Little Murders

English ex-pat Rob Griffiths embraced 1960s English pop culture (The Who, The Kinks, Union Jack flags draped over amplifiers) so it was perhaps unsurprising that Little Murders (the band were named after a 1971 film starring Elliot Gould and directed by Alan Arkin) became the premier Mod revival band of the late 70s/early 80s Melbourne (Australia) independent music scene.

Their debut single, Things Will Be Different, was released on Au Go Go Records in December 1979. The song had actually been recorded by Griffiths’ previous band, Fiction.

Two further singles were released on Au Go Go; High School and the superb Power Pop track She Let’s Me Know.

Lineup changes plagued the band for the next three years until eventually, unable to secure a major record deal, Griffiths broke up the band in December 1983.

Griffiths made an unsuccessful attempt to revive Little Murders in 1985 and independent label Polyester Records issued the 100 Drugs single (recorded in 1983) while Au Go Go issued the retrospective set Stop! in 1986, drawing together various singles tracks and unreleased studio cuts.

In 1995, Rob Griffiths revived the Little Murders name and recorded a new album with backing musicians including Craig Pilkington and Dave Foley from The Killjoys. The album …And Stuff Like That was released in June 1997 and comprised the new material plus six previously released tracks.

By that stage, a new Little Murders line-up was touring in Australia, with Michael Barclay (on loan from Weddings Parties Anything) on drums.

Rob Griffiths
Vocals, guitar
Clint Small
Guitar, vocals
Ken Hamilton
Bass
Rod Flegg
Drums
Stuart Beatty
Guitar
Steve Fusezi
Bass
Kim Holmberg
Guitar, vocals
Paul Holmberg
Drums
Alan Brooker
Bass
Rod Hayward
Guitar
Chris Hunter
Bass
Michael Barclay
Drums