The Fauves
Encyclopedia
The Fauves are an Australia
n rock band. Their album Future Spa
was nominated for Best Alternative Album in the 1997 ARIA awards
but lost to Spiderbait
's Ivy and the Big Apples
.
In 2007 they played their 1000th gig and in 2008 they played their 20th anniversary gig at The Espy in Melbourne. They have played at the Big Day Out
in both 1993 and 1997.
near Melbourne
, Victoria
. The initial line-up consisted of: Andrew Cox (guitar, vocals), Philip Leonard (guitar, vocals, brass), Andrew 'Jack' Dyer (bass), Adam Newey (drums). The band took its name from the art movement Fauvism
, which was characterised by both its intensity and infatuation with colour.
In 1990, the band released a 5 track 12" vinyl only EP This Mood Has Passed
, as well as a 7" vinyl only single Fireman 451 / Daughter Abroad. In 1992 the band released 2 six-track CD EP's on Shock Records, The Scissors Within
and Tight White Ballhugger
.
In 1992 The Fauves featured on a CD called 'Dress Ups' (Shock Records
) with other Melbourne bands The Glory Box
and Pray TV
(2), with each band performing a track from the others repertoire, as well as contributing one original track.
The band came to wider attention when they appeared on the bill of the first Big Day Out
national tour in early 1993. In October of that year they signed to Polydor Records
, and released their debut long player Drive Through Charisma.
The original release of Drive Through Charisma included a 22 track bonus disc, featuring early demos and some live songs. The bonus disc was accompanied by a separate booklet titled "22 reasons why a band shouldn't put an album out in its first few years." The booklet was written by the band and provided critical analysis for each track.
The computer game Quarantine
released in 1994 featured The Fauves' song "The Driver Is You" on the soundtrack. In 1995 the band released a non-album single ”Everybody’s Getting a 3 Piece Together”, a satirical assessment of the emergence of 3 member rock bands during that period.
The band released several more albums on Polydor, including The Young Need Discipline
and 1996's successful Future Spa
. It yielded considerable Triple J
Hottest 100
success, with "Dogs Are The Best People" at #20 and "Self Abuser" at #30 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 1996
. However by the end of 1999, the band was dropped from Polydor after the label's merger with Universal.
In 1999, following their departure from Polydor, they wrote two songs, "Bigger Than Tina" and "Bigger Than Tina II" for an Australian movie Bigger Than Tina, which were released on Festival
. Since then the group has released several albums independently and had success on Triple J with "Bigger Than Tina" at #50 in 1999
, and "Give Up Your Day Job" at #58 in 2000
.
The band also appeared in Vanessa Stuart's one-hour documentary
, The Fauves: 15 Minutes to Rock, a behind the scenes look at the music industry and band dynamics which aired on SBS
during September, and also screened at the Document Film Festival in 2004.
The Fauves released their eighth studio album, with Future Spa/Lazy Highways producer Wayne Connolly, Nervous Flashlights
, on July 10, 2006. Around this time Andrew Cox also contributed a humorous agony aunt segment each Tuesday on Jay and the Doctor
's Triple J
breakfast show from 2005 until the show ended in 2009.
After an 18-month break, The Fauves released their ninth studio album, When Good Times Go Good
, on September 6, 2008. It was recorded with long time collaborator Wayne Connolly
, who has worked on five of the band’s nine albums, and co-produced by Jim Moginie
from Midnight Oil
. A video-clip was made of the "Underwhelmed".
The band debuted tracks from their tenth album Japanese Engines
live on November 10, 2011 in Geelong followed by a set at Northcote Social Club the following night. Over three years since their last studio release, the album is to be followed shortly by German Engines. Andrew Cox announced on stage: "Japanese Engines
- it’s kind of the poppier record. German Engines has a much darker soul, it’s a bit heavier, it’s a bit rougher."
compilation in 2004.
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 rock band. Their album Future Spa
Future Spa (album)
Future Spa is the 1996 album by Australian rock band The Fauves. It was recorded by Wayne Connolly and released by Polydor Records in August....
was nominated for Best Alternative Album in the 1997 ARIA awards
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...
but lost to Spiderbait
Spiderbait
Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Finley in 1989 by bass guitarist Janet English, singer-drummer Mark Maher , and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004 the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart...
