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The Whitlams
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Indie rock, piano rock, jazz (early years)
Years active 1992–present
Labels Phantom Records
Black Yak Records
Warner Music Australia
Website www.thewhitlams.com
Members
Tim Freedman
Jak Housden
Warwick Hornby
Terepai Richmond
Past members
See the "Past Members" section

The Whitlams are a rock band based in Sydney, Australia. The original band consisted of Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis.

The Whitlams formed in 1992 in Newtown, and began their career performing acoustically on Saturday afternoons at the Sandringham Hotel in King Street, Newtown.

Although the band line-up has changed numerous times, the current group has remained unchanged since 2001, consisting of Tim Freedman on piano and vocals, Jak Housden on guitar, Warwick Hornby on bass guitar and Terepai Richmond on drums.

Contents

History [link]

Formation and early years (1992-1995) [link]

File:Original-Whitlams.jpg
The original Whitlams:
Tim, Andy, Stevie (L-R)

The Whitlams were formed in late 1992 when a former Penguin on Safari and a former Plunderer crossed paths at the annual independent music festival the Big Day Out. While missing Nirvana perform inside the arena, the two musicians lamented the local music scene and decided to form a musical alliance, and The Whitlams were born. The initial band members were Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis. Being without a drummer, the band developed their songs acoustically on Saturday afternoons at the Sandringham Hotel in King Street, Newtown, an inner west suburb of Sydney, Australia. This lineup produced two albums, Introducing the Whitlams and Undeniably the Whitlams.

[edit] Eternal Nightcap and Love This City (1996-2000)

At the same time that the band was enjoying the success of their single "I Make Hamburgers" (1996) founding member Stevie Plunder was found dead on Australia Day, 1996, from what was believed to be an act of suicide. After a break of several months, Tim Freedman reformed the band with several new members. After several more months, there was another lineup change and this is when the process of starting to record the album Eternal Nightcap began. This album sold over 200,000 units and in 1998 won the band ARIA awards for Best Independent Album, Song of the Year and Best Group. This last award was presented by the band's namesake Gough Whitlam. "No Aphrodisiac", a single from this album, made it to number one in the 1997 Triple J Hottest 100.

Several of the band's songs were played during the 2000 Sydney Olympics as examples of Australian pop culture (for example, "Sydney 2000 Olympic Theme", a b-side from the "I Make Hamburgers" single that was reworked as "You Gotta Love This City" on Love This City -- an ironic choice, as the song's protagonist commits suicide by jumping in the Harbour at the end of the song, disgusted at the city's crass pursuit of money: It dawns on him / The horror / We got the Olympic Games).
Blow Up The Pokies
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During the band's Canadian tour in April 2000 supporting Blue Rodeo, the band received word that founding member, Andy Lewis, had committed suicide back in Australia. Andy had been battling a gambling addiction for a long time prior to his death.

The single "Blow Up the Pokies" had been co-written by Tim with Greta Gertler as a statement on the destruction he saw in Andy's life due to his gambling not long before Andy's death, and was awaiting release as a single at the time. Tim soon after wrote "The Curse Stops Here", describing being the 'last one' from the original line-up of the band, and voicing his determination to survive. "The Curse Stops Here" was included as a B-side track on the "Blow Up the Pokies" single.

A month after Andy's death a benefit concert was held at the Metro club in Sydney to raise money for his wife and child. The event was hosted by Paul McDermott, Mikey Robbins and Steve Abbott (The Sandman), and performers included Max Sharam, and The Gadflys (another band Andy performed with).

[edit] Torch the Moon and Little Cloud (2001-2006)

Torch The Moon (2002), their next album, received moderate success, with the singles "Fall For You" (AUS#21), "Best Work" (AUS#35), "Royal in the Afternoon" and "Don't Believe Anymore". Another song from the album which received a fair amount of airplay was "I Will Not Go Quietly (Duffy's Song)", which was used on the Australian TV series Love Is a Four Letter Word (2001).

The latest release, a double-album titled Little Cloud (loosely referred to also as Little Cloud and The Apples Eye) was released on 19 March 2006 in Australia. Several songs received considerable airplay, including "I Was Alive." Three of the songs on the album have been released as radio-only singles, with a fourth, "Beautiful as You", released as a CD single. The album was followed up with almost non-stop touring around Australia, including performances at political and university events.

The band made the news in 2006 when they refused to perform to troops in Iraq for political reasons.[3]

The Whitlams and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (2007) [link]

The band performed a short orchestral tour in late 2007, performing shows with the Sydney Symphony, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and The Queensland Orchestra [4].

