The Venus Girl Traps

On March 31st 1990, they began recording three songs for a single, with Errol Tout at the helm - "I Have Got What I've Not" (written by Dean and Craig after partying all night at The Firm, and arranged by Simon), "Heroine" (Dean's song) and "Memphis Speedboat" (Craig's tribute to Elvis, co-written with the others).

In April, John Bannister, who was attending the Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts, decided to make a videoclip of the A-side of the single as a video editing exercise for his course.

The result, although shot and edited on lo-band VHS, is the only known visual record of The Venus Girl Traps - or VGTs, as they liked to call themselves - as they perform "I Have Got What I've Not".

During 1990, the band mainly played at venues like the Shenton Park Hotel, The Coronado, The Ozone, The Arcadia and The Entertainment Centre back bar, as well as some under-age shows.

On June 4, The Venus Girl Traps scored a coveted JJJ "Live At The Wireless" broadcast, where they performed a handful of songs and chatted to the show's presenter about their origins, their influences, and the difficulties of being an original band playing in Perth.

Their musical stylings were spreading in different directions, from the funk-ish Stones influenced "I Have Got What I've Not", to the soul inspired "Blame", to the Mexican-flavoured instrumental "Magnificent Surfers".

But time and fate were against were against them, and inevitably, the band folded in August of that year, their final show being at the Ozone on August 23 1990. Ironically, the single had finally been pressed, but too late to distribute to promote a band that was no more.

Craig, Simon and John appeared as a trio during 1993, billed as The Mariachi Brothers, and included some old VGTs songs in their setlist.

One weekend in mid-1989 at The Firm nightclub in Perth, Dean Graham approached Craig Weighell about joining him to record some songs he had. Dean, along with fellow ex-Marigold Mike Fitzgerald and Simon Watts (no prior band experience), went to Dungeon Studios in Narrogin on June 10 and 11 and recorded "Home", "Say You'll Be Mine", "Stranger (In This Land)" and "Time", with Craig contributing drums and backing vocals. It was here that The Venus Girl Traps were born.

Their first residency commenced at The Old Melbourne Hotel on August 25th 1989 and ran for four weeks. Towards the end of this stint, trumpeter John Bannister came aboard. The band supported Paul Kelly at the same venue on September 1.

Their musical style at the outset could best be described as a blend of country-rock and 60s-pop, a sensibility shared by both Craig and Dean. Being the band's two main writers, they also alternated lead vocal duties.

Other acts they supported were The Fish that John West Reject (with Craig and promoter Les Hinton joining the band onstage to contribute "doo-wop" vocals), The Black Eyed Susans, and Hunters & Collectors at Margaret River to a crowd of 6000 (and numerous roadies). At year's end The Venus Girl Traps joined The Marigolds, The Waltons, The Neptunes and The Fat for a huge New Years Eve show called "Wild" at the A Shed in Fremantle.

The Triple J "Live At The Wireless" set comprises of: Blame / She's Like The Rain / interview / Memphis Speedboat (and probably Heroine and I Have Got What I've Not plus more chat, but these items are currently missing presumed lost).

Music promoter The General had a mobile recording unit with which he taped The Venus Girl Traps playing live at the same gig he recorded The Marigolds, at the Fremantle Arts Centre, 13/9/89. It is not known if the recording still exists.

Jamie Parry contributed backing vocals to the song "Say You'll Be Mine"

Errol Tout contributed power chords to the middle eight of "I Have Got What I've Not" and "space guitar" to the song "Memphis Speedboat".

Quite a few Venus Girl Trap songs turned up in later bands. "The Magnificent Surfers" (renamed "The Radioactive Camel Affair") and "Carpet Of Flowers" were performed by The Hoovers, and "Something's Got To Give" and "Dangerous Ground" became Deb songs. "One Way Ride" and "She's Like The Rain" became part of Craig's solo act.

Their last gig - Ozone, 23/8/90 - was also Craig Weighell's debut as a solo performer on the same bill.

Their first ever handbill advertised the fact that "The Venus Girl Traps feature an ex-Walton, two ex-Marigolds and one Unstained Ego", the latter being a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that Simon Watts had not been in any previous bands.