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Powderfinger Information
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'Powderfinger' is a successful Australian rock band. The band formed in 1989 in Brisbane, with the present lineup of Bernard Fanning (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica), John Collins (Bass Guitar), Ian Haug (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Darren Middleton (Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) and Jon Coghill (Drums, Percussion) settling in 1992.
Formation and local success
Powderfinger formed in 1989 as a high school band, the original members of which were Ian Haug (Vocals, Guitar), John Collins (Bass) and Steven Bishop (Drums). The band began looking for another guitarist and recruited Bernard Fanning whom Haug met in his university economics class). Eventually, Haug passed the vocal duties onto him. Bishop later left the band, to be replaced with Jon Coghill.The final line-up was almost complete, but they decided to seek out another guitarist to replace Fanning. Darren Middleton, guitarist from the band 'Pirate', filled the position in 1992.
Powderfinger initially performed covers of other artists, gradually developing their own material.
After two independent EPs released in 1993, they were signed to Polydor and in 1994 released their first album, Parables for Wooden Ears, which charted poorly and failed to launch the band. Following this, the band released several singles and EPs and launched a national tour, appearing in Livid and Homebake music festivals
In September 1996, the band released the album Double Allergic, which was a huge success, going " Australian double platinum" (selling over 70,000 copies in Australia), with two singles, "Pick You Up" and "DAF" receiving widespread radio airplay. "Double Allergic" debuts at no. 7 on the australian charts and remains in the top 10 for over 2 months.
Rise to prominence
In 1998 and 2000 the band released the albums Internationalist, and Odyssey Number 5 respectively. These albums propelled the band to a prominent position on the Australian music scene, both reaching #1 album, with Internationalist selling over 330,000 copies, over 5 times platinum domestically and reaching European and British audiences for the first time.
Both albums featured mainly melodic rock, with vocals often compared to the band's declared inspiration, Neil Young. According to the band, The name Powderfinger is inspired by a Neil Young song of the same name.
2003's Vulture Street (named after the Brisbane street on which the city's cricket stadium exists) headed off in a more aggressive direction, though remaining ballad oriented and melodic in style. It debuted at #1 and has sold over 350,000 copies to date.
Powderfinger have won many Australian pop music industry's awards, including ARIAs for their albums and singles. The tracks "These Days" and "My Happiness" were voted #1 in the Triple J Hottest 100 poll in 1999 and 2000 respectively. They are the only group to have topped the poll twice. In 2003 five Powderfinger tracks featured in the top 100, and three in the top ten. Most notably, in 2003 they won an ARIA for Best Band of 2003.
Powderfinger have had some international success in the UK and Europe, but like many successful Australian acts have not captured the imagination of the United States.
In 2004, they released 2 albums, a live album called These Days - Live In Concert, and also a best of album, Fingerprints: Best Of 1994 - 2000. Both of these reached #2 in the charts.
In 2004 Fanning was also a guest vocalist on part two of supergroup The Wrights' cover of Stevie Wright's (lead singer of The Easybeats) "Evie" (now a trilogy). The first part was first performed at the 2004 ARIA awards. The supergroup features members of many other Australian rock bands.
2005 - The year of side projects
The band decided to take a break in 2005. Since then, members Darren Middleton and Bernard Fanning pursued side projects
Darren Middleton and his side project Drag released their debut album, a follow-up to their 2002 EP Gas Food Lodging. The debut album is called The Way Out and was released on July the 10th.
Bernard Fanning released his solo album, Tea and Sympathy, on October 30 2005, reaching the top of the Australian charts.
Powderfinger is now also a sponsor of Flipside Circus in Brisbane's Powerhouse.
