Jebediah
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Jebediah is an alternative/pop rock band from Perth, Western Australia.
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History
Formation
Jebediah was formed in Perth in 1994 with Kevin Mitchell on vocals and rhythm guitar, Vanessa Thornton on bass, Chris Daymond on lead guitar and Almin on drums. Brett Mitchell replaced Almin on drums soon after. Kevin Mitchell, Thornton and Daymond met at high school while Brett Mitchell had been a drummer with various bands. The band took their name from Jebediah Springfield, the fictional founder of Springfield on The Simpsons.
Jebediah played its first show at a high school formal at the Perth Sheraton under the name Jebadiah. The band had won the National Campus Band Competition in late 1995 leading to an opening slot on the Summersault Music Festival before higher profile bands such as the Foo Fighters and Sonic Youth.
1996-2002
The band recorded the Twitch EP shortly before signing to Murmur, a label of Sony Music, in 1996. The band won its first WAMI award for Best Stage Presence. Twitch was released in August 1996, debuting at number one on the Western Australian ARIA Chart. Another single, Jerks of Attention, received substantial airplay on the Triple J radio network. High profile work on Homebake and the Big Day Out as well as support slots for Soundgarden, Everclear, the Presidents of the United States of America, Silverchair and You Am I further raised the band's profile.
The band won two WAMI awards in 1997 for "Most Popular Band" and "Most Popular Song" for Jerks of Attention. The band recorded Slightly Odway, its first album in 1997. Slightly Odway reached a peak of number seven on the Australian charts due to the success of tracks like Leaving Home and Military Strongman. Leaving Home was rated number 10 in the Triple J Hottest 100 music poll for 1997. Slightly Odway eventually went platinum with Teflon and Harpoon adding to its success. Jebediah also supported the Smashing Pumpkins in their 1998 Australian tour.
The band started recording its second album Of Someday Shambles in Melbourne in 1999. "Animal", the first single, reached number 16 on the Australian singles chart. The band started touring Canada and New Zealand and won further WAMI awards for best video for Harpoon, and Vanessa Thornton winning Best Bass Player. Of Someday Shambles debuted at number 2 on the Australian album charts, reaching gold status.
Jebediah started 2000 by playing its second Big Day Out tour. It continued touring internationally playing the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Jebediah released a split EP with Jimmy Eat World in the US through Big Wheel Recreation.
Jebediah recorded its self-titled third album in late 2000 and 2001. The first single Fall Down reached number 24 in late 2001, although the Jebediah album was not released until March 2002. Whilst the album debuted at number 8 on the charts, it failed to achieve the same level of sales as the previous albums.
Split with Sony
Jebediah and Sony Music both agreed to part company in 2003 with Jebediah to record future albums as an independent act. The Gleesides & Sparities, a collection of B-sides and rare tracks was their final release through Sony recorded in 2003.
Jebediah produced their fourth album Braxton Hicks themselves and released it on 12 July 2004 in conjuction with Shock Records. It debuted at number 26 on the Australian album chart while the first single First Time made the top 50.
Band members
As of 2004, Jebediah consisted of:
- Kevin Mitchell, (vocals, rhythm guitar);
- Vanessa Thornton, (bass guitar);
- Chris Daymond, (lead guitar); and
- Brett Mitchell, (drums)
The initial drummer was Almin but he was replaced by Brett Mitchell at an early stage.
Discography
- Twitch, 1996 EP
- Slightly Odway, 1997 album #7 Australia
- "Leaving Home", 1997 single #48 Australia
- "Jerks Of Attention", 1997 single
- "Teflon", 1998 single #41 Australia
- "Harpoon", 1998 single #46 Australia
- Of Someday Shambles, 2000 album #2 Australia
- "Animal", 1999 single #16 Australia
- "Feet Touch The Ground", 1999 single
- "Please Leave", 2000 single
- Split EP 2000 EP (with Jimmy Eat World)
- Jebediah, 2002 album #8 Australia
- "Fall Down", 2001 single #24 Australia
- "Nothing Lasts Forever", 2002 single #50 Australia
- "N.D.C.", 2002 single
- Gleesides & Sparities, 2003 album
- Braxton Hicks, 2004 album #26 Australia
- "First Time", 2004 single #50 Australia
- "No Sleep", 2004 single
External links
- Official band website (http://www.jebediah.net/)
- Jebediah All Music Guide (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ku5gtq8znu4a~T1)