Noiseworks
Encyclopedia
Noiseworks is an Australian rock
band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi
, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley
and lead vocalist Jon Stevens
. They had four Australian Top 10 albums, Noiseworks
(No. 6, 1987), Touch (No. 5, 1988), Love Versus Money
(No. 1, 1991) and Greatest Hits (No. 4, 1992). They produced three Top 10 singles, "Take Me Back", "Touch" and "Hot Chilli Woman" before disbanding in 1992. Reunion tours occurred in 1999, 2004, 2007–2008 and 2011.
-born pop singer Jon Stevens
had released a solo album and several hit singles (including a duet with Sharon O'Neill
) before relocating to Sydney in 1981. Stevens recorded a self-titled album for the Big Time label, two singles were issued but neither were successful. In 1983, Stevens formed The Change with guitarist Stuart Fraser, who had played in 1970s hard rock act Blackfeather
(later called Feather) and then with fellow member Swanee
. Bass player Steve Balbi
, who was a member of Kevin Borich Express
and then Rose Tattoo
, played with The Change on their 1984 single "Forever Young". The following year, Stevens and Fraser hired Balbi and drummer Kevin Nicol (ex-Dial X). United States-born Justin Stanley
was Balbi's song writing partner and joined the group in 1986, the band was renamed as Noiseworks.
Singles Chart. "Take Me Back" was more successful, making No. 7, and became one of the band's best known songs.
On 20 July 1987 they released their debut self-titled album, Noiseworks
, which was produced by Mark Opitz
(The Angels
, Cold Chisel
)and engineered by Alan Wright, INXS, Icehouse, Ratt. It peaked at No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. "Love Somebody" and "Welcome to the World" were also lifted from the album, but neither made the Top 40. Noiseworks sold more than 210,000 copies (3× platinum) in Australia. "Burning Feeling" was released as the album's fifth single in early 1988, which failed to chart.
On 11 November 1988, their second album Touch was released and debuted at No. 5 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Albums Chart
. The album was produced by Chris Kimsey
(The Rolling Stones
) and Noiseworks.Engineered by Al Wright Hoodoo Gurus, Jimmy Barnes, Divinyls The title track preceded it as the first single, peaking at No. 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Subsequent singles "Voice of Reason", "Simple Man" and "In My Youth" failed to make the Top 40. Nevertheless, Noiseworks was now one of Australia's most popular live rock acts.
The third album, Love Versus Money
, had production started by Noiseworks but was initially rejected by their new label, Sony
. Sony brought in Randy Jackson
to assist in the album's production. Love Versus Money featured guest appearances by Michael Hutchence
of INXS
, Vika and Linda Bull
and Penny Ford
of the techno
group Snap!
. The first two singles, "Freedom" and "Miles and Miles" were moderate hits, but the third, the hard-rocking "Hot Chilli Woman", reached No. 7 and propelled the album to the top of the chart when it was released on 5 July 1991. Late in the year, a fourth single "R.I.P. (Millie)", a tribute to Stevens' mother who had recently died from cancer
, was also released.
Stevens joined the cast of the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar
in early 1992 in the role of Judas
. Noiseworks disbanded following a final show in Sydney in March 1992. Later that year, the Greatest Hits compilation appeared, featuring a cover of The Beatles hit "Let It Be
" which was released as a single. It had been recorded live at their last performance. The compilation climbed to No. 4 nationally.
(Stanley's wife). By 1997, Balbi had formed another band, Universe. Stanley and Costa returned to the US.
Stevens returned to his solo career and released further albums; he appeared as the host of the reality TV show The Resort. In 1999, Fraser, Nicol and Stevens reformed Noiseworks (as Noiseworks II) with Chris Becker on bass guitar and Barbara Griffin on keyboards and toured Australia. In 2000 Stevens joined INXS
, initially as a touring vocalist, but after being officially installed as a band member in October 2002 he left the band a year later. A single released by this version of the group, "I Get Up
", was unsuccessful.
