Tom has released a number of solo CD's and has been doing freelance studio engineering for a lot of different bands. In 1992, he produced a 5 track EP called "Goddamn" for Australian band You Am I. In 1993, he made an interesting change of pace and recorded Tiny Tim's Christmas Album. In the mid-1990's, he was associated with an ethnic/conventional pop/rock band (their description, not mine) called Fig Tree Rennaisance . They released a CD of the same name in 1994, which Tom produced. At this time, he was described as "the resident composer at the Takeaway Theatre/Hellenic Theatrical Group".
He has also been in Taj Orange with Smiley and Andrew Byrnes. In 1993, he released an instrumental CD called "Book of Saturday" , with Andrew Byrnes playing on a few tracks. This is a great atmospheric composition and a must for all Moffs fans. In 1995 he released a self-titled CD on Ravenswood Records featuring Andrew on drums/percussion and Tom on everything else. About a year ago, he was sited working in a takeaway food shop in Marrickville. He is probably in Greece at the moment.
Albums
Deliquescence 1989
LP AUS Third Eye TRILP 1
Book Of Saturdays 1993
CD AUS Shock
Tom Kazas 1995 12 Produced by Tom Kazas
CD AUS Ravenswood/MDS RV1015
--------------------------- Contribution to album
Floralia Vol. 3 1999
--------------------------- Production
Bob Armstrong cd Island Of Dreams 1990
The Pyramidiacs s 1991
Lemon Avenue mcd Love And Necromancy 1991
You Am I cdep Goddamn 1992
Lovecraft cdep Love 1992
Fig Tree Rennaisance cd Fig Tree Rennaisance 1994
Smiley Byrnes
Smiley was also been in a band called Lazarus (does anyone know more about this band?) as well as Taj Orange after the Moffs and played on some of Tom's solo CD's. He has also played grade cricket as an opening batsman!
Nick Potts
Nick has been helping me with the site (thanks Nick!) and is currently touring Europe with a band of travelling minstrals. Nick is interested in a huge array of unusual musical instruments including the hurdy gurdy, tin whistle and the dulcimer. He and collects war books and memorabilia.
Brandon Saul
Brandon is of "Brandon Saul Management" fame and books festivals in the Byron Bay area.
Alan Hislop
Alan has played with the Trash Potatoes and Interstellar Villains with Tony Thewlis of Scientists fame. He is currently in a band called The Obvious Question with Damon Giles and Greg Kasch. Apparently the guys are in the middle of doing some recording (Thanks for the info, Miss Meredith). Nice to see that these guys are still collaborating!
Nick, Alan, Damon, Greg and Ashley King were in a band called "Suicidal Flowers" that played around Sydney in the late 1980's. They even recorded a single (will find out the name from Miss Jane or Miss Meredith - Miss Jane & I did back-up vocals on it back in 1988!). Ben took some fabulous photos of the band, who although didn't play much, were very photogenic!
Mick Duncan
Mick was working in a Sydney music shop and plays in the Flaming Barstools with his brothers Ian and Rob and "father" Dave Alexander. They are just about to release a CD called "Troubleland"
Damon Giles
Damon is still "defending the nation" and plays his banjo at home in inner city Sydney. He also plays at Stupidity reunion gigs. He is currently in The Obvious Question with Alan Hislop and Greg Kasch.
Andrew Byrnes
Andrew played on some of Tom's solo CD's, has done some session work and attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He was also in Taj Orange.
Scott Barnes
Can anyone help me with his story?
Dave Slade
After fronting No Man's Land, Dave went onto the Medicine Show and now lives the life of a country gentleman in northern New South Wales. He plays in Love and Squallor, listens to Herb Alpert albums, has shaved off his wild hair, is the father of Sarah and no longer wears Hawaiian shirts.
Jim Leone
Jim still plays with the Celibate Rifles who have just finished recording a new album. He has also been involved in a number of other projects including The Well (with Peter Koppes of the Church), Love Rodeo (with Rod Radaja), Grapefruit and The New Monk. The Celibate Rifles are still alive & well and will be touring Melbourne at the beginning of December 2000. Catch them if you are around as these guys can still rock!
Influenced by bands like Pink Floyd (Piper at the Gates of Dawn in particular), King Crimson, early Yardbirds, the Byrds, the Beatles and various blues & psychedelic bands and artists from the '60's, the Moffs, a Sydney band, were around from 1983 to 1989 and they released a whole lot of vinyl on the Citadel label. Their shows were wonderfully laid back - you could easily sit on the floor with your eyes closed and just groove along to their music, or you could take a whole lot of illicit substances and REALLY get into it. They were surreal, atmospheric and groovy; think of jangly guitars, bass guitar octave runs, Farfisa organs and the occasional bells and chimes.
