The Sleepy Jackson
Encyclopedia
The Sleepy Jackson are an 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...

 band formed in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

. The band's name was inspired by a former 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...

 who was narcoleptic
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia, characterized by excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks at inappropriate times, such as while at work. People with narcolepsy often experience disturbed nocturnal sleep and an abnormal daytime sleep pattern, which often is confused with insomnia...

. The band revolves around the distinctive vocal style of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Luke Steele. Stemming from a musical family, Luke's father Rick Steele is a local blues musician, and two of Luke's siblings are also musicians, with brother Jesse a former member of The Sleepy Jackson (and currently performing with father Rick in The Hot Biscuit Band), and sister Katy
Katy Steele
Katy Steele is the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of four piece rock band Little Birdy.-Biography:Katy Steele was born Kate Elizabeth Steele in Perth, Western Australia on 9 September 1983, and has a fraternal twin brother, Jake. She and her brother are the youngest in the family...

, who fronts another Perth rock band, Little Birdy
Little Birdy
Little Birdy are an Australian indie rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia in 2002 by singer and guitarist Katy Steele, drummer Matt Chequer, guitarist and keyboardist Simon Leach, and bass guitarist Scott O'Donoghue...

. While a series of acclaimed EPs brought The Sleepy Jackson to a broader musical attention of Australia, it was the release of their 2003 album Lovers and 2006 second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird
Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird is the second album by Australian band The Sleepy Jackson, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele...

 that directed significant international focus upon the band.

Biography

The Sleepy Jackson formed in 1998 with the original lineup featuring Luke Steele (vocals and guitars), Jesse Steele (drums), and Matthew O'Connor (bass). This lineup recorded a self-titled debut EP and a subsequent single titled "Miniskirt." Both recordings were independently released. In 2000, as a result of non-musical commitments, Luke suggested that his brother should redirect his attentions and concentrate on other happenings in his life which ultimately resulted in Jesse following his advice and departing the band.

The void created by Jesse Steele's departure was filled by Paul Keenan (who later drummed with Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....

 at their live performances). Along with numerous shows in their hometown of Perth, in late 2000 The Sleepy Jackson toured nationally with Jebediah
Jebediah
Jebediah is an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. The group consists of vocalist and guitarist Kevin Mitchell, guitarist Chris Daymond, bassist Vanessa Thornton, and Kevin's brother Brett Mitchell on drums...

. In March 2001, on the eve of the band's signing with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...

 Records, the band toured with Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...

 and Motor Ace
Motor Ace
Motor Ace were an Australian alternative rock band. Formed in Melbourne around 1998 out of the remains of another band named Snowblind, their members were Patrick Robertson , Damian Birchall Costin , Matt Balfe , and Dave Ong .- Early history :Motor Ace's swaggering rock anthems have seen many...

 with Ronan Charles on keyboards joining Steele, O'Connor and Keenan. Five weeks into the tour, with the band broke, exhausted, and sleeping in caravan parks rather than enjoying the luxuries their touring partners were enjoying, O'Connor, Keenan and Charles quit, leaving Luke Steele to complete the tour solo.

Upon signing to EMI, pressure was soon placed on Steele to produce a recording. The result was the 2001 EP titled Caffeine in the Morning Sun, which Steele recorded in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

 with a collection of session musicians. In addition to playing solo, Steele recruited drummer Malcolm Clark into The Sleepy Jackson fold and, when some serious touring was required in support of the release, the services of Justin Burford (guitar) and Rodney Aravena (bass) were enlisted. In addition to The Sleepy Jackson, Steele's three colleagues were also playing around their hometown with Jonathon Dudman under the name End of Fashion
End of Fashion
End of Fashion are an Australian power pop band from Perth, Western Australia. The band consists of singer and guitarist Justin Burford, guitarist Rodney Aravena, bassist Simon Fasolo, and drummer Mike Hobbs. The group gained mainstream attention with their 2005 single "O Yeah", which reached...

.