's Ivy and the Big Apples
Ivy and the Big Apples
Ivy and the Big Apples is the third album by Australian rock band Spiderbait. It became a double platinum selling record which reached the top 10 list in Australia and won the 1997 ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release. It features the single "Buy Me a Pony" which reached number one on Triple J's...
.
In 2007 they played their 1000th gig and in 2008 they played their 20th anniversary gig at The Espy in Melbourne. They have played at the 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...
in both 1993 and 1997.
History
The band was formed in 1988 by four school friends from Mt Eliza High School on the Mornington PeninsulaMornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
near 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
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The initial line-up consisted of: Andrew Cox (guitar, vocals), Philip Leonard (guitar, vocals, brass), Andrew 'Jack' Dyer (bass), Adam Newey (drums). The band took its name from the art movement Fauvism
Fauvism
Fauvism is the style of les Fauves , a short-lived and loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism...
, which was characterised by both its intensity and infatuation with colour.
In 1990, the band released a 5 track 12" vinyl only EP This Mood Has Passed
This Mood Has Passed
This Mood Has Passed is the debut vinyl-only release of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:SIDE A# "When Luck Ran Out" - 3.25# "High How" - 3.29...
, as well as a 7" vinyl only single Fireman 451 / Daughter Abroad. In 1992 the band released 2 six-track CD EP's on Shock Records, The Scissors Within
The Scissors Within
The Scissors Within is the second EP of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Fracture In The Sky"# "Watching Planets"# "Wilding"# "Scrupulosity"# "Ghosting The Road"# "Hell's Home Remedy"-Personnel:...
and Tight White Ballhugger
Tight White Ballhugger
Tight White Ballbreaker is the third and final EP of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Misguided Modelling Career"# "Archimedes' Crown"# "Someone Else's Earthquakes# "Why The River Runs"# "Sideshow Freak"...
.
In 1992 The Fauves featured on a CD called 'Dress Ups' (Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
) with other Melbourne bands The Glory Box
The Glory Box (Australian band)
The Glory Box were an Indie pop / Indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They existed from ~1988 until their breakup ~1994. They released several 7" vinyl singles and a 12" vinly EP, as well as a full length CD album and a compilation CD on Shock Records, Australia's largest independent record...
and Pray TV
Pray TV (band)
Pray TV were an Indie pop/Indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They existed from 1987 until their breakup in 1997. They released 4 CD albums, several 7" vinyl singles and a 12" vinyl EP. A compilation CD was released in 2010.-History:...
(2), with each band performing a track from the others repertoire, as well as contributing one original track.
The band came to wider attention when they appeared on the bill of 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...
national tour in early 1993. In October of that year they signed to Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, and released their debut long player Drive Through Charisma.
The original release of Drive Through Charisma included a 22 track bonus disc, featuring early demos and some live songs. The bonus disc was accompanied by a separate booklet titled "22 reasons why a band shouldn't put an album out in its first few years." The booklet was written by the band and provided critical analysis for each track.
The computer game Quarantine
Quarantine (game)
Quarantine is a 1994 racing/first-person shooter computer game for MS-DOS and 3DO, created by Imagexcel and published by GameTek. In the game the player drives a taxicab through a post-apocalyptic city, picking up customers and killing enemies...
released in 1994 featured The Fauves' song "The Driver Is You" on the soundtrack. In 1995 the band released a non-album single ”Everybody’s Getting a 3 Piece Together”, a satirical assessment of the emergence of 3 member rock bands during that period.
The band released several more albums on Polydor, including The Young Need Discipline
The Young Need Discipline
The Young Need Discipline is the second studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "The Driver Is You"# "Dwarf On Dwarf"# "Cheroot"# "White Boy Needs It"# "Caesar's Surrender"...
and 1996's successful Future Spa
Future Spa (album)
Future Spa is the 1996 album by Australian rock band The Fauves. It was recorded by Wayne Connolly and released by Polydor Records in August....
. It yielded considerable Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
success, with "Dogs Are The Best People" at #20 and "Self Abuser" at #30 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 1996
Triple J Hottest 100, 1996
The 1996 Triple J Hottest 100, counted down in January 1997, was a countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J. A CD featuring 31 of the songs was released. A countdown of the videos of most of the songs was also shown on the ABC...
. However by the end of 1999, the band was dropped from Polydor after the label's merger with Universal.
