The Sharp
Encyclopedia
The Sharp was a 3-piece pop/rock band from Melbourne
, Australia
.
The band formed in 1988 with Allan Catlin on double bass and lead vocals, Charlie Rooke on guitar and lead vocals, and Danny Simcic / Piet Collins on drums.
The Sharp produced a string of MTV top 40 hit singles, including Train of Thought, Scratch My Back, Talking Sly and Alone Like Me . They became known for their black skivvies
and energetic live show, including Catlin balancing on his double bass while playing, and Rooke leaping off the drum kit mid-solo.
After releasing two EPs independently, they were signed to Warner Music in 1992, and had their first hit single Talking Sly written and sung jointly by Charlie Rooke and Allan Catlin, featuring wild psychobilly guitar over Manchester funk grooves. The Sharp released their debut album This Is the Sharp
in 1993, achieving 7 ARIA nominations and an MTV top 40 gold record. A world tour followed in 1994, where the band toured U.S.A., U.K., Sweden
and Germany
, and were signed and released in 14 international territories, receiving 5-star media reviews and full houses for every show. Sonic Tripod
, the band's second album, was released on 22 August 1994. Singles included Honest & Sober, Alone Like Me (their highest charting top 40 single) and Spider.
In 1995, Warner Music International offered The Sharp European Residency and international promotion, at which point they disbanded due to burn out. Currently, Catlin is writing and performing new music, Rooke runs his own secondhand book shop, teaches guitar, and is writing music. Collins is in media journalism.
In July 2010, the band reunited for a series of shows in Australia, playing venues in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Singles and EPs
"Release the Rats" was a 5 track split promo EP
to support a tour with Francis Dunnery
.
Videos
Filmclips
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...
.
The band formed in 1988 with Allan Catlin on double bass and lead vocals, Charlie Rooke on guitar and lead vocals, and Danny Simcic / Piet Collins on drums.
The Sharp produced a string of MTV top 40 hit singles, including Train of Thought, Scratch My Back, Talking Sly and Alone Like Me . They became known for their black skivvies
Undergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
and energetic live show, including Catlin balancing on his double bass while playing, and Rooke leaping off the drum kit mid-solo.
After releasing two EPs independently, they were signed to Warner Music in 1992, and had their first hit single Talking Sly written and sung jointly by Charlie Rooke and Allan Catlin, featuring wild psychobilly guitar over Manchester funk grooves. The Sharp released their debut album This Is the Sharp
This is the Sharp
This is the Sharp is the debut album by Australian pop-rock band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia, except for track 10 which was recorded in the flat of one of the band members above the flower shop in Collingwood....
in 1993, achieving 7 ARIA nominations and an MTV top 40 gold record. A world tour followed in 1994, where the band toured U.S.A., U.K., Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and were signed and released in 14 international territories, receiving 5-star media reviews and full houses for every show. Sonic Tripod
Sonic Tripod
Sonic Tripod is the second release by Australian Rock/Pop band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia, except for track 10 which was recorded at The Sharp HQ...
, the band's second album, was released on 22 August 1994. Singles included Honest & Sober, Alone Like Me (their highest charting top 40 single) and Spider.
In 1995, Warner Music International offered The Sharp European Residency and international promotion, at which point they disbanded due to burn out. Currently, Catlin is writing and performing new music, Rooke runs his own secondhand book shop, teaches guitar, and is writing music. Collins is in media journalism.
In July 2010, the band reunited for a series of shows in Australia, playing venues in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Discography
Albums- This Is the SharpThis is the SharpThis is the Sharp is the debut album by Australian pop-rock band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia, except for track 10 which was recorded in the flat of one of the band members above the flower shop in Collingwood....
(1993) - Sonic TripodSonic TripodSonic Tripod is the second release by Australian Rock/Pop band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia, except for track 10 which was recorded at The Sharp HQ...
(1994) - Single File (The Best of The Sharp) (1995)
- Skeletons in the Closet (1996)
Singles and EPs
- Love Your Head (1992)
- SpinositySpinositySpinosity is the second EP release by Australian pop-rock band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia. The tracks "Talking Sly" and "Caught in the Deep" later went onto the This is the Sharp album.-Track listing:...
(1992) AUS #28 - Train of Thought (1993) AUS #32
- Scratch My Back (1993) AUS #40
- Yeah I Want YouYeah I Want YouYeah I Want You is the third single release of the This is the Sharp Album by Australian pop-rock band The Sharp. It was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia.-Track listing:#"Yeah I Want You"#"Love Cats"...
(1993) AUS #44 - Alone Like Me (1994) AUS #20
- Honest and Sober (1994)
- Spider (1994)
- Release the Rats (1994)
- Thank You Good Night (1995)
"Release the Rats" was a 5 track split promo EP
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
to support a tour with Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as a solo performer , and for fronting the original lineup of the band It Bites between 1982 and 1990 .Dunnery served as a sideman and...
.
Videos
- This Is the Sharp (1993)
Filmclips
- Talking Sly
- Scratch My Back
- Yeah I Want You
- Train of Thought
- Where am I Now?
- Alone Like Me
- Honest and Sober
- Spider