Gas Babies

The Gas Babies are a rock and garage 60s and 70s influenced St Kilda-based band. Formed in 1984, all members of the outfit either grew up or currently live in St Kilda. Formed by ex-members of The Virgins, Young Savages, Little Murders, The Jets, Rumour Control, End Result, White Elephants, AEIOU and Z-Cars. Their rehearsal space was a former meat /cool room behind a butcher on Carlisle Street, Balaclava.

The band were the main support for Hoodoo Gurus, The Saints, The Celibate Rifles....and headlined their own shows at the Seaview Ballroom and many other St Kilda venues.

The band are back and playing to the next generation!

'During the early 1980s, the Gas Babies were one of the first Melbourne inner-city bands to play a predominantly1960's-influenced brand of music. The band's set was peppered with obscure Yardbirds, MC5, and Nuggets-styled American garage-punk tunes (The Seeds, Mouse and the Traps, Count Five, 13th Floor Elevators, etc.). They were also big fans of the Flamin' Groovies' - Ian McFarlane: The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop.

'The Gas Babies were Melbourne's first MC5/ Nuggets style garage band and are fondly remembered for the cover of The Flamin' Groovies 'Heading for the Texas border' they released as their only stand-alone single.' - Leica Show press release

'One of the leading lights of the Melbourne inner-city guitar band movement of the early 1980's' - Chris Spencer & Zbig Nowara: Who's Who of Australian Rock

Releases: Heading for the Texas Border - Grown up wrong 7" (first release for the label), Slow Death - A slab of Vic Au-Go-Go compilation, Take a date - 7" EP Foreign Object - Steve Lorkin, unreleased studio track and various live rehearsal tapes.

Current lineup: Mike Chrystal (guitar), James Chrystal (guitar/vox), Simon Smith (drums/vox) and Russell Baricevic (vox/bass).

Other members not with us and not forgotten: Steve Fusezi (guitar /Vox and 'yeah' vibe) and Rod McMurrick (drums and cool fashion vibes).