Richard Grossman (bassist)

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Richard Grossman
Grossman in May, 2015.
Grossman in May, 2015.
Background information
Also known asRick Grossman
BornSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar
Years active1976–present

Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands: Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus.[1][2] Hoodoo Gurus' status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame.[3][4] For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame induction in a row; the 2006 award was for his stint with Divinyls.[5] Often referred to as Rick Grossman, he has also performed with other Australian bands: Matt Finish, Ghostwriters, Persian Rugs, The Kelly Gang and Men at Work.[1]

Biography[edit]

Early bands[edit]

Between 1976 and 1979, Grossman played bass for several minor bands, including Hellcats, Parachute, Bleeding Hearts, Eric Gradman's Man and Machine and The Traitors.[1]

Matt Finish[edit]

Grossman attended first Scots College and then Sydney Boys High School with John Prior drummer of Matt Finish and also became friends with singer/songwriter Matt Moffitt when he joined the band in 1980.[6] Grossman performed on their debut album Short Note (1981, #14 in the Australian charts)[7] and the associated single Short Note went gold.[6] He also played on Fade Away (live EP, 1981); but as a result of Moffitt's declining health, the band split up at the end of 1981.[6]

Divinyls[edit]

Main article: Divinyls

Grossman then spent five years (1982–1987) as bass guitarist for Divinyls replacing Jeremy Paul (ex Air Supply) just after they had recorded the soundtrack for the film Monkey Grip in 1982. Divinyls were led by Christina Amphlett (vocals) and Mark McEntee (guitars). Together with Grossman they recorded two albums Desperate (1983, No. 5 Kent Music Report Album Charts) and What a Life! (1985, No. 4). Which included their hit singles, "Science Fiction" (1983, No. 13 Kent Music Report Singles Chart), and "Pleasure and Pain" (1985, No. 11 Kent and No. 12 U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks). Divinyls, including Grossman, were honoured by being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.[5]

Grossman left Divinyls when he entered rehab for heroin addiction, and was replaced by Matthew Hughes four days after he was admitted to a detox clinic.[8]

Hoodoo Gurus[edit]

Bass guitarist Richard Grossman at Rottnest Island, April 2012
Main article: Hoodoo Gurus

In 1988 Grossman replaced Clyde Bramley in Hoodoo Gurus on bass.[1] Their most stable line-up of Dave Faulkner (guitar, vocals, main songwriter, keyboards), Grossman, Mark Kingsmill (drums, percussion) and Brad Shepherd (lead guitar, vocals, harmonica) saw Hoodoo Gurus from 1988 to the break-up in January 1998.[9]

Grossman has been involved in the reformed Hoodoo Gurus (2003–present), including the release of their latest album Chariot of the Gods (2022) and subsequent tours both nationally and internationally. Hoodoo Gurus co-headlined the 2004 Big Day Out festival with Metallica and The Strokes.[10]

Hoodoo Gurus toured during 2007 including several US dates,[11] kicking off at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX,[12] performances in Europe, including the Azkena Festival (Spain)[13] followed by a national tour of Australia called 'Clash of the Titans', with The Stems and Radio Birdman.[14] Another solo Hoodoo Gurus tour started late in 2007 (including performances at the Apollo Bay Music Festival,[15] Splendour in the Grass,[16] Meredith Music Festival,[17] and the St Kilda Festival[18]) and continued into 2008.[19]

Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame,[3][4] this was the second time for Grossman who had already been inducted as a member of Divinyls in 2006.

Ghostwriters[edit]

Main article: Ghostwriters (band)

From 1990 onwards, Grossman has been involved in a side project, Ghostwriters, with Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil.[1] Ghostwriters have released four albums Ghostwriters (1991), Second Skin (1996), Fibromoon (1999, by Rob Hirst and The Ghostwriters) and their latest release Political Animal (2007 Sony BMG).[1] Fellow Guru, Shepherd played as a session musician with Ghostwriters on their albums Ghostwriters and Fibromoon.[1] In 1996, Hirst also teamed up with Australian Olympian turned musician, Paul Greene, to form Hirst and Greene: they produced a single "Best Impression" / "When God's Not Busy" (1996) with Grossman on bass.[20] Ghostwriters (i.e. Hirst and Grossman) were producers and session musicians for Various Artists album Olympic Record (2000), other performers included Greene.[21] Hirst and Greene, with Grossman playing bass, released In the Stealth of Summer (2005) together with other musicians that would be used on Ghostwriters' Political Animal.[22]

Matt Moffitt[edit]

During 2001, Grossman performed 20 concerts with long-time friend Matt Moffitt (1956–2003) singer-songwriter and founder of Matt Finish. Grossman had been an early member (1980–1981) and returned to compile and promote Just a Short Note (Best of) (December, 2001).[6][23] When Moffitt died in September 2003, Grossman delivered one of the eulogies.[6]

Finding Joy[edit]

In 2001, Grossman contributed the title track to the independent Australian feature film Finding Joy (released in 2003), performing all of the instruments and singing the vocals.[24]

Persian Rugs[edit]

In September 2001, the four ex-Gurus (Faulkner, Grossman, Kingsmill & Shepherd) performed as The Moops (later called Persian Rugs).[25][26] At Homebake 2001, (8 December) both Hoodoo Gurus and Persian Rugs performed separate sets.[26] Just after Persian Rugs recorded a five-track EP Mr. Tripper (June, 2002), Grossman left, they recruited bassist Kendall James (ex Thurston Howlers, Crusaders) and recorded an album Turkish Delight (August, 2003).[27]

