Added: 11 months ago
Views: 1,929
Fat Freddy's Drop - Roady
Added: 11 months ago
Views: 840
Jon Stevens was born Jon Rangi Stevenson in 1963, and originated from the Upper Hutt, nort
Jon Stevens was born Jon Rangi Stevenson in 1963, and originated from the Upper Hutt, north of Wellington. He is the younger brother by 13 years of Frankie Stevens. After leaving school, Jon had a job, along with his sister at the EMI record plant, pressing vinyl. While working, he used to sing with his sister, and they decided to enter a talent quest. At the Upper Hutt talent quest was an EMI representative and liking what he saw, signed Jon up to a contract.
In October 1979, Jon entered Marmalade Studios to record his first single. It was "Jezebel"/"Rest Your Love On Me". When released, "Jezebel" raced up the charts, reaching the number one spot on December 2. It stayed in that spot until January 20, 1980, when it was knocked from that position by his own second single, "Montego Bay"/"Sha La La". "Montego Bay" was a cover of the Bobby Bloom song.
These two hits were included on his first album released in 1980, called "Jezebel".
In March 1980, Jon teamed up with a very good friend of his, Sharon O'Neill, and they recorded a duet called "Don't Let Love Go". This was backed with "Wages Of Love" from the album. The duet reached number 5 on the National Charts.
His third solo single, "Loving You (Is A Way Of Life)"/"Honeymoon Is Over", was only a minor hit, peaking at number 28. This was followed by "Working Class Game"/"In A Stranger's Arms", which failed to chart.
In 1981 Jon relocated to Sydney where he signed a deal with the Big Time label. He recorded his second, self-titled album in Los Angeles with American session players. It yielded two singles in 1982, a reworking of "Jezebel" and "Lover My Love", but neither was successful.
Jon Stevens then formed The Change with guitarist Stuart Fraser (ex Feather and Smith). They played the occasional Sydney pub gig, and with the help of bass player Steve Balbi (on loan from the Kevin Borich Express), recorded an independent single "Forever Young"/"Out There" in 1984. By 1985, drummer Kevin Nicol (ex Dial X) had joined Stevens and Fraser, and they began to lay plans for a new band. They recruited Balbi as a permanent member, and added newcomer Justin Stanley on keyboards. He had been writing songs with Balbi. This new line-up, completed in 1986, was known as Noiseworks.
Noiseworks built up a strong following on the Australian pub-rock circuit, and in 1987 were signed by CBS. Their self-titled debut album was released in July 1987 and peaked at number 2 on the Australian Albums chart. From it came 5 singles.
The second album "Touch" was released in November 1988 and reached number 4 on the Album Charts. Four singles were released from this album.
By the end of 1989, the band had commenced work on its third album. They were now signed to Sony, and when the album was presented to them, they rejected it. The album was reworked and finally made an appearance in July 1991 as "Love Verses Money". This album debuted at Number 1 on the Album Charts and the single "Hot Chilli Woman" became the band's biggest hit, reaching number 7 on the Singles Chart. In all, 5 singles came from this album.
At the start of 1992, Jon Stevens, joined the Australian cast of the revived stage musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the role of Judas. Jon appeared alongside the rest of the cast on a CD and single from the show. The show ran for 84 nights and was performed across Australia to more than a million people, making Jon a household name.
This stint with the show basically put an end to Noiseworks. The band played its last gig at Selinas in Sydney during March 1992. That gig produced the band's final single, a cover of the Beatles "Let It Be" (Live). This song appeared on the Greatest Hits CD released in October 1992.
When the "Superstar" tour ended, Jon recorded his third solo album, "Are U Satisfied". Most people were unaware of his previous recording history and believed this to be his debut solo album. This was issued in October 1993 and three singles were released from it.
In 1994, Frankie Stevens was invited to appear in Harry M Miller's New Zealand's touring theatre production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the role of the High Priest "Caiaphas". On the strength of his highly acclaimed performance Miller invited him to do the role again in the '94-95' tour of Australia. Frankie did this to not only raise his profile in Australia, but to take the opportunity of performing with his younger brother Jon Stevens who played the role of Judas.
Jon once again travelled to Los Angeles in 1996 to record his next solo album. It was called "Circle" and was released in January 1997.
In 1997 Jon recorded a cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes". It was also the time in Australia when Rugby League was going through a change with the split to "Super League". Television hosts, Foxtel, decided to use this song as their theme song for the series.
The year 2000 saw the Olympic Games in Sydney and Jon worked with INXS's Jon Farriss to record and release the single "Carry The Flame", which became the official theme for the Olympic Torch relay. It was through this work with Jon Farriss and previous backing vocal sessions with INXS that led to Jon joining INXS as a replacement singer for frontman Michael Hutchence. He toured with them for three years as their lead singer and in 2003 he quit the band, without recording a new album. There was only one song, "I Get Up" that was ever recorded with Jon and INXS.