The Sleepy Jackson relocated to Sydney where they recorded another EP, Let Your Love Be Love, in late 2002. Songs from this EP and Caffeine in the Morning Sun were compiled together to form a self-titled mini-album for release in the UK market in February 2003. A period of extensive touring quickly followed, which saw the band playing in Australia, the United States, and Europe. The latter brought the band some very enthusiastic attention from UK music magazine NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...

. In between live appearances, The Sleepy Jackson worked on recordings that were to become their debut album Lovers. During a series of UK appearances in 2003, Burford and Aravena left the band. With a support slot for Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...

's Diorama
Diorama (album)
Diorama is the fourth studio album by Australian alternative rock band Silverchair. Released on 31 March 2002 by record label Eleven, the album was co-produced by Daniel Johns and David Bottrill...

 tour looming back in 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...

, replacements were quickly sought. Clarke ironically called upon the only other End of Fashion
End of Fashion
End of Fashion are an Australian power pop band from Perth, Western Australia. The band consists of singer and guitarist Justin Burford, guitarist Rodney Aravena, bassist Simon Fasolo, and drummer Mike Hobbs. The group gained mainstream attention with their 2005 single "O Yeah", which reached...

 member not previously part of The Sleepy Jackson, Jonathon Dudman.

Dudman joined the band in Sydney, where he took over bass duties, and the second guitarist position was filled by session musician Ben Nightingale. The Sleepy Jackson's revolving door continued when Nightingale was ultimately replaced by Jonathon Dudman's brother, Julian Dudman. But the Dudmans subsequently left the band, leaving Luke Steele and Malcolm Clark as the only official members of The Sleepy Jackson.

The Sleepy Jackson released their second full-length album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird
Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird is the second album by Australian band The Sleepy Jackson, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele...

 in Australia on 1 July 2006, where it debuted at #10 on the Australian Albums Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...

 the following week. Later that July, the album was nominated for a J Award
J Award
The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...

 by Australian radio station 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...

. With Personalitys predecessor Lovers also receiving generous support from both critics and radio alike, the band supported the new album's worldwide release with a series of live appearances in select markets. Joining Steele and Clark were Dave Symes and Felix Bloxsom
Felix Bloxsom
Felix Bloxsom, was born in Sydney, Australia. He is a professional musician, best known for his drumming and percussion playing.Since completing Jazz studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2000, Felix has worked with a diverse group of artists across many styles and genres...

, who both worked on the album, and Lee Jones who was formerly in the Perth band Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy (band)
Spencer Tracy was an Australian rock band, whose founding members Lee Jones, brother Kim and Shaun Sibbes came from Collie, Western Australia.-History:...

. Bloxsom has since been replaced by Luke's brother Jake and Luke's wife Jodi, a.k.a. "Snappy Dolphin," which also brought a change from organic percussion instruments to computer samples backing the band.

In 2007, The Sleepy Jackson performed at the 2007 Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...

, the Southbound festival
Southbound (festival)
Southbound is an arts, camping and music festival. A variety of Australian and international artists perform at this event. The festival occurs annually, early January, at the Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton, Western Australia.-History:...

, the 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 the St. Jerome's Laneway festivals in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Also in 2007, Steele provided slide guitar to the song "Waiting All Day" by Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...

 on their fifth album Young Modern. Steele also appeared on the Pnau
Pnau
Pnau is an Australian dance music duo originating from Sydney, Australia. The duo consists of musicians Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes...

 single "With You Forever," leading Nick Littlemore
Nick Littlemore
Nick Littlemore is an Australian musician and producer, known as frontman of electronic act Pnau and one part of electro pop-duo Empire of the Sun . He is also member of art-rock band Teenager Nick Littlemore is an Australian musician and producer, known as frontman of electronic act Pnau (with...

 to state on Pnau's website "...working with Luke Steele... it was amazing, that inspired [me] to work on a separate project with him all together. It's another album we're doing."

The Sleepy Jackson were one of the artists contributing to Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...

's album Yes, I'm A Witch
Yes, I'm a Witch
-Track listing:All songs were written by Yoko Ono.#Hank Shocklee – "Witch Shocktronica Intro"#Peaches – "Kiss Kiss Kiss"#Shitake Monkey – "O'Oh"#Blow Up – "Everyman Everywoman"#Le Tigre – "Sisters O Sisters"#Porcupine Tree – "Death of Samantha"...