In 2008 The Whitlams released a free CD in The Sunday Telegraph (1 June) and The Australian (26 July) of their live performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

[edit] Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You (2008-2009)

The Whitlams released a 'Best of' compilation album titled "Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You" on 2 August 2008. As part of the promotion for "Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You" release, and subsequent tour, the Whitlams performed on a number of TV programs including Nine's "Footy Show (NRL)" and Seven's "Sunrise" and "The Morning Show"

The Whitlams performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2009 to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the release of their breakthrough album Eternal Nightcap.

[edit] Australian Idle (2011-present)

The Whitlams are currently on hiatus. On 11 November 2011 (the anniversary of Gough Whitlam's dismissal), Tim Freedman released a new album titled Australian Idle, featuring a new band named The Idle. [1] [2]

Discography [link]

The Whitlams discography
Releases
↙Studio albums 6
↙Live albums 2
↙Compilation albums 1
↙Singles 18
↙Video albums 1

The discography of The Whitlams consists of six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and eighteen singles.

Albums [link]

Studio albums [link]

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Certifications

(Sales Thresholds)
AUS NZ
1993 Introducing The Whitlams — — —
1994 Undeniably The Whitlams — — —
1997 Eternal Nightcap 14 — AUS: Platinum (x4)
1999 Love This City
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Black Yak Records / Warner
  • Format:
 3 — AUS: Platinum (x2)
2002 Torch the Moon
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Black Yak Records / Warner
  • Format: CD
 1 — AUS: Platinum
2006 Little Cloud
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Black Yak Records / Warner
  • Format: CD
 4 — AUS: Gold

Live albums [link]

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Certifications

(Sales Thresholds)
AUS NZ
1993 Stupor Ego — — —
2008 The Whitlams & The Sydney Symphony Live in Concert — — —

Compilation albums [link]

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Certifications

(Sales Thresholds)
AUS
2008 Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You 3 Gold[3]

Singles [link]

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS NZ
1995 "Met My Match/Following My Own Tracks" — — Undeniably the Whitlams
"I Make Hamburgers" — —
1997 "You Sound Like Louis Burdett" — — Eternal Nightcap
1998 "Melbourne" 70 —
"No Aphrodisiac" 59 47
"No Aphrodisiac – The Remixes" — —
1999 "Women in Uniform" — — Non-album single
"Thank You (for Loving Me at My Worst)" 63 — Love This City
2000 "Blow Up the Pokies" 21 —
"Made Me Hard" 75 —
2002 "Fall for You" 21 — Torch the Moon
"Best Work" 35 —
2003 "Royal in the Afternoon" 66 —
"Don't Believe Anymore" 47 —
2007 "Beautiful as You" 40 — Little Cloud
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Videography [link]

Videos [link]

Year Title Certifications
2004 The Whitlams Years 1993-2004
  • Released:
  • Label:
  • Format: DVD
  • Gold

Music videos [link]

Year Title Directors
1993 "Gough"
1999 "Thank You (for Loving Me at My Worst)"
2000 "Blow Up the Pokies"
2001 "Duffy's Song (I Will Not Go Quietly)"
2002 "Fall for You"
"Best Work"
"Royal in the Afternoon"
"Don't Believe Anymore"
2006 "I Was Alive"
"Fondness Makes the Heart Grow Absent"

Awards and nominations [link]

[edit] ARIAs[4]

Awards [link]

  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Song Of The Year ("No Aphrodisiac")
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Best Independent Release (Eternal Nightcap)
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Best Group

Nominations [link]

  • 2006 ARIA Awards, Best Adult Contemporary Album for Little Cloud
  • 2002 ARIA Awards, Best Pop Release for Torch The Moon
  • 2002 ARIA Awards, Producer of the Year for Torch The Moon
  • 2002 ARIA Awards, Engineer of the Year for Torch The Moon
  • 2002 ARIA Awards, Best Cover Art for Torch The Moon
  • 2000 ARIA Awards, Producer of the Year for Love This City
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Album of the Year for Eternal Nightcap
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Single of the Year for "No Aphrodisiac"
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Best Pop Release for Eternal Nightcap
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Producer of the Year for Eternal Nightcap
  • 1998 ARIA Awards, Engineer of the Year for Eternal Nightcap

Triple J [link]

Triple J Hottest 100[5]
Year Title Position
1997 "No Aphrodisiac" 1
1998 "Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 2)" 37
"Melbourne" 43
"Charlie No. 3" 56
1999 "Chunky Chunky Air Guitar" 38
"Thank You (for Loving Me at My Worst)" 54
2000 "Thank You (for Loving Me at My Worst)" 37
2001 "Duffy's Song (I Will Not Go Quietly)" 42
2002 "Fall For You" 40
Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time (1998)
Title Position
"No Aphrodisiac" 36
"You Sound Like Louis Burdett" 43

Band members [link]

Current members [link]

  • Tim Freedman - piano, vocals (1991–present)
  • Warwick Hornby - bass (1999–present)
  • Terepai Richmond - drums (1999–present)
  • Jak Housden - guitar (2001–present)

