The Feelers
Encyclopedia
The Feelers are a New Zealand
rock
band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch
by James Reid (singer/guitarist), Matthew Thomas (bass) and Hamish Gee (drums).
. The album went to number 1 in New Zealand in September 1998, and became the second biggest selling album in the country that year. An instrumental version of single "Pressure Man" featured in 1999 American flop Drop Dead Gorgeous during Kirsten Dunst's tap-dancing act. At the 1999 New Zealand Music Awards
Supersystem won Album of the Year, Song Writer of the Year (James Reid), Band of the Year, and Producer of the Year (Malcolm Welsford
) . James Reid was also awarded the most played song on New Zealand Radio two years running, with "Supersystem" 1998 and "Venus" the following year.
After extensive touring the band started work on their next album, recording demos with Des Broadbery before starting production with British producer Gil Norton
. Released in 2001, Communicate
debuted at Number 1.
2003 album Playground Battle
, was seen by the band as a new direction. Hitting the number 1 spot again, the album earned James Reid his third award for the APRA most played song on New Zealand Radio .
After further touring around Australasia, USA and Europe, the band started on their fourth album, One World
. Released on 13 November 2006, the self-produced album debuted at number one on the New Zealand Album Charts, and also went Platinum in its first week of release, their fourth album to hit the number 1 slot. This album is viewed by some as their best work to date, showing diverse directions.
In July 2008, The Feelers played a sellout show at the Octagon in Dunedin before an All Blacks vs South Africa test match at Carisbrook. They performed two new songs, "Beautiful Feeling" and "Narrow Lanes". That October The Feelers embarked on a national "Heartland" Tour, playing acoustic shows in 18 small towns away from the cities, as a way of saying thanks to those who had supported them over their first ten years.
The Feelers released greatest hits album The Feelers: The Best: '98-'08 in November 2008, which included new songs one of them called "Beautiful Feeling". In October 2009 the album earned The Feelers a Tui in the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards for the highest selling album.
In an interview that December with the Sunrise breakfast show
about their "Best of" release in December 2008, Reid was asked "will we see another ten years of The Feelers?", Reid replied, "Oh Easily!"
In May 2009 The Feelers announced that a new album was in production. In September they released details of a competition with MasterCard, where two winners would fly to the Cook Islands, and sing and appear in the video of their single "Blue Skies". In an interview with radio station The Rock FM
from Rarotonga that October, The Feelers mentioned that the new album would not be released for several months, but the album did not appear. After extended delays, a new album was finally announced for release in August 2011.
In November 2009 the Feelers announced an annual summer tour, adding an as yet unreleased song to their live gigs, "Open Up The Ground".
In March 2010 the band released a cover version of Jesus Jones
hit Right Here, Right Now
as the anthem to the 2011 Rugby World Cup advertising campaign. The New Zealand Herald
wrote that the announcement had been "widely panned by New Zealanders posting on the social networking site Twitter", though the newspaper added that some had expressed relief that The Feelers had been chosen, over other Kiwi bands.
In 2011 the band released the album 'Hope Nature Forgives'.
James Reid's brother is singer-songwriter Donald Reid. Matt Thomas' brother is Gareth Thomas, keyboardist in New Zealand
band Goodshirt
.
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...
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 the early 1990s in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
by James Reid (singer/guitarist), Matthew Thomas (bass) and Hamish Gee (drums).
History
The Feelers were signed by Warner Music and released their first album, SupersystemSupersystem (album)
Supersytem, released in 1998, is the debut album by the Feelers. Since its release is has sold over four times platinum in the NZ Music Charts and is the winner of five NZ music awards in 1998...
. The album went to number 1 in New Zealand in September 1998, and became the second biggest selling album in the country that year. An instrumental version of single "Pressure Man" featured in 1999 American flop Drop Dead Gorgeous during Kirsten Dunst's tap-dancing act. At the 1999 New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
Supersystem won Album of the Year, Song Writer of the Year (James Reid), Band of the Year, and Producer of the Year (Malcolm Welsford
Malcolm Welsford
Malcolm Welsford is a New Zealand Record Producer and is best known for his work with Shihad, The Feelers and Supergroove.-Early career:Welsford's professional recording career began in 1984 at a small largely unknown Studio called Frontier Studios, Wellington New Zealand...
) . James Reid was also awarded the most played song on New Zealand Radio two years running, with "Supersystem" 1998 and "Venus" the following year.
After extensive touring the band started work on their next album, recording demos with Des Broadbery before starting production with British producer Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
. Released in 2001, Communicate
Communicate (album)
Communicate, released on 12 October 2001, is the second album by New Zealand rock band The Feelers. Singles include "Communicate", "As Good As It Gets", "Astronaut", "Fishing for Lisa", "The Web" and "Anniversary"...
debuted at Number 1.
2003 album Playground Battle
Playground Battle
Playground Battle is the third album by New Zealand Rock Band The Feelers. It includes the number-one hits: "Larger Than Life" and "The Fear". Other singles include "Playground Battle", "Supernova" and "Stand Up"...
