User:Murrayshepherd
Murray John 'Muzza' Shepherd was born 13th February 1964 in Bankstown New South Wales. The second son of Arthur William and Faye Ruth Shepherd nee Denson. Elder brother Brad Shepherd, born three years earlier and younger brother Jason Matthew Shepherd, five years after. The family relocated to Brisbane in June 1967. He began his formal education at Ashgrove State School in 1969 at the age of five.Entering school at five, instead of age six, meant that he repeated grade Six, and hence, spent eight years in primary school, not the usual seven. + 1973- at age nine he joined the school marching band performing percussion. In 1973 Males played percussion/drums and Females played the Recorder.Graduating from Triangle to Cymbals to Bass Drum, and finally, to Snare Drum. + March 1974-He attends his first Rock concert with brother Brad..Slade at Brisbane Festival Hall. + June 1974 -He attends his second concert...Suzi Quatro at the same venue.Formative experiences.
1974 - he receives his first Drum Kit. A silver Maxwin by Pearl Kit, and with brother Brad, bass player John Hartley and vocalist Ian Ghan they form OVERKILL and play their first ever show at The Gap Scout Hall in St. John's Woods, Ashgrove. 1975 - vocalist leaves the band and are re-named THE ALIENS.
1976/1977 - Punk rock sweeps Australia after Mike Willesee exposes it on A Current Affair. THE ALIENS are radically altered by the wave and while influences such as
1978 - The band change names to THE FUN THINGS.
10th Feb 1980 - THE FUN THINGS record their only E.P independently.Released in May 1980.
1981 - This year seen Murray finish high school and the end of many of the Brisbane punk bands that had existed between 1975 and 1981. The 31st, with Ron Peno, Mick Medew, Tony Robertson and Chris Welsh. THE END with Brett Myers and THE FUN THINGS all broke up as various members relocated to Sydney to pursue larger goals in a bigger city. The remnants of these bands still in Brisbane prompted Murray to contact 31st guitarist Mick Medew and, with John Hartley, the three piece formed THE SCREAMING TRIBESMEN in the summer of 1981.
June 1982 - THE SCREAMING TRIBESMEN release an independent 4-track E.P
Dec 1982 - They record the seminal single 'IGLOO'(Medew/Peno) b/w 'MY TRUE LOVES BLOOD'(Medew/Shepherd/Hartley)and released through Citadel Records in Sydney. The band continue to play in Brisbane with the aid of uni radio playing 'IGLOO' on high rotation. Contrary to popular belief, the original SCREAMING TRIBESMEN only played four times in Sydney supporting bands such as THE HITMEN and THE NEW CHRISTS.
May 1984 - they record their second single for Citadel. 'A STAND ALONE'(Medew/Peno) b/w 'MOVE A LITTLE CLOSER'(Medew/Shepherd/Hartley).
Dec 1984 sees THE SCREAMING TRIBESMEN dis-band as Murray reloctes to Sydney for eight months.
1985 - after returning to Brisbane, he helps form a new band called THE FOUR HORSEMEN. Vocalist NICK LEE, Guitarist MATT LENOURY and Bassist SHANE COOKE. They release an indie single in July 1985 ,'WORLD TO END ALL WARS' b/w 'PERFECT SOUND'.
Nov 1985 - Murray leaves Australia to live in Europe/UK.
Nov 1986 - Returns to Australia,plays in The Vampire Lovers for 3 shows and moves to Sydney in Feb 1987.
Joins THE VANILLA CHAINSAWS for eight months.
Marries Perth gal (moved to Sydney) NATASHA BROCKWELL in 1989 and relocate to Brisbane until late 1990.
Moving back to Sydney, together they create a truly amazing and blessed creature...WINONA SIBBRITT SHEPHERD on 17th December 1991.
Moving to Perth in early 1994 the couple divorced in late 1994 and all three moved back to Sydney.
1995 - Murray joins HARPOON. A TOOL type industrial influenced band, they play throughout Sydney until 1997 when, after releasing one E.P thru Black Hole Records of Melbourne, the band broke.
1998 - Murray joins THE LEAH PURCELL GROUP with guitarist MURRAY COOK (no....not The Wiggle),guitarist ANDY MUNROE and vocalist LEAH PURCELL. The band tour the country as support for SHANIA TWAIN and perform at multiple locations in central and regional Australia raising public knowledge of Australia's indigenous peoples.
1999 - Murray forms THE MONARCHS with brother BRAD, bassist ANDY KELLY and eventually guitarist GREG HITCHCOCK. 2000 - THE MONARCHS release the single '2001' thru Ivy League Records. 2001 - they release their full length album 'MAKE YOUR OWN FUN' thru Shock Records. 2002 THE MONARCHS unofficially break, but play shows in Sydney, London and Spain in mid 2003.
Jan 2003 - Murray is approached by [[BEN NIGHTINGALE and MATTY STOKES to form a new three piece, THE RIDE ONS. Mid 2004 - they release an E.P, THE FIRST CUT thru 456 Records in Sydney. 2007 - they release their second E.P 'CHEER SQUAD' independently. Dec 2008 - the release their first full length album 'DELINQUENTS WITH HOTRODS'