An intriguing marketing strategy was put in place. The fact that this was a bunch of white guys from Australia was kept secret. The sleeve of the LP had no photos of the group—just a mysterious shot of a mask.
Tracks began picking up solid radio airplay in the US and things looked promising but changes within the Motown executive saw the labels’ support for the record waning, just when it should have been waxing.
The group split up not long afterwards and by 1980 singer and guitarist Peter Cupples had begun working with a new band in new directions.
Some of the players he began working with during this time include David Hirschfelder, Virgil Donati, David Jones, Tommy Emmanuel, Jean and Margot Moir, Linda Cable and Ross Inglis.
It was a period of changes, challenges and musical experimentation that led to two great albums—Fear Of Thunder and Half The Effort, Twice The Effect —records that drew on his past with Stylus but also placed him at the vanguard of the early '80s Australian music scene.
Jordie and David speak with Peter Cupples about this period and play some of the key tracks from the albums.
Track: Discover Your Life
Artist: Stylus
Composer: Cupples
Album: Best Kept Secret
Label: Oz
Duration: 5:35
Year: 1978
Track: Fear Of Thunder
Artist: Peter Cupples
Composer: Cupples
Album: Fear Of Thunder
Label: Astor
Duration: 3:40
Year: 1982
Track: Here We Are
Artist: Peter Cupples
Composer: Cupples
Album: Fear Of Thunder
Label: Astor
Duration: 3:50
Year: 1982
Track: Blame It On The Weather (Live from Rockarena)
Artist: Peter Cupples Band
Composer: Cupples
Duration: 4:00
Year: 1982
Track: Let’s Get It On
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Composer: Gaye - Townsend
Album: Let’s Get It On
Label: Motown
Duration: 4:53
Year: 1973
Track: I Want You Back
Artist: Jackson 5
Composer: The Corporation
Label: Motown
Duration: 2:59
Year: 1969
Track: Last Train to Clarkesville
Artist: The Monkees
Composer: Boyce - Hart
Label: RCA
Duration: 1966
Year: 2:46
Track: Don’t You Leave Me Now
Artist: Peter Cupples
Composer: Hamilton
Album: Half The Effort, Twice The Effect
Label: Polygram
Duration: 4:12
Year: 1984