Part 1 - Perth
Part 2 - Sydney
Part 3 - Melbourne 1992-1995
Part 4 - Melbourne 1995-2002
Part 5 - Melbourne 2002-2010
Perth, March 1989. It had been a long summer. Heat permeated everything. Dogs and cats lay panting in the shade, people fled to the beaches and bars, and Kings Park went up in flames - a glorious bushfire in the middle of the city. Against this backdrop, The Blackeyed Susans were formed, as a part-time concern for various members "on holiday" from their regular bands. David McComb ( The Triffids - vocals and guitar), Phil Kakulas (Martha's Vineyard - bass), Rob Snarski (Chad's Tree - vocals and guitar), Alsy McDonald (The Triffids - drums) and Ross Bolleter (organ and accordian) formed the first line up of the band.
They played eight gigs and recorded four songs before their "day jobs" forced them to put the project on hold. The songs became their first EP, Some Births are Worse than Murders, released in 1990 on Waterfront Records. Acclaimed by music critics in Australia and the UK the record spent several weeks at No. 1 on the independent charts in Australia.
By the time this record was released the band had already undergone several incarnations. Not everyone took their holidays at the same time, so a floating lineup became an integral part of the band's character and appeal.
Kakulas had left for Sydney with Martha's Vineyard. He was replaced by Martyn Casey (The Triffids). Bolleter went to work in Japan, making his fortune playing piano in cocktail bars and restaurants before becoming a zen master. He was replaced by Adrian Wood. McComb was present in the second lineup in 1989 before departing for England. He was replaced by Kim Salmon (Beasts of Bourbon, The Surrealists - guitar and vocals) in the summer of 1990. Casey departed shortly after to join Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.