Noiseworks reformed in September 2007, with Scott Aplin on keyboards in place of Stanley, for a national tour with The Choirboys
and Balbi's project Move Trees. In December, Stevens announced that Noiseworks planned to return to the studio in 2008 to record their first studio album together in sixteen years. A new album has been hinted in 2011. Jon Stevens and the original Noiseworks band members featured on the Red Hot Summer Tour of NSW (in early May 2011) alongside Jimmy Barnes and Thirsty Merc.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi played bass in the hit-making Australian band Noiseworks, and was also in Electric Hippies along with fellow Noiseworks member Justin Stanley. Prior to Noiseworks, he was in Rose Tattoo, and prior to Rose Tattoo was in a band with his cousins called The Apaches. They performed 'Fox on...
, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley
Justin Stanley
Justin Stanley is an Australian born, initially Sydney based musician/producer who has worked with The Vines, Beck, Holidays On Ice, Daniel Merriweather and others. He is the lead guitarist of Wounded Cougar...
and lead vocalist Jon Stevens
Jon Stevens
Jon Stevens is a New Zealand-born singer of Maori descent, now an Australian citizen. Stevens is the brother of New Zealand Idol judge Frankie Stevens....
. They had four Australian Top 10 albums, Noiseworks
Noiseworks (album)
- Charts :- Personnel :* Steve Balbi - bass* Stuart Fraser - guitar* Kevin Nicol - drums* Justin Stanley - keyboards* Jon Stevens - vocals- Credits :* Mastering - Leon Zervos* Engineer - Alan Wright...
(No. 6, 1987), Touch (No. 5, 1988), Love Versus Money
Love versus Money
Love versus Money was the third and most commercially successful album for Australian rock band Noiseworks. It contained the Top 10 hit "Hot Chilli Woman" and the Top 20 single "Miles And Miles"....
(No. 1, 1991) and Greatest Hits (No. 4, 1992). They produced three Top 10 singles, "Take Me Back", "Touch" and "Hot Chilli Woman" before disbanding in 1992. Reunion tours occurred in 1999, 2004, 2007–2008 and 2011.
Formation
New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born pop singer Jon Stevens
Jon Stevens
Jon Stevens is a New Zealand-born singer of Maori descent, now an Australian citizen. Stevens is the brother of New Zealand Idol judge Frankie Stevens....
had released a solo album and several hit singles (including a duet with Sharon O'Neill
Sharon O'Neill
-Albums:*1979 - This Heart This Song*1980 - Sharon O'Neill*1980 - Words*1981 - Maybe*1983 - Foreign Affairs*1983 - Smash Palace *1984 - So Far - The Best 14...
) before relocating to Sydney in 1981. Stevens recorded a self-titled album for the Big Time label, two singles were issued but neither were successful. In 1983, Stevens formed The Change with guitarist Stuart Fraser, who had played in 1970s hard rock act Blackfeather
Blackfeather
Blackfeather was an Australian rock group in the 1970s. The group had many members and went through two major incarnations - the earlier heavy rock version of the group, which recorded the album At The Mountains of Madness and the hit single "Seasons of Change", and the later piano-based lineup...
(later called Feather) and then with fellow member Swanee
Swanee
Swanee may refer to:* "Swanee", a song by George Gershwin and Irving Caesar; made popular by Al Jolson* Suwanee River, misspelled by Stephen Foster in writing "Old Folks at Home".* Swanee , an Australian rock singer...
. Bass player Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi played bass in the hit-making Australian band Noiseworks, and was also in Electric Hippies along with fellow Noiseworks member Justin Stanley. Prior to Noiseworks, he was in Rose Tattoo, and prior to Rose Tattoo was in a band with his cousins called The Apaches. They performed 'Fox on...
