Wolfmother

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Wolfmother

Background information
Origin Australia
Genre(s) Hard rock
Stoner metal
Neo-psychedelia
Years active 2003–present[1]
Label(s) Modular/Universal, Interscope, Island
Website www.wolfmother.com
Members
Andrew Stockdale
Chris Ross
Myles Heskett

Wolfmother is a Grammy Award winning hard rock band from Australia. The band consists of Members Andrew Stockdale (Guitar, Vocals), Chris Ross (Bass, Keyboard), and Myles Heskett (Drums).

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 2004–2005

After releasing their self-titled debut EP through Modular Recordings in September 2004, Wolfmother began appearing at several high profile music events, such as Homebake and Big Day Out. The EP was a success, reaching number thirty-five in the ARIA singles chart and receiving consistent radio play on Triple J.

In 2005, the band made their way to Los Angeles, working alongside producer Dave Sardy (Jet, Oasis) to record their eponymous debut album, released in Australia in October 2005.

The first single to be released was "Mind's Eye"/"Woman" (a double A-side), making its debut on the Australian music charts at number twenty-nine. The album itself entered the Australian Charts at number three and has been a regular feature of the Top 20 ever since, having gone platinum three times. Wolfmother won the 2005 J Award from the Australian youth radio network Triple J for the best Australian album of the year,[2] and finished the year with Falls Festival appearances. Rolling Stone magazine listed Wolfmother as one of their "Top 10 Bands to Watch 2006."[3]

They scored six songs in the influential 2005 Triple J Hottest 100, with "Mind's Eye" their highest entry at number six.

A 2006 poster advertising Wolfmother concerts.
A 2006 poster advertising Wolfmother concerts.

It has been recently discovered that Wolfmother played and ditched an original song after 1 known gig at The Metro in Sydney. The song was titled Midnight Lover and never featured in any other gig, EP or their album.[4]

[edit] 2006

Wolfmother's debut album was released internationally in April, with mostly positive reviews from the US and UK.

Andrew Stockdale during a performance in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Andrew Stockdale during a performance in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Their songs have been featured in the advertising of many products including the Apple iPod, multiple Playstation 2 and Xbox 360 games (including the highly successful Guitar Hero II and Tony Hawks Project 8 and later released a downloadable song for Rock Band), the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, and TV programs and movies such as Jackass Number Two, the Clive Owen action satire Shoot 'Em Up, Shrek The Third, Dane Cook's Tourgasm, House, the 2006 Australian Football League (AFL) finals, the Winter X Games.[citation needed]

Chris Ross playing bass during a performance at SXSW 2006.
Chris Ross playing bass during a performance at SXSW 2006.

The band also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Show with David Letterman, where Letterman would remark to a sweaty Stockdale in their interview "That was pretty damn cool!"

The band performed in festivals throughout North American and Australia in 2006. Including SXSW, Big Day Out, the Sasquatch! Music Festival, the Roskilde Festival, Splendour in the Grass, the Fuji Rock Festival, Lollapalooza, Reading and Leeds Festivals, V Festival, the Download Festival, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival; where they were commonly cited as the 'breakout' band of the year.[5] But on September 25, bassist Chris Ross's wife had a baby. The baby was one month early and Wolfmother cancelled/postponed their dates in the following month. During this break, Wolfmother released their final single from the self-titled album, "Joker and the Thief", in Australia on October 28, where it reached number eight on the Australian Singles Chart, their highest position to date in Australia. Wolfmother resumed touring on November 4 in the United Kingdom.

On November 14, 2006, when legendary hard rock band Led Zeppelin were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, they asked Wolfmother to appear as their guests. The band covered the Led Zeppelin song "Communication Breakdown," a common Wolfmother concert vehicle before and since.

Myles Heskett during a performance at SXSW 2006.
Myles Heskett during a performance at SXSW 2006.

During an interview in March 2006, Andrew and Myles created a 'Free the Gnomes!' design using the 'consequences' method, where each couldn't see what the other had drawn. The design was contributed to the Yellow Bird Project to raise money for the charity, Teenage Cancer Trust.[6]

[edit] 2007

On February 13, it was announced on that the band would be playing at the Download Festival in June and the band was given the third headline spot on the first day (Friday June 8) after Velvet Revolver and DragonForce respectively.

At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Wolfmother won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their song "Woman",[7] and was later released as a single in the UK.

