The Earthmen
Encyclopedia
The Earthmen were an Australian indie
pop
-rock
band formed in Melbourne
, Victoria. They released two albums, Teen Sensations and Love Walked In during their career (1991–1999). Love Walked In was nominated for 'Breakthrough Artist - Album' at the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Music Awards
for 1997
.
band in Melbourne
, Victoria and were influenced by 1960s pop music
and late 80s American and UK indie noise-pop. After winning JJJ-fms' national 'J-Sessions' competition they recorded their debut single, "Stacey's Cupboard" late that year with the line-up of Aaron Goldberg on guitar
, Stephen Nash on guitar, Glen Peters on drums
, Eric Prentice on bass guitar
and Scott Stevens on vocals. Nash left in December and was replaced by Nick Batterham (ex-Blindside) as The Earthmen made their first live performances. The single was released in April 1992 on the indie
label, Summershine, as well as on the JJJ-fm compilation album the 'J sessions'. Aside from Sydney band Glide, the Earthmen were the only band to make any industry impact from a pool of nearly 15 bands. Their second single, "Flyby" in August was followed by an Extended Play
(EP), Flyby and a third single "Cool Chick #59" in October. They released another EP, Teen Sensations, in May 1993 on Summershine. For United States (US) and European markets, Atlantic Records
subsidiary Seed released an expanded LP album
, Teen Sensations in July with earlier singles added to the Australian EP version.
In April 1994 they released, "Figure 8" and by May, Peters was replaced by Ben Bleechmore and Prentice by Robert Cooper, The Earthmen had their last Summershine release, The Fall and Rise of My Favourite Sixties Girl EP. Following their tour of the US and United Kingdom (UK) in July, Goldberg quit the band, and was replaced by Stephen Moffatt at the behest of the 'Black Pig' Publishing Group. The band signed a contract with Warner's
Australian label East West Records
by early 1996. In Australia they released, "Scene Stealer" in April and "Hug Me Tighter" in August, then they entered the recording studio with Batterham and Stevens joined by Matt Sigley on bass guitar and keyboards
and they used session drummer, Derek Yuen (Underground Lovers
). By year's end they had recruited Craig Mitchell on drums and Nick Murray on guitar. "Whoever's Been Using This Bed" was released as a single in January 1997 with Love Walked In following in April. The album was nominated for 'Breakthrough Artist - Album' at the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Music Awards
for 1997
. It spawned two more singles, "Coloured In" (June) and "Love Walked In" (November). The Earthmen covered Hal David
and Burt Bacharach
's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
" for a tribute album, To Hal and Bacharach
in April 1998. The War Against Rock and Roll EP, appeared in January 1999 with their final gig following on 12 February.
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band formed in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria. They released two albums, Teen Sensations and Love Walked In during their career (1991–1999). Love Walked In was nominated for 'Breakthrough Artist - Album' at 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) Music Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for 1997
ARIA Music Awards of 1997
The eleventh Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 22 September 1997 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The event was hosted by Australian actor–comedian Paul McDermott, with presenters Elle McFeast, Kylie Minogue, Ben Folds and The Presidents of the United...
.
History
The Earthmen was formed Scott Stevens and Aaron Goldberg in 1991 as a jammingJam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
band in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria and were influenced by 1960s pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and late 80s American and UK indie noise-pop. After winning JJJ-fms' national 'J-Sessions' competition they recorded their debut single, "Stacey's Cupboard" late that year with the line-up of Aaron Goldberg on guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, Stephen Nash on guitar, Glen Peters 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 ....
, Eric Prentice on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Scott Stevens on vocals. Nash left in December and was replaced by Nick Batterham (ex-Blindside) as The Earthmen made their first live performances. The single was released in April 1992 on the indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
label, Summershine, as well as on the JJJ-fm compilation album the 'J sessions'. Aside from Sydney band Glide, the Earthmen were the only band to make any industry impact from a pool of nearly 15 bands. Their second single, "Flyby" in August was followed by an Extended Play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(EP), Flyby and a third single "Cool Chick #59" in October. They released another EP, Teen Sensations, in May 1993 on Summershine. For United States (US) and European markets, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
subsidiary Seed released an expanded LP album
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, Teen Sensations in July with earlier singles added to the Australian EP version.
