The 3Ds
Encyclopedia
The 3Ds were an alternative pop/rock band based from Dunedin
, New Zealand
, together from 1988 to 1997. The band was formed in May 1988 by
The band's name referred to the members names all starting with "D". In 1989 they were joined by another "D",
Soon after the three became four they ventured out to play some live shows. These were mainly improvised songs, short sets and a Neil Young
cover. The idea was to make a crazy, riffy, stick in your head noise, and to have fun. Three of the group were neighbours. All had been in other New Zealand bands, Stones was in Birds Nest Roys and Snapper
and Roughan had been in Look Blue Go Purple
. Mitchell had been in Goblin Mix and The Exploding Budgies and Saunders in the teen-folk band The Battling Strings. The band believed that making music ought to be about friends getting together, an attitude they maintained throughout their time together.
In 1992 the band played with Nirvana
in New Zealand. This was followed by a brief tour of the United States supporting their first album Hellzapoppin and performing at the CMJ New Music Festival in NYC. In 1994 they toured Australia and also returned to the United States in support of their second album, 'The Venus Trail
' released on Merge Records
. The release of The 3Ds music on Merge Records
had come about when Superchunk
and The 3Ds played together on the 3Ds first trip to the States. The Venus Trail tour also took the band to the UK for the first time, where they played a sold out debut show, were awarded 'Band of the week' in Melody Maker
, 'Album of the week' in the NME
, and also recorded a John Peel
session. Following the UK shows the band returned to the USA to tour extensively with Pavement
, Superchunk
, and Guided By Voices
amongst others.
The 3Ds returned the favor to Pavement, Superchunk, and Portastatic
, touring with them in NZ and Australia when the US bands made their first footsteps 'down under'. Following this, The 3Ds played two stadium shows supporting U2
on their Zoo TV tour in New Zealand at the personal request of the Irish super-group. Another tour of Australia performing main-stage on The Big Day Out series of shows followed along with many more great shows in NZ and Australia up to the summer of '97.
The distinctive cover art on the band's albums was designed by Mitchell, who is also a graphic artist. The cover of The Venus Trail was drawn by him left-handed
.
The band drifted apart after releasing their third album, Strange News from the Angels
, in 1997. Mitchell and Roughan soon moved to London, where they went on to form the Ghost Club
.
In July 2009 The 3Ds got together to play two shows at the Merge Records
20th anniversary festival held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A documentary film of the festival at the Cats Cradle is planned. In 2010 the 3Ds toured New Zealand, including the inaugural Laneways festival in New Zealand. This was followed by an invitation to play the Pavement
curated All Tomorrows Parties festival in the UK. The groups out of print albums have been made available again by the resurrected Flying Nun
label. Future plans are uncertain.
. Also an Abba tribute album. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by The 3Ds.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New 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...
, together from 1988 to 1997. The band was formed in May 1988 by
- Dominic Stones — drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, - Denise Roughan — bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboards, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, vocals - David Saunders — guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals
The band's name referred to the members names all starting with "D". In 1989 they were joined by another "D",
- David Mitchell — guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, vocals
Soon after the three became four they ventured out to play some live shows. These were mainly improvised songs, short sets and a Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
cover. The idea was to make a crazy, riffy, stick in your head noise, and to have fun. Three of the group were neighbours. All had been in other New Zealand bands, Stones was in Birds Nest Roys and Snapper
Snapper (band)
Snapper was a New Zealand indie/alternative band formed by Peter Gutteridge, previously in The Clean, The Chills and The Great Unwashed.The band evolved from the line-up of another Gutteridge-led band, the Dunedin-based Phromes...
and Roughan had been in Look Blue Go Purple
Look Blue Go Purple
Look Blue Go Purple was an alternative pop/rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand, together from 1983 to 1987, recognised as part of the Dunedin Sound.-Members:* Kathy Bull — bass* Norma O'Malley — keyboards, flute* Lesley Paris — drums...
. Mitchell had been in Goblin Mix and The Exploding Budgies and Saunders in the teen-folk band The Battling Strings. The band believed that making music ought to be about friends getting together, an attitude they maintained throughout their time together.
In 1992 the band played with 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...
in New Zealand. This was followed by a brief tour of the United States supporting their first album Hellzapoppin and performing at the CMJ New Music Festival in NYC. In 1994 they toured Australia and also returned to the United States in support of their second album, 'The Venus Trail
The Venus Trail
The Venus Trail is an album by New Zealand band The 3Ds, released in 1993.-Track listing:#"Hey Seuss"#"Philadelphia Rising"#"Cash None"#"The Golden Grove"#"The Venus Trail"#"Beautiful Things"#"Man On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown"#"Jane Air"...
' released on Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. The release of The 3Ds music on Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
had come about when Superchunk
Superchunk
Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...
and The 3Ds played together on the 3Ds first trip to the States. The Venus Trail tour also took the band to the UK for the first time, where they played a sold out debut show, were awarded 'Band of the week' in Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, 'Album of the week' in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, and also recorded a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session. Following the UK shows the band returned to the USA to tour extensively with Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
, Superchunk
Superchunk
Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...
, and Guided By Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
amongst others.
The 3Ds returned the favor to Pavement, Superchunk, and Portastatic
Portastatic
Portastatic is an American indie rock band founded in the early 1990s by Mac McCaughan. Portastatic began as a solo project for McCaughan, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Superchunk...
, touring with them in NZ and Australia when the US bands made their first footsteps 'down under'. Following this, The 3Ds played two stadium shows supporting U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
on their Zoo TV tour in New Zealand at the personal request of the Irish super-group. Another tour of Australia performing main-stage on The Big Day Out series of shows followed along with many more great shows in NZ and Australia up to the summer of '97.