Hand-coloured Photo of Tom, Nick and Smiley
They played mainly at inner-city Sydney venues like the Trade Union Club, the Strawberry Hills, the Paddington Green, the Hopetoun and the Lansdowne, which were the cornerstone of all good live indie music in Sydney in the 1980's.
They also toured other Australian cities like Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.In Melbourne they played the glorious Montsalvat, usually only reserved for special jazz performances.
Nick wearing his Roger McGuinn glasses, 1983
The band had several line-up changes, but revolved around the core of singer/guitarist Tom Kazas and bass player David (Smiley) Byrnes. In case you're wondering about the name, yes, Smiley DOES have a huge grin on his face when he plays bass!
Tom Kazas in 1983
DISCOGRAPHY AND A BRIEF HISTORY
The first line-up included Tom Kazas, Smiley Byrnes, Nick (Chesh) Potts ..boards/harmonica and Brandon Saul.They played their first gig at a party called "Freakout" at the notorius 181 Campbell St, Redfern. I'm not sure when Brandon left and Alan Hislop came into the picture (can anyone help me with this?). However at some stage, Alan joined the Moffs to play drums. Apparently, this line-up met through Nick, who knew Alan through Suicidal Flowers, a long-standing band that played intermittantly though the 1980's. He met Tom and Smiley through the Sydney mod scene. At the time, Tom was studying philosophy at the University of New South Wales.
Smiley Byrnes, Prince of Wales Hotel, Melbourne 1987
Their first demo tape called "11 to 5", which is impossible to get, contained gems like 'Tombstone!', 'Confusion', 'Horto' and a version of the Beatles 'Tomorrow Never Knows'.
This line-up also recorded a -below- 7" single with a great picture sleeve Another day in the Sun / Clarodomineaux
The band were doing gigs around Sydney and Lismore, and being managed by Greg "Quick" Squirl. Greg Kasch mixed at some of these early gigs.One of the most intriguing thing about the band at this time was undoubtably their haircuts! In photos of this time, Nick, Smiley and Alan all have their eyes totally obscured by thick fringes (think - outgrown Brian Jones haircuts)!
Song list from an unknown gig in 1983. The set included songs from their first demo tape as well as covers of Pink Floyd's "Astronomie Domine". Does anyone know what "Untitled Protest" and "Groovy" are?
When they started to move away from the bluesier style of music, Nick moved onto No Man's Land (another 80's Sydney band that features a scary-looking singer with masses of hair-sprayed black hair called Dave Slade and current Celibate Rifles bass player, Jim Leone as well as stints with Suicidal Flowers. He was replaced by Mick Duncan who had previously been in No Man's Land.
Just stopping by to say hello and give you some news. The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Now girls and boys here's a name you ought to know, He's cut from the stone of Michaelangelo. I don't care if you're a boy or a girl, He the finest looking man in the whole damn world.
Little Joe.
Hey little baby c'mon let's go, To the Warhol, Morrissey picture show. He's the real life Flesh of Saint Sebastian, He's the wingless angel of Trash and Heat.
Little Joe.
Listen here people I say you gotta know, That movie actor in the hustler role. When the camera rolled on that New York street, I had to catch my breath and let my heart skip a beat.
David Virgin interviewed by Warhol Superstar Joe Dallesandro in June Issue of Hollywood's Punk Globe Magazine OUT NOW (With David Virgin on Front Cover! Click Pic' to read
Greetings from Rowed Out Records - the UKs 100% Mod Record Label.
'MODS MAYDAY 2009' EP is out now!! only available from me - get in QUICK - only 300 copies …..down to last 50 copies!!.
7” vinyl EP with pic sleeve and insert/booklet. Features Yeh Yeh, The Upper 5th, The Petty Hoodlums and The Visitors.
All the best Adam
New 7” e.p. single out mid May – button up “I’m gonna leave you”. Total dancefloor jazz. 300 copies again. Covers of Nina Simone and Byrdie Green/Freddie Hubbard plus their own Hammond groover
The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website.
You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Wicked gig at The Factory Fri just gone you should do it again you know AND soon great to catch up with you boys after so many years Smiley that liquid lunch is a definite LOL xx
Online Now!