In 1999, following their departure from Polydor, they wrote two songs, "Bigger Than Tina" and "Bigger Than Tina II" for an Australian movie Bigger Than Tina, which were released on Festival
Festival Records (Australia)
Festival Records was an Australian music recording and publishing company which was founded in Sydney in 1952 and operated until 2005....
. Since then the group has released several albums independently and had success on Triple J with "Bigger Than Tina" at #50 in 1999
Triple J Hottest 100, 1999
The 1999 Triple J Hottest 100, announced in January, 2000, was the eighth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J...
, and "Give Up Your Day Job" at #58 in 2000
Triple J Hottest 100, 2000
The 2000 Triple J Hottest 100, announced in January 2001, was the eighth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J. As in previous years, a CD featuring 37 songs was released...
.
The band also appeared in Vanessa Stuart's one-hour documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, The Fauves: 15 Minutes to Rock, a behind the scenes look at the music industry and band dynamics which aired on SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
during September, and also screened at the Document Film Festival in 2004.
The Fauves released their eighth studio album, with Future Spa/Lazy Highways producer Wayne Connolly, Nervous Flashlights
Nervous Flashlights
Nervous Flashlights is the eighth album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.The band noted on their website: "The song 'Clive of India Curry Powder' earned us our first ever sponsorship deal when the makers of the iconic spice blend sent us a box of their products as...
, on July 10, 2006. Around this time Andrew Cox also contributed a humorous agony aunt segment each Tuesday on Jay and the Doctor
Jay and the Doctor
Jay and the Doctor are the on-air names of Australian radio duo Jason Whalley and Lindsay McDougall, on radio station Triple J.Best known as members of punk band Frenzal Rhomb, they performed occasional late-night shifts on Triple J until 2004...
's Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
breakfast show from 2005 until the show ended in 2009.
After an 18-month break, The Fauves released their ninth studio album, When Good Times Go Good
When Good Times Go Good
When Good Times Go Good is the ninth album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Underwhelmed" – 2:40# "Love Radar" – 4:02# "Fight Me: I'm 40" – 2:48# "Baby Dale" – 3:58...
, on September 6, 2008. It was recorded with long time collaborator Wayne Connolly
Wayne Connolly
Wayne Connolly is an Australian producer/engineer and musician. Throughout the 1990s Connolly played in Sydney band The Welcome Mat, who released a series of critically acclaimed albums and EPs through Waterfront Records and id/Mercury...
, who has worked on five of the band’s nine albums, and co-produced by Jim Moginie
Jim Moginie
James "Jim" Moginie is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he was a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter...
from Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
. A video-clip was made of the "Underwhelmed".
The band debuted tracks from their tenth album Japanese Engines
Japanese Engines
Japanese Engines is the tenth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Don't Say When"# "Ride On Woman"# "You're My Type"# "3 Minute Mile"# "Flag of Convenience"...
live on November 10, 2011 in Geelong followed by a set at Northcote Social Club the following night. Over three years since their last studio release, the album is to be followed shortly by German Engines. Andrew Cox announced on stage: "Japanese Engines
Japanese Engines
Japanese Engines is the tenth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Don't Say When"# "Ride On Woman"# "You're My Type"# "3 Minute Mile"# "Flag of Convenience"...
- it’s kind of the poppier record. German Engines has a much darker soul, it’s a bit heavier, it’s a bit rougher."
Albums
- Drive Through Charisma (1993)
- The Young Need DisciplineThe Young Need DisciplineThe Young Need Discipline is the second studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "The Driver Is You"# "Dwarf On Dwarf"# "Cheroot"# "White Boy Needs It"# "Caesar's Surrender"...
(1994) - Future SpaFuture Spa (album)Future Spa is the 1996 album by Australian rock band The Fauves. It was recorded by Wayne Connolly and released by Polydor Records in August....
(1996) - Lazy HighwaysLazy HighwaysLazy Highways is the fourth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves. The album has been described as the band's Australiana-album.-Track listing:# "Surf City Limits"# "Ocean Hearted"...
(1998) - Thousand Yard StareThousand Yard Stare (album)Thousand Yard Stare is the fifth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves. The album is notable for its extensive list of keyboard-based numbers.-Track listing:...
(2000) - Footage MissingFootage MissingFootage Missing is the sixth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Insert Your Life"# "Good Times Coming"# "Yo-Yo Craze"# "Ticket To The Big Time"# "Unsafe At Any Speed"...
