Dropbears
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresRock
Years active1981 (1981)–1987 (1987)
Past membersJohnny Batchelor
Simon Rudlin
Chris Toms
Phil Hall
James Elliot
Mike Knapp
Bob Cooper
Robert Hearn

Dropbears were an Australian rock band active in the early 1980s. They had a few national chart hits and received national airplay. They had a minor charting hit with "Shall We Go" in 1985.

History

The band started life as The Socket Set in 1980, with Johnny Batchelor, Phil Hall (Sardine v, Lime Spiders), and a string of drummers. They played shows that included the sell-out opening night of The Saints' comeback Australian tour in 1980 (the Paralytic Tonight, Dublin Tomorrow tour).

As Dropbears, the band formed in Darlinghurst, Sydney, in 1981, with Batchelor, Simon Rudlin, and Chris "Chris Cross" Toms. Prior to this, Batchelor and Rudlin had been jamming with bass player Rod Brunel (from Sydney band The Singles), but it wasn't working well. Chris Cross, from Sydney punk band The Bedhogs, knew Batchelor, and asked him to join the band.

In 1982, Dropbears released the singles "Fun Loving" and "Lay Him Down", which both peaked at number one on the Sydney Indie charts. The following year, the band signed to WEA records and went on to release a series of successful singles.

In 2011, The Essential Dropbears was released through Warner Music Australia. The compilation album features ten tracks, including the 1985 chart hits "Shall We Go" and "In Your Eyes".

Band members

  • Johnny Batchelor – guitar, vocals (1980–86, 1987)
  • Chris Cross (Chris Toms) – bass (1981–82)
  • Phil Hall – bass, vocals (1980, 1982–86, 1987)
  • Simon Rudlin – drums (1981–82)
  • James Elliot – drums (1982)
  • Mike Knapp – drums, backing vocals (1982–86, 1987)
  • Bob Cooper – saxophones, lyricon (1983)
  • Robert Hearn – guitar, guitar synth (1983–84)

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[1]
1984 Untitled
  • Released: October 1984
  • Label: WEA Records (250809-1)
  • Format: LP
 66

Compilations

Year Album details
2011 The Essential Dropbears [2]

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[1]
1981 "Fun Loving" – non-album single
1983 "Lay Him Down" –
1984 "Shall We Go" 61
"Proud" – Untitled
1985 "In Your Eyes" 90 non-album single
1986 "Fun Loving" (re-release) –

References

  1. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 96. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and mid-June 1988.
  2. ↑ "The Essential Dropbears". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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