The founding members, Graeme Synold and Tony Ameneiro, met in Sydney in 1980 while studying art at the Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education.[1][2] One of the band's first appearances was as a support act to Sardine v[3] at the Civic Hotel in Sydney in 1980. Various line up changes settled down in 1981[4] with Gye Bennetts on drums (ex-The Agents),[5] Ian Robertson on bass guitar and Ed Lee on guitar,[6] along with Ameneiro on synthesiser and Synold on lead vocals.[7][8]
The line up of Ameneiro, Bennetts, Lee, Robertson, and Synold recorded material for an album, Gate, with Lobby Loyde in 1981 at the Alberts recording studio in Sydney. The album was never released[9] because of financial problems. Various bootleg copies were in existence from the master tapes, though they are of poor quality as the recordings had not reached the mixing stage. The intended single, "Between the Lines",[10] and "Access", was never released. There were also a previous series of recordings with Colin Newham of The Reels.
Tablewaiters were managed by SCAM (suss city artist management), which also looked after Sardine v, The Sunnyboys, Machinations and Local Product.[11] Loyde also produced material by other SCAM artists including: The Sunnyboys (extended play, December 1980), Machinations (November 1981) and Sardine v's single, "Sabotage".[10]
Bennetts left Tablewaiters after the Gate recordings and was replaced by Phillip Hyrwka on drums. Hyrwka was previously drummer for Agents, the same band which had Bennetts earlier.[12][13][14] Rob Barnham became Tablewaiters' regular manager. A publishing deal was signed and in 1984 they recorded and released a double A-sided 7" single, "Scattered Visions"[15]/"Small Quiet Children", through Powderworks Records & Tapes.[16][17] The cover artwork for the single was by Ameneiro.
After some more self-funded studio recording the band broke up in 1986. After Tablewaiters' disbandment Ameneiro pursued a career in visual arts.[2] Ed Lee moved to Wollongong, where he has been in several bands there including ATE.[22] In 1992 Ed Lee and Tony Ameneiro recorded and released a self-funded, self-titled album under the name Chihuahua Chihuahua.[23] Bennetts was later a member of various bands including Johnny Kannis Band (1988), Roddy Radalj and The Surfin' Caesars (1989), Hitmen D.T.K. (1989–90), The Psychotic Turnbuckles, and Klondike's North 40.[24]
Discography
Singles
Some of the early work was produced by Colin (Polly) Newham and Lobby Loyde.
"Between the Lines" / "Access by Invitation" - Alberts (November 1981)
^Gibson, Patrick. "Tablewaiters". No Night Sweats - Sydney Post Punk Memoirs by Phil Turnbull. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
^Elder, John (1982). "Waiting for the Tablewaiters". In Jerry Lacey (ed.). Rock Australia. Sydney: Magazine Promotions. National Library of Australia. p. 73. ISBN0-90955-822-1.
^ abcWorksheets giving performance details by Tablewaiters:
Supporting Birthday Party on 26 January 1983: "Performance Details: Tablewaiters". Nucleus. Nucleus Creative Entertainment. 26 January 1983. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
Summerfest '83 on 31 January 1983, alongside North 2 Alaskans, Le Club Foote, Mental as Anything, and Men at Work: "Worksheet Details: Summerfest '83. Australia Day Weekend". Summerfest '83 (Andrew Snow). 31 January 1983. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
Psychedelic Furs support on 5 February 1983: "Performance Details: Tablewaiters". Nucleus. Nucleus Headliners Australia. 5 February 1983. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
Split Enz support on 10 August 1983: "Performance Details: Tablewaiters". Nucleus. Nucleus Creative Entertainment. 10 August 1983. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
Split Enz support on 11 August 1983: "Performance Details: Tablewaiters". Nucleus. Nucleus Creative Entertainment. 11 August 1983. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
^Campbell, Linda (17 April 1982). Ed Nimmervoll (ed.). Juke Magazine. p. 9. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Nimmervoll, Ed. "ATE". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. Archived from the original on 26 July 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
^Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Regan, Craig; Bennetts, Gye. "The Hitmen / Hitmen D.T.K." Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.