The Cockroaches
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{{Unreferenced|date=June 2008}}
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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name = The Cockroaches
| Img = CockroachesAlbumCover.jpg
| Img_capt = Album cover for ''Hey Let's Go - The Best of The Cockroaches''
| Background = group_or_band
| Origin = [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
| Genre = [[Pop music]]
| Years_active = 1979–c.1990
| Label = Regular Records
| URL =
| Current_members =
| Past_members = [[Paul Field (musician)|Paul Field]]<br>[[John Field (songwriter)|John Field]]<br>[[Anthony Field|Anthony "Tony" Field]]<br>[[Jeff Fatt]]<br>Phil Robinson<br>[[Tony Henry]]
}}
'''The Cockroaches''' was an Australian rock / pop band which achieved reasonable success in the 1980s and 1990s. The band took its name from an obscure [[nom de plume]] favoured by The Rolling Stones during the 1960s.
The band is today best known for containing several members of the internationally successful children's musical group [[The Wiggles]].
==Personnel==
The original line-up of the band was:
* [[Paul Field (musician)|Paul Field]] - lead vocals
*[[John Field (songwriter)|John Field]] - rhythm guitar and lead vocals
* [[Anthony Field|Anthony "Tony" Field]] - lead guitar and backing vocals
* [[Jeff Fatt]] - keyboard
* Phil Robinson - bass
* Tony Henry - drums
Peter Mackie replaced Phil Robinson in 1988.
==Discography==
The Cockroaches released 5 albums:
* ''The Cockroaches'' (1987)
* ''Fingertips'' (1988)
* ''Positive'' (1991)
* ''St. Patrick's Day 10am'' (1994)
* ''Hey Let’s Go – The Best of the Cockroaches'' (1999)
==History==
The Field brothers (Paul, John and Anthony) started the group in 1979 while still at boarding school, [[St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill]]. The band regularly played at school dances and pubs. The Cockroaches began writing their own music and issued a string of singles on a variety of independent labels. In 1986 the band signed a deal with Regular Records.
The band's first original songs were:
* "I Want a Leather Jacket"
* "Through with Her"
* "Bingo Bango" (June 1981)
* "Used to Be"
* "She Goes on and on" (August)
* "Empty Heart"
* "Apartment #9" (October)
* "Shake Jump and Shout"
* "Last Night"
* "Empty Heart" (November 1982)
* "See You in Spain"
* "I've Been Thinking About You" (June 1984)
* "My Whole World's Falling Down"
* "Groovin’ in the Graveyard" (June 1985)
* "Another Night Alone My Type of Girl" (December).
The band's first single on Regular, `Wait Up'/`Henry's Lizard' (September 1986), became a national Top 40 hit and #13 in [[Sydney]]. The band's debut album, ''The Cockroaches'' (March 1987) produced three further singles, `She's the One'/`Can in the Hand' (January), `Some Kind of Girl'/`Dr Richmond' (May) and `Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)'/`Something Good' (August). ''The Cockroaches'' reached #9 on the national chart, on its way to selling over 100,000 copies and `She's the One' became the band's biggest hit when it peaked at #7 during April 1987. `Some Kind of Girl' and `Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)' also made the Top 30.
Peter Mackie replaced Phil Robinson before the band recorded its second album, ''Fingertips''. In early 1989, The Cockroaches undertook a national tour. The band's third album, ''Positive'' (June 1991), included a cover of Brenda Lee's `Here Comes the Feeling' (August), which also appeared on the soundtrack to the feature film ''The Crossing'', starring [[Russell Crowe]] and [[Danielle Spencer]]. By the end of the year, however, The Cockroaches as a band concept had run its course. To add to the stress, Paul Field’s seven month-old daughter died from [[SIDS]] while touring.
In the early 90s Anthony Field studied early childhood education at [[Macquarie University]]. He eventually started [[The Wiggles]] with Jeff Fatt, [[Murray Cook]] (guitar) and [[Greg Page]] (vocals), which become extraordinarily successful in Australia, the USA and parts of Asia in children's entertainment and early learning. John Field [alongside Sean Sennett] joined The Honeymen. The pair released two singles 'Felt Like A Kiss' and 'Motorbike Of Love'. John Field went on to write the musical 'Evie And The Birdman' and fronts The John Field Band.
Adapted from: Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop / Ian McFarlane 1999
[under licence from Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd (www.whammo.com.au)
[[Category:New South Wales musical groups|Cockroaches, The]]