Craig Nicholls
Encyclopedia
Craig Robert Nicholls, (born 31 August 1977) is the lead singer
, songwriter
and guitarist
of the Australian alternative rock
group The Vines
. He formed the band in 1994 in Sydney, New South Wales. In late 2004, he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome
, a neurological disorder of the autism spectrum
.
, painting art works and skateboarding. He grew up as "a loner... I never socialized. I stayed at home and listened to music all day. Music became a mystical world".
Nicholls attended Marist College Penshurst
until he dropped out of high school during Year 10. He enrolled in an art school for six months to study painting. He supported his ambition to be a musician by working in a fast food service job at a local McDonald's
restaurant in South Hurstville
. There he met future band mates, bass guitarist, Patrick Matthews
and drummer, David Oliffe
. To form a quartet named Rishikesh, Nicholls invited his school-mate Ryan Griffiths
to join on guitar. Nicholls provided the band's name, Rishikesh, from the city in India
where The Beatles had attended an ashram
. Reviewing early gigs, newspapers would misprint the name as 'Rishi Chasms', so Nicholls decided to change it to The Vines – a reference to his father's group.
Nicholls had never written songs until The Vines started playing gigs. Early performances included playing for backyard parties, and a regular spot on a local radio station. They gathered a following in Sydney and eventually reached the notice of Capitol Records
. Once he started writing songs, he loved it and continued to write more, the writing was a good outlet for him. Nicholls wrote "Factory
", the band's first single, which became NMEs Single of the Week in November 2001. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002
, The Vines won 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Single' for "Get Free
", which was also written by Nicholls. At the APRA Awards of 2003
he won the 'Breakthrough Songwriter Award'.
Several of Nicholls' paintings are used for The Vines' releases including for the albums Highly Evolved
, Winning Days
(self portrait only), and singles "Highly Evolved
", and "Outtathaway!
". Nicholls' work on Highly Evolved was nominated for "Best Cover Art" at the 2002 ARIA Awards.
via his bong
. In August, The Vines' performed "Get Free" on Late Show with David Letterman
with Nicholls trashing Hamish Rosser
's drum kit. In December, they were prevented from performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
after Nicholls damaged the set during a rehearsal. His behaviour was seen as "a sign of stress and mental exhaustion."
Late in May 2004, The Vines appeared at a promotional show for Triple M radio, where Nicholls bleated at the audience and demanded they not talk during their performance. When he heard a laugh, he said to the crowd, "Why the fuck are you laughing? You're all a bunch of sheep. Can you go baa?". An official photographer, Janie Barrett, snapped a picture of Nicholls who allegedly kicked out at her, smashing her camera. As a result, Matthews left the stage and never played with The Vines again (he later joined Youth Group
) and Triple M banned the group's music from being broadcast by their station. Subsequent performances on their Australian, United States and European tours to promote their second album, Winning Days were cancelled.
In November, Nicholls faced assault and malicious damage charges at Balmain Local Court in Sydney, he was accompanied by his brother Matt, and his manager and friend Andy Kelly. It was revealed that Nicholls has Asperger syndrome
, which is a neurological disorder of the autism spectrum
.
His condition had been suspected by Nicholls' guitar technician, English road crew veteran Tony Bateman, who had toured with The Cure
, The Sisters of Mercy
and Black Sabbath
. Bateman felt there was something clinically different with Nicholls and downloaded information about Asperger syndrome, handing it over to Kelly. Professor Tony Attwood, an austism spectrum disorders specialist, confirmed the diagnosis after seeing Nicholls and his family in August. The judge dropped all charges against Nicholls on the condition that he seek immediate treatment. Nicholls yelled "I'm free!" upon leaving the courthouse. He was under medical treatment and therapy for six months, he gave up his intake of fast food and marijuana habit. He has spoken about his condition in subsequent interviews.
In November 2008, The Vines cancelled shows in Australia and Japan due to Nicholls' mental health having deteriorated over the previous month and he required further help.
Super Lead head and cab with a black Fender Stratocaster
. His amp was set on a clean tone and for lead and distortion tones he would use a Boss MT-2
pedal. He also used a Boss Chorus pedal for clean tones and for oscillating feedback. His Winning Days
set-up was very similar except he used a Garage Spalt & Scala Custom guitar and a Boss tremolo and flange pedal. The Vision Valley
set-up however changed as he was using a white Stratocaster and a Sunn
head and cab and for the Melodia
set-up his amp, pedals and guitar has remained the same. Nicholls has also always used a Boss TU-2 tuner and has played occasionally a Gibson SG
and Guild
acoustic guitars. As of late 2010, Nicholls has gone back to using a black Fender Stratocaster.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of the Australian alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
group The Vines
The Vines
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Special:LandingCheck?landing_page=L11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy_DDOptimised&utm_medium=sitenotice&utm_campaign=C11_1121_WMUK_DDvOneOff&utm_source=B11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy&language=en&country=GB...
