The Incredible Penguins


The Incredible Penguins were an Australian supergroup formed in 1985, which reached the top ten on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with their cover of "Happy Xmas " in December. Contributors included Angry Anderson, Bob Geldof, Brian Mannix, Scott Carne, Colleen Hewett, and John Farnham. The charity project, for research on little penguins, was organized and produced by Countdown host, Ian Meldrum.

History

After hosting Oz for Africa—the Australian leg of Live Aid—in mid-1985, Ian Meldrum decided to create a charity project for a local issue. Meldrum was talent coordinator and compere of national pop music show, Countdown. Late in 1985, he used his industry contacts to organise a charity single for research on fairy penguins. He produced the recording of a cover of John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band's 1971 hit, "Happy Xmas ".
The Incredible Penguins were a briefly existing covers band, with members: Steve Donald on percussion, Craig Johnston on vocals, Wayne Matthews on bass guitar, John Moon on guitar, Pat Polo on guitar, and Marcel Rodeka on drums.
In late October 1985, The Incredible Penguins entered the Flagstaff Studios in Melbourne with Meldrum and guest musicians: Angry Anderson, Brian Canham, Scott Carne, John Farnham, Venetta Fields, Bob Geldof, Steve Gilpin, Hare Krishna Chorus, Colin Hay, Colleen Hewett, Jim Keays, Brian Mannix, Wendy Stapleton and Chris Stockley.
A three-track single, "Happy Xmas " was released by Mushroom Records and peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in December.

Discography