The distinctive cover art on the band's albums was designed by Mitchell, who is also a graphic artist. The cover of The Venus Trail was drawn by him left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
The band drifted apart after releasing their third album, Strange News from the Angels
Strange News from the Angels
Strange News from the Angels is the third and final album by New Zealand band The 3Ds. It was recorded in November 1995 in the relocated Fish St Studios on an old 3M 24 track...
, in 1997. Mitchell and Roughan soon moved to London, where they went on to form the Ghost Club
Ghost Club
Ghost Club are an alternative rock/pop, band formed in New Zealand, and now based in London, England.-History:Ghost Club formed in 1996. Mitchell and Roughan had previously played together in the New Zealand band The 3Ds. Ghost Club have released two albums on Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and...
.
In July 2009 The 3Ds got together to play two shows at the Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
20th anniversary festival held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A documentary film of the festival at the Cats Cradle is planned. In 2010 the 3Ds toured New Zealand, including the inaugural Laneways festival in New Zealand. This was followed by an invitation to play the Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
curated All Tomorrows Parties festival in the UK. The groups out of print albums have been made available again by the resurrected Flying Nun
Flying Nun
Flying Nun may refer to:* The Flying Nun, television series* Flying Nun Records...
label. Future plans are uncertain.
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Chart | Certification | Catalog Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | ||||||
| 1991 1991 in music See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year... |
Fish Tales/Swarthy Songs for Swabs Fish Tales/Swarthy Songs for Swabs Fish Tales/Swarthy Songs for Swabs is a CD compilation album by New Zealand band The 3D's released in 1991. It features tracks from their vinyl EP's, Fish Tales and Swarthy Songs for Swabs as well as previously unreleased tracks. Fish Tales was the first EP The 3D's recorded... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... (NZ) First Warning Records(US) |
- | - | FN188 | |
| 1992 1992 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s.... |
Hellzapoppin' Hellzapoppin' (album) -Track listing:#"Outer Space"#"Ugly Day"#"Sunken Head"#"Swallow"#"Sunken Treasure"#"Hellzapoppin"#"Leave The Dogs To Play"#"Hairs"#"Something In The Water"#"Homo Necans"#"One Eye Opened"#"Teacher Is Dead"#"Jewel"... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... (NZ) First Warning Records (US) |
#4 (NZ) | - | FNCD225 | |
| 1993 1993 in music This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992.... |
The Venus Trail The Venus Trail The Venus Trail is an album by New Zealand band The 3Ds, released in 1993.-Track listing:#"Hey Seuss"#"Philadelphia Rising"#"Cash None"#"The Golden Grove"#"The Venus Trail"#"Beautiful Things"#"Man On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown"#"Jane Air"... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... (NZ) Merge Records Merge Records Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records... (US) |
#2 (NZ) | - | FN281 | |
| 1996 1996 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact... |
Strange News from the Angels Strange News from the Angels Strange News from the Angels is the third and final album by New Zealand band The 3Ds. It was recorded in November 1995 in the relocated Fish St Studios on an old 3M 24 track... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... (Worldwide) |
- | - | FN351 | |
| EPs | ||||||
| 1990 1990 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze... |
Fish Tales Fish Tales Fish Tales is a 12"-EP by New Zealand band The 3Ds released in 1990.-Track listing:#"First Church"#"Dream Of Herge"#"Evil Kid"#"Fish Tails"#"Evocation Of W.C Fields"#"Mud Sacrifice"#"The Ball Of Purple Cotton"... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FN150 | |
| 1991 1991 in music See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year... |
Swarthy Songs For Swabs Swarthy Songs for Swabs -Track listing:#"Sing-Song" - 2:19#"Bunny" - 1:52#"Ritual Tragick" - 3:15#"Meluzina Man" - 2:54#"Nimmo's Dream" - 2:41#"Grimace" - 2:03... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FN167 | |
| 1993 1993 in music This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992.... |
Beautiful Things Beautiful Things (The 3Ds EP) Beautiful Things is an EP by New Zealand band The 3Ds, released in 1993 as a 2-track 7" vinyl and a 3-track CD.... |
Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FNCD262 | |
| 1994 1994 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so.... |
Caterwauling | Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FNCD318 | |
Featured appearances
The group have appeared on a few film soundtracks in 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...
. Also an Abba tribute album. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by The 3Ds.
- (19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - Scarfies OSTScarfies (soundtrack)"Scarfies" is the soundtrack to the New Zealand film of the same name and has been released alongside the movie in 1999.-Track listing:#Save My Life - Bike#Outer Space - 3Ds#George - Headless Chickens#Doledrums - The Chills...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Outer Space. - (19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
) - Topless Women Talk About Their Lives OSTTopless Women Talk About Their Lives (soundtrack)Topless Women Talk About Their Lives is the soundtrack to the New Zealand film, Topless Women Talk About Their Lives. It was released alongside the film by Flying Nun Records.-Track listing:#Hey Seuss - 3DS#North by North - The Bats...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Hey Seuss, Animal & Spooky. - (19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
) - AbbasalutelyAbbasalutelyAbbasalutely is a compilation album released in 1995 by New Zealand recording label Flying Nun Records as a tribute album to ABBA.-Track listing:-External links:*...
(Flying Nun RecordsFlying Nun RecordsFlying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
) - Mama Mia.
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Charted | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Outer Space/Baby's On Fire" | "Hellzapoppin" | - | |
| 1993 | "Beautiful Things" | #49 (NZ) | - | |
| 1993 | "Hey Seuss" | The Venus Trail | - | |
| 1994 | "Caterwauling" | - | - | |
| 1996 | "Dust" | "Strange News from the Angels" | - | |
External links
- Flying Nun Website
- 3Ds myspace page Listen to some songs here...
- Merge Records Website