In April 1994 they released, "Figure 8" and by May, Peters was replaced by Ben Bleechmore and Prentice by Robert Cooper, The Earthmen had their last Summershine release, The Fall and Rise of My Favourite Sixties Girl EP. Following their tour of the US and United Kingdom (UK) in July, Goldberg quit the band, and was replaced by Stephen Moffatt at the behest of the 'Black Pig' Publishing Group. The band signed a contract with Warner's
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
Australian label East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
by early 1996. In Australia they released, "Scene Stealer" in April and "Hug Me Tighter" in August, then they entered the recording studio with Batterham and Stevens joined by Matt Sigley on bass guitar and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and they used session drummer, Derek Yuen (Underground Lovers
Underground Lovers
Underground Lovers are an Australian alternative rock band and one of the most lauded music acts in the country's alternative scene throughout the 1990s. While the band has experienced many lineup changes during its existence, the nucleus of the band since its inception has been Vincent M...
). By year's end they had recruited Craig Mitchell on drums and Nick Murray on guitar. "Whoever's Been Using This Bed" was released as a single in January 1997 with Love Walked In following in April. The album was nominated for 'Breakthrough Artist - Album' at 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) Music Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for 1997
ARIA Music Awards of 1997
The eleventh Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 22 September 1997 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The event was hosted by Australian actor–comedian Paul McDermott, with presenters Elle McFeast, Kylie Minogue, Ben Folds and The Presidents of the United...
. It spawned two more singles, "Coloured In" (June) and "Love Walked In" (November). The Earthmen covered Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
and Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.-Original version:"I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" was first recorded by Tommy Hunt in a session produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, with Burt Bacharach arranging and conducting...
" for a tribute album, To Hal and Bacharach
To Hal and Bacharach
This 1998 tribute album features songs written by Hal David & Burt Bacharach. The idea, developed by Kurt Lathy, Christa Mitchell and Melissa Whebell, was to have a number of Australian performers cover various David/Bacharach tunes, among them: Regurgitator, Rebecca's Empire, The Whitlams, Tex...
in April 1998. The War Against Rock and Roll EP, appeared in January 1999 with their final gig following on 12 February.
Members
- Stephen Nash – guitar (1991)
- Glen Peters – drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
(1991–1993) - Eric Prentice – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1991–1993) - Aaron Goldberg – 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...
(1991–1994) - Scott Stevens – vocals (1991–1999)
- Nick Batterham – guitar (1991–1999)
- Ben Bleechmore – drums (1994–1996)
- Robert Cooper – bass guitar (1993–1996)
- Stephen Moffatt – guitar (1995)
- Matt Sigley – bass guitar, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1996–1999) - Derek Yuen – drums (1996 recording sessions)
- Craig Mitchell – drums (1996–1999)
- Nick Murray – guitar, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
(1996–1999)
Albums
- Teen Sensations (Seed, 1993) US, European release
- Love Walked In (Warner Music GroupWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, 1997)
Extended plays
- Flyby (Summershine, 1992)
- Teen Sensations (Summershine, May 1993)
- The Fall and Rise of My Favourite Sixties Girl (Summershine, 1994)
- The War Against Rock and Roll (1998)
Singles
- "Stacey's Cupboard" (Summershine, 1992)
- "Flyby" (Summershine, 1992)
- "Cool Chick No.59" (Summershine/Slumberland, 1992)
- "Figure 8" (1994)
- "Scene Stealer" (1996)
- "Hug Me Tighter" (1996)
- "Whoever's Been Using this Bed" (1997)
- "Coloured In" (1997)
- "Love Walks In" (1997)