Although 'The Church' are an Austrialian band, only two members have actually been from Australia, Peter Koppes and former member Richard Ploog, their guitarist, Marty Willson-Piper was born in Liverpool, England, Steven John Kilbey was born in Welwyn Garden City, England, Tim Powles was born in Wellington, New Zealand and former member Jay Dee Daugherty was from NY, USA.
Marty Willson-Piper's other side projects and collaborations include two stints as guitarist for UK rock group All About Eve, David Gedge's Cinerama and work with Jules Shear, Tom Verlaine, Martin Rössel, and Aimee Mann. Willson-Piper recently joined veteran band The Saints to record an album and tour. He also works with long-time friend Andy 'Dare' Mason under the name "Noctorum".
Lead singer Steve Kilbey is also a songwriter, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, producer, poet and painter. Since 1985 Kilbey has released several solo projects and collaboratively written and/or produced recordings with artists such as Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens, Stephen Cummings and Kev Carmody. Earthed, a book of fiction, was published in 1986. His book of poetry, Nineveh/The Ephemeron, was released in 1998 and was later republished. He now lives in Bondi, near Sydney, Australia with his wife and three of his five children.
Peter Koppes presently lives on the Sunshine Coast of Australia where he also produces albums and teaches songwriting.
Drummer Tim Powles started working with the band in 1994, with the album Sometime Anywhere (though he was mis-identified as Tim Powell on the liner notes). He became an official, permanent member with Hologram of Baal in 1998, and has worked on all of their releases since then. Tim resides in Sydney, Australia and runs a recording studio called Spacejunk. Tim first became known in 80's band The Venetians and the band Flight X-7.
Their fist single was 'She Never Said', with the B-Side In A Heartbeat. The single is quite special as 'She Never Said' was re-recorded for the album 'Of Skins And Heart'. So this version is only available on the single.
On the New Zealand version of the LP 'Of Skins And Heart' (EMC 251), the label lists "Tear It All Away" but plays "Fighter Pilot...Korean War," as listed on the cover. There is also an extra drum roll at the end of "Bel-Air," which is also heard on the 2002 EMI remaster.
Two songs from the album 'Starfish' were used in episodes of Miami Vice. "Under The Milky Way" was used in an episode called 'Asian Cut' and "Blood Money" was used in the episode 'Heart Of Night'.
Their first radio hit was the single "The Unguarded Moment".
Here is a short list of Vinyl Inner Groove Messages, these are the mysterious words and phrases that appear on the runout groove areas of some vinyl releases (or in one case laser-etched around the center of a CD). Many of the messages are written by the vinyl (cutting) mastering engineers. The more obscure comments are often messages from the band :
Temperature Drop in Downtown Winterland EP (1982)
10" Carrere CAR(EP) 257 (UK):
Both Sides: BILBO TAPE ONE
[Bilbo is Denis Blackham, formerly at Tape One, now with his own mastering business: Skye Mastering]
Too Fast For You (1981)
7" Capitol 72879 (Canada):
Both Sides: T.L.C. (A)
The Unguarded Moment (1981/82)
7" Carrere CAR 212 (UK):
Both Sides: JA TAPE ONE
[JA is Jack Adams at Tape One]
7" Carrere CAR 257 (UK):
Both Sides: BILBO TAPE ONE
[Bilbo is Denis Blackham, formerly at Tape One, now with his own mastering business: Skye Mastering]
7" Capitol SX98028 (USA Promo):
Both Sides: MASTERED BY CAPITOL / Wally
7" & 12" Carrere CAR 425 (UK):
Both Sides: DAMONT
Seance (1983)
All versions except EMI Parlophone PCS 7590 & Carrere 821 046-1:
Side A: Just sit back & LISTEN !
Side B: (1st message) COOPER'S RULES O.K.
(2nd message) IS IT OCCURING, BEEKEEPER ?
It's No Reason (1983)
7" EMI Parlophone A976 (Australia):
Side 1: MORE #??Z* GUITARS!
Side 2: NOT A LOTA POX BRO.!
7" Carrere CAR 336 (UK):
Side 1: BOPPIN' BOB
12" Carrere CART 336 (UK):
Side 1: BOPPIN' BOB
Electric Lash (1983)
7" EMI Parlophone A1034 (Australia):
Side A: AH! MISTER NICK!
Remote Luxury EP (1984)
EMI Parlophone BUG 5 (Australia):
Side A: "IT'S A M--M--M--MENTAL BLOCK"
Side B: "THE REAL CHURCH"
Persia EP (1984)
EMI Parlophone BUG 430017 (Australia):
Side 1: LUNCH LACKEYS LUG LIMITERS
Remote Luxury (1984)
Side A: "IT'S A M--M--M--MENTAL BLOCK"
Side B: "ECHOS OF GHOSTLY DOGS"
Side B: "THE REAL CHURCH"
[Different pressings have different messages. Warner Bros 1-25152 has the first Side B message. Arista 209649 has no messages.]
Heyday (1986)
EMI Parlophone PCSO.430034 (Australia):
Side A: I THOUGHT IT WAS TOBACCO THEY WERE SMOKIN'
Side B: "YOUNG ENGLISH KNOB TWIDDLER MEETS THE BONDI BOYS"
Columbus (1986)
7" EMI Parlophone A 1728 (Australia):
Side A: THAT WAS THE SEA, THIS IS THE OCEAN
Side B: MEANWHILE ON A REMOTE WINDSWEPT ABYSSINIAN PLATEAU ........
Disenchanted (1986)
12" EMI Parlophone 12 R6139 (UK):
Side B: ALAN GET WELL SOON KP
Starfish (1988)
Side A: INGREDIENTS: BLOOD, SWEAT & ZEUS JUICE
Side B: HERE'S ANOTHER CLUE FOR YOU DROOGS, THE STARFISH WAS PLOOG
[Not on Arista AL-8521 or Arista LAE 795.]
Under The Milky Way (1988)
7" Arista 109778 (UK) & 12" Arista 609 778 (UK):
Both Sides: UTOPIA. M.S.
Sing-Songs // Remote Luxury // Persia (2001)
CD EMI 7243 5 35583 2 1 (Australia):
... IT'S A GLUE
