You might remember Pseudo Echo's 1987 remake of Lipps, Inc.'s "Funkytown," which happens to be the background music, courtesy of More Kool MIDI Musik (hey, I couldn't find any other Pseudo Echo MIDIs)... but Pseudo Echo was more than just one remake song... they were QUITE big in their native Australia... their music was high energy dance, and completely infectious... I dare you not to tap your toes when listening to them!
Brian Canham (lead vocals, guitar) and Pierre Gigliotti, better known as Pierre Pierre (backing vocals and bass), first formed Pseudo Echo in 1982 with Tony Lugton (keyboards)... they started out as a trio with a drum machine, then Anthony Argiro signed on in 1983 as Pseudo Echo's drummer... their first album was Autumnal Park (1984), released in the U.S. as Pseudo Echo... their second album, Love An Adventure, was released in 1985... by this time, James Leigh had replaced Tony Lugton on keyboards...the U.S. version of Love An Adventure is very different from the Australian one... it includes selections (some remixed) from Autumnal Park and the Australian Love An Adventure, plus the aforementioned "Funkytown"... "Funkytown" was a worldwide hit, and Pseudo Echo's first and only U.S. hit... it was initially released only as a single in Australia, but was later added to an Australian re-release of Love An Adventure... by the time the video for "Funkytown" hit MTV, Anthony Argiro had departed, and James Leigh's brother Vince stepped in...
Pseudo Echo, circa 1987
(Front L-R: Pierre Pierre, Brian Canham, James Leigh)
(Back: Vince Leigh)
(Clockwise from left: Brian, Pierre, Vince, James)
After PE, Vince and James Leigh, with brother Gerry, formed a new band called Vertigo... they released two singles in '97, "Forever Lately" and "Human Need"... Vertigo was hoping to cut a new CD, but had to weather the departure of TWO lead singers! They have found a new lead singer and are trying again, this time as Invertigo... Pierre Pierre pursued his other calling, the restaurant business, though he still plays bass on the side... Tony Lugton has been working on the retail end of the music business (a music shop in Melbourne), and Anthony Argiro is the drummer for the band Red Texas, and has also put out a solo album called Halfman Wolfhorse...
And what of Brian Canham? After Pseudo Echo, he embarked on a successful career writing Australian radio jingles... he also works as a producer, having produced the platinum debut of the band Chocolate Starfish... he's also been keeping busy with his new project band, Brill... they just released their first U.S. CD, and they hope to follow up with a tour... but Brian says that Brill is still just a side project, secondary to...
THE SECOND COMING OF PSEUDO ECHO!!! You betcha! Brian and Pierre reformed Pseudo Echo in '98 with new members Darren Danielson (the drummer for Chocolate Starfish and Brill) and Tony Featherstone of the Badloves and played some very successful reunion shows in Australia... despite the success of the new Pseudo Echo, Tony has left the band for a career designing websites... new keyboardist Ben Grayson has proven to be a very able replacement for him... Pseudo Echo are currently in negotiations for a live CD sometime soon, and they would very much like to tour the U.S., too!
I got most of my info about Pseudo Echo from the liner notes of their greatest hits CD, titled Best Adventures, The Pseudo Echo Files (I consider it the best Pseudo Echo page on the /net), and from Brian Canham himself... Brian has a website for his company, Mumbo Jumbo Music, and he has his e-mail prominently displayed on the page... I e-mailed him one day, complimenting him on his work with Pseudo Echo, and he e-mailed me back! He was very obliging, answering all the questions I had asked him, and he even put me on his mailing list for Brill! What a peach Brian is... :)
If you have a chance to get a hold of any of Pseudo Echo's releases, give them a whirl... you just might love the adventure!
Limited Warranty | Pseudo Echo | New Monkees | Jason Donovan
Back to Li'l FoxyChan, 80's Child
