Australian band Scandal formed in Adelaide in February 1976 and by the end of the year had signed a deal with the Mushroom label.
Comprising four English migrants and a token Australian (drummer Aldo Civitico) the band’s stylish UK-centric sound drew on influences such as Supertramp, Bryan Ferry and David Bowie for inspiration.
Mushroom issued Scandal’s debut single Best Deal in Town in March 1977, followed by Harry in August.
The band enjoyed its only national chart success with a cover of the smooth soul/pop track How Long (originally by British band Ace). Scandal’s version reached #23 in Australia in May 1978.
Their self-titled debut album was also released in May and produced the band’s fourth single She’s a Lady. It was to be the band’s final release and they broke up in December.
Kerrison, Harriot and Watson formed a group called The Extractors but by August 1979 had revived the Scandal name for a new band with Adrian Dessent on guitar, Greg Trennery on bass and Nat de Palma on drums.
The new line-up was not successful and Kerrison left the music industry while Dessent went on to work with Wendy and the Rocketts. By 1983, Watson had joined Sydney band, The Venetians.
Stuart Kerrison
Vocals
Chris Harriot
Keyboards, vocals
Peter Watson
Guitar, vocals
Michael Smith
Bass, vocals
Aldo Civitico
Drums
