The Killjoys
Encyclopedia
The Killjoys was a band formed in Melbourne
, Australia
, in the late 1980s. The core of the band was Anna Burley (vocals) and Craig Pilkington (guitar and vocals). The Killjoys attracted a wide following in the vibrant Melbourne pub scene at the time.
Their music incorporated string sections and vibraphone. They were formed out of the demise of another band, Wild Science. Wild Science essentially split into two different outfits, the Killjoys and Violet Town. Violet Town's members were Wayne (Buz) Hissock on guitar
and vocals
, Warren Pitts on keyboards
and vocals, Peter Van on drums
, and Luke Blackburn on bass
and vocals.
Violet Town had a very eclectic sound, inspired by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
and the Wreckery. Violet Town were featured on compilation albums on Chase Records, Melbourne Stuff and later featured on compilation records by ID Records Australia. The Killjoys up until 2001 were still a performing entity with the two core members Anna Burley and Craig Pilkington.
Luke Blackburn left Violet Town to join Sydney
based outfit The Crystal Set
with members Russell Kilbey on guitar and vocals, Phil Maher on guitar and vocals, Tim Seckhold on drums, and Luke Blackburn on bass and vocals. The Crystal Set were originally signed to Red Eye Records. Label mates were The Cruel Sea
, Steve Kilbey
, Baghavad Guitars, Jack Frost
and the Clouds
. These bands were later transferred to the Polydor label. After the demise of the Crystal Set, Russell Kilbey joined up with David Thrussell of techno
outfit Snog and formed an outfit called The Sex Industrie. The Sex Industrie released a techno version of the AC/DC
classic "Jailbreak
".
The Killjoys' first full-length album, Ruby, won the ARIA Award
in 1991 for Best Independent Release. Sun Bright Deep was later nominated for the same award in 1998.
In 2006 the band released the album Stealing Horses, the group's fifth full-length album and first in seven years.
The band released another album entitled Pearl in 2011, five years after their previous release. It is considered somewhat of a sequel to the band's iconic Ruby album, which was remastered and re-released alongside Pearl.
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...
, Australia
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...
, in the late 1980s. The core of the band was Anna Burley (vocals) and Craig Pilkington (guitar and vocals). The Killjoys attracted a wide following in the vibrant Melbourne pub scene at the time.
Their music incorporated string sections and vibraphone. They were formed out of the demise of another band, Wild Science. Wild Science essentially split into two different outfits, the Killjoys and Violet Town. Violet Town's members were Wayne (Buz) Hissock 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...
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, Warren Pitts on 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 vocals, Peter Van 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 ....
, and Luke Blackburn on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals.
Violet Town had a very eclectic sound, inspired by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
and the Wreckery. Violet Town were featured on compilation albums on Chase Records, Melbourne Stuff and later featured on compilation records by ID Records Australia. The Killjoys up until 2001 were still a performing entity with the two core members Anna Burley and Craig Pilkington.
Luke Blackburn left Violet Town to join Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
based outfit The Crystal Set
The Crystal Set
The Crystal Set was a Sydney-based Australian indie rock band formed in the early 1980s featuring Russell Kilbey , Phillip Maher , Davey Ray Moor and Tim Seckhold ....
with members Russell Kilbey on guitar and vocals, Phil Maher on guitar and vocals, Tim Seckhold on drums, and Luke Blackburn on bass and vocals. The Crystal Set were originally signed to Red Eye Records. Label mates were The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea (band)
The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental-only band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins in addition to Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar...
, Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey
Steven John Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church, an Australian rock band. He is also a music producer, poet, and painter....
, Baghavad Guitars, Jack Frost
Jack Frost (musician)
Jack Frost is the guitarist/founder of the heavy metal band Seven Witches and also a part of The Bronx Casket Company. Frost is also known for playing guitar on Savatage's tour in support of Poets and Madmen in 2001 and 2002 before being dismissed from the band for unspecified reasons...
and the Clouds
Clouds (Australian band)
The Clouds are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia formed in December 1989. The core of the group consisted of frontwomen Jodi Phillis and Patricia "Trish" Young . The line-up of The Clouds has changed several times with different drummers and lead guitarists...
. These bands were later transferred to the Polydor label. After the demise of the Crystal Set, Russell Kilbey joined up with David Thrussell of techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
outfit Snog and formed an outfit called The Sex Industrie. The Sex Industrie released a techno version of the AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
classic "Jailbreak
Jailbreak (AC/DC song)
"Jailbreak" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the ninth and final track of their third Australian album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in September 1976...
".
The Killjoys' first full-length album, Ruby, won the ARIA Award
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...
in 1991 for Best Independent Release. Sun Bright Deep was later nominated for the same award in 1998.
In 2006 the band released the album Stealing Horses, the group's fifth full-length album and first in seven years.
The band released another album entitled Pearl in 2011, five years after their previous release. It is considered somewhat of a sequel to the band's iconic Ruby album, which was remastered and re-released alongside Pearl.
Studio albums
- Audrey (12" mini-album, 1989)
- Ruby (1991)
- A Million Suns (1994)
- Sun Bright Deep (1998)
- Stealing Horses (2006)
- Pearl (2011)
Singles
- "Fall Around Me" (7", 1990)
- "Michael Told Me" (CD, 1991)
- "I Lied" (1994)
- "Come Around" (1996)
- "Stupid Waste" (1997)
- "On the Radio" (2002)
- "Letting You Go" (2003)
- "My Old Guitar" featuring Charles JenkinsCharles Jenkins (musician)Charles Jenkins is a musician based in Melbourne, Victoria. He is a member of Icecream Hands and has released three solo albums.Jenkins was born in Mildura, Victoria and soon was moved to Adelaide, South Australia. He started performing solo and later joined The Mad Turks From Istanbul and in 1989...
(2011)
Other releases
- Port Fairy Compilation (2000, released for the Port Fairy Folk FestivalPort Fairy Folk FestivalThe Port Fairy Folk Festival is a popular annual four-day music festival based in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy in Victoria, Australia....
) - Acoustic Bootleg: 15 Cover Songs (2000; cassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
version released in 1995) - Killjoys Retrospective (2001)
- Threnody (2002; Anna Burley [aka Red Lantern] solo record)