Former members [link]

  • Stevie Plunder - guitar, vocals (1991–1996)
  • Andy Lewis - bass (1991–1994, 1996)
  • Stu Eadie - drums (1993–1994)
  • Michael Vidale - bass (1994–1996, 1996–1997)
  • Louis Burdett - drums (1994–1995)
  • Hanuman Daas - drums (1995)
  • Michael Richards - drums (1995–1996)
  • Oscar Briz - guitar (1996)
  • Tim Hall - guitar (1996–1997)
  • Bill Heckenberg - drums (1996–1999)
  • Chris Abrahams - organ (1996–1998)
  • Ben Fink - guitar (1997–2001)
  • Cottco Lovett - bass (1997–1998)
  • Clayton Doley - organ (1998–1999)
  • Alex Hewitson - bass (1999)
  • Mike Gubb - organ (1999–2002)

Timeline [link]

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:400 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:0 right:30 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1991 till:30/12/2011 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

id:bass value:brightgreen legend:Bass
id:vocals value:purple legend:Piano Vocals
id:drums value:yellow legend:Drums
id:organ value:red legend:Organ
id:guitar value:brightblue legend:Guitar
id:lines value:black legend:Studio albums

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:2

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1991 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2011

LineData =

at:01/01/1993 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/1994 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/1997 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/2002 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/2006 color:black layer:back

BarData =

bar:Freedman text:"Tim Freedman"
bar:Hornby text:"Warwick Horny"
bar:Richmond text:"Terepai Richmond"
bar:Housden text:"Jak Housden"
bar:Plunder text:"Stevie Plunder"
bar:Lewis text:"Andy Lewis"
bar:Eadie text:"Stu Eadie"
bar:Vidale text:"Michael Vidale"
bar:Burdett text:"Louis Burdett"
bar:Daas text:"Hanuman Daas"
bar:Richards text:"Michael Richards"
bar:Briz text:"Oscar Briz"
bar:Hall text:"Tim Hall"
bar:Heckenberg text:"Bill Heckenberg"
bar:Abrahams text:"Chris Abrahams"
bar:Fink text:"Ben Fink"
bar:Lovett text:"Cottco Lovett"
bar:Doley text:"Clayton Doley"
bar:Hewitson text:"Alex Hewitson"
bar:Gubb text:"Mike Gubb"

PlotData=

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Freedman from:01/01/1991 till:end color:vocals
bar:Hornby from:01/07/1999 till:end  color:bass
bar:Richmond from:01/01/1999 till:end color:drums
bar:Housden from:01/01/2001 till:end color:guitar
bar:Plunder from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1996 color:guitar
bar:Lewis from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:bass
bar:Eadie from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 color:drums
bar:Vidale from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1997 color:bass
bar:Burdett from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:drums
bar:Daas from:01/01/1995 till:30/06/1995 color:drums
bar:Richards from:01/07/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:drums
bar:Briz from:01/01/1996 till:30/06/1996 color:guitar
bar:Hall from:01/07/1996 till:01/01/1997 color:guitar
bar:Heckenberg from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1999 color:drums
bar:Abrahams from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1998 color:organ
bar:Fink from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2001 color:guitar
bar:Lovett from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:bass
bar:Doley from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:organ
bar:Hewitson from:01/01/1999 till:30/06/1999 color:bass
bar:Gubb from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2002 color:organ

</timeline>

References [link]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ "ARIA Charts". ARIA. https://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Albums.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2008. 
  4. ^ "ARIA Awards: History: Winners by Artist". ARIA. https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=W&artist=Whitlams%20%20The. 
  5. ^ "Hottest 100 : History". Triple J. https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/. 

External links [link]

The Whitlams
Studio albums
Compilations and EPs
Live and other albums
Video and theatrical releases

https://wn.com/The_Whitlams

Podcasts:

The Whitlams

ALBUMS

Truth, Beauty & a Picture of You

Released 2008

The Whitlams & The Sydney Symphony Live In Concert

Released 2008

Little Cloud

Released 2006

Undeniably

Released 2001

Love This City

Released 1999

Eternal Nightcap

Released 1997

Stupor Ego

Released 1996

Introducing

Released 1993

Torch the Moon

Email this Page Play all in Full Screen Show More Related Videos
PLAYLIST TIME:

Best Work

by: The Whitlams

After the fall things will never be the same
How in the world can anyone love again?
Some of my best work was you
I wish you were here right now
But i still don't want to know if you're moving on
I never dreamed about you
When we were never far apart
And now that i'm without you
You're here all through the night
Some of my best work was you
I wish you were here right now
I would ride the ups and downs
Be a man and get my feet back on the ground
Some of my best work
Some of my best work
My best work was you
But i still don't want to know if you're moving on
There's no lovers up above
No lovers only love




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