About the Band:

The year was 1990, Dems the Breaks was formed with Ken Woods (on Bass and B/Vocals). What started out as two Irish guys meeting up in Australia with an instant common bond (they were home sick) and didn't really want to leave Ireland in the first place, but were here now (in Australia) and a comfort to each other saying "we'll just have to kick ass here too", Marcus put an ad in the local paper for a drummer and soon got a few calls, some just not very realistic, and one promising one, Chris Bell. So now Dems the Breaks had a drummer, they were a three piece. Ken was also playing other gigs on the Irish traditional scene standing in for many of the local Irish musicians, being the only bass player in Perth that actually knew the Irish stuff. He was quickly in demand as he was already gigging, it was relatively easy for Dems the Breaks to get their first gig at "The Blarney Castle" off Newcastle Street in Perth, where all the Australian/Irish were collecting at the time. There were also a few other venues but this was the one to go to. The picture below was taken on a fantastic Australian summer Sunday.

(The Blarney Castle)

First demo tape titled: "My Hr of Need"

"My Hr of Need"

It consisted of 4 original songs:

Gold God - (Cahill/Woods)

Journalistic Headlines - (Cahill)

Beyond - (Cahill/Woods)

My friends (Blue Eyes) - (Cahill)

The tape cover was merely photocopied as Dems the Breaks didn't have the funds at the time to put it out in colour, but here it is in colour for the first time.

("My Hr of Need" tape cover in colour)

It was available at local record stores or at their gigs at the time....now you either have it or you don't. Definitely a collectors piece, ha ha.

(Wanneroo Times Interview)

"My Hr or Need" was recorded at "Shelter Recording Studios".

(Shelter Recording Studios)

Chris Bell left the band soon after, seeking a more stable source of income.

Dems the Breaks went through 13 drummers after Chris left, because they were searching for their "Ringo", some names that come to mind, Glen Sundell, Marty, Dave, Gavin Stanwyck, but to name a few.

Gavin did some recording with us at the "SAE" (School of Audio Engineering), and then he left to become a bouncer or lawyer of something.

Gavin sadly departed this world in 1999, "RIP Gavin, you will never be forgotten."

Then Jamie Van der Velde (drums) and Chris Eppen-Perry (guitar) joined and so in the attempt to get some recognition Dems the Breaks began entering some battle of the bands competitions. They entered a few, and won most of them, which was great for them. The "Warwick Battle of the Bands Competition" was the highlight, when they took out Judges and Public choice.

(The Warwick Band Competition)

(X-Press review)

But as usual, all good things must come to an end, and the words college and Uni came up and sadly departed Jamie and Chris.

Well this band was certainly going to live up to its name, with the departure of Jamie and Chris, they recruited yet another drummer who used to come to their gigs to see his close friend Chris in action, Tony Frencham came on board, he was the prime candidate to help them record their latest release to be called "Giro", (named after the steadying function, on what was then the latest release of video cameras, the function claimed to be able to take out the shakiness of an unsteady hand) well a steady lineup is what they wanted to achieve at the time, so it seemed like a good title.

Second demo tape titled: "GIRO"

"Giro"

It consisted of 4 original songs:

Gold God (92) - (Cahill/Woods)

Heavy Breather - (Cahill)

Mary Falls - (Cahill)

Follow This - (Cahill/Woods)

"Giro" was recorded at "The Sound Factory".

"The WAM Youthfest"

Then Dems the Breaks made one last ditch attempt at getting the recognition they were striving to get in the industry, with newly recruited member, Eric Stafford (Guitar), they started playing around the scene once again, and entered two prestigious band competitions, "The WAM Youthfest" competition and "Yamaha Rock 92".

"Yamaha Rock 92"

They won the WAM competition and they also got the "96FM Encouragement Award" from 96FM (Perth radio station) at the "Yamaha Rock 92" competition. The prize for winning the WAM comp was 12hrs recording at a professional recording studio "Planet Recording Studios".

(West Australian Review - by Ara Jansen)

(WAM News letter - by Bob Gordon)

(Promo Picture)

This is the last photo of the band before the brake up. Tony was going to Uni, and Eric left with artistic differences. Mean while there was the 12hrs recording time to be used at "Planet Recording Studios" so Ken and Marcus now had to get a new drummer at least. They called on a old time friend, Jamie Harskamp, who was also gigging with another local act "Verona" with his brother Matt. So they got to rehearsing quickly and with Jamie on drums, they ended coming up with a song especially for the recording, it was called "Sleep with You". It sounded great but sadly never ended up being released, because "Verona" got signed up in the mean time, and well the band was abandoned.

"Oh well....Dems the Breaks as they say!"

Then after a few years of soul searching and working normal 9 to 5 jobs, Marcus decided to get back into the hot seat, however this time he formed a cover band (to make ends meet). He wanted to be playing music instead of working 9 to 5, The blues of the 'day job' was soul destroying for him. so he started up a new cover band called "Audiopool".

©2003 www.imaginethetribute.com