After completing secondary education, Collins and Haug attended University of Queensland, where the latter met Bernard Fanning in an Economics class – and learned that Fanning had similar interests in music, and he could sing. Fanning took over the role of lead vocals from Haug and also provided guitar and harmonica. Late in 1990, Jon Coghill – another university student with Fanning and Haug – replaced Bishop on drums, which was described as a "mutual leaving". Bishop later worked in London-based bands before returning to Brisbane where he was a member of Moonjuice and then The Haymakers. Powderfinger's final line-up change was in 1992 with the addition of Darren Middleton (ex-The Pirates) on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. Powderfinger initially performed cover versions of other artists' songs, but gradually developed by writing and performing their own material.
In August 1992, the group self-funded a seven track self-titled EP, also known as the 'Blue' EP, on their own Finger label and distributed by MDS. It was produced by Leroy Bath and Ian Taylor, recorded at Broken Toys Studios, Brisbane. The EP has an early version of "Save Your Skin", co-written by Coghill, Collins, Haug, Middleton and Fanning; it was later expanded and released in July 1994 as a single from their debut album, 'Parables for Wooden Ears'. Their second EP, 'Transfusion', was issued in September 1993, it was distributed by Polydor Records. At that time, Simon McKenzie of Time Off noted they were "hoping the major label will put a bit of weight behind the disc, but it's not as though they've signed a record deal or anything". McKenzie felt the EP showed they were "wanting to get heavier and louder for a long time but is it also a reaction against the sixties tags they've been stuck with?". The five tracks include "Reap What You Sow", which reached the #1 spot on the ARIA Alternative Singles Chart, replacing Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box". The group recorded their first music video, for "Reap What You Sow", which was directed by David Barker, who subsequently directed their next seven videos. After the EP's success the group were signed by Polydor.
In January 1994 Powderfinger performed on the Big Day Out Tour. On 18 July that year they released their debut studio album, 'Parables for Wooden Ears' under Polydor. According to Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, it "featured complex, meticulously crafted rock but was somewhat ponderous and sombre, which did little to fulfil the promise displayed on 'Transfusion". The album was produced by Tony Cohen (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Cruel Sea), which Fanning later described as the band's "dark dark days", received limited radio coverage. Supporting the album's release, the band toured heavily appearing at the Livid and Homebake music festivals.
Powderfinger supported United States visitors Pantera on that group's Driven Downunder Tour '94. Another Australian support act on the tour was Newcastle-formed band, Silverchair. Three singles were released from Powderfinger's debut album – "Tail", "Grave Concern" and "Save Your Skin" – but none appeared on the ARIA Singles Chart Top 50. Following the album's release, and lukewarm reception, in April 1995 the band recorded at Melbourne's Metropolis Studio with Lachlan "Magoo" Goold (Regurgitator) and in July released a five-track EP, 'Mr Kneebone'.
The band's second studio album, 'Double Allergic', was issued on 2 September 1996, which peaked at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified triple platinum by ARIA for shipment of 210,000 units by 2007. It was co-produced by Tim Whitten and the group. McFarlane felt this album was "more self-assured and textured it consolidated the band's position at the forefront of the alternative rock scene, alongside the likes of You Am I, Spiderbait, Silverchair, Regurgitator and Tumbleweed. The album was full of accessible, spirited rock". Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, noted "it revealed a significant shift towards accessible rock songs rooted in melodic grooves. Powderfinger's reason to be is to create songs strong enough for the band and audience to play and hear months or years down the line".
Four singles were released from the album – "Pick You Up", "D.A.F.", "Living Type" and "Take Me In". "Take Me In" was released as a video single featuring several other music videos by the group. FasterLouder, a music review web site, recalled that "when 'Double Allergic' was released in 1996, it showed the band were here for the long haul to become arguably one of the best of the decade". In 1997 the album was issued in Canada and the group toured North America to promote it
On 7 September 1998, Powderfinger released their third studio album, 'Internationalist', which peaked at #1 and spent 101 weeks in the Top 50 of the ARIA Albums Chart, it was produced by Nick DiDia (Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam). Allmusic's Jonathan Lewis had mixed feelings about the album, he was enchanted by its lead single, "The Day You Come", however "the rest of the album didn't measure up" except for "some fine tracks" in "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" and "Already Gone". Nevertheless by 2007 the album had shipped over 350,000 copies and was certified five times platinum domestically and had reached European audiences. 'Internationalist' was the first Powderfinger album to win any ARIA Music Awards.
