BEATHOVEN – AT PASCOE VALE HIGH SCHOOL 1977 LP & CD

Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 is a previously unreleased live album from the legendary Tasmanian ’70s pop revivalists/power pop precursors who later turned into the Innocents. Loved by the current generation of indie power poppers, including the Lemon Twigs, Beathoven appeared some years ahead of the punk/new wave-inspired power pop explosion of ’78 with a sound that was equal parts Cavern Club and later day Beatles-inspired bands like Badfinger and Rockin’ Horse, and briefly rose to prominence alongside the emerging punk scene. As Beathoven they only released two singles in their day but they recorded numerous demos, some of which were released on an ’80s Raven Records Beathoven/Innocents collection.

An essential addendum to that release, Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 sounds not unlike The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl transposed to lunchtime at a ’70s suburban Melbourne high school! 

Recorded in stereo courtesy of two mic’s taped to the front of the stage and with the non-stop screaming pushing excitement levels to fever pitch, this a raw, raving snapshot of a young band living out their big beat fantasies for the world to see and hear.

Frequently described as the Bay City Rollers of Tasmania, Beathoven were a mid-’70s phenomenon on the Apple Isle – genuine local hitmakers with their first single “Darlin'”, and heart throbs – and they moved to the Australian mainland in ’77 hoping to break nationally. Somewhat unsuited to the pub circuit, the band decided to play high schools to get themselves heard. It worked; this very recording helped them get a deal with EMI. Bizarrely though, the label wanted them to ditch the early Beatles style and they sat on their hands while the band amassed a legion of school age fans to rival what they had at home.  After one more single “Shy Girl”, a couple of Countdown appearances and a Best New Group nomination on TV’s Countdown Awards – which caused a small riot when another group won – Beathoven were cut loose. They were still label-less when American manager/Svengali-type Kim Fowley met up with them in Melbourne around Xmas ’78 and the next chapter soon began as The Innocents. 

Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 is at once a time capsule of more innocent times and a breathless blast of rampant rock’n’roll pop hooks. It is an essential listen for students of power pop history and the Australian rock scene alike.

To purchase this or any availabel Grown Up Wrong! titles, Australian customers are directed to
Grown Up Wrong! – sound-merch.com.au

UK/Euro customers are directed to  https://grownupwrong.bandcamp.com/

US customers are directed to https://midheaven.com/label/grown-up-wrong