Betchadupa
Encyclopedia
Betchadupa is a New Zealand
pop
/rock
group.
Formed in 1997, in Auckland
, the band features Liam Finn
, son of Neil Finn
, of Crowded House
and Split Enz
and Matt Eccles, son of Brent Eccles
(previously a member of The Angels
and Citizen Band
).
Betchadupa (originally called Lazy Boy - the name change followed threatened legal action from the chair company of the same name) had its origins when Liam and Matt met whilst their families were on holidays in New Zealand
. Their first song, written when both boys were 11, was called 'Gee This Sounds Good, I Can't Believe We Wrote It'.
Their unique name was lifted from the text of a polish-American's t-shirt that declared "Betchadupa I'm Polish", dupa being the Polish word for arse.
The band based themselves in London, UK after spending much of 2004 in Melbourne
, Australia
. The band have been on hiatus while Liam has undergone a solo career. It is uncertain if the band will ever reform.
Betchadupa has had extensive experience playing with such bands as Queens of the Stone Age
, Foo Fighters
, Jane's Addiction
and ended the year 2001 on a high playing alongside Pearl Jam
’s Eddie Vedder
at the Neil Finn
and Friends concert in Auckland, and being named Top New Act at the prestigious NZ Music Awards as well as becoming the toast of the South By Southwest
Music Convention in Austin, Texas in January 2003.
"Aiming for Your Head" is probably best known as the theme of the Australian TV show Blue Water High
.
Their album, The Alphabetchadupa won awards at the 2002 B-Net and NZ Music Awards.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/rock
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...
group.
Formed in 1997, in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, the band features Liam Finn
Liam Finn
Liam Mullane Finn is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Born in Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child...
, son of Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, of Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
and Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
and Matt Eccles, son of Brent Eccles
Brent Eccles
Brent Eccles was the drummer for The Angels, an Australian pub rock band and , in chronological order, he was also drummer in:The Breed, Vox Pop, Stuart & The Belmonts, Streetalk, Space Waltz, After Hours, and Citizen Band....
(previously a member of The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
and Citizen Band
Citizen Band
Citizen Band were a New Zealand band formed by the brothers Geoff and Mike Chunn, both of whom had previously been members of Split Enz.- Band members :...
).
Betchadupa (originally called Lazy Boy - the name change followed threatened legal action from the chair company of the same name) had its origins when Liam and Matt met whilst their families were on holidays in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Their first song, written when both boys were 11, was called 'Gee This Sounds Good, I Can't Believe We Wrote It'.
Their unique name was lifted from the text of a polish-American's t-shirt that declared "Betchadupa I'm Polish", dupa being the Polish word for arse.
The band based themselves in London, UK after spending much of 2004 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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The band have been on hiatus while Liam has undergone a solo career. It is uncertain if the band will ever reform.
Betchadupa has had extensive experience playing with such bands as Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
and ended the year 2001 on a high playing alongside Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
’s Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
at the Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
and Friends concert in Auckland, and being named Top New Act at the prestigious NZ Music Awards as well as becoming the toast of the South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
Music Convention in Austin, Texas in January 2003.
Band members
- Liam FinnLiam FinnLiam Mullane Finn is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Born in Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child...
- vocals, guitar - Chris Garland - guitar
- Joe BramleyJoe BramleyJonothan William Bramley is a New Zealand musician. He was born in 1983 in Hong Kong to parents Geoff Bramley and Janet Brice. He has two siblings, older brother Nick Bramley, and younger brother Richie Bramley...
- bass, backing vocals - Matt Eccles - drums
Discography
| Date | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | |||||
| 2002 | The Alphabetchadupa | Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
2 | New Zealand | FNCD465 |
| 2004 | Aiming For Your Head Aiming For Your Head Aiming for Your Head is an album by New Zealand band, Betchadupa released in 2004.The track "Aiming for Your Head" was the theme song of the ABC children's show Blue Water High."My Army of Birds and Gulls" is on the Love My Way soundtrack album.... |
Liberation Music Liberation Music Liberation Music is a boutique, independent Australasian record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. Its stated aim is to find, nurture and then to develop new talent for a world market while remaining independent in the process... |
32 | - | LIBCD6133.2 |
| EPs | |||||
| 2000 | The Betchadupa EP | Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s... |
- | - | FNCD445 |
| 2001 | The 3D EP The 3D EP The 3D EP is a CD-EP by New Zealand band Betchadupa released in 2001.-Track listing:NZ Version#I Want It#Awake#Drive Away#Guiding#Man On My Left#West Coast Religion#Brighter SoundAus. Version#I Want It#Awake#Spill The Light#Man On My Left... |
- | - | ||
"Aiming for Your Head" is probably best known as the theme of the Australian TV show Blue Water High
Blue Water High
Blue Water High is an Australian television drama series, broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on ABC1 and on Austar/Foxtel Nickelodeon channel in Australia and on various channels in many other countries...
.
Awards
Betchadupa won "Best New Act" at the 2000 New Zealand Music AwardsTheir album, The Alphabetchadupa won awards at the 2002 B-Net and NZ Music Awards.