About Syd

My first memory of wanting to be a drummer was of my dad in the family’s lounge room rehearsing with his band. At the time, they encouraged me to play the kit and I remember being too small to reach the pedals. The first song I learned to play was Honky Tonk Woman by the Rolling Stones which was fortunate because all I could hit was the cowbell and the snare."

Syd Green :-)

Find out more about my previous projects at my discography pages.

Elated, in 1991 Syd received a call from Melbourne for an audition with Polygram signed artists, Killing Time. After getting the gig he relocated to Melbourne with the band and went into the studio to record the EP "Dream Alone". Dream Alone went to number 13 on the National Aria Charts and rated in the Top 20 on Video Hits. Killing Time landed a national tour with Janes Addiction and Baby Animals to support the success of the Dream Alone single and also jumped on the outdoor festival Big Day Out alongside Silverchair, The Cruel Sea, Iggy Pop, et.al.

Killing Time changed its name to Mantissa due to an international signing by Polygram Records in the USA. In 1992 Mantissa recorded their debut album "Mossy God" at Gotham Studios in Melbourne that was recorded and produced by Terry Date (Soundgarden, Pantera, Limp Bizkit).

The first national tour as Mantissa was as support for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour" and then ensued a national tour to support the release of the single "Mary Mary". Mary Mary aired on Triple J and Triple M. The opening scene for the clip is of Syd  wielding a jackhammer (a little unsettling but indicative of the style at the time). The music clip was filmed in Sydney and is still played on Rage and in parts of Europe. Excerpts of the clip were used on the movie score for the American film "SFW" starring Stephen Dorff and Reece Witherspoon.

"Land of the Living" was released in 1993 and saw another national tour. It placed in the Top 40 on Video Hits. Performed at Big Day Out alongside Ministry and Hole. During the media exposure, Syd was approached by Zildjian Cymbals for an endorsement. Not only was he stoked but relieved as he was breaking a cymbal every 3 or 4 gigs. With new management (Spin Doctors & Meatloaf) and using the advance from the U.S
signing, Mantissa relocated to America in 1993. Basing themselves out of New Jersey, and armed with two vans and a sound guy called Dr BOB, they toured extensively (220 shows) across forty-two states. Occasionally hopping on support spots with Dave Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin lizzy) and Mindfunk (another band produced by Terry Date)...

Landing back in Oz in 94' saw the guys and girl back in the studio to record the EP "Interalia" at Sing Sing in Melbourne with Michael Letho (Marcia Hines, Darryl Braithewaite, Rush, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mark Seymour, George of the Jungle movie score). A national tour ensued to support the release. Mantissa was the opening act (should we say dog meat rather) for Pantera in 1994 in Melbourne, and Adelaide.

In 1995, the band recorded "Thirst" at Sing Sing Studios and Gotham Studios in Melbourne. (See DISCS for credits). This was to be their last album and the final tour concluded at The Metro in Sydney in 1996.
TOUR DATES

Christ Art Museum invited Syd for a jam session in 1996. There was an instant rapport between them which formed the basis for Syd to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney to play drums. After a year of playing the Sydney scene they went into the studio to
record their first EP "Riftwood" (See discography). The band worked in Sydney and interstate and at various festivals. In 1998, "New Boy" was recorded at Q Studios and mixed by Daniel Denholm (Max Sharam, The Whitlams). The video/single New Boy enjoyed airplay on Rage in 1998 (yes Syd was wearing undies and a flower suit!!!).

From 1997 – 1999 Syd worked simultaneously with another band, Guilding the Lily performing percussion, drums, lapsteel and acoustic guitar, and working alongside James Cadsky (Leonardos Bride, Alex Lloyd) co-mixing Guilding the Lily’s self-titled album. (See discography). Guilding the Lily featured at The Basement as the support band for Wendy Matthews and Peter Garrett et.al. (a charity benefit held in protest of the Jabiluka Mining). They also performed on Channel V and played extensive shows in and around Sydney. "The Beer Song" was played on Triple M’s Home Grown.

In the years 1999-2003 Syd was asked to appear live with iota on Ground Zero (Channel Ten). Shortly after, he joined iota as full time drummer and guest guitarist, with Bongo on bass. They toured extensively throughout Australia and various festivals, Glenworth Valley Festival (Oct and Dec, 1999), Byron Bay Blues Festival (2001 and 2003), Homebake (1999), and Womad in Adelaide.

After 70 shows or so, the boys ventured into Q studios, Sydney in mid 2000 to record Little Carlos which featured "Melbourne Summer". The single was placed on high rotation on Triple J and the music clip was promoted on Rage.

many gigs were played....

In 2001, the guys took on recording their own album based on time and financial limitations of a conventional studio. Syd undertook the sound engineering and co-producing component of "Big Grandfather" with Mike Letho completing the final mixes.

many, many more gigs were played...

Appreciating the benefits of home recording as well as the use of professional studios, the guys decided to record and produce the album "La Caravana" independently. Production commenced at Mangrove Mountain Studios and Main St Studios. Finally all other overdubs were finished at their home studio.
Syd not only performed drums but, acoustic guitar, lapsteel, percussion and collaboratively recorded, produced, co-produced and co-wrote songs for the album (see discography). La Caravana was released in July 2003 and was rated number 2 on the Independent Charts.
TOUR DATES

Concurrently, in 1999 Syd performed as a percussionist for Abi Tucker’s album launch "Bully" at the Annandale in Sydney and appeared live on the Pepsi Charts. In between touring he played drums and lapsteel on Felicity Hunter’s single "Angel Fire" which was recorded at Festival Studios by Michael Letho. Angel Fire was used on the "Love is a Four Letter Word" soundtrack.
TOUR DATES

November - December 2003 -Toured the country and performed acoustic guitar for Abi Tuckers new album "Dreamworld". For this national tour they had to strip back what was a predominantly studio mixed album into an acoustic format. The tour began on the East Coast of Oz and they meandered their way by car from Melbourne to Adelaide (picking up a ram's skull at the Nutbush Retreat, near Whyalla) through the red desert up to Alice Springs and then onto the sacred Uluru. After crossing the Nullabor they landed in Esperance, the beautiful Albany and finally 8, 500 kms later, concluded the tour in Perth. See Tour Dates.