Yarraville musician David Zerafa was in the 1980s heavy rock band Taipan, who recently reformed and last week released their new album. 74517 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Alesha Capone
BACK in the 1980s, David Zarafa was on stage setting fire to his guitar, striding around in platform shoes and singing heavy metal.
The Yarraville musician was part of the band Taipan, a pioneering group of the Australian heavy rock scene, who released their first EP in 1981.
Mr Zerafa remembers the “four track, seven inch single” and performing at Bombay Rock in Brunswick.
There, Taipan supported acts like Rose Tattoo, Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and The Sweet.
“I used to do things like Jimi Hendrix and burn my guitar on stage, and wear flares, platform shoes, a cape and braces, with long hair down to my hips,” Mr Zerafa said.
He was guitarist, singer and song co-writer of Taipan, while Emilio Sarpa featured on bass and vocals and Frank Degennaro was the drummer.
The band achieved success overseas, before splitting up in 1987.
However, the internet and iTunes led to Taipan fans urging them to get back together.
The trio has done so and recorded the album ‘Snakes’, which was released world-wide last week.
Mr Zerafa said the group recorded their new CD after being signed to a German label called Killer Metal Records.
But the band began many years ago, when Mr Zerafa and Mr Sarpa met at primary school and would write songs together.
“In the shelter shed at school, all the kids would crowd around when I was aged seven and I would do Elvis impersonations,” Mr Zerafa said.
Taipan’s first-ever gig at was their Avondale Heights secondary school, while other early shows included playing a Footscray roller skating rink and Victoria University.
“Even listening to us on radio for the first time, when we were on Triple J and driving along in the car, was a thrill,” Mr Zerafa said.
After Taipan broke up, he went on to play with Methods of Dance, White Man Can’t Reggae and the Moptops.
Mr Zerafa also joined a band named John Travolta’s White Suit, who supported the Village People when they performed in Australia.
For more information about Taipan see www.reverbnation.com/taipanmetal or their Facebook page.