Wolfmother during a performance at Summerfest, in Milwaukee, WI on June 28, 2007
Wolfmother during a performance at Summerfest, in Milwaukee, WI on June 28, 2007

On June 28, they headlined at Summerfest, "The World's Largest Music Festival", in Milwaukee, WI. Finishing up their US Tour in Detroit, Michigan to an abundantly enthusiastic crowd on June 30. Andrew Stockdale mentioned during the encore that they wanted to finish up in Detroit since that's where the post production finishing touches for the first album were conducted.[citation needed]

On July 7, they performed on the Australian leg of the Live Earth concerts in Sydney. Andrew Stockdale said in an interview "That will be our last show for this album. We will find out what a green note sounds like on the next record".[8]

Wolfmother released their first concert film on September 10 in Australia (November 20 internationally), titled Please Experience Wolfmother Live. The footage of the main DVD is from their performance at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia. Other live shows, music videos and interviews are included in the bonus features. [9]

As of late November, Wolfmother's debut album has been certified Gold in The United States. [10]

[edit] 2008

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Wolfmother is currently recording their new album. Andrew Stockdale stated that the band has about 10 songs for the album right now. The only confirmed track so far is one of Stockdale's favorite, "Back Home". [11]

Wolfmother played their first gig in 9 months on the 12th April 2008 as part of the Andy Warhol Up Late program.[12] Wolfmother played ten songs of which four new songs that could be on their next album were previewed including 'Back Round', 'The Violence Of The Sun', 'Monolith' and 'Inside The Mountain'. Wolfmother also played a cover of Lou Reed's, Perfect Day[13].

Now, Wolfmother confirmed a further four festivals for 2008, Concerts on the Green in San Diego, California[14], Pemberton Festival in Pemberton, British Columbia[15], Bassinthegrass in Darwin, Northern Territory[16] and Splendour in the Grass held just outside Byron Bay, New South Wales[17]. Wolfmother have yet to confirm further news on their next album.

[edit] Critical response

While the band has gained much success, reception is divided. A Total Guitar review calls Wolfmother's music "ruddy marvellous",[18] and Pitchfork praises them for "how capably they strike a balance between meaty vintage metal and crisp, stoner-rock melodies".[19] Others hold that their music is too derivative of 70's rock; a Stylus Magazine review states "everything there is to say about them is best said by immediate reference to another band and Wolfmother always come up short in the comparison",[20] [21] An allmusic review is more critical, calling their music "precious, inarticulate, [and] confused"[22] when compared to that of their musical influences, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has stated that he is a fan of Wolfmother.[23]

Wolfmother has responded to the accusations about the perceived derivative nature of their music, with Ross saying "[We] don't pretend that we're [Led Zeppelin/Black Sabbath]...There's similarities in our sound, but we're not trying to emulate them at all.." [24]

Despite previous criticism's of the band, The EG magazine section of The Age newspaper listed Wolfmother's debut album at number 4 on its list of Top 10 Australian Albums, with each of the selections dubbed the best 'highlights of the decade'.[25]

[edit] Influences

While Wolfmother has been identified as being influenced by '70s rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, their official Myspace lists their influences to include mostly '60s groups such as: Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Who, as well as newer acts, including The Avalanches, Radiohead, The White Stripes and stoner metal band Kyuss. Surprisingly, they also featured the French electronic group Daft Punk in their myspace list of influences.[26] Andrew Stockdale also lists The Doors as a major influence, stating they were one of his favorite bands growing up. [27] During Stockdale's appearance on ABC's My Favorite Album, Stockdale stated AC/DC's T.N.T. to be a favourite, claiming it gave him "shivers". [28]

[edit] Conflict with Mike Patton

A video of Mike Patton can be seen on YouTube where he hears Wolfmother's music in the background in the middle of an interview. He interrupts the interview and goes on to say "Are you hearing this shit?, What year are we in? Forgive me, but Wolfmother, you suck! Oh my God! Enough of this" among other things.[3]

Myles Heskett has cited Patton's band Faith No More as an influence, and called Patton a "cool guy".[29]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Chart positions
Australia UK U.S.
2005 Wolfmother 3 25 22
2008 TBA - - -

[edit] EPs

Year Album Chart positions
Australia UK U.S.
2004 Wolfmother EP 35 - -
2006 Dimensions - - -

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
Australia U.S. Modern Rock U.S. Mainstream Rock UK Singles Chart
2005 "Mind's Eye" 29 - - 143 Wolfmother
2006 "White Unicorn" 33 38 29 -
"Dimension" - - - 49
"Woman" 34 10 7 31
"Love Train" - - - 62
"Joker and the Thief" 8 30 26 63
2007 "Pleased to Meet You" 83 - - - Spider-Man 3: The Official Soundtrack