At the 1999 ceremony it won "Album of the Year", "Best Rock Album" and "Best Cover Art" (by Kevin Wilkins); and "The Day You Come" won "Single of the Year". "Passenger", another single from 'Internationalist', was nominated for three additional categories in the following year. The band was both praised and criticised for their political views on 'Internationalist'. In a November 1998 interview with Benedict Watts of Juice Magazine, Haug said that political messages in "The Day You Come" were not something they were just preaching about, but rather were something they saw as a responsibility.
Powderfinger's fourth studio album, 'Odyssey Number Five', was released on 4 September 2000, which also peaked at #1. Entertainment Weekly 's Marc Weingarten provided a positive review and found the group "prove that there's still terrain left to be explored in guitar rock ... melancholy is the default mode … they can be as prim as Travis or as mock-grandiose as Oasis". However, Allmusic's Dean Carlson was more negative seeing the album as "little more than a slightly off-base perspective into the world of mid-90s American grunge". 'Odyssey Number Five' is Powderfinger's most commercially successful album, shipping 560,000 copies and certified eight times platinum by 2004. It also appeared on the New Zealand Albums Chart at #15. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001 the group won "Album of the Year", "Highest Selling Album", "Best Rock Album", "Best Cover Art" (by Wilkins) and "Best Group".
Two of 'Odyssey Number Five 's tracks featured on film soundtracks: "These Days" was written for Two Hands (1999) and "My Kind of Scene" on Mission: Impossible II (2000). Singles from the album are "My Kind of Scene", "My Happiness", "Like a Dog", and the double A-side, "The Metre / Waiting for the Sun". "My Happiness" which peaked at #4 in Australia and #7 in New Zealand is the group's highest charting single in both countries. At the ARIA Awards ceremony "My Happiness" won "Single of the Year", and other songs were nominated in various categories. Their tracks were voted for, by national radio station Triple J's listeners, on annual Hottest 100 lists: "These Days", "Already Gone", "Good-Day Ray", and "Passenger" were ranked in 1999, and "My Happiness" and "My Kind of Scene" in 2000. In 2009, "These Days" was voted at #21 and "My Happiness" at #27 in the Hottest 100 of all time, placing them as second and fourth highest Australian tracks after the Hilltop Hoods' "The Nosebleed Section" and Hunters & Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me", respectively.
The band's second studio album, 'Double Allergic', was issued on 2 September 1996, which peaked at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified triple platinum by ARIA for shipment of 210,000 units by 2007. It was co-produced by Tim Whitten and the group. McFarlane felt this album was "more self-assured and textured it consolidated the band's position at the forefront of the alternative rock scene, alongside the likes of You Am I, Spiderbait, Silverchair, Regurgitator and Tumbleweed. The album was full of accessible, spirited rock". Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, noted "it revealed a significant shift towards accessible rock songs rooted in melodic grooves. Powderfinger's reason to be is to create songs strong enough for the band and audience to play and hear months or years down the line".
Four singles were released from the album – "Pick You Up", "D.A.F.", "Living Type" and "Take Me In". "Take Me In" was released as a video single featuring several other music videos by the group. FasterLouder, a music review web site, recalled that "when 'Double Allergic' was released in 1996, it showed the band were here for the long haul to become arguably one of the best of the decade". In 1997 the album was issued in Canada and the group toured North America to promote it
On 7 September 1998, Powderfinger released their third studio album, 'Internationalist', which peaked at #1 and spent 101 weeks in the Top 50 of the ARIA Albums Chart, it was produced by Nick DiDia (Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam). Allmusic's Jonathan Lewis had mixed feelings about the album, he was enchanted by its lead single, "The Day You Come", however "the rest of the album didn't measure up" except for "some fine tracks" in "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" and "Already Gone". Nevertheless by 2007 the album had shipped over 350,000 copies and was certified five times platinum domestically and had reached European audiences. 'Internationalist' was the first Powderfinger album to win any ARIA Music Awards.
