The Modes was a band active in Adelaide, South Australia in the late 1970s early 1980s.
Biography[]
The Modes was a popular Adelaide Band in the late 1970s started by Frank Ratta in 1978 under the first incarnation Hotel Express. The band was formed at Para Vista High School. Hotel Express broke up when singer Dianne Dixon left to sing with Indigenous North American Country singer Barry Lascoux. Hotel Express ended in 1979 and by 1980 Frank Ratta decided on the new name for his band The Modes after a long night discussing it with the band. The light bulb moment came when Frank Ratta said, "look it's late" and after checking his newly acquired digital watch noted the function button MODE. At this time the band were influenced by The Vapors, The Clash, The Police, The Pretenders, Flowers (later known as Icehouse), David Bowie and many other late 70s bands especially from the UK.
The new band entered a local High School Battle of the Bands competition in South Australia. The Modes won their heat and moved to the finals. It was at this event that Frank and Joe met John Grey, a talented Keyboard Player who was part of another band in the same heat. John's band was from a neighbouring school called Ingle Farm High school. John later joined The Modes after they performed at the final of the battle of the bands at the Adelaide Festival Theatre.
During the Comeout festival's 1981 battle of the bands Dianne Dixon saw The Modes perform and decided she'd like to re-join the original band. She was dating Paul Newman at the time which made it both easy and awkward (The Modes were runners up to Almost Human who later became The Superjesus). Soon The Modes had undergone a line up change with Karl Hughes replaing Frank Calipari who had gone through a personal family tragedy losing his younger brother to Leukaemia and needed time with his family. John Grey was introduced on keyboards/Synthesizer. Dianne Dixon finalised the six piece line up that would become The Modes from 1980 to 1983. During this period The Modes entered a major Battle of the Bands sponsored by Allan's Music and SAFM. The reward for 1st prize in category 1 was a recording contract, The reward for 1st prize in the second category was $5000 of musical equipment from Allan's Music. Frank Ratta entered the First category to win the recording deal on offer with Mushroom records. He was however undermined by the new manager Bob Dixon, Dianne's father and entered The Modes in the Second category which The Modes went on to win. Ian Molly Meldrum who was in attendance approached the band back stage after awarding the band on stage to explain how he envisioned The Modes as being the next big band out of Australia and said on Radio later "Quite frankly The Modes would have taken out the entire night" . He personally offered to manage the band and insisted the band present a bio quickly and as soon as possible, then travel interstate to record a single. The offer was rejected by The Modes manager who insisted two separate contracts be made one for the singer and one for the band. His proposal to the Meldrum team was "Misty & The Modes" to which the Meldrum team rejected.
"Free Me" by Adelaide band The Modes circa 1983
Later the band was confronted and advised of this management development at a rehearsal at Thorndon High School by Rob Taylor and Steve Hooper, radio announcers at the then 5KA radio station. It was at this point Frank Ratta and Joe Ratta founding members questioned The Modes management and after it was clear the best interest of the entire band was not being met both left the band. Joe Ratta was replaced by Robert Boundy on drums and the band continued with only one guitarist becoming a five piece.
It was discovered later Frank Ratta could no longer use the name The Modes for the manager secretly registering the name as a business. From around 1983, The Modes under their latest and last line up, toured extensively throughout the South Australian country and Australia's East Coast regularly from 1983 to 1984. The band wrote several songs and demo's of these were recorded at 202 Studios in Hindley Street, and Graham Greens private studios, engineered by Tom Westerholme and produced by Brian Gleeson and Bruno Tararran.
They filmed two live shows on video, at Melbourne's Billboard and also at Adelaide Festival Theatre's Amphitheatre during 1983 and 1984, and these have never been published or released. The featured song, "Free Me" was written by keyboard player John Gray and the compilation clip was compiled in 2020 and presented for research by Robert Boundy for documentation of SA music history. Photos are from an archive collection by Chris Towey president of The Modes Fan Club.
The band finally broke up after John Gray decided to leave in October 1984 to pursue study at University. No replacement was found and Dianne and Robert had an offer to go to Melbourne to form a new band in the style of Wendy Stapleton's band The Rocketts (Known as Wendy and the Rocketts and having multiple number one hits in Australia). Dianne Dixon and Robert Boundy left to form a new band with Peter German from The Phantom Band and Jimi Hocking from The Astro Boy's (The Angels, Screaming Jets). A few demos were recorded in 1983. Robert went on the play and record with notable Melbourne hard rock band Virgin Soldiers, releasing an self titled EP in 1987, and Album Watching The World in 1990. Dianne moved back to Adelaide in the early 1990s. John Gray joined Big Things Flying in Adelaide during the late 1980's, Paul Newman formed Snakey and The Rattlers, then moved to Melbourne in the late 1990s.
Members[]
Hotel Express (1978-1979)
- Dianne Dixon - vocals
- Frank Ratta - guitar, vocals
- Frank Calipari - guitar
- Paul Newman - bass
- Joe Ratta - drums, vocals
The Modes (1980 - 1982)
- Dianne Dixon - vocals
- Frank Ratta - guitar, vocals
- Karl Hughes - guitar
- John Gray - keyboards
- Paul Newman - bass
- Joe Ratta - drums, vocals
The Modes (1982 - 1984)
- Dianne Dixon - vocals
- Karl Hughes - guitar
- John Gray - keyboards
- Paul Newman - bass
- Robert Boundy - drums