the moodists were formed as a rock group in melbourne late in 1980 after three members of adelaide-based punk band, the sputniks, had relocated there: dave graney on lead vocals, clare moore on drums, and steve miller on guitar; they were joined by steven carmen on bass guitar. the band were signed by bruce milne and greta moon to their au go go label in 1981, and carmen was replaced on bass guitar by chris walsh (ex-the negatives).