CHRYSALIS VENETIANS PRESS KIT

With Calling In the Lions—technically their second album, but the first released for international consumption—Australia's Venetians are ready to make waves the world over. The band is quick to point out that their name comes from the historical traders of Venice, who penetrated areas of the globe--like the far east--that few Europeans had ever seen. Incidentally, the watery city of Venice was the first place where musicians were taken off the streets and placed indoors where the public was charged admission.

Venetians were formed in late 1982, when Rik Swinn (lead vocalist) arrived Down Under with a 24-track master demo of a song he'd recorded in England. He read a newspaper advert placed by two musicians looking for a lead singer. Within weeks, Swinn hooked up with Dave Skeet (guitar and vocals), Matthew Hughes (keyboards), Peter Watson (bass guitar) and Tim Powles (drums) to form Venetians. "The chemistry was definitely there from the beginning," says Swinn.

The quality of Swinn's demo quickly landed Venetians a deal with Festival Records, one of Australia's largest labels. Festival released the Venetians' version of Swinn's tape "Sound On Sound" in April 1983. While not a commercial smash, the song established an underground following, becoming a "turntable cult hit, very big in clubs."

Their second single "Chinese I's" generated some chart action while the band began to build their reputation as a live act. They also began work on their first album Step Off the Edge, produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven. As Venetians released "Ooh La La" as the first single from the album, they got their first major break: as opening act on the Split Enz "Enz With A Bang" farewell tour. This led to further major tour activity with Icehouse and Nik Kershaw. By 1985, they were an Australian live attraction in their own right and released the single "Shine The Light" from the album Step Off The Edge.

Near the end of 1985, Venetians went into the studio with producer Mark Opitz to cut two songs, including the chartbusting "So Much For Love." As the band worked with producer Peter Blyton on the second album Calling In The Lions, "So Much For Love" scaled the Australian singles charts, peaking at #8.

Venetians embarked on a two-month Australian tour and released "Inspiration," their follow-up to "So Much For Love." Both singles, and a third "If Somebody Loves You" are featured on Calling In The Lions, their first album released on Chrysalis.

While Calling In The Lions might seem like a hits machine, Venetians "don't write for the radio, we write for ourselves and our own satisfaction, without being indulgent about it. Songs are what it's all about for us." Though the band was originally formed around Rik Swinn's songwriting, all five members now compose around "every writing combination imaginable." Given their various musicaI backgrounds and interests, this working method gives Venetians an eclectic, yet unified, sound. Swinn was influenced by black soul, The Who, The Stones, and various early 60s bands; Skeet is steeped in the funky sounds of Motown; Powles began with sturdy heavy metal leanings; Hughes dabbled in the ethereal realms of Pink Floyd and The Doors; and Watson is enamored with British classical sounds and The Beatles. This potpourri of influences gives Venetians a strong sense of their own capabilities and vision. While their first album was a formative learning experience, Venetians see Calling In The Lions as the first full expression of their musical goals.

Venetians share a common sense of humor and an uncommon sense of musical purpose that allows them to communicate to a wide audience. With Calling In The Lions, Venetians prove they're a band to be reckoned with.