Discography
Studio albums
1. Parables for Wooden Ears (Polydor 522570-2, 18 July 1994)
2. Double Allergic (Polydor 533153-2, 2 September 1996) AUS #4
3. Internationalist (Polydor 559201-2, 7 September 1998) AUS #1
4. Odyssey Number Five (Grudge/Universal 549092-2, 4 September 2000) AUS #1
5. Vulture Street (Grudge/Universal 038353-2, 2003) AUS #1
Live albums
These Days - Live In Concert AUS #2
Greatest Hits albums
Fingerprints: Best Of 1994 - 2000 AUS #2
Singles
'From Parables for Wooden Ears:'
*"Tail" (1993)
*"Grave Concern" (1994)
*"Save Your Skin" (1994)
'From Double Allergic:'
*"Pick You Up" (1996) AUS #23
*"d.a.f." (1996) AUS #39
*"Living Type" (1997) AUS #42
*"Take Me In" (1997)
'From Internationalist:'
*"The Day You Come" (1998) AUS #25
*"Already Gone" (1998)
*"Don't wanna be left out / Good-Day Ray" (1998)
*"Passenger" (1999) AUS #30
'From Odyssey Number Five:'
*"My Happiness" (2000) AUS #4
*"Like A Dog" (2000) AUS #40
*"The Metre" (2001); AUS #31
'From Vulture Street:'
*"On My Mind" (2003); AUS #9
*"Love Your Way" (2003); AUS #37
*"Sunsets" (2004); AUS #11, NZL #38
*"Since You've Been Gone" (2004)
'From Fingerprints: Best Of 1994 - 2000:'
*"Bless My Soul" (2004)
EPs
*"Powderfinger" (Blue EP) (MDS FINGER1, 1st April 1993) - Take a Light/Sacrifice (Blackjack)/Freedom/If I Tried/Save Your Skin/Lighten My Load/It's No Crime
*"Transfusion" (Polydor 859727-2, 1993) - Reap What You Sow/Change the Tide/Blind To Reason/Mama Harry/Rise Up
*"Mr Kneebone" (Polydor 579679-2, 24th July 1995) - Swollen Tongue/Stitches/Drongo/My Urn/I'm Splittin' Terry
*"Passenger" (Grudge/Universal 563939-2, 9th August 1999) - Passenger (Album Version)/These Days/Passenger (Live)/Pick You Up (Live)/Maxwells' Great Mistake/That Ol' Track
DVDs
*Sunsets DVD
-Includes "Sunsets" film clip, "Sunsets" acoustic studio performance, "Rita" audio/video, "On My Mind" film clip, "Love Your Way" film clip
Awards and nominations
Awards
*2003 ARIA Awards, Album Of The Year for Vulture Street
*2003 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Vulture Street
*2003 ARIA Awards, Best Rock Album for Vulture Street
*2003 ARIA Awards, Best Cover Art for Vulture Street
*2001 ARIA Awards, Album Of The Year for Odyssey Number Five
*2001 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year for My Happiness
*2001 ARIA Awards, Highest Selling Album for Odyssey Number Five
*2001 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Odyssey Number Five
*2001 ARIA Awards, Best Rock Album for Odyssey Number Five
*2001 ARIA Awards, Best Cover Art for Odyssey Number Five
*1999 ARIA Awards, Album Of The Year for Internationalist
*1999 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year Internationalist
*1999 ARIA Awards, Best Rock Album for Internationalist
*1999 ARIA Awards, Best Cover Art for Internationalist
Nominations
*2004 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Sunsets
*2003 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year for On My Mind
*2003 ARIA Awards, Highest Selling Album Vulture Street
*2003 ARIA Awards, Best Video for On My Mind
*2002 ARIA Awards, Best Group for The Metre
*2001 ARIA Awards, Highest Selling Single for Like A Dog
*2001 ARIA Awards, Best Video for Like A Dog
*2000 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year for Passenger
*2000 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Passenger
*2000 ARIA Awards, Best Cover Art for Passenger
*1999 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Internationalist
*1997 ARIA Awards, Album Of The Year for Double Allergic
*1997 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year for D.A.F.
*1997 ARIA Awards, Song Of The Year for D.A.F.
*1997 ARIA Awards, Highest Selling Album for Double Allergic
*1997 ARIA Awards, Best Group for Double Allergic
*1997 ARIA Awards, Best Alternative Release for Double Allergic
*1997 ARIA Awards, Producer Of The Year for Double Allergic
*1996 ARIA Awards, Single Of The Year for Pick You Up
*1996 ARIA Awards, Song Of The Year for Pick You Up
*1996 ARIA Awards, Engineer Of The Year for Automatic
Trivia
Each member of the band expresses an intense dislike for actress Winona Ryder.
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