Backsliders
Encyclopedia
The Backsliders are a three piece Australian band; self described as playing "Delta blues
wall of sound
". The current line up (as of Dec. 2007) consists of Guitarist/Vocalist Dom Turner
and drummer/percusionist Rob Hirst
joined
on alternating nights by either Brod Smith
or Ian Collard on harmonica.
In 1989 Hill was replaced by Jim Conway
on harmonica. This line up of the band recorded several critically acclaimed albums including 1999's Poverty Deluxe which was nominated for an ARIA
award in the Best Blues and Roots album category.
In 1996 Dom Turner guested on the Ghostwriters
album "Second Skin". This marked the beginning of his collaboration with Rob Hirst
who replaced Peter Burgess in 2000. Since that time The Backsliders have toured extensively both in Australia and around the globe. 2006 saw the departure of Jim Conway from the band. His spot has been filled on a rotating basis by either Brod Smith or Ian Collard.
In 2002 Turner and Hirst formed the "Angry Tradesmen" and began performing live in 2007 with guitarist Martin Rotsey
. In 2008 guitarist Matt Walker joined as alternate guitarists in the absence of Martin Rotsey. In 2008 the band released the debut album Beat the House
http://www.myspace.com/backsliders (accessed Dec. 24 2007)
http://www.myspace.com/angrytradesmen (accessed Dec. 24 2007)
http://www.angrytradesmen.com (accessed Dec. 24 2007)
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
wall of sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
". The current line up (as of Dec. 2007) consists of Guitarist/Vocalist Dom Turner
Dom Turner
Dom Turner is an Australian blues guitarist, vocalist and key songwriter for the Australian Blues band, The Backsliders. Dom also has a number of solo projects including 'Dom Turner and Supro' and 'Dom Turner and the Nationals'...
and drummer/percusionist Rob Hirst
Rob Hirst
-External links:*******...
joined
on alternating nights by either Brod Smith
Broderick Smith
Broderick Smith aka Brod Smith is an Australian singer-songwriter, harmonica, guitar and banjo player. He was a member of 1970s bands Carson and The Dingoes, 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo and performed solo...
or Ian Collard on harmonica.
Biography
The Backsliders formed in 1986 in Sydney, Australia with Dom Turner on guitars, mandolin and vocals, Rex Hill on harmonica and Peter Burgess on washboard,drums, percusion and backing vocals.In 1989 Hill was replaced by Jim Conway
Jim Conway
Jim Conway is an Australian harmonica player and with his brother, Mic Conway, was a co-founder of the 1970s humour, theatre and rock group, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band....
on harmonica. This line up of the band recorded several critically acclaimed albums including 1999's Poverty Deluxe which was nominated for 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 in the Best Blues and Roots album category.
In 1996 Dom Turner guested on the Ghostwriters
Ghostwriters
-Singles:* "Someone's Singing New York New York" Virgin Records * "Runaway Bay" Virgin Records* "World Is Almost At Peace" Virgin Records* "Second Skin" Mercury Records* "Impossible Shame" Mercury Records...
album "Second Skin". This marked the beginning of his collaboration with Rob Hirst
Rob Hirst
-External links:*******...
who replaced Peter Burgess in 2000. Since that time The Backsliders have toured extensively both in Australia and around the globe. 2006 saw the departure of Jim Conway from the band. His spot has been filled on a rotating basis by either Brod Smith or Ian Collard.
In 2002 Turner and Hirst formed the "Angry Tradesmen" and began performing live in 2007 with guitarist Martin Rotsey
Martin Rotsey
Martin Rotsey is an Australian guitarist, and was a member of the rock band Midnight Oil from 1977 until the band's dissolution in 2002.In 2006, he joined fellow Midnight Oil member Rob Hirst's projects Ghostwriters and The Angry Tradesmen...
. In 2008 guitarist Matt Walker joined as alternate guitarists in the absence of Martin Rotsey. In 2008 the band released the debut album Beat the House
Albums
- Preaching Blues (1988)
- Sitting on a Million (1989)
- Hellhound (1991)
- Live at The Royal (1993)
- Wide Open (1995)
- Downtime (A Ten Year Collection) (1998)
- Poverty Deluxe (1999)
- Hanoi (2002)
- Live at the Basement DVD (2003)
- Backsliders Live (2005)
- Left Field Holler (2007)
- Throwbacks (2009)
Compilations
- From soundtracks to the ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television series SeaChangeSeaChangeSeaChange was a popular Australian television show that ran for 39 episodes from 1998 to 2001 on the ABC. It was created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox and starred Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham, William McInnes, John Howard, Tom Long and Kerry Armstrong...
- SeaChange Sounds Rich and Strange - Series 1 CD
- SeaChange Sounds Rich and Strange - Series 2 CD
- Real Australian Blues-Vol. 1 CD
- 1999 East Coast Blues and Roots Festival CD
- DIG-Australian Blues Project CD/DVD pack
Sources
http://www.backsliders.com.au (accessed 27 July 2010)http://www.myspace.com/backsliders (accessed Dec. 24 2007)
http://www.myspace.com/angrytradesmen (accessed Dec. 24 2007)
http://www.angrytradesmen.com (accessed Dec. 24 2007)