Biography
and History
Individual Biographies
...Click on each
portrait...
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DAMIAN BIRCHALL
COSTIN
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DAVE ONG
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PATRICK
ROBERTSON
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MATT BALFE
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The
History of motor ace
Version one:
Singer Patrick "Patch" Robertson and bassist (and film student) Matt Balfe met
at school and played in small bands. Two years ago (in 1998) they met drummer,
Damian Costin, assistant engineer at a studio. Guitarist Dave Ong came for a jam
and stayed.
Motor Ace got their name in June, 1999, after Patch opened the lyric book to Soundgarden's
Down On The Upside and decided the first two words would be their name - motor
ace.
Note: The actual lyrics are let your motor race...and
they are in the chorus of the first song on the album.
Version two:
Don't know if the beginnings of motor ace read like a modern fable, but their
story is a t least as interesting as half those rock 'n' roll tales music fans
have always found refuge in. Patrick Robertson, lead singer and purveyor of 21st
century blues, was feeling down about the fact there was no one around who 'got'
it. He'd been slugging it out in go-nowhere combos for years, and was ready to
pack up his guitar and take his place among rocks could've beens when the fateful
meeting with Damian Costin happened.
A rock 'n' roll spirit in the old style, Damo was working on one of Patrick's
early recordings as assistant engineer when a mishap with the tape reel, which
Damo dropped and let roll across the studio floor, led downhearted Patrick to
immediately suspect sabotage. First impressions were wrong though, 'cause when
Damo edged himself onto the drum stool for a boredom-starving jam, Patrick knew
he has found the person to help channel the incendiary rock vision which had recently
been reduced to little more than embers.
Soon after this an enigmatic character named David Ong wandered into a rehersal
room where Patrick and Damo were jamming, after sitting quietly in a corner for
an hour or so, just listening, Dave walked over, picked up a stray six-string,
and unravelled the haunting guitar line which now finds itself opening "Siamese".
In Dave's intricate playing the band have found their subconscious.
Matt Balfe, an old friend of Dave's, completed the line-up as bass guitarist.
In the repressed energy of Matt's playing you can hear the restless spirit of
the man, always moving, with one eye on that elusive prize at the end of this
hazardous rollercoaster called rock 'n' roll.
That was the story of motor ace.
Don't know if they'll save your soul, but they'll definately save today.
From Five Star Laundry booklet, by R.R., February 2001