At the 1999 ceremony it won "Album of the Year", "Best Rock Album" and "Best Cover Art" (by Kevin Wilkins); and "The Day You Come" won "Single of the Year". "Passenger", another single from 'Internationalist', was nominated for three additional categories in the following year. The band was both praised and criticised for their political views on 'Internationalist'. In a November 1998 interview with Benedict Watts of Juice Magazine, Haug said that political messages in "The Day You Come" were not something they were just preaching about, but rather were something they saw as a responsibility.
Powderfinger's fourth studio album, 'Odyssey Number Five', was released on 4 September 2000, which also peaked at #1. Entertainment Weekly 's Marc Weingarten provided a positive review and found the group "prove that there's still terrain left to be explored in guitar rock ... melancholy is the default mode … they can be as prim as Travis or as mock-grandiose as Oasis". However, Allmusic's Dean Carlson was more negative seeing the album as "little more than a slightly off-base perspective into the world of mid-90s American grunge". 'Odyssey Number Five' is Powderfinger's most commercially successful album, shipping 560,000 copies and certified eight times platinum by 2004. It also appeared on the New Zealand Albums Chart at #15. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001 the group won "Album of the Year", "Highest Selling Album", "Best Rock Album", "Best Cover Art" (by Wilkins) and "Best Group".
Two of 'Odyssey Number Five 's tracks featured on film soundtracks: "These Days" was written for Two Hands (1999) and "My Kind of Scene" on Mission: Impossible II (2000). Singles from the album are "My Kind of Scene", "My Happiness", "Like a Dog", and the double A-side, "The Metre / Waiting for the Sun". "My Happiness" which peaked at #4 in Australia and #7 in New Zealand is the group's highest charting single in both countries. At the ARIA Awards ceremony "My Happiness" won "Single of the Year", and other songs were nominated in various categories. Their tracks were voted for, by national radio station Triple J's listeners, on annual Hottest 100 lists: "These Days", "Already Gone", "Good-Day Ray", and "Passenger" were ranked in 1999, and "My Happiness" and "My Kind of Scene" in 2000. In 2009, "These Days" was voted at #21 and "My Happiness" at #27 in the Hottest 100 of all time, placing them as second and fourth highest Australian tracks after the Hilltop Hoods' "The Nosebleed Section" and Hunters & Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me", respectively.
Powderfinger's 'Vulture Street' was released on 4 July 2003, and became their third album to peak at #1 in Australia, while in New Zealand it reached #17. Recorded in January and February 2003, it was named for the location of the band's first recording room in West End, Brisbane. The Sydney Morning Herald 's music critic, Bernard Zuel approved of "a rawer, louder, but by no means unrefined, album" with "a real energy here that has some connections to early Powderfinger, but bears the mark of a superior intellect", he felt it had Haug and Middleton "dominating in a way they had not since their 1994 debut" album. Simon Evans of music OMH described the group as having "opted for a visceral live feel, adding a real punch to songs". Middleton described the band's aim was to "get a sound in the songs that was reminiscent of things we grew up loving, which was Bowie, Zeppelin, Kiss ... that sort of thing; all based in the 70s. We wanted to sonically have that as well, so it's a very old-school-sounding record. It's all the old amps, we used old guitars and recorded to tape, of course. It's fairly organic in that sense". 'Vulture Street' won four ARIA Awards in 2003: "Album of the Year", "Best Group", "Best Rock Album" and "Best Cover Art" (by Steven Gorrow, Revolution Design). Singles issued from the album are: "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind", "Since You've Been Gone", "Love Your Way", and "Sunsets". Tracks were also nominated for awards in 2003 and 2004.
