Biography of the SouthPaw
Southpaw started back in late 1995. The beginings started with Damien teaming up with Maurice Morgan to form “KP Duty”. It was not long after the late night jamming sessions that other friends were called in to join the band. Justin Gross joined on guitars and word went out for a drummer and through one of our mutual friends Phuong Nguyen was found.Those early practise sessions at Pitt street in the “Party Pad” and the odd slab of beer, bag of green and bottles of vodka led to some sessions being recorded at Damien and Gerard Studio’s over at Ultimo. There were a couple of amazing tracks that were created and a heap of shit tracks as well. Weed, beer, vodka and chasing lines were all to blame.
In no time at all we started to rehearse each week and a few weeks turned into a month and then a few months later we had a gig at a Mr Good Bar a Sydney city night club that has since changed hands more time than the weather.
The first night we played as Southpaw was one stinking hot night and the place was so packed they had people hanging from the rafters. We played and the crowd really dug the music. This really kicked things up a notch but something was missing in the vocal department and through a serries of events we ended up parting replacing Maurice on vocals.
Maurice is one talented writer and you can hear his lyrics on Windmill man. This was really his song that grew from a bass riff that and the lyrics that Maurice had created. We are going to be forever grateful for the lyrics and the energy that Maurice gave in those early sessions.
Things needed to change in the vocal department and we parted ways with Maurice Morgan in late 1995. It was time for a new name and new singer. Maurice’s legacy will for always be “Windmill Man”. If there is one song that we can all say was truly a work of art from Maurice then the lyrics that he wrote for Windmill man would be that song. After parting ways and Justin having to do some hard time with sharing a place with Maurice it was time for us to shake off the name KP Duty and seek a new direction. In steps Justin with the new name. The name of the band (Southpaw) came from Justin who happens to be a left hander and hence the name “Southpaw”. For those who do not know this is a term often used to refer to a boxer who is a left hander.
Time moved by and songs appeared and rehearsals continued but the band remained without a singer. The band was keen to record. Damien had already worked with Phil Munro producing “Phoebe” for Blue Pie and it seemed logical to get Phil and his trusty side Mike Ward to work on the CD. It was all decided and Phil Munro was the 1st choice for producer. Phil and Mike were soon engaged in what would become one of the longest sessions that he had done to record 4 songs. The studio of choice was the now defunct “Eclipse Studio” in Kent Street in Sydney.
Damien, Phuong and Justin went off to the studio, working day and night with Phil and Mike in the main studio at Eclipse. The band now had a name the foundation for some great songs and we all hoped that a singer would appear. After a month or so we emerged with some great music but no vocals. Through the course of interviewing singers there were a number of people that tried out for the band and one person in particular was Nick Hardcastle. Nick has since gone on to succeed with his own band “Curfew”. Nick has a huge following in the teen market through his strong presence in ABC programming. Nick’s show “Creature Features” is currently airing on the ABC.
We had always had an abundance of music but the vocals that we needed were missing. Through Penny Cook, the bands manager and good friend to all, Penny went to friend Jon Stevens. Before long we were introduced to the extremely talented Mr Billy Rogers. Billy has one of those amazing Maori voices that are all natural and what most singers would kill for. After a couple of meetings it was all agreed that Billy was to be the new singer and off to the studio we go. Billy was a virtual one or two take wonder. His timing and approach were perfection and the songs stand the test of time today and for always. If you check out the video clips on the site you will see Billy at the “Church”. The Church was the name of the old hall that the band lived in for a while.
The 1st gig was appropriately titled “Bad Trip”. This now seems to be so appropriate in hindsight. At the time it is often hard to see your way through the trees and see this all ending. You can see the only remaining poster of the gig here to the left. The second gig was New Years Eve of 1995 | 1996 at Billy Rogers great waterside pad. The band split shortly after this event in March 1996. Sad but things sometimes work out this way. The most important thing was that we created a legacy with some amazing music that remain as Southpaw.
Since then we have all gone on to pursue other past times. You can see some of the friends and other projects that have been completed by visiting the links section in the site.
Through the bands network of friends some people need to be thanked that all helped along the way. They include, Tewe Henare, Shaun Scott (Alien), Katie Turnbull, Nicki (Phuong’s Girl), Tod “Toddles” Peterson, Karen Wright, Billy Rogers, Penny Cook, Jon Stevens and Phil Munro.
The OUTpsiDER has had his turn at spinning several new versions of Windmill man that you can hear by going to the store. One in particular has been well received in Italy and charted in Milan.
Justin and Damien are back writing and working on a new album for 2008.