[edit] Videography

  • "Mind's Eye" (2006)
  • "Dimension" (2006)
  • "Woman" (2006)
  • "White Unicorn" (2006)
  • "Love Train" (2006)
  • "Joker and the Thief" (2006)
  • "Apple Tree" (2007)

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] Awards

Year Award Issued for
2005 J Award Best Australian Album of 2005 - Wolfmother[2]
2006 Jack Awards Best Bass Guitarist - Chris Ross from Wolfmother[30]
2006 ARIA Awards Best Breakthrough Album - Wolfmother [31]
Best Rock Album - Wolfmother [31]
Best Group [31]
2007 Grammy Award Best Hard Rock Performance for "Woman"[32]
2007 Jack Awards Best Live Band[33]
Total Guitar Reader's Poll Best International Newcomer

[edit] Nominations

Year Award Nominated for
2005 ARIA Awards Single of the Year Woman
Best Breakthrough Artist - Single Woman
2006 MTV Australian Video Music Awards Spankin' New Aussie Artist
Best Group
Best Rock Video Mind's Eye
2006 Jack Awards Best Live Band
Best Male Performer - Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother
Best Lead Guitarist - Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother
Best Bass Guitarist - Chris Ross from Wolfmother
Best Drummer - Myles Heskett from Wolfmother
2006 ARIA Awards Album of the Year
Single of the Year Mind's Eye
2007 BRIT Awards International Breakthrough Act
2007 MTV Australian Video Music Awards Best Group
Best Rock Video Joker and the Thief
Video Of The Year "Joker and the Thief"
Viewers' Choice Award

[edit] References

  1. ^ Allmusic.com
  2. ^ a b triple j - The J Award - Wolfmother. Triple J. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  3. ^ Green, Andy (2006-03-23). 10 Artists to Watch: Aussio Trio comes bearing monster riffs. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  4. ^ The Original Wolfmother Fan Site — with all you ever need to know about Wolfmother, and an active forum of avid fans
  5. ^ Getlen, Larry (2006-04-30). Heavy Duty. New York Post. Retrieved on 2006-08-02.
  6. ^ Clap Your Hands, Wolfmother design T-shirts. NME (2007-02-12).
  7. ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List. grammy.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  8. ^ Dunn, Emily (2007-03-31). Now rock plugs into solar. Brisbane Times. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
  9. ^ unknown (unknown). Please Experience Wolfmother Live DVD. unknown. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  10. ^ RIAA
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2426913231_7bf38db4b3_o.jpg
  14. ^ AEG Live - Show Details
  15. ^ Pemberton Festival 2008::News
  16. ^ BASSINTHEGRASS - Band Lineup
  17. ^ | SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2008 | - Lineup
  18. ^ Ascott, Phil. Total Guitar (UK) - Album. Total Guitar. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  19. ^ Byroum, Cory (2006-04-25). Wolfmother: Wolfmother: Pitchfork Record Review. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  20. ^ McNally, Patrick (2007-05-02). Wolfmother - Wolfmother - Review. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  21. ^ Philip, Sven. Wolfmother. Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. allmusic (((Wolfmother > Review))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  23. ^ Source
  24. ^ Wolfmother React To People Comparing Them To Led Zep | News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
  25. ^ The EG, in THE AGE, April 18, 2008, pg. 13
  26. ^ MySpace.com - Wolfmother - Sydney, AU - Tropicale / Psychédélique / Rock - www.myspace.com/wolfmother
  27. ^ The Hard, Fast Rise of Wolfmother: Gibson Interviews Andrew Stockdale
  28. ^ My Favorite Album, December 12th 2006, Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC). More info at: http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritealbum/top100.htm
  29. ^ Wolfmother Discusses Witchcraft, Music & Dick | Music | Interview | Features | Static Multimedia
  30. ^ Jack Awards Winners Announced. Undercover.com.au (2006-06-22). Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  31. ^ a b c Media Release - 2006 ARIA Awards - Everyone's a Winner!. ARIA. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  32. ^ "Wolfmother wins Grammy Award", ABC News, 2007-02-12. Retrieved on 2007-06-04. 
  33. ^ "Wolfmother wins at Jack Awards", The West Australian, 2007-05-16. Retrieved on 2007-06-04. 

[edit] External links

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Wolfmother
Andrew Stockdale • Chris Ross • Myles Heskett
Albums
Wolfmother • Untitled 2nd album
EPs
Singles
DVDs
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