"The first gig that I saw in Melbourne, was at the Seaview Ballroom in St Kilda. I was only sixteen and was making a visit to the big smoke, with my band mates from the T-Bones. We were based in the small townships of Robinvale/Euston on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, the Murray River, population 3000. We went to see one of my favourite bands, Hunters and Collectors with support band, Big Pig. I modelled my bass playing and sound on John Archer, (who I got to meet way later in my life and perform with).

I remember getting dressed up in my white, silk shirt, blue jeans, and white high heel pumps (that I had worn to my debutante ball) and thought I looked pretty grown up! When I got there, I felt so out of place, a real country bumpkin. Everyone there was all dressed in black..."

Helen performing with Moler at Espy, Late 1990’s - Photographer Mary RockLust - Source: Helen Cattanach

"...Punk was big, mohawks a plenty. I was in awe as I watched the speaker stacks swaying with the crowd on the spring ballroom floor. That was the only gig I saw at The Ballroom but it left a lasting impression on me.  After the show we joined the queue to get into the Esplanade Hotel.

I was nervous about getting in underage, but security didn’t check. Once inside, I was overwhelmed with the amount of people there and the sheer size of the venue. Little did I know that it would become like a second home. A venue to see live local and international bands, meet up with friends and even headline shows there in my own bands."

Helen performing with Moler at Espy Front Bar, 2002 - Photographer Mary RockLust - Source: Helen Cattanach

"I have fond memories of once when Moler were playing the front bar of the Espy and the Piano bar at the Prince of Wales. After the show we’d always end up at Topos eating pizza and having some knock off drinks. 

The Prince used to also host rock'n'roll art shows, that I’d sometimes contribute some art to. Once I posed with Spencer P Jones and an Elvis impersonator for a photographer, it ended up in Rolling Stone magazine. Little did I know I’d end up playing with Spencer for years later on. He was a hero of mine and had a big influence on my early musical experience."

Helen with Spencer P Jones and The Escape Committee at the ‘Star Wars Bar’, Hotel Esplanade, c. 2006 - Source: Helen Cattanach

Fond memories of seeing other female-led bands or female performers playing in St Kilda:

• "Magic Dirt at the Piano Bar, Prince of Wales, Mid 90’s. I think they just recorded their first single. Adalita was amazing. She wore glasses and no make-up, lots of stickers on her guitar. I thought she was awesome AND she played guitar.

• Mia Stone in Satelite at Prince of Wales, main room; mid 90’s, incredible Janis Joplin operatic voice over heavy rock riffs. It wasn’t my style of music quite, but she sure could sing. Mia, many years later came to my house to record.

• Fiona Lee Manard; The first time I saw her was at the Greyhound Hotel and I admired her music and talent. Later I got to know her and her husband."

Helen with Los Dominados, 2019, St.Kilda Underpass, About to perform a secret underground show - Photo by Tim Bell - Source: Helen Cattanach

"Growing up I lived for Count Down back in the 80’s. I lived in a small country town so that was all the music I was exposed to in my childhood and teens, plus my Aunt’s record collection. I didn’t really know many Melbourne based, female musicians except for maybe Renee Geyer, Chrissie Amphlett (thought she was from Geelong) and Kylie Minogue. I was more influenced in the style of international artists like Suzi Quatro, Joan Jett and Deborah Harry.

I liked tough rock music, I didn’t like what I thought was saccharin pop or girly girl soppy love songs lie Olivia Newton John. I didn’t like heavy metal either, too heavy, or too much testosterone rock. I liked attitude, sass and cool. I also didn’t like women that relied too heavily on sex appeal. I wasn’t keen on Chrissies’ sexual appeal back then although now I really appreciate what she did for Australian rock, she was a forerunner."

Helen Performing with Kim Volkman and The Whisky Priests, George Lane, 2022 - Photo by Deb Manuell - Source: Helen Cattanach

"Once I did a benefit gig at the Prince Bandroom to raise money for children orphaned from parents who were drug addicts. I was backstage waiting to go on when Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel came in to play an unannounced couple of song and Jimmy was screaming and punching the walls. They played 2 songs, the second was a Dylan cover, ‘Everyone must get stoned’. Probably not quite appropriate. 

When I lived on Fitzroy St in a flat, I used to have a morning coffee at a café called Superbo. Often there would be Rowland S. Howard sitting there with Genevieve McGuckin. We’d drink coffee, chain smoke and swap stories about girl groups that I was really into at the time. I was really impressed when Rowland recorded ‘He cried’ by the Shang Ri Las. I loved that."

Helen performing with Moler at Prince Bandroom, 2022 - Photo by Matthew T Ellery - Source: Helen Cattanach

"My favourite place to play used to be The Esplanade Hotel. Back in 90’s I loved the ‘Front Bar’. Back then the ‘Front Bar’ always had live bands playing and were mostly ‘free’ to get in. This meant it was always packed out on a Friday or Saturday night. I particularly loved the Anzac Day Anarchy and Melbourne Cup Music Days which had full day line ups of Australian bands presented by 3RRR and 3PBS. 

These days the front bar at the Espy is not the same. It is very beautiful but it seems so much more upmarket. The last time I was there the DJ was playing 80’s DJ music. Shock horror the music I hated from my teens!!! The Piano Bar at the Prince of Wales was always a favourite place to see bands and hang out. I loved to have an late arvo beer and watch the sun go down, it was such a great view. beautiful, similar to the Espy front bar. I think in those days the Piano Bar was my favourite place to be."

Helen singing with Epic Brass, The Espy, c. 2023 Photo by Tim Naim - Source: Helen Cattanach

"One photo from this series of portraits was used on the cover of a compilation album called, ‘Coolgrrrls Kick Ass’. This CD compilation showcased women in rock from all around the world and these women also contributed to a website called ‘Coolgrrrls.com’. This was a website that promoted women in music, writing about music and music in general.

I was the Melbourne ‘coolgrrrl’ representative. I wrote columns about my musical experiences, being in a band and going out to see bands. (This was way before MySpace). Very early social media crossed with zine. I even got to tour the US and met a few of the women who also contributed to the website which was super fun. Coolgrrrls eventually branched out into promoting women skateboarders as well, and even manufactured their own skateboards."

Portrait taken at The Esplanade Hotel, Gershwin Room, backstage area, 2000 - Photo by Tim Bell