Plush (band)

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Plush
Origin	Cape Town, South Africa
Genre(s)	Alternative rock, Acoustic Rock
Years active	2000–2008
Label(s)	Us Productions, Elitainment, Kurse Music
Associated acts	Rory Eliot and The Reason
Members
Rory Eliot, Vocals & Guitar Emelio Gassibe, Bass Ben Peters, Drums
Former members
Chas Smit on lead guitar, Dale Orchard, Dez Lewis, Sean Brannigan

For other uses, see Plush.

Plush is an acoustic rock band based in Cape Town, South Africa. They are regarded as one of the country's most exciting prospects, drawing on influences such as Dave Matthews Band, the Police and John Mayer.

They have released three studio albums to widespread acclaim, and following demand from the United Kingdom and Australia in particular, have begun adding international venues to their demanding local schedule.

1 Members
2 Career
3 Death of Chas Smit
4 Comeback
5 Discography
6 Notes
- 6.1 Footnotes
7 External links

[edit] Members

Rory Eliot is lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He was born in Durban in 1981. He began singing at age 8, got his first guitar at 15 and then combined music and words to create his first song Far Beyond, which is featured on their debut album. He studied dramatic art in Johannesburg at AFDA.

Emelio Gassibe plays bass. He is a consumate musician with experience in many South African rock and gospel groups. He has toured extensively and is often in demand as a session musician. He is married and has a daughter.

Ben Peters is a drummer and the most eclectic of the trio. He studied aromatherapy before following his musical calling. He was born in Cape Town in 1983 and has lived there his whole life. Both he and Gassibe play in another well-known South African band, jacSharp.

[edit] Career

Plush have come a long way since joining the Maritzburg College band where their musical journey began. Performing together since 1996, Plush turned professional in 2000 and in 2002 won the National Battle of the Bands competition, against over 500 bands from across the country. The name "Plush" was given to them by Natal south coast fans who thought their performance was plush, a slang word meaning awesome. ⁽³⁾

Plush first flickered on the national South African music map back in 2003. Alongside lead guitarist Chas Smit’s creative flair, lead singer Rory Eliot’s songwriting ability and natural charisma merged seamlessly to produce songs such as Tainted, which hit No.1 on TuksFM, and Today and My Baby which received regular radio play, the latter getting airtime on MTV.

Together they were described as "so unbelievably tight that they sound as though they are one masterful musician, playing two guitars, with four arms and one almighty voice". ⁽¹⁾

[edit] Death of Chas Smit

Plush were known for their masterful live gigs, exhibitions of incredible musicianship, as well as a message that was simple, heartfelt and uplifting. Then the unthinkable, as their initial rocket ride ended tragically when Smit was killed by a drunk driver when attempting to cross a street in Pietermaritzburg in September 2005.

Eliot was quoted by the Daily News as saying, "He was like a brother to me. I am not sure what the future holds for me, or for the band. I will have to think about it and what Chas would have wanted." ⁽²⁾ Soon after, the Plush website announced that the band would not be continuing.

Memorial services took place in Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and London.

[edit] Comeback

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Please help improve this article by removing excessive trivia and irrelevant praise, criticism, lists and collections of links.(April 2008)

Engulfed by grief, Eliot took a six month sabbatical before returning as a solo artist, determined to fulfill a promise he’d made to Smit that they would make it. His journey was one not meant to be undertaken alone, however, and soon Peters and Gassibe pledged their future to ensuring that the promise and potential of Plush did not end in tragedy.

The group released their first single in two years, When Grace Grew Tall, in early 2007 after South African concert promoter Acappella Productions sent them on their first Gauteng tour since Chas' tragedy^[1]. The band received an immediate response. When Grace Grew Tall shot to No 1 on 5fm’s Hi5@5, where it remained for four weeks, and was downloaded thousands of times.

An increasing repertoire of new tracks saw sell-out crowds and packed venues all over Cape Town as word of Plush’s return spread. Not content with their Mother City conquest, the band’s comprehensive touring schedule saw them earn major followings in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Grahamstown and Pietermaritzburg.

The national effort went global in August of 2007 when the band embarked on a historic and highly successful tour of the United Kingdom in August of 2007. Focusing primarily on London, the band played nine shows in 10 days to sold-out venues of crowds comprising nostalgic South African expatriates as well as a whole new British audience. Reviews were gushing and interest in the band was sustained, to the extent that a follow-up tour was demanded and promised for 2008.

[edit] Discography

All That Is Should Be (released 9 March 2004)

"Trouble"
"Today"
"Like Planes"
"Erla"
"Fits of Life"
"Tainted"
"Iris"
"Damn the Fire"
"Tata Jozi Tata"
"Far Beyond"
"My Baby"
"Jet Life"

A Few Blinding Views (released 5 August 2005, Us Productions)

"Today"
"What I'm thinking about"
"Wishing Well"
"Able"
"Postcard"
"Impressive Sun"
"Ta ta, Jozi, ta ta"
"I wonder of you"
"My Baby"
"Love away the days"
"Halo" (live)
"Sky Fire" (live, unplugged)

A Few Blinding Views was produced by the Grammy nominated composer, drummer, arranger and producer, Cedric Samson and was engineered by Nic Els and mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York.

The recording features Dominic Peters (bass & keyboards), Sean ou-Tim (drums & bass), Cedric Samson (drums and percussion) Waldo Alexander (violin), Eddie Mclean (cello), Simon Bates (sax), Ross McDonald (trombone) and Lee Thompson (trumpet) with Rory Eliot (lead vocal & rhythm guitar) and Chas Smit (lead guitar & backing vocal).

Rage On (released 29 November 2007)

"When Grace Grew Tall"
"Freedom Town"
"Lucky Fish"
"All For the Better"
"Warfare"
"These Days"
"Hope"
"Right Here"
"Seeking"
"Last Breath"
"Rage On"

Rage On was produced by Rory Eliot and was engineered and mastered by by John Lindemann at JSL Productions in Johannesburg.

The recording features Dominic Peters (keyboard & piano), Justin Taylor (guitars), Josie Piers (backing vocals on selected tracks) and Dale Orchard (bass guitar) with Rory Eliot (lead vocals & guitar), Emelio Gassibe (lead bass guitar) and Ben Peters (drums and percussion). Track 10, "Last breath", was performed and recorded by Chas Smit before his death.