In 2004 Jon released another solo album, "Ain't No Life For The Faint Hearted".
In November 2005, Jon released his much anticipated acoustic album titled. "The Works". The album comprises of an eclectic mix of Noiseworks favourites and some of his more recent releases.
http://www.sergent.com.au/jonstevens.html
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Added: 11 months ago
Views: 12,213
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Margaret Urlich - Escaping 1989
Ever since releasing her debut solo album 'Safety In Numb
Margaret Urlich - Escaping 1989
Ever since releasing her debut solo album 'Safety In Numbers' in 1989, Margaret Urlich has come to realise just how much her music is a part of people's lives. Despite the fact that she was a completely unknown quantity, New Zealand born Urlich saw her first album steadily build into a major hit on the Australian charts. By '91, 'Safety In Numbers' had gained the singer an astonishing three platinum albums in Australia and a #1 platinum album in her homeland.
In March 1991 she returned to the studio to commence pre-production for her second album with English Writer/Producer Robyn Smith, the man behind her highly successful debut.
By mid year, Urlich and Smith had entered Sydney's 301 Studios to record their two songs, plus a third track written by Smith and Barry Blue. The same team had been responsible for two of the best tracks on 'Safety In Numbers' ('Escaping' and 'Guilty People'), and their latest offering 'Boy in the Moon', was to prove pivotal to the sound of the new album.
But Margaret Urlich wanted more from her second album. So with determination and sense of purpose she left Australia on a creative odyssey that would take her first to London to co-write with celebrated writers like Rob Fisher (of Clinnie/Fisher fame) who she wrote the albums title track 'Chameleon Dreams'. On to Los Angeles, she met up with Grammy Award winning Writer/Producer Ian Prince - one of the key contributors to Quincy Jones celebrated 'Back On The Block' project. She wrote two songs with Ian, and the four tracks he finally produced for 'Chameleon Dreams' have a tough, urban feel which fuses well with the more soulful sound that has become Margaret's trademark.
Back in London again, Margaret co-wrote with Simon Law and Tony Swain before completing the project with three tracks produced by Tony (best known for his work with Alison Moyet and Spandau Ballet). But despite the profusion of writers, producers and studios, 'Chameleon Dreams' is a highly focused and integrated musical work that has achieved Platinum Status in Australia and New Zealand.
When it came time for Margaret to record her third album, she gravitated naturally back to her country of origin and much-loved hometown of Auckland.
With her third offering 'The Deepest Blue', she was ready to prove just how far she had come as a songwriter, vocalist and musical stylist. But intriguingly, having spent much of 1994 living back in New Zealand - and appearing in a major concert production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' - she opted to stay a while and work where she felt most comfortable.
On 'The Deepest Blue', Margaret returns to the songwriting set-up that works best for her - her long standing partnership with British Writer/Producer Robyn Smith. Smith and Urlich co-wrote all but two of the tracks on 'The Deepest Blue' - and the resultant focus and consistency is apparent throughout the album.
"I think songwriters are lucky", she laughs. "We have a chance to really think about the way we feel - and while that can be a really draining experience, it's also fantastic to tap into that depth of emotion we all have. I put a lot of energy into every song I write. I take a lot of the things that happen to me and I try to present them in an original way".
If there's one word that crops up in any discussion of the way Margaret Urlich records, it's "control". Never one to subscribe to the image of the female singer as a brainless bimbo at the mercy of manipulative svengalis, Urlich is one artist who likes to know exactly what is happening on her albums. No detail is too insignificant.
1998 was a turning point for Margaret, with her contract with Sony Music expired, she moved to the Southern Highlands of NSW where she set up home and a new recording studio with her partner. It was at this time that that the seeds were beginning to emerge for what was to become Margaret Urlich's latest album 'Second Nature'.
What started out as a fun thing to do in a new studio became a recording project that was to last over 12 months and involve some of the finest musicians from Australia and New Zealand as well as the producing talents of Eddie Rayner from Split Enz fame.
The idea was simple, record some great songs written by New Zealanders. The reality was much harder as Margaret didn't want to record just a 'best of' album, but rather include songs that she felt personally drawn to and therefore needed to feel reasonably confident that she could do justice to them.
The list was narrowed down to writers and bands that influenced Margaret throughout her life and career. These included artists like Split Enz, Crowded House, Dave Dobbyn, Max Merrit, Shona Laing, Don McGlashan and Tim Finn to name a few.
In Margaret's own words: "This is not about better versions of existing songs as I feel that the original versions, sung and played by the original musicians are the definitive versions, and to compete with that would be futile. I guess that this album is about me having a brilliant time recording some excellent songs and learning a lot more about songwriting in the process."
