The Melbourne-born multi-instrumentalist’s peripatetic career spanned 70s punk to 90s rave, fuelled by an innovative – and collaborative – spirit
Ian Christopher Olsen was born in Melbourne in 1958. His first band, the Reals, was one of Melbourne’s first punk acts and featured future Sacred Cowboys singer Garry Gray.
Olsen formed experimental outfit Hugo Klang in London, eventually returning to Australia in 1983. His next band, Orchestra of Skin and Bone, “proved incomprehensible to local audiences”, according to Australian music historian Ian McFarlane. Later came, an aggressive industrial act that anticipated Ministry; their sole full-length album was called Once We Were Scum Now We Are God .in 1988; in 1990, U2’s Bono and the Edge guested on the second, New York New York.
By then, he had become a key figure in Melbourne’s rave scene, a virtual deity to those aware of his history in the electronic music movement he had helped birth in Australia. Writer Chris Johnston told me, by email, that “he had the long hair and the robes and the beads back then, a gorgeous Svengali type of guy to the new young crew”.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ollie Olsen, influential Australian post-punk and electronic musician, dies aged 66Ian 'Ollie' Olsen, a significant figure in Australia's post-punk scene and a pioneer in experimental electronic music, has died following a lengthy illness.
Read more »
Christopher Ciccone, Madonna's 'visionary' brother, dies aged 63Ciccone worked closely with his superstar sister as a dancer and creative, before releasing a tell-all book about his life with her in 2008.
Read more »
The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgård review – a visionary epicBook three in the Norwegian novelist’s Morning Star series takes in devils, black metal and revelation, and provides a masterclass in what fiction can offer
Read more »
Pop visionary’s posthumous album a reminder of great talent lostBritish producer Sophie’s ceaseless innovation had pop singers either imitating her or hitting her up to collaborate.
Read more »
Pop visionary’s posthumous album a reminder of great talent lostBritish producer Sophie’s ceaseless innovation had pop singers either imitating her or hitting her up to collaborate.
Read more »
John Olsen’s ‘chook raffle’ winner gifted to the people of NSWEighteen months after the celebrated artist’s death, one of his most iconic works now has a permanent home.
Read more »