, who was a member of Kevin Borich Express
Kevin Borich
Kevin Nicholas Borich is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and then Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
, played with The Change on their 1984 single "Forever Young". The following year, Stevens and Fraser hired Balbi and drummer Kevin Nicol (ex-Dial X). United States-born Justin Stanley
Justin Stanley
Justin Stanley is an Australian born, initially Sydney based musician/producer who has worked with The Vines, Beck, Holidays On Ice, Daniel Merriweather and others. He is the lead guitarist of Wounded Cougar...
was Balbi's song writing partner and joined the group in 1986, the band was renamed as Noiseworks.
History
Noiseworks was formed in Sydney with the line up of Steve Balbi on bass guitar and backing vocals; Stuart Fraser on guitar and backing vocals; Kevin Nicol on drums; Justin Stanley on keyboards, harmonica and backing vocals; and Jon Stevens on lead vocals. After quickly establishing a solid following on Sydney's pub rock circuit, Noiseworks was signed by CBS. Their first single, "No Lies", reached the Top 40 on the Kent Music ReportKent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Singles Chart. "Take Me Back" was more successful, making No. 7, and became one of the band's best known songs.
On 20 July 1987 they released their debut self-titled album, Noiseworks
Noiseworks (album)
- Charts :- Personnel :* Steve Balbi - bass* Stuart Fraser - guitar* Kevin Nicol - drums* Justin Stanley - keyboards* Jon Stevens - vocals- Credits :* Mastering - Leon Zervos* Engineer - Alan Wright...
, which was produced by Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz
Mark Opitz, started his career with ABC TV in Sydney in the 1970’s and has since gone on to work with many of the great Australian musicians that have graced both the Australian and international music charts for the past 25 years....
(The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
)and engineered by Alan Wright, INXS, Icehouse, Ratt. It peaked at No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. "Love Somebody" and "Welcome to the World" were also lifted from the album, but neither made the Top 40. Noiseworks sold more than 210,000 copies (3× platinum) in Australia. "Burning Feeling" was released as the album's fifth single in early 1988, which failed to chart.
On 11 November 1988, their second album Touch was released and debuted at No. 5 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
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...
(ARIA) Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
. The album was produced by Chris Kimsey
Chris Kimsey
Christopher Kenneth Kimsey is a record producer, mixer and musician most famous for having co-produced The Rolling Stones' Undercover and Steel Wheels albums...
(The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
) and Noiseworks.Engineered by Al Wright Hoodoo Gurus, Jimmy Barnes, Divinyls The title track preceded it as the first single, peaking at No. 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Subsequent singles "Voice of Reason", "Simple Man" and "In My Youth" failed to make the Top 40. Nevertheless, Noiseworks was now one of Australia's most popular live rock acts.
The third album, Love Versus Money
Love versus Money
Love versus Money was the third and most commercially successful album for Australian rock band Noiseworks. It contained the Top 10 hit "Hot Chilli Woman" and the Top 20 single "Miles And Miles"....
, had production started by Noiseworks but was initially rejected by their new label, Sony
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
. Sony brought in Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
to assist in the album's production. Love Versus Money featured guest appearances by Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
of INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, Vika and Linda Bull
Vika and Linda
Vika and Linda Bull are a sister vocal duo who came to prominence after being asked to sing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The Black Sorrows.-Biography:...
and Penny Ford
Penny Ford
Penny Ford is an American singer. Also known as 'Pennye Ford', she is the daughter of veteran record company executive and producer Gene Redd, Sr., and evangelist/pastor Carolyn Ford-Griffith . She is also the younger half-sister of the late singer Sharon Redd...
of the techno
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
group Snap!
Snap!
Snap! is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Frankfurt-based producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has been through a number of line-up changes over the years, but was most successful when fronted by rapper Turbo B, who performed on the UK number 1 singles "The Power" and...
. The first two singles, "Freedom" and "Miles and Miles" were moderate hits, but the third, the hard-rocking "Hot Chilli Woman", reached No. 7 and propelled the album to the top of the chart when it was released on 5 July 1991. Late in the year, a fourth single "R.I.P. (Millie)", a tribute to Stevens' mother who had recently died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, was also released.
