Buffalo

Buffalo are an Australian hard rock band from Sydney, active from 1971 to 1977. They are associated with blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, heavy psych and metal, and are often described as one of the earliest heavy metal bands in Australia.

Formation and early line-up

The band starts in 1970 under the name Head, before changing to Buffalo the following year. The original line-up features two lead vocalists, Dave Tice and Alan Milano, along with John Baxter on guitar, Peter Wells on bass and Paul Balbi on drums. Their later, more established line-up from 1973 to 1975 includes Tice, Baxter and Wells, with Jimmy Economou on drums. The verified membership also includes Dave Tice and Paul Balbi.

Sound and influences

Buffalo’s music combines heavy rock with blues-rock, psychedelia and progressive rock. Their sound is compared with Black Sabbath, whom they support on an early 1970s tour. The band’s loud live performances draw attention for their intensity and for the reaction they provoke from audiences.

Recordings and label

The band signs to Vertigo Records, becoming the first non-European or British act to do so. Their best-known albums are Volcanic Rock and Only Want You For Your Body, both released in the 1970s and regarded as key recordings in their catalogue. Their album covers also prove controversial enough that some record chains refuse to stock them.

Activity and legacy

Buffalo build their reputation through constant touring across Australia, playing everything from school dances to large outdoor concerts. After 1975, the band goes through several line-up changes and their recorded output declines before they split in 1977. They remain an underground act in their own time, in part because of limited radio play and the lack of public radio stations in Australia until the mid-1970s.

The band’s catalogue is later reissued by Aztec Music in Australia in remastered and extended form. Buffalo also leave a lasting influence on Australian heavy metal, pub rock and alternative rock.