V Capri are a new wave/power pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1984, fronted by lead vocalist Tod Johnston, with Lance Karapetcoff on keyboards, Michael O'Brien on bass guitar, Alan Simpson on drums and Damian Ward on guitar.[1] The band was popular locally but were unable to transfer this to the eastern states despite having signed with Mushroom Records.[1][2] They released six top 100 singles in the Australian charts between April 1985 and June 1987.[1][3]
V Capri | |
|---|---|
 V Capri Original Lineup | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia |
| Genres | New wave, power pop |
| Years active | 1984–1989 2010–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | Tod Johnston Damian Ward Alan Sampson Lance Karapetcoff Dale Bromley Michael O'Brien Clint Arnold |
| Website | http://vcapri.blogspot.com/ |
History edit
V Capri are a new wave/power pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1984,[2] lead vocalist Tod Johnston (Manic D) and guitarist Damian Ward (Flavours, Perfect Strangers), they joined with Lance Karapetcoff on keyboards, Michael O'Brien on bass guitar and Alan Sampson on drums (both of whom were in Harlequin Tears).[1] The band was popular in Perth and released their debut single, "Only a Movie" on the independent Theatre Label[1] in April 1985,[2] which reached the Perth top 10 but did not reach the top 50 nationally.[1][3] Success in Perth led to signing with Mushroom Records and the release of further singles but they were unable to transfer their popularity in Perth to the eastern states.[1][2] They released six further singles[2] which all reached the top 10 in Perth, with "Haunting Me" and "That's the Way" peaking at #1 locally.[1] The singles reached the top 100 in the Australian charts between April 1985 and June 1987.[1][3] Their debut, and only album, In My World, was released by Mushroom Records in November 1986.[2] It reached number 52 on the Australian charts on the Kent Music Report) in October 1986.[3][4] The single "Haunting Me" had international release when used in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours at the end of Kylie Minogue’s final episode, it reached #77 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989.[5]
Being interviewed in 2003 on Australian Music Online, Malcolm Clark (The Sleepy Jackson) remembered V Capri:
What, where and when was the first local gig you attended?
- The first show I went to was a band called V-Capri in the mid '80s, who used to play at a venue called the "Overflow" at the Nookenburra Hotel in Innaloo (Perth). I was eight-years-old and I used to hang out there on Saturday afternoons while my dad watched the jazz band next door.
- One night my dad took me there and the roadies snuck me in the side-door as children weren’t allowed in the venue. It was amazing to watch a real live band, wow. It’s funny now because the lead singer (Tod Johnston) did the weather on TV. I wonder if he’d remember me?[6]
In My World was re-issued by Almacantar Records, a record label which specialises in 1980s releases, in the United States in 2006. The re-issued album features five bonus tracks including rare singles sides and unreleased tracks. According to their Facebook page they have reformed with the original line up as of 2010.[4]
Members edit
- Tod Johnston – lead vocals
- Lance Karapetkov – keyboards, vocals
- Michael O'Brien – bass guitar, vocals
- Alan Sampson – drums[9]
- Damian Ward – guitar
- Clint Arnold – guitar
- Dave Catteral – guitar
Discography edit
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [3] | ||
| In My World | 52 |
Singles edit
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [3] |
UK [5] | |||
| "It's Only a Movie" | 1985 | 61 | — | In My World |
| "Haunting Me"/"Year from Now" | 45 | 77 | ||
| "That's the Way"/"In My World"[10] | 1986 | 53 | — | |
| "Nights and Days"/"Shining World" | 55 | — | ||
| "Love Is Such a Lonely Song"/"Memories" | 81 | — | ||
| "Time Is Always Changing"/"Book of Life" | 1987 | 73 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Now I Know"/"Big Jet Engines" | 1988 | — | — | |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'V Capri'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on April 20, 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Spencer et al, (2007) V-Capri[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian singles and albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- ^ a b "Home Page » Catalog » V Capri » AR-5552". Almacantar Records. 7 March 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - V Capri". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ Clark, Malcolm (7 July 2003). "The Sleepy Jackson talk up "Lovers"". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "V Capri". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 27 April 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "In My World album credits". Discogs. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Western Australia Music (WAM) archives". www.wam.asn.au. 2003. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "That's the Way". Plastic Passion Records. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.