The Church Live 1988 - Under the Milky Way

Recorded for an Italian television broadcast.
Steve Kilbey - Bass, Lead Vocals
Peter Koppes - Guitar
Richard Ploog - Drums
Marty Willson-Piper - Guitar
This song appears on the 1988 album Starfish.

[@kellybetz1964]

I always loved this song. So much that I learned it and play and sing it in public a lot. Open Mics and gigs.

[@JamesRufert-ry7nm]

🎉🎉🎉😂😂❤well goody your s.

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

It peaked at No. 22 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, No. 24 on the United States Billboard Hot 100, and hit No# 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart ...They were not known to be that great in concert. This song seems out of tune and drab. The studio cut is full of so much power, however!

[@philipptailor8457]

damn, wish could be 1988 again

[@alexzais1935]

Philipp Tailor I was born that year. I'm from Chicago. Sometimes I think about what it would be like to have been alive and around 18-21 years old in 1988 ;) If you experienced it. How was it? Details if possible ;p

[@tanjawinter6492]

@@alexzais1935 I could tell you if you want to hear that from a German woman. 😉

[@alexzais1935]

Tanja Winter 😮 Yes pls! ;)

[@tanjawinter6492]

​@@alexzais1935 I was 17/18 years old in 1988. At least in my area there was no mobile, no Internet, no 1,000 channels on TV, no flatrate for anything, no ebooks, no mp3-players. For music you went to the record store and listened to new records or asked for advice. Or friends recommended some of their faves to you. Since we didn't have that much money, we copied (yes, I admit it) music on empty cassettes from vinyl and sometimes from CDs. And it was such a happy feeling when there was a good song on the radio and we could tape it - without the presenter's babbling! ;) My first car had a cassette player, and I was so happy about each new song. :) Sometimes you travelled to bigger cities in your neighbourhood (or even another country) when your city couldn't offer/order the music you liked. And it was great when a friend went on holiday - "alright, give me your lists. What do you want me to get you from my holiday?" I liked to do record shopping by train in Cologne - there was a huge record store with everything you could dream of. (And which is, compared to today with the possibility of ordering from all over the world, ridiculous; but to me it was like another world.) There wasn't much music for younger people on TV, and just very little Rock/Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Around that time Acid/Techno became really popular in Germany, and that was like torture to me - not my world! I could almost feel the blood running down my ears when I had to hear this. So there was even less music for me. There were only a few music magazines, most of them about Pop. Nothing against good Pop, but most of it was absolutely not my cup of tea. Google for Stock/Aitken/Waterman - they were my personal nightmare. Since this conversation is about UTMW, I'll add my experiences with music of The Church as well. My first time for shopping records in Cologne was like discovering a new planet: Oh, Peter Koppes did solo albums???? And also Marty Willson-Piper? And heaven, tons of solo albums/side projects from Steve Kilbey? I had NEVER even heard/read of that before. I still own all those records. Sadly, no solo albums/side projects from Richard Ploog at that time which was a HUGE disappointment for me. But I didn't question that since not all musicians are involved in side projects. If you wanted to be in touch with people from other countries, you had pen pals. Yes, folks - you wrote letters and used dictionaries, you bought stamps and nice stationery and hoped that the ship/plane with your mail wouldn't sink/crash down. You made pictures with the camera and sent them with letters to let your pen pals know what you looked like and you were happy when they also sent you some pictures. I learnt loads of Irish curse words, by the way - my pen pal told me I'd make every Irish guy blush and praised my pronunciation when we talked on the phone maybe twice a year (hell, it was expensive!). ;) Speaking of The Church, there was just one friend that knew the band - ONE! And that was after UTMW came out. When I ask today, nobody knows the band, nobody knows the song. I also loved Noiseworks (again just one friend who also knew and liked them) and Midnight Oil. Ask for "Beds Are Burning", and people in my age remember. But if you ask for other songs, they all shrug. At that time, Germany was definately the wrong place for me. I wanted to conjure myself to Australia so many times to see all my bands playing live and to find more people that shared my taste in music. ;) I don't want those times back; I am happy about KZbin, Internet, mp3-music, mobiles/smartphones and the chance of ordering and downloading music. But I still love my records. Their covers are much nicer to look at than CD-booklets. ;) Seeing all this material from my bands is a wonderful experience to me, and being able to communicate with other people in the comments is so nice. :) Do my memories give you a little insight into that time? ;)

[@ahousefellonme]

Tanja Winter good write up! Before double tape decks, I would make mix tapes by placing two boom boxes together, play a song on one and record on the other. I had 2 finches back then and you could hear them chirping away like mad in the spaces between songs...

