It was said that one of the original members Kim Russell AKA

Kim OZ was discovered by another founder member Gary

Masters AKA Gary Moonboot when he heard her singing in the

bath and promptly climbed through the bathroom window and

invited her to join the band. In addition to becoming a member

of the Magic Mushroom Band Kim has subsequently become

Mrs. Masters.

The band has had many members over the year with members

sometimes coming and going in twos or threes, although the

core trio of Masters, Russell and Guitarist Gary Twining have

remained throughout the band’s history. Initially the band

released a limited edition cassette, which was limited to a run

of 1,000 copies. The cassette idea was to remain popular even

while the band were releasing proper albums and all of these

cassettes are now highly prized collectors items

The Magic Mushroom band has also released nine albums in

the period 1982 through to 1994.In 1990 members of the Magic

Mushroom Band embarked on what was to be initially an

offshoot band or part time project if you like. This project was the

Ambient trance band Astralasia which although sharing

members of the Mushroom band were actually more dance

oriented than the Mushies as they were now known. By 1992

however, the band were devoting about 50% of their time to the

offshoot band Astralasia and were experimenting more and

more with the ambient dance led direction of that band which

has continued up to the present while the Mushroom Band

have been on indefinite hold since 1995.

Despite the fact that the band has been effectively on ice since

the mid nineties there remains a strong and highly motivated fan

base that appreciates the Magic Mushroom Band. This live

recording dates from 1989 when the band was breaking out of

the “Cult” status they had enjoyed for much of the previous few

years. As such this live recording will be welcomed by not only

the fan base of the time but also the fan base that has grown up

since the band took their hiatus.