts were booked to play the Greyhound in Melbourne.

“He was determined,” says Cathy Green, “he said, I’m coming up, and he drove all the way up. Everything was set up for a sound check, and so he strapped on his guitar and we started “Booze to Blame” and we really only got about half a line into it and he just couldn’t do it, couldn’t sing. He just didn’t have the breath, the tumour was pressing onto his lungs.” Green has played reunion shows with X after Rilen's death. 

Cathy on bass joined Steve Balbi, on lead vocals to form a new group, Universe, in 1997 which consisted of Jim Denley on flute, Matt McCormack a.k.a. Big Bird on guitar (ex-Starworld) and Cath Synnerdahl on drums (ex-Wrecking Crew, Mother Hubbard). The band released an EP, 'Above Water', in September 1997. Balbi, Green and McCormack were joined by Angus Diggs on drums and Ilan Kidron on flute for their single, "Be My Gun" (October 1998), and the related album, 'Present'.



7 comments:

  1. Cathy originally played with **** **** (Cough Cough), a "punk/jazz who knows what that is but they are amazing" 3 piece. Cathy was a phenomenal drummer, an utter inspiration, and technically brilliant - a Goddess of rhythm. It was jaw dropping to watch her weave her magic with sticks and skins (I'm a drummer so I appreciated her talent all the more). She simplified her playing with X, opting for 'feel' over her technical brilliance. And she played damn fine bass and wrote songs too! Damn she was good - had a secret crush for years!! She was worth worshipping. Apart from her musical brilliance she is/was a beautiful person. All Hail Cathy!!

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  3. Cathy, During the was also band call Universe on Sydney. Formed with Steve Balbi. The songwriting been those too and performanper were stunning. They around 1994-1998

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  4. No Adalita from magic dirt in your list!

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    1. Paula Henderson (ex-White Cross) and Alison Weaver could be added to this site too. They both played sax with the second version of Fungus Brains that was active in Melbourne circa 1989 - 1991. This line-up recorded an album too. Paula has been resident in NYC for some years now, still performing, recording, and collaborating with the likes of Amanda Palmer and Melvin Van Peebles, under the professional name "Moist" Paula Henderson.

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