Iva Davies and Keith Welsh met in Sydney in 1977 to form the band Flowers, predecessors of what became known worldwide as Icehouse. They met as Iva was cleaner at a squash court managed by Keith's mother. The band built up a strong following as a live act around the pub circuit, providing distinctive cover versions of songs by Roxy Music (this is, where I think 'Hey Little Girl' get it's distinctive Bryan Ferry feeling), David Bowie, Lou Reed, T-Rex, Ultravox and Brian Eno. After signing to the independent Regular Records label, Flowers released their debut single in 'Can't Help Myself' in May 1980, which hit the Australian Top 10. This was followed by their debut album Icehouse, which reached AUS#4 on the National albums chart and became one of the year's biggest selling albums in Australia. Two other single releases ('We Can Get Together' and 'Walls') from the album also hit the Top 20.
In early 1981, Flowers signed to Chrysalis Records for European, Japanese, UK and US releases; and changed their name due to legal restrictions and to prevent confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. Their last performance under the name Flowers was on 27 June 1981 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, they chose the name of their album to become known as Icehouse.
As Icehouse, the band spent the second half of 1981 touring the UK, Canada and the US; whilst Chrysalis released most of their Flowers material under the name Icehouse.
The single 'Icehouse' was released in Europe and created some interest in the UK. It had been written by Iva when he lived at 18 Tryon Road, Lindfield, in an old, cold flat of a two-storey mansion - across the street was a dishevelled house which had its lights on all night peopled by short-term residents. Iva later learned it was a half-way house for psychiatric and drug rehab patients. Icehouse split up late in 1981, Keith Welsh later becoming manager of Australian bands Do-Ré-Mi and Boom Crash Opera.
In January the following year Iva recorded Primitive Man as a solo project, it was co-produced with Keith Forsey, who had worked with Giorgio Moroder and later worked with Simple Minds. Released in August 1982 as an Icehouse album, Primitive Man reached AUS#3 and provided their international breakthrough single Hey Little Girl.
The track was re-released in 1997 to much success on the dancefloors in Europe.
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