Melbourne"s Taipan are regarded as one of the pioneers of heavy metal in Australia. Drawing influences from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon - Taipan became the first local heavy metal act to release an independent EP Breakout in 1981. Their debut received favourable reviews both locally in Juke magazine and in UK metal bible Kerrang. On stage the band wore platform shoes, capes and routinely shot fireworks from the end of their guitars. During one memorable performance a roman candle fell from the wall and down Taipan guitarist Dave Zerafas" pants. The crowd thought he was putting everything into his lead solo - he was really in agony. The band went on to tour Europe and play many legendary gigs at infamous Melbourne metal night Bombay Rock supporting the likes Wendy & The Rockets, Ian Gillan and La Femme before eventually parting ways in 1987. Some 20 years later a reunion was sparked off by a Sydney record label executive who told the band he was getting queries from overseas about the Breakout EP and suggested they re-record it. Instead a revitalized original line-up hit the studio and emerged triumphant with a killer new album Stonewitch.