[@BoycottStabb]

ALL the best bands turn up on these obscure european TV programmes.. You gotta love these people, thank you italy, spain, finland, norway, denmark etc etc etc!

[@manuelcapela7620]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4vMhaVqndx7jqs

[@teresa27909]

The song bewitched me from the first time I heard it and still does

[@ColoradoGreenHills]

For me, it's always been about Steve Kilbey's voice. A male siren, in terms of the Greek myth, but it doesn't lead you to destruction! I've been told my singing voice is great, and I like to think it's similar to Steve's, but he's made it professionally and I haven't even tried. Also, I think Kilbey's bass playing is unique, or likely nearly so, and should be studied by other bassists and not overlooked by fans, who perhaps are more drawn to both his singing voice and his lyrics/songwriting ability.

[@teresa27909]

I think you are spot on. His voice combined with all the other "parts" makes this one of my favorite songs ever!!

[@TheWaynelds]

I used to love this song when i was still alive...

[@stripper115js14]

when my uncle bought me starfish I almost threw it away........until I LISTENED to the music. Now I play it weekly.

[@indraeek]

They are still making wonderful music and still touring. They put on a kick ass live show.

[@PinckFloydEchoes]

Yes!! The 80's produced alot of really good music...Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, The Church, U2, Metallica, Martika....just to name a few

[@rudyhernandez1043]

R.E.M The Smiths

[@serpicoflower]

I watched this gig live on TV at the time being. I fell in love with their sound. Today I'm still listenin'...

[@serpicoflower]

The TV show was called DOC... Very good music from them at the time... I was 17... used to watch this show after high-school in the afternoon

[@rosiebeh7]

I love this song. Always have, always will.

[@Thagy1973]

me too!

[@ronbo11]

Love the e-bow solo and the casual toss of said implement by Koppes. Great version of an excellent song.

[@nickcarr7387]

Reminds me of Donnie Darko, such a great movie, with an amazing soundtrack of mostly 80's classics.

[@robertokop]

Che bella trasmissione che era DOC.

[@ftfc006]

Fantastic version of this song. Live music always sound better than recorded.

[@roadking99jokerst60]

I find myself listening to the bass in particular.Great rendition, such a super group.

[@NicBunnymen]

Richard Ploog..ONE GREAT DRUMMER.

[@user-uj3zk2cx8t]

He didn't even play drums on this song for the studio version lol

[@iancrombie8862]

Starfish.very good album

[@ucingtigatiga]

sweet bongo at the beginning of the song

[@strangebloke7]

I've only seen the Church live twice...in small venues in late '82. Met and chatted to them both nights. Good guys and an excellent band...thanks for reminding me that I really need to see them again...soon! Great to see Richard Ploog once more. I miss his contribution these days. A bit like Bill Berry leaving REM. Wish he'd been playing drum kit rather than congas though!

[@drstevie]

Totally loved & still love these , & solo LP"s !!

[@sarahgoodman6101]

The Church...listen to the lyrics....better than yo yo yo will find today!!!

[@EPZsounds]

Loved this band from the moment they released the unguarded moment.

[@jamichelash]

UNreal have a tingly sensation watching brings back great memories. Terrific version

[@texreb66]

I remember it being called "College rock" and "underground music". It was awesome stuff at an awesome time.

[@bgierat]

Always loved this band...I saw them at the University of Chicago in 1988 in this tiny theatre....so awesome!!!!!!!

[@blacksunfish]

Ace performance by the band!

[@ohio1968javelin]

Great tune thanx for posting!!Takes me back to the sk8 boarding era!!Long live rock

[@shabbacon]

Nice to see Richard Ploog on drums

[@Truckngirl]

What happened to this band? Bongos? Well, I always thought that the bagpipe bridge was the giant hook of this song. It was so haunting and captivating. I can't find a modern version that includes that. So sad. I will keep my mind and memory with their original version that I listened to on MTV and the radio. Long live The Church, may their sound RIP.

[@kellybetz1964]

It really sounds great played on a 12 string guitar. The high octave strings make it sound great.

[@vegasmike]

The 80s were the best for music. So many great artist and music came out of the 80's. What people don't get is without the 80's you would not have the music now. Most is written by artist of that time. At least you had Musicians that played and wrote music. AL you have now is singers that cant write a tune.

[@Hungry_Hunter]

The kazoo lead break cracked me up. Yes I know Peter is using an Ebow but it sounded like a kazoo to me.

[@CyCoChili]

I knew this song was from my past when it showed in the movie "Dannie Darko". Not until now could I place it. Thank you! This is song is so much a part of me and I did not know why. I just remembered driving through Atlanta, listening to this song and wondering about those detours "despite my destination". And I did wonder what I was looking for.

