Andy Lewis
Encyclopedia
Andy Lewis was the original bassist of Australian band The Whitlams
. He left The Whitlams in the late 1995, and went to Melbourne, Australia to form another band, The Gadflys. He battled a gambling addiction and committed suicide in February 2000, aged 33, after putting an entire weeks' pay in a slot machine and losing it all.
Blow Up The Pokies had been co-written by Tim Freedman (The Whitlams
) as a statement on the destruction he saw in Andy's life due to his gambling not long before Andy's death, and was awaiting release as a single at the time. Tim soon after wrote The Curse Stops Here, a heartrending piece describing being the 'last one' from the original line-up of The Whitlams
, and voicing his determination to survive. The Curse Stops Here was included as a B-side track on the Blow Up The Pokies
single.
A month after Andy's death a benefit concert was held at the Metro Club in Sydney to raise money for his wife and child. The event was hosted by Paul McDermott
, Mikey Robbins and Steve Abbott (The Sandman), and performers included Max Sharam
, and The Gadflys.
The Whitlams
The discography of The Whitlams consists of six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and eighteen singles.-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Videos:-Music videos:-Awards:...
. He left The Whitlams in the late 1995, and went to Melbourne, Australia to form another band, The Gadflys. He battled a gambling addiction and committed suicide in February 2000, aged 33, after putting an entire weeks' pay in a slot machine and losing it all.
Blow Up The Pokies had been co-written by Tim Freedman (The Whitlams
The Whitlams
The discography of The Whitlams consists of six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and eighteen singles.-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Videos:-Music videos:-Awards:...
) as a statement on the destruction he saw in Andy's life due to his gambling not long before Andy's death, and was awaiting release as a single at the time. Tim soon after wrote The Curse Stops Here, a heartrending piece describing being the 'last one' from the original line-up of The Whitlams
The Whitlams
The discography of The Whitlams consists of six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and eighteen singles.-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Videos:-Music videos:-Awards:...
, and voicing his determination to survive. The Curse Stops Here was included as a B-side track on the Blow Up The Pokies
Blow Up the Pokies
"Blow Up the Pokies" is the second single by The Whitlams from their album, Love This City. It was released in 2000 and peaked at #21 on the ARIA Singles Chart.-Song Meaning:...
single.
A month after Andy's death a benefit concert was held at the Metro Club in Sydney to raise money for his wife and child. The event was hosted by Paul McDermott
Paul McDermott (comedian)
Paul McDermott is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, director, singer, artist and television host. He currently hosts the satirical news-based 'Good News World' a follow up to quiz show Good News Week which airs in Australia on Network Ten...
, Mikey Robbins and Steve Abbott (The Sandman), and performers included Max Sharam
Max Sharam
Leanne Maree "Max" Sharam is an Australian musician, writer and artist. In the mid-1990s, Sharam had three top 40 hit singles, "Coma", "Be Firm" and "Lay Down" from her top 10 album, A Million Year Girl...
, and The Gadflys.