In September 2004 the group issued their first live album, 'These Days: Live in Concert', initially as a CD and followed in October with a two-disc DVD. One single, "Stumblin'", which had appeared on 'Vulture Street', was issued as a live version. In late October they released a compilation album, 'Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000', which included many of their singles from the first four albums as well as non-singles: "Thrilloilogy" and "Belter", and a re-release of "These Days". "These Days", although never officially released as a single, was ranked at #1 on the Triple J Hottest 100 poll of 1999. The album also included two new songs: "Bless My Soul" and "Process This", although only "Bless My Soul" was released as a single. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Powderfinger appeared at the WaveAid fund raising concert in January 2005 in Sydney, to raise funds for aid organisations working in the disaster affected areas. Fanning, as a member of The Wrights, sang lead vocals on "Evie, part 2" at the concert. The Wrights released a studio version in March as a single with some of the proceeds going to tsunami relief efforts. After the WaveAid concert, from early 2005, Powderfinger had a period of hiatus.
Powderfinger started recording their sixth studio album, 'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence' in January 2007, which was released on 2 June. Debuting at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart – their fourth to do so consecutively – it broke the Australian digital sales record with over 3000 copies sold online. Generally, reviewers did not rate it as highly as its predecessor, 'Vulture Street', with Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun HiT describing it as "No radical reinvention, no huge change in direction ... In a word: consistent". Zuel described it as "Powderfinger's first dull album" but the band as "the biggest rock band in the country." "Lost and Running", their first single for three years, had been issued in May, and reached #5. A second single, "I Don't Remember", appeared in August. A song from the album, "Black Tears", was amended following concerns that it could prejudice a trial over the 2004 Palm Island death in custody case. Fanning stated that an alternative version would be on the album as a result of the concerns. On 18 August that year, Powderfinger performed a concert in Karratha, as part of Triple J's AWOL Series. The band was supported by The Grates and Muph N Plutonic, and various local acts.While in Karratha, Fanning and Coghill visited Gumala Mirnuwarni, a local school in Roebourne that encourages children to stay in school.
In June 2007 Powderfinger and Silverchair announced the nine-week Across the Great Divide Tour to promote reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. From August to October that year the two groups toured all state capital cities, fourteen Australian regional centres, and included four performances in New Zealand. They performed 34 concerts in 26 towns across Australia, with an estimated total of 220,000 people in attendance. On 1 December a triple-DVD set was released with the same title as the tour with the Melbourne performances for both bands and backstage footage from the tour. The schedule consisted of three main parts, beginning with a supporting artist performing one set, followed by Silverchair and then Powderfinger playing the final set. The two bands united on-stage during only three performances throughout the tour, including Daniel Johns (Silverchair) and Fanning sharing lead vocals on a cover version of The Who's "Substitute" at a Sydney and two Melbourne shows.
'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence' was the recipient of the ARIA Award for "Best Cover Art" in 2007. It was also nominated for "Album of the Year", "Best Rock Album" and "Best Group", while "Lost and Running" received nominations for "Single of the Year" and "Best Video". Powderfinger failed to win any of these awards with tour mates Silverchair's 'Young Modern' and "Straight Lines obtaining all five. On 28 October at the ceremony, Powderfinger performed "Lost and Running". The third single from 'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence', "Nobody Sees" was released in December 2007. On 27 September 2008, Powderfinger performed "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" and AC/DC's "Long Way to the Top" at the AFL Grand Final. Their song "Drifting Further Away" featured on Grey's Anatomy 's fifth season in episode 13, "Stairway to Heaven", which aired on 21 January 2009
From mid-June 2009 Powderfinger worked with DiDia producing their seventh studio album, 'Golden Rule', which was issued on 13 November. The album peaked at #1 on the ARIA albums chart – becoming their fifth studio album in a row to do so. The album's lead single, "All of the Dreamers", was released in September. "Burn Your Name", the second single followed in December. That same month the band performed at the 2009 Homebake festival – after a 10-year absence. In late January they toured on the 2010 Big Day Out. The third single from the album, "Sail the Widest Stretch", appeared in April. Also in April 2010, Powderfinger announced that after 21 years, the group would disband following their Sunsets Farewell Tour in September and October that year:
With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can't think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date. —Bernard Fanning on behalf of Powderfinger, Powderfinger Official Website, April 2010.