, which was released in 2007 and is a compilation of remixed versions of Yoko's songs performed by various invited artists. The Sleepy Jackson contributed the remix of the song "I'm Moving On".

Subsequently in late 2007 Steele formed the electroacoustic
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...

 pop outfit Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun (band)
Empire of the Sun is an Australian electronic music duo that formed in 2008. The duo is composed of Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. The two met in 2000 after both being signed to the same record label. Luke and Nick knew that they instantly had a chemistry like no other...

, with Littlemore. Empire of the Sun's debut album, Walking on a Dream
Walking on a Dream
Walking on a Dream is the debut album by Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun, released in Australia on 4 October 2008 by EMI. The album was produced by band members Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore along with Peter Mayes....

 and first two singles, "Walking on a Dream
Walking on a Dream (song)
"Walking on a Dream" is a song by the Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun, released as the lead single from their debut album, Walking on a Dream. The full Sam La More remix was made available as a free download on the band's official website. The single was successful on the Australian...

" and "We are the People
We Are the People (Empire of the Sun song)
"We Are the People" is a song by the Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun, released as the second single from their debut album, Walking on a Dream. It was released in Australia on 20 September 2008 and debuted at number eighty-five on the ARIA Singles Chart before peaking at number...

", gained success in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland & some parts of Europe in 2008. The band has won seven ARIA Awards (Australian Music Awards) in 2009.

In early 2009 Clark joined The Exploders
The Exploders
The Exploders are an alternative rock band from Lake Bolac, Victoria, Australia.-Biography:The Exploders formed in 2004 and were picked up by the label Rubber Records in 2005, appearing at the Falls Festival the following year. They released their self titled debut album on 21 March 2006...

, a Melbourne based band, whose members' include former Sleepy Jackson bass player, Dudman (aka J. Cortez). In 2010, Clark and Cortez joined Jeff Martin
Jeff Martin (Canadian musician)
Jeffrey Scott Martin is a Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for fronting the rock band The Tea Party. Martin began his career as a solo artist in October 2005, when The Tea Party disbanded....

 of The Tea Party
The Tea Party
The Tea Party is a Canadian rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media. Active throughout the 1990s up until 2005 when the band broke up, The Tea Party released eight albums on EMI Music Canada, selling 1.6 million records...

 in a new band called Jeff Martin 777. Their album The Ground Cries Out was released in early 2011.

Current band members

  • Luke Steele – vocals, guitar (1998–present)
  • Malcolm Clark – drums, backing vocals (2001–present)
  • Lee Jones – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2006–present)
  • Dave Symes – bass, backing vocals (2006–present)
  • Jake Steele – computer samples (2007–present)
  • Jodi "Snappy Dolphin" Steele – computer samples (2007–present)

Past members

  • Jesse Steele – drums (1998–2000)
  • Matt O'Connor (deceased) – bass (1998–2001)
  • Paul Keenan – drums (2000–2002)
  • Ronan Charles – keyboards (2001)
  • Justin Burford – guitar (2001–2004)
  • Rodney Aravena – bass (2001–2004)
  • Ben Nightingale – guitar (2003)
  • Jonathan Dudman (aka J. Cortez) – bass (2003–2005)
  • Julian Dudman (aka Jules Cortez) – guitar (2004–2005)
  • Felix Bloxsom
    Felix Bloxsom
    Felix Bloxsom, was born in Sydney, Australia. He is a professional musician, best known for his drumming and percussion playing.Since completing Jazz studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2000, Felix has worked with a diverse group of artists across many styles and genres...

     – percussion, acoustic guitar, synthesizer (2006–2008)

Albums

  • Lovers - 30 June 2003 - #21 Australia, #69 UK
    UK Albums Chart
    The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...

    , #117 France
  • Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird
    Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
    Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird is the second album by Australian band The Sleepy Jackson, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele...

     - 1 July 2006 - #10 Australia, #42 Sweden

Singles

  • From Lovers:
    • "Vampire Racecourse
      Vampire Racecourse
      "Vampire Racecourse" is a song by The Sleepy Jackson released as the first single from their debut album Lovers. The song peaked at #71 in Australia and #50 in the UK.-Australian CD:# "Vampire Racecourse"# "Hell Is Here"# "Revolution"# "Holly"...