. He formed the band in 1994 in Sydney, New South Wales. In late 2004, he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
, a neurological disorder of the autism spectrum
Autism spectrum
The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise...
.
Early days
Craig Robert Nicholls was born on 31 August 1977 and grew up in Sydney, New South Wales. Terry Nicholls, his father, was the guitarist and vocalist in a 1960s group, The Vynes. Later Terry worked as an accountant for Sony Music Australia. Nicholls' older brother is Matt, he has an older sister and a younger sister, Jessica. Terry taught him to play guitar during childhood. He preferred listening to The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, painting art works and skateboarding. He grew up as "a loner... I never socialized. I stayed at home and listened to music all day. Music became a mystical world".
Nicholls attended Marist College Penshurst
Marist College Penshurst
Marist College Penshurst is a systemic Catholic College for boys from Years 7 to 10, located in Mortdale, New South Wales, Australia.The College was founded in 1953 and has a tradition based on the teachings of the French educator Saint Marcellin Champagnat...
until he dropped out of high school during Year 10. He enrolled in an art school for six months to study painting. He supported his ambition to be a musician by working in a fast food service job at a local McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant in South Hurstville
Hurstville, New South Wales
Hurstville is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hurstville is located 16 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Hurstville is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of...
. There he met future band mates, bass guitarist, Patrick Matthews
Patrick Matthews
Patrick Matthews is the former bassist of Australian garage rock band The Vines and currently the bassist of Youth Group. Matthews founded The Vines with Craig Nicholls. The two met while working at McDonald's in Sydney. Matthews stayed with the band for two albums...
and drummer, David Oliffe
David Oliffe
David Vincent Olliffe is an Australian musician, and the former drummer of The Vines. During the recordings of the band's debut album, Highly Evolved, Olliffe left citing creative differences with band management and the album's producer although it was reported on the band's website that "he...
. To form a quartet named Rishikesh, Nicholls invited his school-mate Ryan Griffiths
Ryan Griffiths (guitarist)
Ryan Griffiths is the guitarist for the Australian garage rock band The Vines.Craig Nicholls, who started the band, realised while touring for the promotion of Highly Evolved that the band needed an additional guitarist. So Craig asked his longtime friend and schoolmate Ryan to join the band.-Solo...
to join on guitar. Nicholls provided the band's name, Rishikesh, from the city in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where The Beatles had attended an ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
. Reviewing early gigs, newspapers would misprint the name as 'Rishi Chasms', so Nicholls decided to change it to The Vines – a reference to his father's group.
Nicholls had never written songs until The Vines started playing gigs. Early performances included playing for backyard parties, and a regular spot on a local radio station. They gathered a following in Sydney and eventually reached the notice of Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. Once he started writing songs, he loved it and continued to write more, the writing was a good outlet for him. Nicholls wrote "Factory
Factory (The Vines)
"Factory" is the second single released by Australian rock band The Vines. All 3 songs were re-recorded later on in the Vines career with "Factory' and 'Ain't No Room' being re-recorded for their debut album 'Highly Evolved' released in July 2002 and 'Drown the Baptists' being re-recorded during...
", the band's first single, which became NMEs Single of the Week in November 2001. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002
ARIA Music Awards of 2002
The 16th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 15 October 2002 at the Sydney SuperDome.-ARIA Awards:...
, The Vines won 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Single' for "Get Free
Get Free
"Get Free" is a song by the garage rock band The Vines from their debut album Highly Evolved. The song was released in late 2002, and remains the Vines' highest charting single . The song was written by Vines' frontman Craig Nicholls...
", which was also written by Nicholls. At the APRA Awards of 2003
APRA Awards of 2003
The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2003 are a series of awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Classical Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards were presented by APRA and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society...
he won the 'Breakthrough Songwriter Award'.
Several of Nicholls' paintings are used for The Vines' releases including for the albums Highly Evolved
Highly Evolved
Highly Evolved is the debut album by Australian alternative rock band The Vines, released in July 2002. Produced by Rob Schnapf, Highly Evolved was an immensely popular debut, part of a trend towards garage rock revival bands known as much for the relentless hype from the UK music press as for...
, Winning Days
Winning Days
Winning Days is the second studio album by Australian alternative rock band The Vines, following their debut, Highly Evolved, and was released on 23 March 2004. The enhanced CD has the music video for "Ride". Winning Days was recorded in the summer of 2003 at Bearsville Studios in New York and was...