[@mrhoffame]

@AsSeenOnCCTV People have forgotten how to just have fun and enjoy each other. Now it is only about who is tuffer, sluttier, richer, darker, and on and on. I have always said that the 80's was the last decade that music will ever see where joyful fun was the main objective of popular music.

[@ConnieLBaker]

Love this version - first time seeing it.

[@aarlevanbram]

just bought the best of great memories, the cover of the killers of this song can't reach this livetrack. well done!

[@johnfulgaro6327]

An e-Bow !! (But no mullet. Check out Pick Up Man by Joe Diffie for a mullet.) Love this version - first time seeing it.

[@lilyame]

Thank you Mitch!

[@Maxiclaudi]

I only sought this band out, while I was living in Turkey and only had the German tv music channel to watch, because he sounded quite like David Sylvian, as well as quite a few other songs of their album.

[@lynda2188]

I LOVE THIS SONG!!

[@hankdatank09]

Love this Song!!!

[@Virtual-Media]

Very nice recording, thanks for posting.

[@Ohrni74]

Great Song! Greetings from Germany!

[@jonpianobass]

for those of you who dont' know what he played the guitar solo with its called an ebow. not super commonly used but they can give a cool effect at times.

[@scopapa33]

Ploog was an extremely underrated drummer, and the band itself was always underrated. Good stuff here.

[@user-uj3zk2cx8t]

He didn't even play drums on the studio track for this song

[@greatleapforwards]

oh yes - three songs that are on my timeless list are this, dusty in here by the go betweens and trick of the light by the triffids

[@adolfsson2705]

Nice very nice live version!

[@nedkelly8162]

Great song.......very good band!

[@nycsp]

Peter Koppes was so HOT and such a great musician , my fav always!!!

[@ml680]

still is and still does!

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

Christ this is live LOL . My ears man, my ears miss live music. Today there is nothing that is even remotely close to these tracks!!!

[@alantrip]

Guitariist is using an E-bow to get that sound. You can see it in his hand--operates on a 9-volt battery--you sort of hover the thing near the string you want to vibrate. The E-bow has 2 electron magnets inside that straddle the string. They alternate on and off. When one mag is on, the other is off. These are turned off and on electronically rapidly. Makes it sorta sound like a violin bow is being used on the string-- and so the name E-bow (electronc bow).

[@Clark.Griswold]

@AsSeenOnCCTV -- I think there are more people out there who the 80's music than admit it. Where else would Glee steal their selections from? Today's music is void of imagination and life. The 80's ruled!

[@lylymad]

Great performance...And Steve Kilbey is so hot, as usual :)

[@PinckFloydEchoes]

Found this on Wiki...maybe Australia DOES embrace this song!... In 2006, the song was performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Lead singer Steve Kilbey said after the performance that it was as if the song had been made for the occasion, though in his blog he was critical of the Commonwealth Games. In September 2008, readers of The Weekend Australian Magazine voted it as the best Australian song of the last 20 years.

[@renewd]

love this alternative version.

[@chadjohnson-authormusician8072]

Man ... the acoustic player started the song way too fast. You can see Kilbey (bassist/singer) shoot him a look at 0:31, as if to say "Dude .... WAY too fast!"

[@annep5861]

it was way too fast. But, they took that fast beginning, and did their best. It is too fast. Wrecks the tune.

[@entidadalan4967]

La mejor versión de su propio tema... en el mismo año en que salió la canción 1988. Las de después se han ido deteriorando perdiendo su espíritu original.

[@kentwood9821]

E-bow FTW!

[@NoLegsDan]

I used to love this song when i had legs...

[@yellowandblues]

PERFECT

[@ferdzrines954]

wow!

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Steve Kilbeys voice and looks really move me. The song and voice are rather haunting. Would love to touch that aussie. Come to me babe under the milky way tonight. nicemommy

[@fairiegirlga]

The best music came from the 80's !!! I have always said so, love this song, the lead singer is dreamy, what happend to this group, anyone know??

[@EsromFF]

Under the Milky Way tonight

[@permanentbliss]

excellent. Not seen before

[@jwd29485]

@astheticweeds - I was at that show! Brilliant! what an awesome band! I miss the post-punk/new -wave/alt generation as well. So much over -looked music. Going in search of Wire-Train.

[@exionem]

The Cars Duran Duran Deff Leppard Crowded House Foreigner 80´s music was sooooooooooooooooo much better than our so called "modern music"

[@sissina73]

dear mitch547 thanks a lot for this gem!! Where the fuck was i when they played on this show? I'm italian and i didn't know about this!! i really missed a pearl :-)... thanks for posting this!

