Brother | |
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Origin | New South Wales, Australia |
Genres | Celtic rock |
Years active | 1992–present |
Members | |
Angus Richardson Dave Allen Drew Reid |
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Past members | |
Hamish Richardson Fergus Richardson Rick Kurek Roel Kuiper Steve Luxenberg Brett Dengate |
Brother is a rock band incorporating Celtic rock (with bagpipes), mongrel rock, Australian rock, didgeridoo, and vocals. They record on their own Rhubarb Records label, and have gained a worldwide following with their meld of Celtic music and dress with alternative rock and style.
Contents |
The Richardson brothers - Hamish, Angus and Fergus - grew up in Bathurst and attended the Scots School, where they participated in the School's pipe band.[1] The band formed in 1992 around the nucleus of the Richardson brothers and began touring pubs in Sydney, Australia. After releasing their first album Black and White, they scored a spot opening for Joe Walsh; a number of albums followed, as well as placement of a song, "An Daorach Beag", on the soundtrack to the movie Baraka.[2] A live album, 2000's This Way Up, was met with critical acclaim and an opportunity to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[2]
Fergus left the band in 1996 to work in filmmaking. He is currently based in Arizona, running boutique production house with his wife. In March 2007, Hamish left the band to live on the south coast of New South Wales, working in journalism and running a 50-member secular gospel choir.[1]
In 2007 the song "Photograph" by Brother appeared on a compilation CD containing songs associated with Bathurst.
Today, the band mainly plays in the USA but returns to play in Bathurst regularly. They have undertaken numerous tours around the United States and the world.[2] They have played Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Summerfest and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania's Musikfest.
In 2011, Brother served a British band, also named Brother, with a writ asserting trademark infringement; the Australian group won the legal case, and the British group changed its name to Viva Brother.[3]