Art Of Fighting (band)
Encyclopedia
History
The band formed in 1995 as a duo, with Ollie Browne playing guitar and Peggy Frew on bass, with both taking turns on vocals. The couple were also in a romantic relationship at this time, though they were to split amicably later.They were joined six months later by drummer Cameron Grant, and over the following two years released two demo tapes, the first self-titled and the second named The Angry Man. Two of the tracks from the latter, "The Chorus is Suffering" and 'You and Me on Mars" were included on the Wonder From A Quarter Acre compilation put out by Au Go Go Records
Au Go Go Records
Au Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label.It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon....
in 1998.
In 1997, the trio began recording The Very Strange Year. During touring for this EP but before its release, Ollie Browne's brother, Miles Browne, joined the group playing guitar and trumpet. The Very Strange Year was released on Half a Cow Records
Half A Cow
Half a Cow is an independent record label from Australia, established in 1990 by Sydney musician and music identity Nic Dalton.- History :In 1987 - 1989 Dalton ran a bookshop in the Sydney suburb of Glebe called Dalton's Books...
at the end of 1998.
In the middle of 1999 the foursome began recording another EP for Half a Cow
Half A Cow
Half a Cow is an independent record label from Australia, established in 1990 by Sydney musician and music identity Nic Dalton.- History :In 1987 - 1989 Dalton ran a bookshop in the Sydney suburb of Glebe called Dalton's Books...
, Empty Nights, which was released in November of that year. Cameron Grant left the band in late 2000, being replaced on drums by Marty Brown (also of Sodastream
Sodastream (band)
Sodastream were an Australian duo consisting of Karl Smith and Pete Cohen . They have toured widely in Australia, US, Europe and Japan and have had national rotation on Triple J....
).
Following a move to Trifekta Records
Trifekta
Trifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, in 2001 the band recorded their debut full-length album, Wires. The album was successful and went on to win an ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
award for Best Alternative Release, beating the more high-profile You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
, Something for Kate
Something for Kate
Something for Kate are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Members include songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Dempsey, drummer Clint Hyndman and bassist Stephanie Ashworth...
and Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...
. Not expecting to win, they were famously told of their prize while packing up after a gig in Germany, on their first European tour.
The success of the album not only locally but also internationally - with releases in the USA, Japan, Germany and Taiwan - led to a sustained period of touring. This successful time was followed by a turbulent 2003, when the long-term romantic relationship between Ollie Browne and Peggy Frew ended, amongst other variously momentous events.
Their second album, Second Storey, was released in 2004, once again engendering a burst of touring both local and international. In a coup for the band, Bella Union
Bella Union
Bella Union is an independent record label that was started up by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie in 1997.After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they...
released the album in the UK and Europe.
At the end of 2006, the release of first single "Eastbound" preceded a forthcoming album titled Runaways released on March the 10th in Australia, on Remote Control Records
Remote Control Records
Remote Control Records was established by Harvey Saward and Steve Cross in early 2001, with the intention of supporting under-represented music...
. In April 2007 the band played at All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
(curated by The Dirty Three) in Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
UK, which was followed by two live shows in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Albums
- Wires (LP, HORSE008-2, TrifektaTrifektaTrifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, January 2001) - Second Storey (LP, HORSE044-2, TrifektaTrifektaTrifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, January 2004) - Runaways (LP, Remote Control RecordsRemote Control RecordsRemote Control Records was established by Harvey Saward and Steve Cross in early 2001, with the intention of supporting under-represented music...
, 10 March 2007)
EPs and singles
- The Very Strange Year (EP, HAC74, Half a Cow RecordsHalf A CowHalf a Cow is an independent record label from Australia, established in 1990 by Sydney musician and music identity Nic Dalton.- History :In 1987 - 1989 Dalton ran a bookshop in the Sydney suburb of Glebe called Dalton's Books...
, November 1998) - Empty Nights (EP, HAC87, Half a Cow RecordsHalf A CowHalf a Cow is an independent record label from Australia, established in 1990 by Sydney musician and music identity Nic Dalton.- History :In 1987 - 1989 Dalton ran a bookshop in the Sydney suburb of Glebe called Dalton's Books...
, November 1999) - In No Way Good (7" split with 2 Litre Dolby, BBQ'D02, BBQ'D Browne Records, January 2000)
- "Reasons Are All I Have Left" (single, TrifektaTrifektaTrifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, 2001) - "Along the Run" (single, HORSE043-2, TrifektaTrifektaTrifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, July 5, 2004) - "Come Round and Show Me" (single, HORSE046-2, TrifektaTrifektaTrifekta is the name of an Australia based independent record label, based in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was started in 1997 by Tom Larnach-Jones , Tim Everest and Paul 'Presser' Towner ....
, February 7, 2005) - "Eastbound" (single, RCON004CDS, Remote Control RecordsRemote Control RecordsRemote Control Records was established by Harvey Saward and Steve Cross in early 2001, with the intention of supporting under-represented music...
, November 2006)