Powderfinger Biography
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This Australian quintet is one of their country’s top rock bands, having scored several hit albums and singles from the mid-90s into the new millennium. Taking their name from a Neil Young song, Powderfinger was originally formed in Brisbane, Queensland, during 1989 by high school friends Ian Haug (21 February 1970; guitar/vocals), John Collins (bass) and Steven Bishop (drums). By 1992, Bishop had been replaced by Jon Coghill (b. 26 August 1971), and Bernard Fanning (b. 15 August 1969; vocals/guitar) and Darren Middleton (b. 4 October 1971; guitar, keyboards, vocals) completed the line-up. Originally more hard rock-orientated, the quintet let their roots rock/classic rock influences reflect in their sound after signing with Polydor-Australia in 1993. Their second and third albums, Double Allergic (1996) and Internationalist (1998), rocketed into the Top 10 and racked up impressive sales (Double Allergic eventually went triple platinum, while Internationalist reached quadruple platinum sales), as well as winning numerous Australian Record Industry awards, including Song Of The Year for ‘The Day You Come’. The band’s first major overseas success, Odyssey Number Five, was originally released in Australia in 2000. They also contributed the track ‘My Kind Of Scene’ to the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise movie Mission: Impossible II. Their next studio album, 2003’s Vulture Street, was another huge commercial success in Australia, with five tracks reaching the upper regions of the country’s singles chart. Following the release of a live album and a compilation set, the band announced a temporary hiatus. Middelton recorded with his side project Drag, while Fanning released his solo debut, Tea & Sympathy.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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