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wa wa nee :: fantastic Aussie band from the 80's to early 90's ::
Extending Their Sphere of Influence
June 6 1987

Why has Paul Gray been in trouble with the boys in blue? Why has he been tinkling the ivories with a blues combo (or something like that)? And why has he been going to see "Blue" movies? Eddy Sarafian goes red asking...

This time last year a song called "Stimulation" appeared from nowhere to become one of Australia's biggest hits. Only Samantha Fox kept it from the number one position. The band responsible, Wa Wa Nee were a bunk of virtual unknowns from Sydney together as a group for only 7 months. But things were changing rather quickly. Their next two singles ("I Could Make You Love Me" and "Sugar Free") come in quick succession and followed "Stimulation" into the Top Ten. Their debut album also did well. Wa Wa Nee became a bunch of bona fide popsters.

Although 1987 started off a little quietly for Wa Wa Nee, especially after such a hectic year in 1986, the pce is certainly picking up. A remixed version of "One And One (Ain't I Good Enough)" - the main difference being that the vocals have been "brought up" i.e. now they're louder than anything else! - is presently twirling it's way up the charts and the band are all set to make their first venture overseas. A recent studio appearance on Countdown prompted some ear splitting screams from the audience which would give the impression that Wa Wa Nee are far from forgotten.

Away from the mayhem, Paul Gray sits in his dressing room strumming merrily on a guitar while he ponders some questions. Like, could some people be mistaken for thinking that Wa Wa Nee had all but disappeared at the end of last year?

"Possibly," he says, "but for us it's a little different 'cause we've been out on the road. So while in the southern states you might think you've heard enough of us, we're in the far reaches of Queensland continually playing live so it's just been a matter of extending our sphere of influence."

And extend they have certainly done. Wa Wa Nee recently opened Dreamworld (a theme park) in Queensland and spent Police Week in Brisbane playing a series of shows at Blue Light discos for under 18's. Obviously Joh's troups (Sir Joh is/was an Aussie polititian) weren't too concerned by this rock'n'roll malarky from the southern "socialist" states.

"They were really good," agrees Paul. "I think they're quite progressive in that regard."

But not so elsewhere...

"Lord knows we've experienced problems with the New South Wales police," he complains. "We've tried to play as many unlicense venues as we can but the police have squashed it. Let's say a gig has been booked in a country town in New South Wales. We get there and find that it's been cancelled we we've ended up playing a licensed venue and then we get letters of complaint from a lot of kids. We end up doing probably 80 per cent licensed venues."

And play they most definitely do. Wa Wa Nee have managed a staggering 350 "gigs" since they were formed - 270 of those during 1986! "A pretty solid year of touring," as Paul modestly describes it. So then it's little wonder that the band rarely have any time to themselves.

"I like to get back to the hotal room pretty soon after a gig," says Paul. "They (the other blokes in the band) like to party on and stay out late at night. I'm much quieter."

I suppose that's hardly a shock relevation seeing as all the Wa Wa Nee songs so far have been written and produced by the 23 year old Mr. Gray. But surely he's not always working... "Mmm absolutely," comes the reply. "But the other thing I do when we're in sydney is play in a jazz trio."

What? More work??! Phew. Still once the subject of jazz is raised Paul stops plucking away on the guitar and despite usually being very still and soft-spoken, even becomes a little animated.

"There's myself, Chris (The Sween) the drummer and a bass player and we do some gigs at a club in Sydney." (The Harbourside Brasserie, fact fans.)

And what, pray is this threesome known as?

"Um... it's varied," says Paul sounding none too sure, "but I think we're basically called The Sween Trio. We play a lot of jazz standards and some originals."

And you may wonder whether these jazz tunes are long rambling "pieces" with 16 minute piano solos providing the diners with plenty of snoozesome muzak to stuff their faces to.

"Oh no no no!" Paul snaps slightly peeved. "We like to think it's pretty full-on jazz. Y'know, it's quite fast. I really enjoy it because through my adolescent years and after high school I was a jazz pianist just thinking totally jazz. I'd still like to do an album of jazz originals featureing different line ups."

Well, he certainly takes his work seriously but, we still wonder what does Paul Gray do in his "real" spare time?

After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy as they say.

"It's just that we've been touring so much that when we do get back to Sydney all I really wann do is stay home and do some writing, watch videos and stuff like that. The other guys hang out at different places but I don't normally get out that much, I don't really like it. I prefer to keep a quiet life at home."


And which films have caught the eye of our discerning viewer?

"I like to go and see movies and I really liked Betty Blue," he beams. "It's brilliant."

Ah yes, of course, the pervy French flick full of loads of amazing rumpo!

"Beautiful," he drools "The opening scene's a killer."

Blimey. The last time I spoke to Paul he blurted something about his songs being about lust. And here he goes again...

"A lot of my songs are about sex."

See.

"Sick pervy you, writing songs like that," jokes Steve Williams.

"Jesus we all do it!" cries Paul turning to his partner. "Steve?"

"Sure do!"

They chuckle loudly. Alright then, have you cleaned up your act Mr. Gray or are your new songs still about, erm, acts of great pervosity? Mmm?

"I couldn't reveal lyrical contents at this time," he says, "I'd be revealing myself to you too soon."

Oh! I suppose we'll just have to wait until September when the new Wa Wa Nee album has been promised for release. In the meantime their debut album has been promised for release. In the meantime their debut album has just been released overseas.

"Stimulation" is apparently in the Japanese charts and very soon the lads might be trekking the globe far and wide seeking more fame and fortune. Company for other successful Aussies like Farnham (John), Crowded House and Pseudo Echo, perhaps?

"I think it's great but I don't like any media-isms regarding the invasions or an Aussie assault," comments Paul. "It's all music and Wa Wa Nee has no patriotic, er."

He stops dead in his tracks and looks up at Steve, before he says something he may regret. "I've gotta be careful here haven't I? We consider ourselves musicians on a world basis," he continues diplomatically. "Steve comes from Wales, Chris comes from America and Mark and I are Australian but we have definite ideas that we don't want to be locked into any patriotic fervour. I really love being an Australian but I just hope we don't become, in the eyes of the media 'another Australian band."

An overseas jaunt would be nothing new for Paul. At 19 he spent loads of time, surprise surprise, working in "quite plush" Tokyo jazz clubs and also in Miami and LA (man). But the giddy world of "rock" can be quite tough at times.

"Ive got supreme confidence in this group and my own ability to carry ourselves desice the odds against us," he boasts. "It's great that compared to our early days when we were struggling for gigs, now promoters are struggling to get us. Personally I don't put up with as much pullshit as I did when we were younger."

Ohh-ahh! But surely he can't expect things to be so easy when they head off for Europe and America.

"We are novices at this game," he agrees. "We've had our little stint in Australia and we've had some success but when it comes to overseas we're gonna be in the big league and Wa Wa Nee are only small fries. It's gonna be a big adventure for us!"

"But please don't forget Australia" shriek a squillion fans.

"Definitely not," assures Paul Gray. "We'll always come back and tour and we'll release stuff and... we'll be kind to people."

Jolly Good!

Source: Smash Hits magazine

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