The Living End
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The Living End is an Australian alternative/punk rock/rockabilly band. To date, they have released three studio albums in Australia. They have been gaining success in the United States, and have recently been touring with Jet and The Vines on the Aussie Invasion Tour there. The band regularly tours Australia.
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Band Members
The band conisists of singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Cheney, bass player Scott Owen and drummer Andy Strachan. The original drummer was Joe Piripitzi, who was replaced in 1996 by Trav Dempsey shortly after recording the EP "It's For Your Own Good", and Trav Dempsey was later replaced by Strachan in 2002.
History
The debut self titled album was instantly a hit with Australian audiences and resulted in six Australian singles (counting the Second Solution release as two because both songs received major airplay). Prisoner of Society became a youth anthem of 1997/1998.
The Roll On album in 2000 was a more creative work, but did not manage to achieve the status of their earlier album. Cheney later stated that he was trying to prove to critics that The Living End were not a band simply defined by their hit "Prisoner of Society", and the album showed this by displaying other influences, as well as their traditional fast-paced rockabilly music. The album even garnered comparison, by a few critics, to seminal punk band The Clash's creative breakthrough, London Calling.
The band hit a quiet period after that during which Chris Cheney had a tragic car accident rendering him unable to play for a significant period of time. He had been on the road to the house of a member of fellow Australian band Bodyjar.
In 2003, after Chris's recovery and with new drummer Strachan, the band made a comeback, releasing One Said to the Other/What Would You Do? and getting air play once again. This was followed by heavy touring (including Big Day Out) and a release of MODERN ARTillery.
In late 2004, the band has released a singles collection as well as a DVD, which included all video clips and a "supergig", collections of the band's most famous songs performed in Australia, Japan and the USA. The DVD also features the band's history- documented in interviews and home footage.
Recently, Chris performed at the 2004 ARIA awards as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
Chris Cheney and Scott Owen have won the Best Guitarist and Best Bassist awards for 2004 and 2005, in the Jack Awards.
The Living End's next (4th) album is expected late this year and is being recorded in Byron Bay after they play in the Splendour in the Grass festival.
The Living End have an official message board. The board is full of a million different social circles. People hate each other, and some people are friends with everyone. A lot of relationships have been developed , and broken from the board, with some people going back to the board for a 2nd (3rd,4th,5th,6th) dating experience.
Band Members
As of 2005 The Living End Consists of:
- Chris Cheney - Guitar, Vocals
- Scott Owen - Bass/Vocals
- Andy Strachan - Drums
Former Members
- Joey Piripitzi - Drums (1995-1997)
- Trav Dempsey - Drums (1998-2002)
Discography
Albums
- The Living End - 1998
- Roll On - 2000
- MODERN ARTillery - 2003
- From Here On In (singles compilation) - 2004
Singles and EPs
- Hellbound, 1995 EP
- It's For Your Own Good, 1996 EP (included the radio song: From Here On In, which is on the Singles collection because it was a popular song on the radio)
- Second Solution/Prisoner Of Society, 1997 single - #4 Australia (1998 release)
- Save The Day, 1998 single - #22 Australia
- Prisoner Of Society, 1998 single (UK)
- All Torn Down, 1999 single (with radio B-side cover Tainted Love) - #12 Australia
- Trapped, 1999 single (US)
- West End Riot, 1999 single
- Pictures In The Mirror, 2000 single - #18 Australia
- Roll On, 2000 single - #15 Australia
- Dirty Man, 2001 single
- One Said To The Other, 2003 single (with radio B-side What Would You Do?) - #19 Australia
- Who's Gonna Save Us?, 2003 single - #37 Australia
- Tabloid Magazine, 2003 single
- I Can't Give You What I Haven't Got, 2004 radio single
DVD's and Videos
- From Here On In - The DVD 1997-2004
Music Videos
- Prisoner Of Society 1997 (Aus)
- Second Solution 1997
- Save The Day 1998
- Prisoner Of Society 1998 (USA)
- All Torn Down 1998
- West End Riot 1998
- Pictures In The Mirror 2000
- Roll On 2000 (2 Videos made for this single)
- Dirty Man 2001
- One Said To The Other 2003
- Who's Gonna Save Us? 2003 (2 Videos made for this single)
- Tabloid Magazine 2004
- I Can't Give You What I Haven't Got 2004
External links
- Official band website (http://www.thelivingend.com.au/)
The Living End is also the name of multiple albums, as well as the name of a track from The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut album, Psychocandy.