, was seen by the band as a new direction. Hitting the number 1 spot again, the album earned James Reid his third award for the APRA most played song on New Zealand Radio .
After further touring around Australasia, USA and Europe, the band started on their fourth album, One World
One World (The Feelers album)
One World is the fourth album released by New Zealand rock band The Feelers. It was released on 13 November 2006 and debuted at number one. The first single from the album, "One World" , debuted at number 33 on the New Zealand singles chart....
. Released on 13 November 2006, the self-produced album debuted at number one on the New Zealand Album Charts, and also went Platinum in its first week of release, their fourth album to hit the number 1 slot. This album is viewed by some as their best work to date, showing diverse directions.
In July 2008, The Feelers played a sellout show at the Octagon in Dunedin before an All Blacks vs South Africa test match at Carisbrook. They performed two new songs, "Beautiful Feeling" and "Narrow Lanes". That October The Feelers embarked on a national "Heartland" Tour, playing acoustic shows in 18 small towns away from the cities, as a way of saying thanks to those who had supported them over their first ten years.
The Feelers released greatest hits album The Feelers: The Best: '98-'08 in November 2008, which included new songs one of them called "Beautiful Feeling". In October 2009 the album earned The Feelers a Tui in the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards for the highest selling album.
In an interview that December with the Sunrise breakfast show
Sunrise (New Zealand TV program)
Sunrise was a New Zealand breakfast television news and current affairs show which was broadcast live on TV3. It aired from 7.00am to 9.00am weekdays, and the show featured all the latest current affairs, News, Sport, Business and Weather...
about their "Best of" release in December 2008, Reid was asked "will we see another ten years of The Feelers?", Reid replied, "Oh Easily!"
In May 2009 The Feelers announced that a new album was in production. In September they released details of a competition with MasterCard, where two winners would fly to the Cook Islands, and sing and appear in the video of their single "Blue Skies". In an interview with radio station The Rock FM
The Rock (New Zealand)
The Rock is a New Zealand rock music radio station. It currently holds the #1 ratings spot out of the music stations nationwide. The station is known to broadcast material of a controversial nature, and The Rock has in the past had some issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority with a number...
from Rarotonga that October, The Feelers mentioned that the new album would not be released for several months, but the album did not appear. After extended delays, a new album was finally announced for release in August 2011.
In November 2009 the Feelers announced an annual summer tour, adding an as yet unreleased song to their live gigs, "Open Up The Ground".
In March 2010 the band released a cover version of Jesus Jones
Jesus Jones
Jesus Jones are a British rock band. The Wiltshire-based group, formed in late 1988, recorded and performed in the late 1980s, throughout the 1990s, and into the 2000s. They are best remembered for their track, "Right Here, Right Now", an international hit and subsequently globally appropriated for...
hit Right Here, Right Now
Right Here, Right Now (Jesus Jones song)
"Right Here, Right Now" is a song written by Mike Edwards and recorded by the British band Jesus Jones from the album, Doubt. A single was released in September 1990, peaking at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart...
as the anthem to the 2011 Rugby World Cup advertising campaign. The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
wrote that the announcement had been "widely panned by New Zealanders posting on the social networking site Twitter", though the newspaper added that some had expressed relief that The Feelers had been chosen, over other Kiwi bands.
In 2011 the band released the album 'Hope Nature Forgives'.
James Reid's brother is singer-songwriter Donald Reid. Matt Thomas' brother is Gareth Thomas, keyboardist in 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...
band Goodshirt
Goodshirt
Goodshirt are an innovative Alternative/pop/rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Its members are Gareth Thomas, brothers Murray and Rodney Fisher and drummer Mike Beehre.-History:...
.
Members
From the band's formation in the early 90s until 2008, The Feelers consisted of the same members. In 2008 bassist Matt Thomas departed, replaced by Matt Short. Guitarist Andy Lynch, who had played guitar for The Feelers on some previous tours, was added to the line-up.Current members
- James Reid - vocals, guitar (1993–present)
- Hamish Gee - drums (1993–present)
- Andy Lynch - guitar (2008–present)
- Matt Short - bass (2008–present)
Discography
- SupersystemSupersystem (album)Supersytem, released in 1998, is the debut album by the Feelers. Since its release is has sold over four times platinum in the NZ Music Charts and is the winner of five NZ music awards in 1998...
(1998) - CommunicateCommunicate (album)Communicate, released on 12 October 2001, is the second album by New Zealand rock band The Feelers. Singles include "Communicate", "As Good As It Gets", "Astronaut", "Fishing for Lisa", "The Web" and "Anniversary"...
(2001) - Playground BattlePlayground BattlePlayground Battle is the third album by New Zealand Rock Band The Feelers. It includes the number-one hits: "Larger Than Life" and "The Fear". Other singles include "Playground Battle", "Supernova" and "Stand Up"...
(2003) - One WorldOne World (The Feelers album)One World is the fourth album released by New Zealand rock band The Feelers. It was released on 13 November 2006 and debuted at number one. The first single from the album, "One World" , debuted at number 33 on the New Zealand singles chart....
(2006) - Hope Nature Forgives (2011)