George (band)
Encyclopedia
George are a rock band from Brisbane
, Australia
. Their first album, Polyserena
reached #1 in the Australian Charts on 17 March 2002.
on vocals and keyboards, her brother Tyrone Noonan
on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Geoff Green on drums and percussion, Paulie Bromley on bass and Nick Stewart on acoustic and electric guitar. Geoff Hooton, a bass player left the band in early 2000.
The Noonans form the nucleus of the band sharing principal songwriting duties. Nick Stewart also contributes to many of the bands tunes. The Noonans grew up with a strong background in classical music with their mother Maggie Noonan being a well-known opera singer. Katie Noonan studied opera and jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Nick Stewart grew up listening to and playing rock music. Paulie Bromley played in underground Brisbane rock band Pangaea
with Ben Ely
of Regurgitator
. Geoff Green has been playing the drums since 1987, and studied music at the Queensland University of Technology.
The band formed in 1996 to enter a university music competition. It released a series of independent EPs namely George
in 1998, You Can Take What's Mine in 1999 and Bastard-son/Holiday in 2000. The EPs did progressively better earning good airplay on Triple J
Radio and community radio stations across Australia. George was also winning a strong live following throughout the nation.
George signed with Festival Mushroom Records in mid 2001. "Special Ones" was the first single released on Festival Records followed by "Run" in October 2001 and "Breathe in Now" in February 2002. From this time the band toured heavily.
The band's first album Polyserena
debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. Polyserena achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks. By the end of 2002, the album had gone double platinum. It had spent 36 weeks in the top 50.
In January 2003, the band joined forces with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra over two nights (23rd & 25th) to perform Concerto for Group and Orchestra
by Jon Lord
. The band is the only rock group other than Deep Purple
to perform the piece.
It was typical of the band's eclectic approach combining classical, rock, funk, jazz and even electronic music.
George released the album Unity
in February 2004 and it debuted at #5 in the Australian album chart of 1 March 2004. Katie Noonan says on the band's web site that the title reflects the band's approach on the album. "That family vibe brings a closeness and honesty that permeates what we do. Collectively and individually, we've been through a great period of change and growth. Knowing we can look to each other for strength brings comfort and solidarity. We have all been through the same thing and there's an incredible sense of union from that experience - that's what being in a band's about."
George last performed live in Brisbane
on 22 December 2004 and are currently on hiatus whilst individual members attend to their own projects. While there are no immediate plans to regroup and perform or record new material, the band will endeavour to make a comeback at some stage.
The band reformed for what has now become their final show, on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on Friday 27 January 2005.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, 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...
. Their first album, Polyserena
Polyserena
Polyserena is a 2002 album by George.The band's first album, Polyserena debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. It achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks...
reached #1 in the Australian Charts on 17 March 2002.
History
The band consists of Katie NoonanKatie Noonan
Katie Anne Noonan is an Australian singer-songwriter. In addition to a successful solo career encompassing opera, jazz, pop, rock and dance, she sings in the groups george and Elixir, duets with her mother, Maggie Noonan and is currently playing with support from the group The...
on vocals and keyboards, her brother Tyrone Noonan
Tyrone Noonan
Tyrone Noonan is an Australian musician, best known for his vocals, guitars, keyboards and songwriting in the Brisbane band George. He has also worked as a composer for Australian theatre companies La Boite and Queensland Theatre Company...
on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Geoff Green on drums and percussion, Paulie Bromley on bass and Nick Stewart on acoustic and electric guitar. Geoff Hooton, a bass player left the band in early 2000.
The Noonans form the nucleus of the band sharing principal songwriting duties. Nick Stewart also contributes to many of the bands tunes. The Noonans grew up with a strong background in classical music with their mother Maggie Noonan being a well-known opera singer. Katie Noonan studied opera and jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Nick Stewart grew up listening to and playing rock music. Paulie Bromley played in underground Brisbane rock band Pangaea
Pangaea
Pangaea, Pangæa, or Pangea is hypothesized as a supercontinent that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras about 250 million years ago, before the component continents were separated into their current configuration....
with Ben Ely
Ben Ely
Ben Ely is a musician and artist best known for his work with Brisbane indie/alternative rock band Regurgitator, a multi-ARIA Music Award winning group which formed in Brisbane, Australia in December 1993....
of Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
. Geoff Green has been playing the drums since 1987, and studied music at the Queensland University of Technology.
