New World Artists

Grinspoon

13 years ago, front man Phil Jamieson was just another 17 year old in his first year of university. He and drummer Kristian Hopes relocated from Port Macquarie to Lismore, on the north coast of NSW, in the hope of forming a band. It was here they discovered bassist Joe Hansen and guitarist Pat Davern whiling away their time in a cover band. “They were both bored out of their brains,” Jamieson recalls. “I was studying, Joe had finished his degree, Pat had dropped out, and Kristian was working.”

Remarkably, Grinspoon’s line-up has not changed since its conception. Davern says that in spite of the well-documented inner turmoil of the 12 months, Grinspoon’s future was never in doubt. “We obviously had our moments,” he says. “But we had a good look at what we were doing. We knew we would have to make some changes. But the band’s excited about our future, and that’s what keeps us going. We’ve had a few setbacks, but we’ve gotten over all of the bull shit.”

2009 sees Grinspoon release their 6th album, Six To Midnight .  It took a musical adventure spanning four continents for Grinspoon to find the key to shaking up the Australian rock scene. Firstly, bassist Joe Hansen made his way to Canada and set himself on a path to brutal speed metal utopia. Guitarist Pat Davern ventured to Amsterdam and Spain in search of some elusive monstrous riffs. Frontman Phil Jamieson found his calling in Singapore, collaborating with a friend on glorious dream pop tunes. Meanwhile, drummer Kristian Hopes found a world of inspiration at home in Brisbane with his new baby son.

Their epic quest to find rock’s holy grail eventually led them home to make the best album of their 14-year career, cementing their position at the helm of the local rock scene.

The band’s history speaks for itself. After landing on a line-up that would continue through to this day, Grinspoon’s star rose fast after claiming triple j’s inaugural Unearthed competition in 1995. Two EPs paved the way for their double Platinum 1997 smash-hit debut, Guide To Better Living. Two years on came the Platinum-selling Easy, and in 2002 their Top 2 album New Detention garnered four ARIA Award nominations for the band and their production team. An ARIA was in their grasp soon after, with 2004’s Top 5 Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills picking up Rock Album of the Year. And doing what they do best, the band’s live show has conquered stages across the country, including on multiple Big Day Out tours and Splendour In The Grass bills.

Their sixth album, Six To Midnight, only reinforces their status as the premier rock act in the country. Drawing from around 45 songs penned individually and in sessions at Port Macquarie and Myocum on the NSW North Coast, Grinspoon convened to Studios 301 in Byron Bay with acclaimed US producer Rick Will (Incubus, No Doubt, Gillian Welch, Skindred). Conscious of not slipping into old habits, the band recorded together, live, for the first time in a decade. The result is a tight, frenetic and tense rock album, brimming with energy and buoyant enthusiasm.

From Canada to Spain, Amsterdam and Singapore, Six To Midnight now finds a home in Australia on Grinspoon’s new imprint, Chk Chk Boom records. It’s an exciting new era for a band whose endurance is as much to do with their immense talent as their sheer determination.
 

Artist Links

• Myspace:
  http://www.myspace.com/grinspoon
• Website:
  http://www.grinspoon.com.au