This poster documents the early career of the Australian band that achieved success as Icehouse. Iva Davies was the singer and guitarist in the Sydney 'glam-punk' covers band known as Flowers. Although classically trained, his musical influences included David Bowie, Marc Bolan and the Sex Pistols. He was one of the first musicians to use the Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument. After signing with Regular Records in 1980, the band's first single 'Can't Help Myself' became a Top 10 hit, and established Davies as a songwriter. It was released in both the seven inch and ten inch formats, and this poster promotes the limited edition ten inch release. The band's debut album 'Icehouse' (1981) went to number four in the charts and propelled Flowers onto the world stage. Legal reasons necessitated a change of name, so the band became Icehouse. They signed with Chrysalis Records for outside Australia. In 1987 Icehouse's fourth album 'Man of Colours' went to number one in Australia, selling over 600 000 copies.

Regular Records was an independent label formed in September 1978 by Cameron Allan, a film composer, and Martin Fabinyi, who had been involved in the music, film and publishing areas since leaving university. They signed a manufacturing and distribution deal with Festival Records early in 1979. Regular's first signing and most enduring success was Sydney's Mental as Anything. Regular became one of Australia's most important independent record companies, launching the careers of Icehouse and Kate Ceberano among many others. Other Regular recording artists were the Riptides, I'm Talking, the Reels, the Johnnys, Electric Pandas, Austen Tayshus, the Cockroaches and Club Hoy. In 1993 Fabinyi and Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Records formed a film, television and multimedia production company, Mushroom Pictures.

Made for Regular Records to promote the single 'Can't Help Myself'. Designer and maker unknown.

The poster was lent to the Museum for display in the exhibition 'Spinning around: 50 years of Festival Records' and subsequently donated to the Museum.

Music poster, Flowers, paper / glass / metal / composite board, designer and maker unknown, made for Regular Records, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1980

Poster, vertical format. White background, pink text with the words 'Flowers. Can't Help Myself' repeated four times. Black and white photographs of the four band members (Iva Davies, Keith Welsh, John Lloyd and Anthony Smith), also repeated four times. Four circles with text, resembling stickers. Top circle says 'Out Now', next one says 'On Regular Records through Festival', next one says 'Includes extended version of Can't Help Myself', bottom circle says ' 10 inch EP X12501 Special Limited Edition'. Metal cord attached to reverse for hanging.

Made: 1980


Used: 1980

2007/48/1

1980

1013 mm

272 mm

15 mm