| Frente! | |
|---|---|
Frente! in 2010 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1991–1996 2004–2005 |
| Labels | Mushroom |
| Associated acts | Splendid Holidays on Ice |
| Past members | |
| Angie Hart Simon Austin Bill McDonald Pete Luscombe Tim O'Connor Mark Picton Alastair Barden |
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Frente! are an Australian alternative rock group, formed in 1991. The original lineup featured singer Angie Hart, founder and guitarist Simon Austin, bassist Tim O'Connor (later replaced by Bill McDonald), and drummer Mark Picton (later replaced by Alastair Barden). In 1992 they released the successful singles "Ordinary Angels" and "Accidently Kelly Street".
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Frente! burst onto the Australian music charts with the singles "Ordinary Angels" (from the Clunk EP, #3, gold) and "Accidently Kelly Street" (#4, platinum) in 1992. Notable as much for the bizarre film clips ("Accidently Kelly Street" consisted of the band with oversized novelty props of household items, and the title of the song was purposely written with an initial lowercase) as their light-hearted pop lyrics, Frente!'s debut album, Marvin the Album (#5) was also a success, going platinum in Australia. Another single was released from the album in early 1993, "No Time" (#50), which did not fare as well.
"Ordinary Angels" finished the year as the 20th best selling single of 1992 on the ARIA charts, with "Accidently Kelly Street" finishing 29th.
The band promoted overseas in 1994 with their biggest success being an acoustic cover version of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" which reached #76 in the UK (following releases of earlier tracks "Ordinary Angels" which did not chart and "Accidently Kelly Street" which reached #84). "Bizarre Love Triangle" was released in Australia on a re-issued version of the "Lonely" EP in 1994 (#7, with the first issue charting at #88). The cover was also a hit in the United States, charting at #10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band's only other chart placement in the US was a re-release of the "Labour of Love" single, which managed #9 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
They appeared on the 1994 soundtrack for the American TV show: Melrose Place with the song "Ordinary Angels".
In between the first and second Frente! albums, Angie Hart lent her vocal to an Australian single by Pop! titled "Tingly" (#92), released in late 1995.
Frente! also has a track on the compilation album Saturday Morning, a cover version of "Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)". The album was released on 5 December 1995.
Frente! released a second album, Shape, in 1996, produced by Ted Nicely, who had previously worked with Fugazi, among others. The first single "Sit On My Hands" peaked at #66 in Australia, and the second, "What's Come Over Me" did not enter the top 100 although it did reach #83 in the UK. The album peaked at #35. Frente! broke up shortly after its release in 1996.
In January 2005, Frente! reformed for some Australian east coast dates. The line-up for these shows was Angie Hart, Simon Austin and Bill McDonald with Pete Luscombe on drums. On 28 November 2010, Frente! played at a Punters Club reunion show at the Corner Hotel, curated by Angie Hart.[1] The show also featured other notable early 1990s Melbourne bands such as The Glory Box, The Hollowmen and The Fauves. In 2011 Frente performed at the Brisbane Festival to a sold out crowd in the Speigeltent.
"Accidently Kelly Street" was parodied by The Late Show, featuring Jane Kennedy, Tony Martin, Mick Molloy and Santo Cilauro. It was named "Accidentally Was Released".[2]
The song "Jungle" from their second album Shape featured in the an episode of the British television series Teachers.
Releases marked with a star were released in Australia only.