(self portrait only), and singles "Highly Evolved
Highly Evolved (song)
"Highly Evolved" is the opening track and first single from The Vines' debut album of the same name . The song was written by Craig Nicholls.- Song :...
", and "Outtathaway!
Outtathaway!
"Outtathaway!" is the third single from The Vines' debut album Highly Evolved. It is the Vines' second highest charting single and also written by Craig Nicholls. The song was used in the movie Bruce Almighty, but it wasn't included on the official movie soundtrack...
". Nicholls' work on Highly Evolved was nominated for "Best Cover Art" at the 2002 ARIA Awards.
Asperger syndrome
By 2002 Craig Nicholls had gained a reputation as an erratic performer. He was a heavy user of marijuanaCannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
via his bong
Bong
A bong is a filtration device/apparatus generally used for smoking cannabis, tobacco,or other herbal substances.In construction and function a bong is similar to a hookah, except smaller and more portable...
. In August, The Vines' performed "Get Free" on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
with Nicholls trashing Hamish Rosser
Hamish Rosser
Hamish Rosser is the drummer of Australian garage rock band, The Vines. He graduated with a degree in Engineering from Sydney University. He worked as a chemical engineer in Sydney. He left his job so that he could play music with bands...
's drum kit. In December, they were prevented from performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
after Nicholls damaged the set during a rehearsal. His behaviour was seen as "a sign of stress and mental exhaustion."
Late in May 2004, The Vines appeared at a promotional show for Triple M radio, where Nicholls bleated at the audience and demanded they not talk during their performance. When he heard a laugh, he said to the crowd, "Why the fuck are you laughing? You're all a bunch of sheep. Can you go baa?". An official photographer, Janie Barrett, snapped a picture of Nicholls who allegedly kicked out at her, smashing her camera. As a result, Matthews left the stage and never played with The Vines again (he later joined Youth Group
Youth Group
Youth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
) and Triple M banned the group's music from being broadcast by their station. Subsequent performances on their Australian, United States and European tours to promote their second album, Winning Days were cancelled.
In November, Nicholls faced assault and malicious damage charges at Balmain Local Court in Sydney, he was accompanied by his brother Matt, and his manager and friend Andy Kelly. It was revealed that Nicholls has Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
, which is a neurological disorder of the autism spectrum
Autism spectrum
The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise...
.
His condition had been suspected by Nicholls' guitar technician, English road crew veteran Tony Bateman, who had toured with The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. Bateman felt there was something clinically different with Nicholls and downloaded information about Asperger syndrome, handing it over to Kelly. Professor Tony Attwood, an austism spectrum disorders specialist, confirmed the diagnosis after seeing Nicholls and his family in August. The judge dropped all charges against Nicholls on the condition that he seek immediate treatment. Nicholls yelled "I'm free!" upon leaving the courthouse. He was under medical treatment and therapy for six months, he gave up his intake of fast food and marijuana habit. He has spoken about his condition in subsequent interviews.
In November 2008, The Vines cancelled shows in Australia and Japan due to Nicholls' mental health having deteriorated over the previous month and he required further help.
Musical equipment
Craig Nicholls' Highly Evolved days live set-up included a MarshallMarshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
Super Lead head and cab with a black Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
. His amp was set on a clean tone and for lead and distortion tones he would use a Boss MT-2
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
pedal. He also used a Boss Chorus pedal for clean tones and for oscillating feedback. His Winning Days
Winning Days
Winning Days is the second studio album by Australian alternative rock band The Vines, following their debut, Highly Evolved, and was released on 23 March 2004. The enhanced CD has the music video for "Ride". Winning Days was recorded in the summer of 2003 at Bearsville Studios in New York and was...
set-up was very similar except he used a Garage Spalt & Scala Custom guitar and a Boss tremolo and flange pedal. The Vision Valley
Vision Valley
Vision Valley is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band The Vines. It was released on 1 April 2006 in Australia and on 3 April 2006 everywhere else except in the USA, where it was released on 4 April 2006...
set-up however changed as he was using a white Stratocaster and a Sunn
Sunn
Sunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
head and cab and for the Melodia
Melodia (album)
Initial critical response to Melodia was average. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 43, based on 9 reviews.-Track listing:-B-Sides and Bonus Tracks:...
set-up his amp, pedals and guitar has remained the same. Nicholls has also always used a Boss TU-2 tuner and has played occasionally a Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
and Guild
Guild Guitar Company
The Guild Guitar Company is a USA-based guitar manufacturer founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a guitarist and music-store owner, and George Mann, a former executive with the Epiphone Guitar Company...
acoustic guitars. As of late 2010, Nicholls has gone back to using a black Fender Stratocaster.