The band formed in 1996 to enter a university music competition. It released a series of independent EPs namely George
Self-titled/Homebrew
Self-titled/Homebrew or as it is often simply known as "George" was the first CD release from Brisbane band George. The band was formed in 1996 for a Music contest and as it had finally broken down from a larger-pieced band to a five-piece band, their debut EP was created in 1998. The band then...
in 1998, You Can Take What's Mine in 1999 and Bastard-son/Holiday in 2000. The EPs did progressively better earning good airplay on Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
Radio and community radio stations across Australia. George was also winning a strong live following throughout the nation.
George signed with Festival Mushroom Records in mid 2001. "Special Ones" was the first single released on Festival Records followed by "Run" in October 2001 and "Breathe in Now" in February 2002. From this time the band toured heavily.
The band's first album Polyserena
Polyserena
Polyserena is a 2002 album by George.The band's first album, Polyserena debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. It achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks...
debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. Polyserena achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks. By the end of 2002, the album had gone double platinum. It had spent 36 weeks in the top 50.
In January 2003, the band joined forces with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra over two nights (23rd & 25th) to perform Concerto for Group and Orchestra
Concerto for Group and Orchestra
The Concerto for Group and Orchestra is a concerto composed by Jon Lord, with lyrics written by Ian Gillan. It was first performed by Deep Purple and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold on 24 September 1969 and released on vinyl in December 1969. The release was the first...
by Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
. The band is the only rock group other than Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
to perform the piece.
It was typical of the band's eclectic approach combining classical, rock, funk, jazz and even electronic music.
George released the album Unity
Unity (George album)
-The making of the album:The band recorded the album in Byron Bay during 2003. The album was produced by David Nicholas assisted by Justin Tresidder. Melbourne composer Paul Grabowsky also assisted with orchestral and horn arrangements....
in February 2004 and it debuted at #5 in the Australian album chart of 1 March 2004. Katie Noonan says on the band's web site that the title reflects the band's approach on the album. "That family vibe brings a closeness and honesty that permeates what we do. Collectively and individually, we've been through a great period of change and growth. Knowing we can look to each other for strength brings comfort and solidarity. We have all been through the same thing and there's an incredible sense of union from that experience - that's what being in a band's about."
George last performed live in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 22 December 2004 and are currently on hiatus whilst individual members attend to their own projects. While there are no immediate plans to regroup and perform or record new material, the band will endeavour to make a comeback at some stage.
The band reformed for what has now become their final show, on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on Friday 27 January 2005.
Albums/EPs
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Sales/certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS 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... |
|||
| 1998 | George Self-titled/Homebrew Self-titled/Homebrew or as it is often simply known as "George" was the first CD release from Brisbane band George. The band was formed in 1996 for a Music contest and as it had finally broken down from a larger-pieced band to a five-piece band, their debut EP was created in 1998. The band then... |
– | |
| 1999 | You Can Take What's Mine | – | |
| 2000 | Bastard Son/Holiday | – | |
| 2002 | Polyserena Polyserena Polyserena is a 2002 album by George.The band's first album, Polyserena debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. It achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks... |
1 | Approx. 140,000 (2X Platinum) |
| 2004 | Unity Unity (George album) -The making of the album:The band recorded the album in Byron Bay during 2003. The album was produced by David Nicholas assisted by Justin Tresidder. Melbourne composer Paul Grabowsky also assisted with orchestral and horn arrangements.... |
5 | Approx. 35,000 (Gold) |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS 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... |
|||
| 2001 | "Special Ones" | 29 | Polyserena Polyserena Polyserena is a 2002 album by George.The band's first album, Polyserena debuted at #1 in the national album charts in its first week; George became only the tenth Australian band to do so with a debut album. It achieved gold record status within ten days, and platinum record status within three weeks... |
| "Run" | 27 | ||
| 2002 | "Breathe In Now" | 29 | |
| "Breaking it Slowly" | 43 | ||
| 2004 | "Still Real" | 37 | Unity |