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------ Since her days as the SG-wielding lead singer-songwriter of the all-girl
------garage-pop band ‘Girl Monstar,’ Sherry Rich has been a formidable part
------of the musical landscape in Australia and the US. Her singing style and attitude
------has been compared to an eclectic mix of female vocalists - Christine McVie,
------Bonnie Raitt, Peggy Lee, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, Nancy Sinatra, Linda Thonpson
------and Rose Maddox.
------The daughter of Australian 60s country-folk singer Noelene Rich, Sherry grew up on
------beautiful Bribie Island in Queensland, often joining her Mum onstage singing harmonies
------and playing ukulele from a young age. Later, she played bass in her high school band
------‘Obscure Alternatives’, which also featured some guy named Keith Urban.
------As a teen, Sherry's love of painting and punk rock led to a 4-year Art College interlude
------in Brisbane. At the same time, Sherry and brother Rusty discovered their Mother’s
------country music vinyl collection and were inspired to form the country/rockabilly band
------‘Cactus Fever’.
------Soon after they headed south to Melbourne with guitar cases full of dreams to work as the duo
------‘Rusty and Sherry-Sue’.
------When Rusty ran off to join a barbershop quartet, Sherry formed the infamous female
------rock foursome Girl Monstar who topped the independent charts with their two singles
------on tasty coloured vinyl – ‘He’s Hell/Surfing on a Wave of Love’ and ‘Joe Cool’.
------They performed as the opening act for legendary bands such as The Ramones,
------The Buzzcocks, Skid Row, The Divinyls, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Hard Ons, The Celibate Rifles,
------The Lime Spiders and Skyhooks, and were a vital part of the Australian independent
------pub rock scene.
------Girl Monstar released their LP Monstereo Delicioso in 1992 and toured constantly from 1988–92
------before going out with a bang at the first ‘Big Day Out’ in Melbourne in 1992.
------Sherry’s next band ‘The Grievous Angels’ mixed up a country-rock cocktail and worked hard
------as a live act attracting a considerable following. A song on her first EP about the death
------of Kurt Cobain entitled ‘Beautiful Talented and Dead’ was widely played on radio and heralded
------her coming of age as a respected songwriter. In 1996 she signed with BMG music publishing.
------On her first trip to the US in 1997, Sherry met members of alt-country darlings ‘Wilco’ in Nashville
------and recorded the album ‘Sherry Rich and Courtesy Move’ which included songs written with
------Paul Kelly, Michael Thomas and Garth Porter. The following year she paired up with Australian
------guitar-slinger Ashley Naylor on the critically applauded paisley-underground project ‘The Grapes’
------before touring Europe with future husband, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Rick Plant,
------then returning to live and work in Nashville.
------Since 2000 Sherry has been actively writing and performing in the US and her adopted home
------town of Melbourne with a long list of superlative musicians including: Jim Lauderdale,
------Amy Rigby,Tim Carroll, Will Kimbrough, Fred Eaglesmith, Tammy Rogers, Gwil Owen,
------Bob Di Piero, Jay Bennett, John Stirratt, Rick Plant, Susan Shaw, Shane O’Mara, Rosie Flores,
------Ken Coomer, Dan Brodie, Walt Wilkins and Buddy Miller.
------She is currently signed to BUG MUSIC publishing with songs from her extensive catalogue
------featured in US TV and movie soundtracks and recorded by other artists from Finland to Texas.
------Check out ‘Other Projects’ for the word on Sherry’s varied creative pursuits in music,
------art and writing.

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