TRACKLIST:
1. Sunrise (Come My Way)
2. Freedom
3. Til My Death
4. The Prophet
5. I - Pound of Flesh II - Shylock
Alongside Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs and Blackfeather, Buffalo pioneered Australia's heavy metal, pub rock and alternative rock movements in the 70s. Formed in Sydney in August 1971 from expatriate Brisbane band Head, the original line-up was Dave Tice (vocals), Alan Milano (vocals), Paul Balbi (drums), John Baxter (guitar) and Peter Wells (bass). In May 1972, they issued their debut single, "Suzie Sunshine", followed a month later by the debut album “Dead Forever...”. Both sold well with the album sales reaching 25,000 despite a virtual commercial radio blacklisting stemming from the band’s uncompromising hard rock sound and a ghoulish LP cover. In mid-January 1973, Buffalo supported Vertigo label-mates Black Sabbath on the Australian leg of the Volume IV Tour. The four-piece line-up of Baxter, Economou, Tice and Wells recorded the next two albums, “Volcanic Rock” (July 1973) and “Only Want You For Your Body” (June 1974).
By mid-1974 Norm Roue (ex-Band of Light) had joined on slide guitar. Later that year, Baxter parted ways with the group. A series of new guitarists passed through: Karl Taylor joined on guitar in 1975 for the more commercially-oriented “Mother's Choice”, with Roue and Taylor replaced by Chris Turner (ex-Drain) on guitar and (briefly) Colin Stead. Wells left before the end of 1975 to form Rose Tattoo. With Turner on guitar and Ross Sims on bass, Buffalo recorded their final LP, “Average Rock and Roller”. Buffalo disbanded in March 1977, when Tice traveled to London to join local rock group The Count Bishops alongside his former bandmate Balbi.
Buffalo pre-dated other early Australian hard rockers like Coloured Balls (formed March 1972), AC/DC (late 1973), The Angels (1974, as The Keystone Angels), and Rose Tattoo. Like many pioneering heavy metal acts, Buffalo incorporated strong influences of blues-rock and psychedelic rock — some say Buffalo pre-empted doom metal and stoner rock. They were the first Australian act to be signed to UK label Vertigo Records.
Since the band's hiatus in 1977, frontman Dave Tice carved out a successful career as a solo artist, and as a member of The Count Bishops and The Headhunters. As requests for a reunion became more and more insistent, he responded by playing events as Buffalo Revisited, showcasing their first three albums. Shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane reaffirmed the band’s legendary status, blowing away audiences made up of old fans along with young Heavy Rock fans experiencing Buffalo’s raw power live for the first time.
BUFFALO REVISITED lineup
Dave Tice — Vocals
Troy Scerri — Guitar
Steve Lorkin — Bass
Marcus Fraser — Drums
Find the band on Facebook
RIPPLE MUSIC links
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