In June 2007 Powderfinger and Silverchair announced the nine-week Across the Great Divide Tour to promote reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. From August to October that year the two groups toured all state capital cities, fourteen Australian regional centres, and included four performances in New Zealand. They performed 34 concerts in 26 towns across Australia, with an estimated total of 220,000 people in attendance. On 1 December a triple-DVD set was released with the same title as the tour with the Melbourne performances for both bands and backstage footage from the tour. The schedule consisted of three main parts, beginning with a supporting artist performing one set, followed by Silverchair and then Powderfinger playing the final set. The two bands united on-stage during only three performances throughout the tour, including Daniel Johns (Silverchair) and Fanning sharing lead vocals on a cover version of The Who's "Substitute" at a Sydney and two Melbourne shows.
'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence' was the recipient of the ARIA Award for "Best Cover Art" in 2007. It was also nominated for "Album of the Year", "Best Rock Album" and "Best Group", while "Lost and Running" received nominations for "Single of the Year" and "Best Video". Powderfinger failed to win any of these awards with tour mates Silverchair's 'Young Modern' and "Straight Lines obtaining all five. On 28 October at the ceremony, Powderfinger performed "Lost and Running". The third single from 'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence', "Nobody Sees" was released in December 2007. On 27 September 2008, Powderfinger performed "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" and AC/DC's "Long Way to the Top" at the AFL Grand Final. Their song "Drifting Further Away" featured on Grey's Anatomy 's fifth season in episode 13, "Stairway to Heaven", which aired on 21 January 2009
From mid-June 2009 Powderfinger worked with DiDia producing their seventh studio album, 'Golden Rule', which was issued on 13 November. The album peaked at #1 on the ARIA albums chart – becoming their fifth studio album in a row to do so. The album's lead single, "All of the Dreamers", was released in September. "Burn Your Name", the second single followed in December. That same month the band performed at the 2009 Homebake festival – after a 10-year absence. In late January they toured on the 2010 Big Day Out. The third single from the album, "Sail the Widest Stretch", appeared in April. Also in April 2010, Powderfinger announced that after 21 years, the group would disband following their Sunsets Farewell Tour in September and October that year:
With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can't think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date. —Bernard Fanning on behalf of Powderfinger, Powderfinger Official Website, April 2010.
Members
Bernard Fanning (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica), Ian Haug (guitar, vocals),
John Collins (bass), Jon Coghill (drums, percussion), Darren Middleton (guitar, keyboards),
Stephen Bishop (drums)
SINGLES
The Day You Come
| 16 AUG '98 | #25 |
Don't Wanna Be Left Out / Good-Day Ray
| 29 NOV '98 | #59 |
Already Gone
| 8 MAR '99 | #68 |
Passenger
| 16 AUG '99 | #30 |
My Happiness
| 21 AUG '00 | #4 |
Like a Dog
| 22 JAN '01 | #40 |
The Metre
| 3 SEP '01 | #31 |
On My Mind
| 23 JUN '03 | #9 |
ove Your Way
| 22 SEP '03 | #37 |
Sunsets
| 12 JAN '04 | #11 |
Since You've Been Gone
| 29 MAR '04 | #51 |
Lost and Running
| 21 MAY '07 | #5 |
I Don't Remember
| 20 AUG '07 | #42 |
Nobody Sees
| 10 DEC '07 | #51 |
One More Kiss as You Fly Away
| 7 APR '08 | #81 |
Nobody Sees (Live)
| 11 AUG '08 | #58 |
All of the Dreamers
| 26 OCT '09 | #23 |
Burn Your Name
| 28 DEC '09 | #45 |
Sail the Wildest Stretch
| 17 MAY '10 | #67 |
I'm on Your Side
| 7 FEB '11 | #88 |
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powderfinger
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powderfinger
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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