Stevie Plunder
Encyclopedia
Stevie Plunder (1963 – 26 January 1996) was an Australia
n guitarist
, singer and songwriter
, best known as founding member and guitarist for Australian piano-based rock band The Whitlams
.
, ACT
in 1963, Stevie played in bands from his late teens, most notably forming The Plunderers with Nic Dalton
, as well as playing with other acts such as The Shouties and Hippy Dribble.
where Nirvana
were playing the first Big Day Out
, Stevie and Tim Freedman
decided to form a band to go against the current local music scene, which neither were happy with.
Adding Andy Lewis
on Double Bass
, The Whitlams
began developing their songs acoustically on Saturday afternoons at The Sandringham Hotel in Newtown. In 1993, The Whitlams released their debut album, Introducing the Whitlams
.
With Stuart Eadie on drums
, The Whitlams toured extensively up and down the east coast of Australia, before returning to the studio in 1994 to record their follow up album, Undeniably the Whitlams
.
), 1996, exactly four years since The Whitlams were formed, and as their single I Make Hamburgers
was breaking into the Triple J Hottest 100 chart, Stevie Plunder was found dead at the bottom of Wentworth Falls
in the Blue Mountains, apparently a suicide.
Plunder's memorial service, held at St Stephen's Church, Newtown
in February 1996, was attended by hundreds of friends and fans. The Whitlams first album after Plunder's death, Eternal Nightcap
, was dedicated to his memory.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, best known as founding member and guitarist for Australian piano-based rock band 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:...
.
Early years
Born in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
in 1963, Stevie played in bands from his late teens, most notably forming The Plunderers with Nic Dalton
Nic Dalton
Nic Dalton is an Australian musician, best known as the bass guitarist for American band The Lemonheads at the height of their popularity...
, as well as playing with other acts such as The Shouties and Hippy Dribble.
The Whitlams
In 1992, while outside the Hordern PavilionHordern Pavilion
The Hordern Pavilion is a building located in Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the grounds of the old Sydney Showground. "The Hordern", as it is affectionally known by Sydneysiders, has been an architecturally and socially significant Sydney landmark since its construction in 1924...
where Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
were playing the first Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
, Stevie and Tim Freedman
Tim Freedman
Timothy "Tim" James Freedman is the mainstay lead singer and keyboardist of the Australian band The Whitlams formed in 1993...
decided to form a band to go against the current local music scene, which neither were happy with.
Adding Andy Lewis
Andy Lewis
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...
on Double Bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, 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:...
began developing their songs acoustically on Saturday afternoons at The Sandringham Hotel in Newtown. In 1993, The Whitlams released their debut album, Introducing the Whitlams
Introducing The Whitlams
Introducing the Whitlams is the first studio album by Australian band The Whitlams, released by Phantom in 1993. The album features a mix of original and cover songs, including songs written by Whopping Big Naughty frontman Stanley Claret , brother of The Whitlams guitarist Stevie Plunder, and...
.
With Stuart Eadie on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, The Whitlams toured extensively up and down the east coast of Australia, before returning to the studio in 1994 to record their follow up album, Undeniably the Whitlams
Undeniably The Whitlams
Undeniably the Whitlams is the second studio album by Australian band The Whitlams, released by Black Yak / Phantom in 1994. Due to popular request, it was re-released in 2001 as Undeniably The Whitlams - Reworked...
.
Death
On 26 January (Australia DayAustralia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
), 1996, exactly four years since The Whitlams were formed, and as their single I Make Hamburgers
I Make Hamburgers
"I Make Hamburgers" is a song by The Whitlams, released as the first single from their second album, Undeniably. It was included on the 2008 compilation album Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You.-Track listing:#I Make Hamburgers – 3:36...
was breaking into the Triple J Hottest 100 chart, Stevie Plunder was found dead at the bottom of Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls (waterfall)
Wentworth Falls is a three-tiered seasonal waterfall fed by the Kedumba Creek, near the Blue Mountains town of Wentworth Falls in New South Wales, Australia. The falls are accessible via the National Pass and the Overcliff/Undercliff Walk...
in the Blue Mountains, apparently a suicide.
Plunder's memorial service, held at St Stephen's Church, Newtown
Newtown, New South Wales
Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west is located approximately four kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, straddling the local government areas of the City of Sydney and Marrickville Council in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
in February 1996, was attended by hundreds of friends and fans. The Whitlams first album after Plunder's death, Eternal Nightcap
Eternal Nightcap
Eternal Nightcap is the third studio album by Australian rock band The Whitlams, first released by Black Yak Phantom in 1997.- Music :Eternal Nightcap includes typical rock songs , piano ballads , classic pop tunes , and even a Bob Dylan cover version .-...
, was dedicated to his memory.