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The Living End Information
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'The Living End' is an Australian alternative/punk rock/rockabilly band. To date, they have released three studio albums in Australia. They have been gaining success in the United States, and have recently been touring with Jet and The Vines on the Aussie Invasion Tour there. The band regularly tours Australia.
Band Members
The band consists of singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Cheney, double bass player Scott Owen and drummer Andy Strachan. The original drummer was Joe Piripitzi, who was replaced in 1996 by Trav Demsey shortly after recording the EP It's For Your Own Good, and Trav Demsey was later replaced by Strachan in 2002.
History
Early on The Living End were called the Runaway Boys, after a song/album by The Straycats.
The debut self titled album was instantly a hit with Australian audiences and resulted in six Australian singles (counting the "Second Solution" release as two because both songs received major airplay). "Prisoner of Society" became a youth anthem of 1997/1998.
The Roll On album in 2000 was a more creative work, but did not manage to achieve the status of their earlier album. Cheney later stated that he was trying to prove to critics that The Living End were not a band simply defined by their hit "Prisoner of Society", and the album showed this by displaying other influences, as well as their traditional fast-paced rockabilly music. The album even garnered comparison, by a few critics, to seminal punk band The Clash's creative breakthrough, "London Calling".
The band hit a quiet period after that during which Chris Cheney had a tragic car accident on the Great Ocean Road, rendering him unable to play for a significant period of time. He had been on the road to the house of a member of fellow Australian band Bodyjar.
In 2003, after Chris's recovery and with new drummer Strachan, the band made a comeback, releasing "One Said to the Other"/"Who's Gonna Save Us?" and getting air play once again. This was followed by heavy touring (including Big Day Out) and a release of MODERN ARTillery.
In late 2004, the band has released a singles collection as well as a DVD, which included all video clips and a "supergig", collections of the band's most famous songs performed in Australia, Japan and the USA. The DVD also features the band's history- documented in interviews and home footage.
Recently, Chris performed at the 2004 ARIA awards as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
Chris Cheney and Scott Owen have won the Best Guitarist and Best Bassist awards for 2004 and 2005, in the Jack Awards.
The Living End's next (fourth) album, called State of Emergency, has been given an official release date of Feburary 2006 and was recorded in Byron Bay after they played in the Splendour in the Grass festival. They are currently mixing their new album. The single "What's on Your Radio?" came out on November 20 2005, and debuted at #9 on the ARIA singles chart.
Band Members
Current Members:
* Chris Cheney - Guitar, Vocals
* Scott Owen - Double Bass/Vocals
* Andy Strachan - Drums
Other Members
* Joey Piripitzi - Drums (1995-1996)
* Trav Demsey - Drums (1997-2002)
* Alistair Shepherd (from AREA-7) - played saxophone on "Trapped" on the self titled album.
* Tody Dargaville (from AREA-7) - played trumpet on "Trapped" on the self titled album.
* Jack Howard - played trumpet on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Aidan McArtney - played trombone on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Jereny Smith - Played French horn on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Butch Lee - played percussion on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Cameron Baines (from Bodyjar) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Grant Relf (from Bodyjar) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Tom Read (from Bodyjar) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Jon Toogood (from Shihad) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Tom Larkin (from Shihad) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
* Gabriel Atkinson (from Weta) - backing vocals on "Uncle Harry" on Roll On.
Discography
Albums
* The Living End - 1998
* Roll On - 2000
* MODERN ARTillery - 2003
* From Here On In (singles compilation) - 2004
* State of Emergency - 2006
Singles and EPs
* Hellbound, 1995 EP
* It's For Your Own Good, 1996 EP
* Second Solution/Prisoner Of Society, 1997 EP - #4 Australia
* Four on the Floor, 2003 EP (iTunes Music Store exclusive)
'From The Living End:'
* "Save The Day", 1998 single - #22 Australia
* "Prisoner Of Society", 1998 single (UK)
* "All Torn Down", 1999 single (with radio B-side cover "Tainted Love") - #12 Australia
* "Trapped", 1999 single (US)
* "West End Riot", 1999 single
'From Roll On:'
* "Pictures In The Mirror", 2000 single - #18 Australia
* "Roll On", 2000 single - #15 Australia
* "Dirty Man", 2001 single
'From MODERN ARTillery:'
* "One Said To The Other", 2003 single (with radio B-side "What Would You Do?") - #19 Australia
* "Who's Gonna Save Us?", 2003 single - #37 Australia
* "Tabloid Magazine", 2003 single
'From From Here On In:'
* "I Can't Give You What I Haven't Got", 2004 radio single
'From State of Emergency:'
* "What's On Your Radio?" - #9 Australia
DVDs and videos
* From Here On In - The DVD 1997-2004
Music videos
* "Prisoner Of Society" 1997 (Aus)
* "Second Solution" 1997
* "Save The Day" 1998
* "Prisoner of Society" 1998 (USA)
* "All Torn Down" 1998
* "West End Riot" 1998
* "Pictures In The Mirror" 2000
* "Roll On" 2000 (2 videos made for this single)
* "Dirty Man" 2001
* "One Said To The Other" 2003
* "Who's Gonna Save Us?" 2003 (2 videos made for this single)
* "Tabloid Magazine" 2004
* "I Can't Give You What I Haven't Got" 2004
* "What's On Your Radio" 2005
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