[@VeegovonDOOM]

Cool song.

[@tuttt99]

Wow, look at all those mullets!!

[@honeypower]

Because they only know about mainstream 80s music. Like you said there were legions of amazing underground artists in the 80s.

[@richardotterjr]

I didn't realize this was an 80s song.

[@DaveH001]

Looks like some corporate hack has been busy disabling the audio tracks from all the other videos of The Church performing this song. Let's hope this live version stays up for a while. Dynamite song!

[@kombik98]

@witchyliLL23 I was too young to see these guys when they began but have been a fan since 1988 and seen them alot. They were very big in Oz and still are. This vid is interesting. I thinks its when the record company thought they would be the next big thing in Italy. Steve Kilbey tells a great story of being put up in a 5 star hotel in Italy where all of the band's scrappy paisely shirts came back from the laundry looking amazing with new buttons and the holes & tears neatly darned!

[@krunchiekregg]

DUDE D.DARKO IS..HOLD ONE...GODDAMN NEW...THIS IS NOT A ''MOVIE''...THIS IS ''MUSIC''.

[@SquarkingCockatoo]

The 'Donnie Darko' and 'cosmic' videos are silent, so hopefully this teeny bit kitsch live version remains at least. Bongo Fury!

[@chainsawmax]

@AsSeenOnCCTV not to mention KILLING JOKE, SONIC YOUTH, THE SISTERS OF MERCY...

[@jonpianobass]

@mrfiggins yeah people dont use them much, i saw a concert a few days ago and that was the first time i'd seen one used live

[@MrBuc128]

@ks6string Thanks.I actually do play this song with those chords but i just wanted to make sure that they played it the same way

[@lonepilgrim007]

greatist music ever made was the alternative 70-80`s rock..the commercial music went to hell in 72 when nixon won the election along with everything else in america while the alt music went to crap in the 90`s with heavy metal..as our society crashes the future will remember this music as our swansong and yes..i know the church are aussies..id give away everything i had to immigrate but i dont have anything..thank you george bush..check out jane siberry..kate bush

[@ElvioBottazzi]

AsSeenOnCCTV: nunca en mi vida me encontre a alguien que odiara a la musica de los ochenta!!!, de donde sacas eso? cada cual con su estilo pero la gran mayoria coincide en que buena sigue siendo la musica de esa epoca,!!!

[@kirbonite]

anybody know what that thing he's playing the guitar solo with is? electric razor?

[@rogerbelger2014]

A really hard song to do live and still sound like the record - but they pulled it off fairly well..

[@TallBoy1273524]

DONNIE DARKO!!!

[@eduardolima7534]

nice kkkkk

[@Nigelxman]

@beepollen1 You should make the trip to go seem them here in L.A Bee! :-) It's a pretty intimate venue and who knows how long these boys are going to still be touring given their ages and family situations etc. I totally envy you seeing them in 1986! The must have played a lot of stuff from Heyday which is such a great album. What venue did they play then?

[@Agakroete45]

could somebody send me the link to this song in a not live not techno but in an original version pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaase

[@irhannya]

@HotGeneration100 i agree with you.

[@TedBoyRomarino]

@AsSeenOnCCTV Yeah, The Police, Dire Straits, Midnight Oil, Men At Work

[@dogsofwar007]

how old is this? check out the haircuts, shirts and the high waisted jeans on the MC

[@comsat1000]

+1

[@gvxrlole]

Those AREN'T mullets! There's not a mullet in sight. You'd have to watch some vintage videos by U2 or Billy Ray Cyrus if you want to see what a mullet looks like. I think some of the members of The Church did sport mullets at other times in their career, though.

[@venenonovanta8251]

"Lower the curtain down on Memphis, Lower the curtain down all right". Excuse me, where is the verb? I tried to traslate in italian but i don't understand why "Lower the curtain..." instead of "Lowers the curtain..." or "Lowered...".???

[@gjfirebird67]

Lower is the verb. I lower... You lower... He/she lowers... Lowered past tense. It's like draw the curtain.

[@venenonovanta8251]

gjfirebird67 Thank you! ;)

[@gregorydean2292]

Lyrics many times don't have Rhyme or Reason

[@bodgertime]

Who is he smiling at ?

[@scopapa33]

@Nigelxman keep doubting then, because he was where I am from.

[@Wakeupdream]

@Agakroete45 yes,i can

[@wendyfull]

that's my shit

[@TrapDaddy65]

An e-Bow !! (But no mullet. Check out Pick Up Man by Joe Diffie for a mullet.)

[@KaleidoscopeMagic]

Ooooooh! I wanna know who he's looking at @ 3:03. Ummppff!

[@stefanob.727]

Probably girls...