Boom Crash Opera has a new lead singer. Andrew De Silva, formerly of CDB has replaced original member Dale Ryder.
“Dale has resigned effective March last year”, drummer Peter ‘Maz’ Maslen tells Noise11.com but the band kept it quiet until now. “We did our last gig with him in November in Canberra. There is no acrimony and we are all still friends”.
Maz says Ryder was all for the band continuing with a new singer. “Dale gave his blessing for us to find a replacement,” he said. “Put simply, he has a different MO than the rest of us”.
The remaining members did debate if they should continue. “We struggled with the idea, but the impetus to go on and still be a recording artist, was stronger than merely being a heritage act (not that there’s anything wrong with that)” Maz said. “We approached a few singers with an ‘expression of interest’ and Andy was keen and fitted the mould”.
The Boom Crash Opera line-up for 2016 is Andrew De Silva (vocals), Peter “Bungie” Farnan (guitar/vocals), Peter “Maz” Maslen (drums/vocals), Ian “Tilso” Tilley (bass/vocals) and Greg O’Connor (keyboards)
Peter Farnan and Richard Pleasance formed Boom Crash Opera in 1985 with Dale Ryder on vocals, Maz on drums and Greg O’Connor on keyboards. Tilso joined in 1992 replacing Pleasance who left the band because of tinnitus caused by his constant exposure to loud music.
Boom Crash Opera’s debut single ‘Great Wall’ was a Top 5 hit in Australia.
For the next decade Boom Crash Opera were one of Australia’s most successful bands with a sting of hits ‘Hands Up In The Air’ (no 16, 1986), ‘City Flat’ (no 42, 1987), ‘Her Charity’ (no 32, 1987), ‘Onion Skin’ (no 11, 1989), ‘Get Out Of The House’ (no 24, 1989), ‘The Best Thing’ (1989), ‘Dancing In The Storm’ (no 21, 1990), ‘Talk About It’ (no 35, 1990), ‘Holy Water’ (no 44, 1991), ‘Bettadaze’ (no 43, 1992), ‘In The Morning’ (no 36, 1993), ‘Gimme’ (no 14, 1994), ‘Tongue Tied’ (no 25, 1995).
With Andrew in the band there is now a very real possibility that Boom Crash Opera will record new music and possibly, just possibly, release their first album since 1997’s ‘Gizmo Mantra’.
De Silva is now rehearsing with the band. Except live dates soon.
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