Nicky Bomba
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Caruana aka Nicky Bomba (born 7 September 1963, Malta
) is an Australian musician and singer. He is the frontman of his band Bomba
as well as the drummer and percussionist of John Butler Trio
and has also performed with several other artists. He is also a solo artist.
In 1978 he formed a cover band with his brother, Michael, called Fugitive Flight. In 1982, Fugitive Flight became a band playing original music with vocalist, Peter Miller, bassist, Steve Morgan (later of Icehouse
), and guitarist, Peter Weeda. They soon changed their name to Guided Tour. After a considerable hiatus working in a variety of known and unknown bands, Nicky formed The Truth
in 1993, with Michael Caruana (keyboards), Tony Kopa (vocals) and Geoff Wells (guitars). The Truth released a self-titled album in 1995, and in 1997 added a bass player Mick Girasole for the release of a second album, Headspace with the band re-branded as Truth. Truth broke up in late 1997.
In 1998 he formed a new band, Banana Oil, with Tim Neal (keyboards), Andy Baylor (guitar) and David Williamson (saxophone), releasing an album, Guavo Lampo.
In 1999 he formed Bomba
with Paul Coyle (trumpet, trombone), Dorian West (bass), Pete Mitchell (saxophone, guitar), George Servanis (drums) and his brother Michael (keyboards). Bomba has released four albums.
In 2000 Bomba together with Joe Camilleri
set up Transmitter Records.
In 2003 he joined John Butler
, together with Shannon Birchall
as part of the John Butler Trio
to record the group's 2004 album, Sunrise Over Sea
. After recording the album he re-joined his band, Bomba.
2006 saw Bomba and Camilleri release Limestone, an album of covers and original music.
He recorded an album of Maltese songs, Nicol Caruana, in 2007 with his 70 year old father, Nicol Caruana. This was followed in 2008 by his first solo release an EP
, Jah In the Moment, which he then toured with a trio around Australia. In 2009 he released, Planet Juice, his first solo album, on which he played drums, guitar, ukele and marimba
.
In 2009 he re-joined the John Butler Trio with Byron Luiters on bass, recording the group's fifth studio album, April Uprising
. In 2010 Bomba toured with the John Butler Trio, prompting the album.
. His brother Michael Caruana plays in Mama Kin and Bomba.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
) is an Australian musician and singer. He is the frontman of his band Bomba
Bomba (band)
Bomba are an Australian funk and reggae band from Melbourne. Led by Maltese-Australian Nicky Bomba, they are renowned internationally for their "energetic live shows and passionate performances", although they are more popular at home. They have released four albums, the latest of which is Bomba...
as well as the drummer and percussionist of John Butler Trio
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...
and has also performed with several other artists. He is also a solo artist.
Biography
Bomba's family migrated to Australia late 1964. He started learning drums when he was six years old.In 1978 he formed a cover band with his brother, Michael, called Fugitive Flight. In 1982, Fugitive Flight became a band playing original music with vocalist, Peter Miller, bassist, Steve Morgan (later of Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
), and guitarist, Peter Weeda. They soon changed their name to Guided Tour. After a considerable hiatus working in a variety of known and unknown bands, Nicky formed The Truth
The Truth (Australian band)
The Truth were a funk band from Melbourne, Australia, active from 1993 to 1997.Their final lineup was Nicky Bomba , Michael Caruana , Mick Girasole , Tony Kopa and Geoff Wells .-Biography:...
in 1993, with Michael Caruana (keyboards), Tony Kopa (vocals) and Geoff Wells (guitars). The Truth released a self-titled album in 1995, and in 1997 added a bass player Mick Girasole for the release of a second album, Headspace with the band re-branded as Truth. Truth broke up in late 1997.
In 1998 he formed a new band, Banana Oil, with Tim Neal (keyboards), Andy Baylor (guitar) and David Williamson (saxophone), releasing an album, Guavo Lampo.
In 1999 he formed Bomba
Bomba (band)
Bomba are an Australian funk and reggae band from Melbourne. Led by Maltese-Australian Nicky Bomba, they are renowned internationally for their "energetic live shows and passionate performances", although they are more popular at home. They have released four albums, the latest of which is Bomba...
with Paul Coyle (trumpet, trombone), Dorian West (bass), Pete Mitchell (saxophone, guitar), George Servanis (drums) and his brother Michael (keyboards). Bomba has released four albums.
In 2000 Bomba together with Joe Camilleri
Joe Camilleri
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Camilleri, aka Jo Jo Zep or Joey Vincent, is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist. Camilleri has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows...
set up Transmitter Records.
In 2003 he joined John Butler
John Butler (musician)
John Charles Wiltshire-Butler or John Charles Butler is an Australian musician, songwriter, record label owner and producer...
, together with Shannon Birchall
Shannon Birchall
Shannon Birchall is an Australian born musician, probably best known as the bassist for jam band the John Butler Trio. Birchall is often labeled a virtuoso by different music experts. He is also known for composing and conducting the string sections of the John Butler Trio's...
as part of the John Butler Trio
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...
to record the group's 2004 album, Sunrise Over Sea
Sunrise over Sea
Sunrise Over Sea is the third album of The John Butler Trio and the fifth featuring John Butler. It was released in March 2004.- Conception and production :...
. After recording the album he re-joined his band, Bomba.
2006 saw Bomba and Camilleri release Limestone, an album of covers and original music.
He recorded an album of Maltese songs, Nicol Caruana, in 2007 with his 70 year old father, Nicol Caruana. This was followed in 2008 by his first solo release an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Jah In the Moment, which he then toured with a trio around Australia. In 2009 he released, Planet Juice, his first solo album, on which he played drums, guitar, ukele and marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
.
In 2009 he re-joined the John Butler Trio with Byron Luiters on bass, recording the group's fifth studio album, April Uprising
April Uprising (album)
April Uprising is the fifth studio album by Australian Roots band the John Butler Trio. The album was recorded from late 2009-early 2010 in Fremantle, Australia. The album's name comes from Butler's appearance on the television documentary series, Who Do You Think You Are, where he journeyed to...
. In 2010 Bomba toured with the John Butler Trio, prompting the album.
Personal
Nicky Bomba's sister, Daniella Caruana is the artist Mama Kin, whose husband is John ButlerJohn Butler (musician)
John Charles Wiltshire-Butler or John Charles Butler is an Australian musician, songwriter, record label owner and producer...
. His brother Michael Caruana plays in Mama Kin and Bomba.
Nicky Bomba & Laroz Haim
- Bomba vs. Laroz - MushroomMushroom RecordsMushroom 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...
(2 September 2006)
Dereb Desalegn & Nicky Bomba
- Drums and Lions - Transmitter/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(4 November 2006)
Solo
- Jah In the Moment - MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(5 July 2008) - Planet Juice - Bomba Music/MushroomMushroom RecordsMushroom 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...
(19 May 2009)