The Stems epitomized 80s indie rock, giving it a wider currency. They are one of only a handful of bands (among them the Hoodoo Gurus and The Sunnyboys) that cracked the mainstream charts of the '80s with an indie approach.  
 
Making their debut in March 1984 playing alongside The Triffids and The Saints, The Stems released a series of independent records on Sydney’s Citadel Records, each of which reached number-one on the Australian alternative charts.
 
But it was their debut album "First Sight Violets Are Blue", released in 1987 by Mushroom Records, that received national and international acclaim, becoming one of the best-selling Australian albums of that year, despite an almost total lack of commercial airplay in those corporate FM-dominated times.

Rolling Stone named At First Sight one of the top 100 Australian releases of all time. It eventually went Gold and still continues to sell strongly today.   
 
THE STEMS - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 
30th Anniversary Of ‘At First Sight Violets are Blue’ 
 
Thursday 9th November 2017 
Brisbane Hotel, Hobart TAS
 
Friday 10th November 2017 
Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne VIC
special guests: Rocket Science 
 
Sat 11th November 2017 
The Gov, Adelaide SA
special guests: The Garden Path 
 
Friday 17th November 2017 
Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW
special guests: Rocket Science
 
Sat 18th November 2017 
The Triffid, Brisbane QLD
special guests: Rocket Science