Rockmelons – Nostalgia Central

This Australian R&B, funk and dance group formed in Sydney, Australia, in 1983. At a time when the Australian music scene was heavily dominated by traditional pub rock, they stood out by pioneering synth-heavy soul, club music, and hip-hop beats.

The band was born at Sydney punk venue/Italian restaurant Garinaldi’s in 1978, where Ray Medhurst and Bryon Jones would hold parties and put together “silly groups”, of which Rockmelons was one, playing reggae versions of Anarchy in the UK to enraged punks.

As the club scene began to gain popularity, Ray started working as a DJ while the group built a massive grass-roots following by throwing vibrant underground warehouse dance parties in Sydney, where they would perform live with up to ten musicians on stage.

The band’s debut single, Time Out For Serious Fun, was released on Phantom Records and featured Sandi Chick on vocals.

Throughout their career, the band utilised a rotating cast of guest vocalists to front their tracks, and their follow-up single, Sweat It Out, featured the angelic voice of Peter Blakeley.

Their debut studio album, Tales of the City (1988), peaked at #6 on the Australian charts and earned them a shared ARIA Music Award for Breakthrough Artist – Album.

The group reached their commercial peak with Form 1 Planet in 1992, reaching #3 on the ARIA charts and achieving platinum certification.

They also enjoyed success collaborating with vocalist Deni Hines in the singles charts with That Word (L.O.V.E.) and Ain’t No Sunshine (a soul-dance cover of the Bill Withers classic).

After a long hiatus, the group returned in 2002 with a third studio album – Rockies 3 – that continued their tradition of highlighting fresh talent, utilising eight different vocalists across the album.

In fact, Rockmelons served as a launchpad, helping establish major solo careers for Demi Hines, Wendy Matthews and Peter Blakeley.

The group disbanded in the mid-2000s, but the core trio of Medhurst and the Jones brothers remained highly active behind the scenes and found successful second careers as pop songwriters and producers for hire.

Ray Medhurst
Keyboards, tapes
Bryon Jones
Bass, vocals
Jonathon “Jonno” Jones
Drums, keyboards
Peter Blakeley
Vocals
John Kenny
Vocals
Sandi Chick
Vocals
Wendy Matthews
Vocals
Mary Azzopardi
Backing vocals
Deni Hines
Vocals
Doug Williams
Vocals
Vince Dale
Keyboards
Peter Kennard
Guitar

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