      " (7 July 2003) - #71 Australia, #50 UK
      UK Singles Chart
      The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

    • "Good Dancers
      Good Dancers
      "Good Dancers" is a 2003 single released from Australian alternative rock duo The Sleepy Jackson, released on 13 October 2003 from the album Lovers. The song charted at #71 in the UK.-Track listing:UK CD single# "Good Dancers"...

      " (13 October 2003 - UK; 24 November 2003 - Australia) - #71 UK
    • "Come to This" (23 February 2004)
    • "This Day"/"Come to This" (22 March 2004 - Australia)
  • From Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird:
    • "God Lead Your Soul
      God Lead Your Soul
      "God Lead Your Soul" was the first single from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. It was released in Australia on 29 May 2006, and was the highest-ranked new entry on the ARIA singles chart at number 25...

      " (29 May 2006 - Australia; 17 July 2006 - UK) - #25 Australia, #69 UK
    • "Devil Was in My Yard
      Devil Was in My Yard
      "Devil Was in My Yard" was the second and final single to be released from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. The single was released on 25 September 2006 in Australia only...

      " (25 September 2006 - Australia)
    • "I Understand What You Want but I Just Don't Agree" (16 October 2006 - UK)

EPs

  • The Sleepy Jackson EP (a.k.a. Glasshouses EP) (2000)
    1. "Glasshouses" – 3:45
    2. "Sunglass Man" – 4:56
    3. "Disco Song" – 3:16
    4. "A Cold War" – 2:35
    5. "Sleepy" – 4:28
    6. "Rich as a King, Weak as a Dead Fish" – 4:03

  • Miniskirt EP (2000)
    1. "Miniskirt" – 4:04
    2. "Revolution" – 2:04
    3. "Techno Is Bad for Your Heart" – 1:42
    4. "Sunglass Man" (Edit) – 3:37

  • Caffeine in the Morning Sun EP (12 November 2001)
    1. "Not Crying (Just Standing in the Rain)" – 0:47
    2. "Good Dancers" – 4:10
    3. "Caffeine in the Morning Sun" – 4:20
    4. "Lung" – 0:41
    5. "Miniskirt" – 4:08
    6. "Brother/Birds" – 6:50

  • Let Your Love Be Love EP (4 November 2002)
    1. "This Day" – 3:47
    2. "Cavaties" – 4:07
    3. "Fill Me with Apples" – 1:07
    4. "Sunkids" – 3:17
    5. "Let Your Love Be Love" – 3:19
    6. "Pack of Nails" – 4:53
    7. "Now Your Spirit Drags the Pack" – 2:16

  • The Sleepy Jackson (self-titled EP; also released on double 10" vinyl as Heart) (24 February 2003)
    1. "Not Crying (Just Standing in the Rain)" – 0:47
    2. "Good Dancers" – 4:10
    3. "Sunkids" – 3:17
    4. "Lung" – 0:41
    5. "Now Your Spirit Drags the Pack" – 2:16
    6. "Caffeine in the Morning Sun" – 4:20
    7. "Miniskirt" – 4:08
    8. "Let Your Love Be Love" – 3:19

Awards & nominations

  • 2003 ARIA Awards Album of the Year – Lovers
  • 2003 ARIA Awards Best New Artist - single - "Vampire Racecourse"
  • 2003 ARIA Awards Best New Artist - album - Lovers
  • 2003 ARIA Awards Best Rock Album - Lovers
  • 2003 WAMI
    West Australian Music Industry Awards
    The Western Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc...

     Awards - Most Popular Local Original Single or EP - Let Your Love Be Love
  • 2003 ARIA Awards Producer of the Year - Jonathan Burnside for Lovers
  • 2006 ARIA Awards Album of the Year - Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird
    Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
    Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird is the second album by Australian band The Sleepy Jackson, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele...

  • 2006 ARIA Awards Best Cover Art - Luke Steele and James Bellesini at "Love Police" for Personality
  • 2006 J Award
    J Award
    The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...

    - Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird

External links

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