Porcelain Bus


Porcelain Bus were an Australian rock and R&B group formed in late 1985 by Ian James on lead vocals, Robert McKiernan on lead guitar and vocals, John Nolan on drums and Paul Patrick on bass guitar. They released two studio albums Talking to God and Fragile. After touring Europe in late 1990 they returned to Australia where they toured its east coast before breaking up in 1991.

History

Porcelain Bus were formed in Sydney in late 1985 by Ian James on lead vocals, Robert McKiernan on lead guitar and vocals, John Nolan on drums and Paul Patrick on bass guitar. James, McKiernan and Patrick were school friends and had formed Mr Pharmacist early in 1985 as a 1960s acid-punk/R&B group. Porcelain Bus were named for a euphemism for vomiting, "driving the porcelain bus".
The group's debut single "Indignation" was produced by Rob Younger. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane observed that it "defined the band's sound." Their second single, "The Well is Dry" and a six-track extended play, Steel Bros were both produced by Brett Myers for Citadel Records. On the EP's lead track "Talk to Me" Astrid Munday guested on backing vocals. Jim Dwyer of Tharunka praised James' "appealing" vocals on "The Well Is Dry" and its use of slide and acoustic guitar. Dwyer found Steel Bros to be an "absolutely excellent a killer record."
Myers also produced their debut studio album Talking to God, which was issued in October 1988. Nostalgia Centrals writer felt it "presented a great mix of strong rockers and softer tracks". It provided two singles "Own Little World" and "Rats". Adam Toole replaced Nolan on drums in November 1989. The group issued their second album Fragile in July 1990, which included the single "Blue on Blue". The album was described by Penelope Layland of The Canberra Times as "excellent" and displaying "rich guitar rock with a '60s edge and a dominant, complex rhythm line." Citadel Records authorised a compilation album Sacred Relics for release in Europe and the group supported it with a European tour later that year. Upon return to Australia they undertook an east coast tour and disbanded in 1991.
In 1995 Ian James and Rob McKiernan formed Gentle Assassins as a "hard rocknpop and alt.country" five-piece band. Other members were Iain Jepson on keyboards, Andrew Lay on drums and James Lacey on bass guitar and vocals. The group released their debut album They Knew too Much via Endgame Records, which was produced by Shane Fahey.

Members

  • Ian James – lead vocals
  • Robert McKiernan – lead guitar, vocals
  • John Nolan – drums, vocals
  • Paul Patrick – bass guitar
  • Adam Toole – drums

    Discography

Albums

  • Talking to God – Citadel Records
  • Fragile – Citadel/Festival Records, Blue Mosque
  • Sacred Relics – Citadel, Blue Mosque/Festival Records

    Extended plays

  • Steel Bros – Citadel Records

    Singles

  • "Indignation" – Citadel Records
  • "The Well is Dry" – Citadel Records
  • "Own Little World" – Citadel Records
  • "Rats" – Citadel Records
  • "Blue on Blue" – Blue Mosque Records