The Moodists

The Moodists were a Melbourne, Australian post-punk band that formed in 1980, when Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Steve Miller of punk group Sputniks moved from Adelaide to Melbourne. They added bass player Chris Walsh and later added guitarist Mick Turner. After recording two singles and a six track EP for Bruce Milne and Greta Moon's Au Go Go label in Melbourne they relocated to London.

 

They then recorded the albums 'Thirstys Calling' (1984) and 'Double Life' (1985). The band supported Public Image Limited on their 1984 tour of Australia, along with punk band Box of Fish. They returned to Australia in 1985 for six months (Turner quit and reconvened his earlier group Fungus Brains; he would later form Dirty Three) and then travelled again to the UK. During this time they toured extensively through Northern Europe and also made a short tour of the United States. In 1985 they recorded an EP for Creation Records. In 1986 they released two EPs on the TIM label. 

 

All their recorded works from the time they first decamped to the northern hemisphere were produced by the band and Victor Van Vugt (who went on to work with Nick Cave, Beth Orton and PJ Harvey as well as many others). Their final gig was in London and the lineup by this time featured Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Steve Miller as well as former members of Scottish band Orange Juice: David McClymont on bass and Malcolm Ross on guitar. (Malcolm Ross was later to play with Graney and Moore as part of the original Coral Snakes). 

 

After they disbanded in 1987, Dave Graney and Clare Moore formed the first of Graney's solo groups, Dave Graney with the Coral Snakes. This band featured Malcolm Ross, Gordy Blair on bass and piano player Louis Vause. They recorded an ep for Fire Records which was produced by Barry Adamson.