"We recorded an EP about 18 months [ago] with all ex-Hoodoo Gurus members, Rick Grossman played bass on that as well but he has other things going on [in] his life which is always the way of the musician. We had a bass player vacancy going on in the band. I had seen Kendall playing in a band called the Crusaders which were very much in the same realm." - Brad Shepherd, 2003.[28]

The Kelly Gang[edit]

The Kelly Gang was a 2004 project Grossman formed with Jack Nolan, they brought in Hirst and Scott Aplin (Waikiki) to record Looking for the Sun (July, 2004) which has one of Sidney Nolan's iconic "Ned Kelly" series as its album cover. Brad Shepherd (Hoodoo Gurus) also performed on the album as a session musician.[29] On their tour debut guitarist Martin Rotsey (Midnight Oil) and session drummer Pete Skelton joined the band.

Personal life[edit]

Grossman has admitted that his heroin drug abuse forced him out of The Divinyls in 1987, he nearly died from overdosing and The Buttery Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centre helped him get clean; Grossman is now a patron of The Buttery and also a drug rehab counsellor.[30] On 10 November 2008, Australian Story episode "All the Boys in Town" featured Grossman, he mentioned his recovery from heroin addiction at The Buttery and described his project to gain funding for their rehab centre: a CD Caution: Life Ahead! with performances and royalties donated by various artists.[31] Grossman is married and lives in Sydney and, when not touring or recording, is a lecturer at JMC Academy Australia, providing instruction in Creative Industries Course: Popular Music and Performance.[32] He also developed 'Flight Deck', a studio for aspiring songwriters, in 2000.[33]

Rick has two children Amelia and Michael Grossman.

Discography[edit]

  • Matt Finish (1979–1981, 2001)
    • "Matt Finish Play Africa" / "CIA" / "Mancini Shuffle" (1980)
    • "Short Note" / "Layman's Day" (1981)
    • Short Note (LP) (1981)
    • Fade Away (EP) (1981)
    • Just a Short Note (Best of) (2001)
  • Divinyls (1982–1987)

See Divinyls discography for full list. Studio albums with Grossman:

See Hoodoo Gurus discography for full list or for a quick link to albums and singles use infobox below. Studio albums with Grossman:

  • Ghostwriters (1990–present)
    • Ghostwriters (1991)
    • Second Skin (1996)
    • Fibromoon (credited to Rob Hirst and The Ghostwriters) (1999)
    • produced & session musician on Olympic Record by Various Artists (2000)
    • Political Animal (2007)
  • Persian Rugs (aka Moops) (2001–2002)
    • Mr. Tripper (EP) (2001)
  • The Kelly Gang (2004)
    • Looking for the Sun (2004)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Holmgren, Magnus. "Rick Grossman". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Hartung, Stephan. "Hoodoo Gurus". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  4. ^ a b Pope, Mark (7 May 2007). "ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from (PDF) the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. ^ a b "2006 ARIA Hall of Fame Awards". ARIA. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e Souter, Annie (9 October 2003). "Wild one with a dark angel's voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  7. ^ 3XY Music Survey, 27 March 1981
  8. ^ Collins, Simon (24 April 2013). "Amphlett 'in a league of her own'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  9. ^ Clarke, Gareth. "Hoodoo Guruvosity". Archived from the original on 26 July 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Big Day Out - past lineups". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  11. ^ Mills, Fred (9 February 2007). "Hoodoo Gurus tour U.S. for first time since '94". Harp Magazine. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  12. ^ "2007 SXSW Official website - bands". south by southwest, inc. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  13. ^ "2007 Azekena Festival lineup". Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  14. ^ Mccabe, Kathy (12 September 2007). "Rockin' Dinosaurs". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  15. ^ Pemberton, Rob (9 May 2007). "Appollo Bay Music Festival lineup". Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  16. ^ "2007 Splendour in the Grass - Hoodoo Gurus". splendourinthegrass.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  17. ^ "Meredith Music Festival 2007 lineup". Meredith Music Festival. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  18. ^ "2008 St Kilda Festival lineup". St Kilda Festival. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  19. ^ "Official website - Tour dates". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  20. ^ "Hirst & Greene - "Best Impression"". discogs.com. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  21. ^ "Olympic Record". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  22. ^ "Discogs entry on In the Stealth of Summer". Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  23. ^ "Matt Finish Official website". mattfinish.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  24. ^ "Finding Joy Official Web Site". findingjoy.com. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  25. ^ McPharlin, John (6 September 2001). "The Moops aka Persian Rugs at the Hoey". I-94 Bar. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  26. ^ a b "Homebake 2001 band profiles". Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  27. ^ Holmgren, Magnus. "Persian Rugs". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  28. ^ Cashmere, Paul (19 August 2003). "What is with the Hoodoo Gurus reformation rumours?". Undercover Music News. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  29. ^ Piggot, Stacey. "Australian Music Online entry on The Kelly Gang". Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  30. ^ Writer, Larry (10 November 2007). "Buttery rehab puts its ambitions into music". The Australian. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  31. ^ "Australian Story - "All the Boys in Town" - Transcript". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  32. ^ "JMC Academy Australia news". JMC Academy. Retrieved 25 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "APRAP" (PDF). November 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
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