(2002) - The FauvesThe Fauves (album)The Fauves is the seventh studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.The album is notable for its brevity and the fact that it only contains three songs by Phil Leonard .-Track listing:...
(2004) - Nervous FlashlightsNervous FlashlightsNervous Flashlights is the eighth album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.The band noted on their website: "The song 'Clive of India Curry Powder' earned us our first ever sponsorship deal when the makers of the iconic spice blend sent us a box of their products as...
(2006) - When Good Times Go GoodWhen Good Times Go GoodWhen Good Times Go Good is the ninth album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Underwhelmed" – 2:40# "Love Radar" – 4:02# "Fight Me: I'm 40" – 2:48# "Baby Dale" – 3:58...
(2008) - Japanese EnginesJapanese EnginesJapanese Engines is the tenth studio album by Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Don't Say When"# "Ride On Woman"# "You're My Type"# "3 Minute Mile"# "Flag of Convenience"...
(2011) - German Engines (2012)
Compilations
- Surf City Heart (Brazil-only release) (2003)
- Prefer OthersPrefer OthersPrefer Others is a compilation of B-Sides from the albumFuture Spa onwards. The album features four songs that were recorded as demos for Universal Records...
(B-Side Compilation) (2007)
EP's
- This Mood Has PassedThis Mood Has PassedThis Mood Has Passed is the debut vinyl-only release of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:SIDE A# "When Luck Ran Out" - 3.25# "High How" - 3.29...
- 12" vinyl only (Mar 1990) - The Scissors WithinThe Scissors WithinThe Scissors Within is the second EP of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Fracture In The Sky"# "Watching Planets"# "Wilding"# "Scrupulosity"# "Ghosting The Road"# "Hell's Home Remedy"-Personnel:...
(June 1992) - Shock Records - Dress Ups split CD with Pray TVPray TVPray TV is a 1980 comedy film spoofing televangelism.-Synopsis:Failing UHF TV station KRUD, Channel 17, is "reborn" as Christian television station KGOD. The new format is a big success but attracts an incompatible mix of fringe ministries and broadcasters wanting time on the station...
and The Glory Box (1992) - Tight White BallhuggerTight White BallhuggerTight White Ballbreaker is the third and final EP of Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne indie band The Fauves.-Track listing:# "Misguided Modelling Career"# "Archimedes' Crown"# "Someone Else's Earthquakes# "Why The River Runs"# "Sideshow Freak"...
(Oct 1992) - Shock Records
Singles
- Fireman 451 / Daughter Abroad - 7" vinyl only (Oct 1990)
- Thin Body Thin Body - Polydor Records (Sep 1993)
- Marble Arse - Polydor Records (Feb 1994)
- Dwarf on Dwarf - Polydor Records (Feb 1995)
- Caesar's Surrender - Polydor Records (May 1995)
- Everybody's Getting A 3 Piece Together - Polydor Records (Oct 1995)
- Dogs Are The Best People - Polydor Records (June 1996)
- Self Abuser - Polydor Records (Oct 1996)
- Don't Get Death Threats Anymore - Polydor Records (Feb 1997)
- Sunbury '97 - Polydor Records (Nov 1997)
- Surf City Limits - Polydor Records (May 1998)
- Charles Atlas Way - Polydor Records (July 1998)
- Kickin' On - Polydor Records (November 1998)
- Bigger Than Tina - Festival Records (Oct 1999)
- Give Up Your Day Job - Shock Records (June 2000)
- Celebrate The Failure - Shock Records (Sep 2000)
- Medium Pacer - Shock Records (Nov 2000)
- Good Times Coming - Shock Records (? 2002) (pulled)
Compilations
The Fauves had a track entitled "Get Fucked" on the Rock Against HowardRock Against Howard
Rock Against Howard is an Australian compilation CD featuring anti-Coalition musicians, released in 2004. The project hoped to inspire young voters to turn out in federal elections that year to vote against then-Prime Minister John Howard, but Howard's party prevailed all the same.Rock Against...
compilation in 2004.
External links
- The Fauves - official site
- The Fauves fansite - features a comprehensive bio, rare videos, mp3s, press clippings, and more
- Webcuts - Essay on "Everybody's Getting a Three Piece together" and interview with Andrew Cox
- The Fauves, dBmagazine