Stevens joined the cast of the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
in early 1992 in the role of Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
. Noiseworks disbanded following a final show in Sydney in March 1992. Later that year, the Greatest Hits compilation appeared, featuring a cover of The Beatles hit "Let It Be
Let It Be (song)
"Let It Be" is a song by The Beatles, released in March 1970 as a single, and as the title track of their album Let It Be. It was written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was their final single before McCartney announced his departure from the band...
" which was released as a single. It had been recorded live at their last performance. The compilation climbed to No. 4 nationally.
Aftermath
Balbi and Stanley formed the psychedelic pop group Electric Hippies in 1993 and had top 30 success with the single, "Greedy People", and debut album, Electric Hippies both released in 1994. Electric Hippies were producers for different artists including, Vincent Stone, Jenny Morris and Nikka CostaNikka Costa
Domenica "Nikka" Costa is an American singer whose music combines elements of funk, soul, and blues. She also had a career as a child singer starting in the early 1980s. She is the daughter of notable music producer Don Costa and is married to Australian producer/songwriter Justin Stanley.- Early...
(Stanley's wife). By 1997, Balbi had formed another band, Universe. Stanley and Costa returned to the US.
Stevens returned to his solo career and released further albums; he appeared as the host of the reality TV show The Resort. In 1999, Fraser, Nicol and Stevens reformed Noiseworks (as Noiseworks II) with Chris Becker on bass guitar and Barbara Griffin on keyboards and toured Australia. In 2000 Stevens joined INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, initially as a touring vocalist, but after being officially installed as a band member in October 2002 he left the band a year later. A single released by this version of the group, "I Get Up
I Get Up
"I Get Up" was a single that was released in 2003 by Australian band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Jon Stevens. It was the first new material by INXS since their former frontman Michael Hutchence died by suicide on 22 November 1997. The lead singer on "I Get Up" is former...
", was unsuccessful.
Noiseworks reformed in September 2007, with Scott Aplin on keyboards in place of Stanley, for a national tour with The Choirboys
The Choirboys (band)
The Choirboys are an Australian hard rock band from Sydney formed in 1979 with mainstays Mark Gable on lead vocals and Ian Hulme on bass guitar and were later joined by drummer Paul Wheeler. Their hit "Run to Paradise" reached No. 3 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart in late 1987. The...
and Balbi's project Move Trees. In December, Stevens announced that Noiseworks planned to return to the studio in 2008 to record their first studio album together in sixteen years. A new album has been hinted in 2011. Jon Stevens and the original Noiseworks band members featured on the Red Hot Summer Tour of NSW (in early May 2011) alongside Jimmy Barnes and Thirsty Merc.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS KMR Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
AUS ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZL RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
SWE |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
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| 1987 | Noiseworks Noiseworks (album) - Charts :- Personnel :* Steve Balbi - bass* Stuart Fraser - guitar* Kevin Nicol - drums* Justin Stanley - keyboards* Jon Stevens - vocals- Credits :* Mastering - Leon Zervos* Engineer - Alan Wright...
|
6 | 37 | 6 | 43 | — | |
| 1988 | Touch
Chris Kimsey Christopher Kenneth Kimsey is a record producer, mixer and musician most famous for having co-produced The Rolling Stones' Undercover and Steel Wheels albums... |
5 | 5 | 31 | 24 | 20 | |
| 1991 | Love Versus Money Love versus Money Love versus Money was the third and most commercially successful album for Australian rock band Noiseworks. It contained the Top 10 hit "Hot Chilli Woman" and the Top 20 single "Miles And Miles".... Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... / Sony Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... (468447.2) Randy Jackson Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew... |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. | |||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
|||
| 1992 | Greatest Hits
|
4 | |
| 2007 | The Essential Noiseworks
Sony BMG Music Entertainment Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG... (88697069612) |
— | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. | |||