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The John Steel Singers
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The John Steel Singers
Genre: Indie, Pop
Region: Brisbane, QLD
Members: Scott Steel - Vox, Guitar, Banjo, Keys, Trumpet Tim Steel - Vox, Guitar, Keys Pattus Steel - Bass William Steel - Guitar, Bass, Vox Ross Steel -Drums, Cowbell, Glock Pedro Steel - Keys, Trombone
Sounds Like: The Velvet Underground, The Byrds, Gram Parsons , The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Beatles

It's a well known idiom that everyone has a story to tell. Unfortunately, the people who believe that tend to tell the most deadshit boring stories ever. Luckily, six people who do have stories to tell are Brisbane's The John Steel Singers, purveyors of both glorious backyard summer pop melodies, and adorable babyfaced grins.

Although arguments and occasional physical abuse over royalties have prevented them from actually writing their book yet, The John Steel Singers: The John Steel Singers Stories promises to eventually be one of this nation's defining texts.

From the soon-to-be-written autobiography, here are some predicted highlights:

*In the middle of a solo gig in Berlin, Timmy Steel's guitar string broke, and there were no spares, and he had velcro shoes on (no laces), so in between songs, he shaved a donkey, tied its hairs together for his fifth string, and went on to win the BAFGAs (Berlin Award For Guitaring Awards) for the third year straight.

*Bass player Pat Steel contracted life-threatening carpel tunnel syndrome in '86, and although a 3 week community prayer circle fended off death, he has been unable to do anything with his hands since, except fry eggs, bust out a killer bassline, and do rudimentary cursive writing.

*Scott Steel collects harmonicas from musicians around the world who aren't looking.

*Keyboardist Pete Steel lists Expo'88 as the defining moment in Brisbane's history when the city went from a big country town which had never hosted a World Expo, to one that had. He sometimes claps out the syllables as he talks.

*According to teachers at Corinda State High School, they've never heard of William Steel. Research shows he was never enrolled there.

*Due to Ross Steel's ongoing perm costs, Santa couldn't afford to get the nine-year-old the drums he wanted that year, but Ross awoke Xmas morning to find their backyard pool covered in tightly stretched Glad Wrap, and alfoil stretched over the spa. With two pool noodles, he practiced and nurtured his lifelong love of percussing until 3pm, when his aunty took the Glad Wrap back so the leftover trifle wouldn't go off.

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Played on triple j Strawberry Wine
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Played on triple j Submarines & Kayaks
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reviews

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Strawberry Wine
rating:  5/5
Great quirky pop tune from these Brissie kids.
triplej



Strawberry Wine
rating:  5/5
Whoo-hoo-hoo. This band makes me smile.
triplej



Strawberry Wine
rating:  4/5
A catchy poppy and upbeat tune very much in the vein of the Beatles, perhaps mixing both their early and later works. It isn't the most original piec...
superuser



Submarines & Kayaks
rating:  3/5
Sounds across between the Flaming Lips and the Beach Boys. The music is quite lively and quirky. The tunes are somewhat unconventional in parts but i...
superuser


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This project is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Music Board Section.