In a professional career that is now into its second decade, Margaret Urlich has carved herself a distinctive niche in a highly competitive industry that has no room for second best. A serious songwriter/performer, with a touch of dance floor diva and studio boffin and an enthralling live performer, Margaret Urlich is a unique artist who has truly challenged the stereotypes.
http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/614.html
http://www.margareturlich.com/
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Added: 11 months ago
Views: 7,410
Now defunct, and sadly missed, Auckland rock-funk band. Supergroove got their big break co
Now defunct, and sadly missed, Auckland rock-funk band. Supergroove got their big break co-starring with League Legend Mal Meninga in a Burger Rings ad. The band wrapped up soon after Che Fu left in 1996, after the release of 'Backspacer'. Che Fu is now a successful solo performer, and Paul Russell now performs on the drums for Eight.
Nick Atkinson has recorded with numerous kiwi acts and has been honing his skills playing many jazz dates with his trio Foghorn, and his other band The Roughness.
Joe Lonie more recently won 'Best Music Video' for Goodshirt's 'Sophie' at the 2003 New Zealand Music Awards.
Tim Stewart and Ben Sciascia now perform with Auckland band Svelte.
Supergroove has also worked with Malcolm Welsford and Paddy Free (Pitch Black) in the past.
In October 2007 Supergroove will be temporarily reunited to support Crowded House at three concerts, in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. This reunion will include Che Fu, Jo Lonie, Tim Stewart, Ben Sciascia, Ian Jones, Nick Atkinson and Karl Steven, while Paul Russel's presense has not been confirmed by media sources. Currently, the band has not stated if this reunion will extend beyond the Crowded House tour.
Band Members:
Che Fu (vocals)
Nick Atkinson (saxophone)
Karl Steven (vocals, keyboards, harmonics)
Joe Lonie (bass)
Paul Russell (drums)
Tim Stewart (trumpet, valve trombone)
Ben Sciascia (guitar)
http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/93.html
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1459083
http://www.svelte.net.nz/supergroove/files/category-5.html
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Added: 11 months ago
Views: 2,182
To mark the anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior a group of New Zealand's top
To mark the anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior a group of New Zealand's top musicians have banded together to record a version of Don McGlashan's song 'Anchor Me'.
The recording features vocals from Goldenhorse's Kirsten Morelle, Che Fu, Anika Moa, Pluto's Milan Borich, Adeaze, Hinewehi Mohi and Nesian Mystik's David Atai & Donald McNulty.
Don McGlashan was born in Auckland, and played French horn and percussion in the Auckland Symphonia from 1979 to 1982. He was a member of From Scratch from 1979 to 1986, as well as Blam Blam Blam's drummer and singer from 1980 to 1982. His song "Don't Fight it, Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both Of Us" was named Song of the Year in the 1982 NZ Recording Industry Awards.
After a year in New York as a member of Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, he returned to New Zealand and founded The Front Lawn with Harry Sinclair. Combining theatre, song, dance, and film, the group toured extensively in Australasia, Europe, and America from 1985-90, picking up numerous awards. Together with Sinclair, and a group of Auckland performers, McGlashan co-founded Auckland's Watershed Theatre in 1990, and was heavily involved in the developing and programming of the venue in its early years.
Since 1991, he has been singer and main songwriter for The Mutton Birds, releasing four NZ top-ten albums and two top-five singles, including one No. 1 hit. His song "Anchor Me" won the APRA Silver Scroll in 1994. In 1995, the group signed to Virgin Records UK. Based in London until 1999, the band toured all over the world. Their third album, "Envy Of Angels" (1997), made the UK Sunday Times Ten Best Records of the Year list. McGlashan also writes music for film and TV, including the score for Jane Campion's An Angel At My Table (1990).
He composed and arranged fanfares and pieces for the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and wrote a piece for orchestra, choir and soprano (Kiri Te Kanawa) for the 1993 NZ Expo pavilion in Seville. Since returning to New Zealand in 1999, McGlashan has been Musical Director of Auckland City's Millennium celebrations, and has written the score for the TV drama series Street Legal, while also working on songs for a solo album and other commissions. In 2001, he was awarded the Auckland University Literary Fellowship for his song writing.
Don McGlashan maintains a busy performance schedule both as a solo artist and with his new band Don McGlashan and the Seven Sisters, comprising SJD on bass, pedal steel guitarist John Segovia (Boxcar Guitars) and drummer Chris O'Connor.. Recent highlights include writing the original score to Toa Fraser's feature film "No. 2", which won the audience award in its category at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006; Two of Don's songs made waves for other people: "Anchor Me", which enjoyed renewed chart success as the "Rainbow Warrior" tribute, performed by a diverse group of young New Zealand artists including Che Fu, Anika Moa, Milan Borich and Kirsten Morelle; and "Bathe In The River", written for "No. 2" and performed by Hollie Smith, received a lot of airplay on TV and radio. His album Warm Hand was released in May 2006, on Arch Hill Records.
http://www.rainbow-warrior.org.nz/song.asp
http://www.muttonbirds.co.nz/6discog.htm
http://www.muttonbirds.co.nz/5bio.htm
http://www.artsfoundation.org.nz/don.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_McGlashan
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 9,938
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