67 Special
Encyclopedia
67 Special is a rock
band based in Melbourne
.
, and became good friends sharing their passion for rock music. Their first band was called Naybious, named after Gavin's sister Lauren's one-eyed doll.
Lead vocalist Santilla and lead guitar
ist Campbell met multi-instrumentalist Louis Macklin at a school camp, and he became the band's keyboardist
and percussionist
. Progress of the band stalled for some time, until 2001 when Santilla and Campbell found each other again in Melbourne and began writing again.
Soon, drummer
Ben Dexter joined after coming to know the group through his brother, and bass guitar
ist Bryan Dochstader joined the group after noticing the group unloading gear in a supermarket car-park and asking them, "Do you guys need a bass player?"
The band couldn't decide on a name for several months until Dexter rang Santilla and asked him, "What's the model of your car?" "HR," Santilla replied. "What year?" "'67." "67 Special?" "Yeah."
67 Special signed with Festival Mushroom Records in 2003 and released the "Hey There Bomb" EP, "Boys and Girls" EP and their debut album "The World Can Wait". After Festival Mushroom Records was sold the band were picked up by Mushroom Records
, Warner Music Australia in 2006 and released their second album "The Devil May Care" in 2007.
During 2004 and 2005, the band toured extensively including shows with Dallas Crane
, Grinspoon
, The Black Keys
, Stereophonics
and The Casanovas
and have performed at the Australian Open, on Rove Live and at the Meredith
, Rock-It
, Falls Festival
and Peaches and Cream music festivals (see list of Australian music festivals).
In mid September 2005, 67 Special began their "The World Can Wait" national tour to promote their first full length album of the same name, The World Can Wait
. The tour brought them to all corners of Australia.
Recording of their follow-up album, "The Devil May Care" with producer Jacquire King
took place in September 2006. The album was released in August 2007, with the first single, "Killer Bees" being released in February 2007.
The band toured nationally with The Exploders to support the release of Killer Bees, and again for the release of the album. They've supported Jet
in Brisbane for 2 nights and toured with Dallas Crane down the east coast in mid-2007
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band based in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
History
In 1994, Ash Santilla and Gavin Campbell met at high school in their hometown of Benalla, VictoriaBenalla, Victoria
Benalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...
, and became good friends sharing their passion for rock music. Their first band was called Naybious, named after Gavin's sister Lauren's one-eyed doll.
Lead vocalist Santilla and lead guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Campbell met multi-instrumentalist Louis Macklin at a school camp, and he became the band's keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and percussionist
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
. Progress of the band stalled for some time, until 2001 when Santilla and Campbell found each other again in Melbourne and began writing again.
Soon, drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Ben Dexter joined after coming to know the group through his brother, and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist Bryan Dochstader joined the group after noticing the group unloading gear in a supermarket car-park and asking them, "Do you guys need a bass player?"
The band couldn't decide on a name for several months until Dexter rang Santilla and asked him, "What's the model of your car?" "HR," Santilla replied. "What year?" "'67." "67 Special?" "Yeah."
67 Special signed with Festival Mushroom Records in 2003 and released the "Hey There Bomb" EP, "Boys and Girls" EP and their debut album "The World Can Wait". After Festival Mushroom Records was sold the band were picked up by Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
, Warner Music Australia in 2006 and released their second album "The Devil May Care" in 2007.
Live performances
Performing live is an integral part of the 67 Special; in an interview, Campbell has stated "live is what it's all about for us," Santilla added, "We've built this band on a regime of playing live and wanting to be known as a good live band."During 2004 and 2005, the band toured extensively including shows with Dallas Crane
Dallas Crane
Dallas Crane is an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia.Dallas Crane was named after the father of a mate of the band.In January 2004, the band signed a recording and publishing deal with Albert Productions, the home of AC/DC. The band recorded an album with Wayne Connolly,...
, Grinspoon
Grinspoon
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
, The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
, Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
and The Casanovas
The Casanovas
The Casanovas are an Australian rock band, based in Melbourne. They were formed in 1999 by brothers Tommy and Patrick Boyce, along with Jimmy Lewis.-About the Band:...
and have performed at the Australian Open, on Rove Live and at the Meredith
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
, Rock-It
Rock-It
Rock-It is an Australian music festival held at the Arena Joondalup in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The festival was first held in 1999, and mainly features modern rock music...
, Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
and Peaches and Cream music festivals (see list of Australian music festivals).
In mid September 2005, 67 Special began their "The World Can Wait" national tour to promote their first full length album of the same name, The World Can Wait
The World Can Wait
The World Can Wait is the first full length album by rock music group 67 Special, and third release overall after their two earlier EP releases...
. The tour brought them to all corners of Australia.
Recording of their follow-up album, "The Devil May Care" with producer Jacquire King
Jacquire King
Jacquire King is a record producer, mix engineer, songwriter/musician, and artist manager. Some of the artists he has worked with include Tom Waits, Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Mutemath, Cold War Kids, Norah Jones, Tim Finn and Buddy Guy. He is a multiple Grammy Award winner and nominee...
took place in September 2006. The album was released in August 2007, with the first single, "Killer Bees" being released in February 2007.
The band toured nationally with The Exploders to support the release of Killer Bees, and again for the release of the album. They've supported Jet
Jet (band)
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
in Brisbane for 2 nights and toured with Dallas Crane down the east coast in mid-2007
Personnel
- Ash Santilla – lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Gavin Campbell – lead guitar
- Bryan Dochstader – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Ben Dexter – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Louis Macklin – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Discography
- 2004 Hey There BombHey There BombHey There Bomb is the debut EP by Melbourne rock music group, 67 Special, released in 2004 .The title track, "Hey There Bomb", was given regular airplay on alternative music radio station Triple J.-Track listing:...
(EP) - 2005 Boys & Girls (EP)
- 2005 The World Can WaitThe World Can WaitThe World Can Wait is the first full length album by rock music group 67 Special, and third release overall after their two earlier EP releases...
- 2007 The Devil May CareThe Devil May CareThe Devil May Care is the second full length album by Melbourne based rock music group 67 Special. The album was released in Australia on Saturday 11 August 2007....
External links
- 67Special.com Official band website (requires Macromedia Flash plugin)
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=43191912 Myspace site
- http://blogs.smh.com.au/newsblog/archives//002468.html Sydney Morning Herald interview with Ash
- http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/bands/australian/node_114/67_special The Dwarf's 67Special Content
- http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=3747 Australian Music Online
- Undercover.com.au Undercover's video interview with 67 Special from 11 October 2004 (requires either Windows Media PlayerWindows Media PlayerWindows Media Player is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices...
or RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
plugins) - AccessAllAreas.net.au Access All Areas' interview with 67 Special from mid-2005 (scroll down a bit)
- ReachOut.com.au 'Clued-Up' Interview with drummer Ben Dexter in mid-2005.
- Album Review Xdafied.com.au
- http://www.mushroommusic.com.au/songwriters/songwriter.asp?id=478 Mushroom Music Publishing