Sons Of The Vegetal Mother

Melbourne 1969-71

Personnel

Wayne Duncan [bass]
Trevor Griffin [piano]
Ross Hannaford [vocal/guitar]
Jeremy Kellock aka Jeremy Noone [tenor sax*]
Mike Rudd [guitar]
Tim Partridge [bass]
Ian Wallace [alto sax #]
Simon Wettenhall [trumpet #]
Ross Wilson [vocal/guitar]
Bruce Woodcock [tenor sax #]
Gary Young [drums]

Biography

SOVTM were an "esoteric special occasion progressive band" [Baker, 1994] with a floating lineup based around the nucleus of Wilson and Hannaford. Their music was strongly influenced by Wilson's interest in Frank Zappa and they performed intermittently at multimedia and art events, 'happenings' and concerts at Melbourne galleries and venues like the TF Much Ballroom. Band 'members' at these events included Wilson and Hannaford's former Party Machine cohort Mike Rudd (Spectrum) and bassist Tim Partidge (Co. Caine)

SOTVM made few recordings; their only known release is Garden Party, a custom-pressed EP played at and given away to audiences at an event/exhibition called The Garden Party:

An Environment by Warren Knight - Ti Parks - Guy Stuart
October 28th to November 22nd, 1970
The Age Gallery, 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne
It was never commercially released and consequently has become one of the most collectible Australian records of the rock era. One track from the EP, Make It Begin, is anthologised on Golden Miles, Raven's 2CD compilation of Australian progressive rock, and shows influences from Zappa and the Stones (ca. Satanic Majesties).

SOTVM gradually petered out during 1971, overtaken by the runaway success of Wilson and Hannaford's 'side project', Daddy Cool. Originally devised to provide 'light relief', Daddy Cool played short, enjoyable sets of 50s-style rock & roll between the Vegetals' lengthy, exploratory sets, but they soon proved far more popular than the 'parent' band. By 1971 Daddy Cool had taken on a life of its own and became the No.1 band in the country.

Discography

EP
The Garden Party  Custom pressing   MP-465   33 1/3 rpm  stereo
Side one label is buff colour and credits the song to Sons of the Vegetal Mother, with writing credits for Wilson; Side two label is orange.
Buff side: Love Is The Law*  / Orange side: The Garden Party, Make It Begin#
Words and music by Ross Wilson © 1970
Custom Recorded by Bill Armstrong
Engineer: Ern Rose

Thanks to Paul Culnane for the details of this recording, which come from the card insert included with the original EP.

References