Hunters & Collectors

Artist: Hunters & Collectors
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Hunters and Collectors began life immersed in an Australian academic environment characterised by excessive quantities of alcohol and loud rock. John Archer, Mark Seymour and Robert Miles were friends at a Melbourne University residential college called Ormond College in the 1970's. After John and Robert joked around about forming a band for a while, they eventually formed the Schnortts. This wholly unsuccessful circa 1978 adventure was the first band to contain Mark Seymour, John Archer, Doug Falconer and Robert Miles. The inspiration for the name Schnortts came from a Belgian tennis racquet of Rob's, used primarily for air guitar, that John converted into a two string 'electric tennis racquet'. Many drinks later, the core of what was to become Hunters and Collectors formed The Jetsonnes in Melbourne in September 1979. The line-up comprised of Mark Seymour (guitar), John Archer (bass), Doug Falconer (drums), Ray Tosti-Gueira (guitar), Margot O'Neill (vocals) and Robert Miles (live sound and artwork). The band had a light, bouncy pop sound and only recorded a track called News-paper, a gig giveaway 7" single. The Jetsonnes played in the Melbourne area for about a year before disbanding around September 1980. All members except Margot were soon to reappear in May 1981 in a new more radical concept band. Mark introduced new members Geoff Crosby (keyboards) and Greg Perano (percussion) and became the vocalist. A massive horn section, initially comprising of six members, was soon added to form the new band. Robert Miles became a full member to handle sound and mixing of the even member band. The band was named by Greg Perano after the German band Can's track Hunters and Collectors from their 1975 album Landed. The new band counted among it's influences Can, David Byrne and Brian Eno. Hunters and Collectors made their live debut on the 15th of May 1981 at the Seaview Ballroom in Melbourne. Quickly earning a reputation as the 'next big thing', Hunters and Collectors were renowned for chaotic, intense live performances. They were signed up by Mushroom Records label White, which they remained with throughout their career. The January 1982 released debut EP World Of Stone (World Of Stone / Watcher / Loinclothing) gave the Hunna's an early taste of popular success (#50). The self titled debut studio album came out in mid 1982, selling reasonably well in Australia (#14, Gold) and in New Zealand. The album put a focus on intense, percussive instrumental sections featuring everything from the massive brass section to an empty gas cylinder. It features the bands first truly excellent song, the seven and a half minute Talking To A Stranger (#59). The single was also eventually released in the UK in various forms. The obscure but brilliant display of confusion and imagery in the Richard Lowenstein video clip for Talking To A Stranger is also regarded as a classic. The World Of Stone EP can be found on CD versions of this album. Following their discovery in the Hunters and Collectors album, Martin Lubran replaced Tosti-Gueira on guitar and the 'Horns Of Contempt' brass section was down to Howard, Smith and Waters. A second EP Payload (Lumps Of Lead / Towtruck / Droptank / Mouthtrap) was released by the end of 1982. An eerie apocalyptic video clip for Lumps Of Lead was made for the EP. The following year of 1983 was difficult for the band and resulted in Perano and Lubran leaving. Hunters and Collectors spent six miserable months in the UK after which they recorded their second studio album The Fireman's Curse (#77, Gold) in West Germany with Conny Plank. The band and critical view of the album is reflected in it's absence from all live and compilation albums. There was a lack of direction or fresh ideas which resulted in an album that is hard to love. Highlights from the album include Curse and the singles Judas Sheep and Sway. After a period of re-evaluation, Hunters and Collectors re-emerged in July 1984 a smaller but stronger band, releasing the classic album The Jaws Of Life (#89, Gold). Influenced by the likes of Ian Rilen and X, the new sound featured an strong drum and bass section. When combined with vivid Australian imagery from Mark Seymour's more directed lyrics and raw vocals, The Jaws Of Life was an accomplished album on a new tangent for the Hunna's. The classic double a-sided single The Slab / Carry Me gave a taste of an album full of stunning tracks that includes 42 Wheels, the fun The Way To Go Out and the dark Little Chalkie. The Payload EP can be found on CD versions of The Jaws Of Life. After three studio albums and two EP's, Hunters and Collectors released their first live album in May 1985, The Way To Go Out (#76, Gold). Preceding this album in November 1984 was the the first of three single releases of Throw Your Arms Around Me, this as a raw live recorded 7" single. Following The Way To Go Out, Michael Waters (already on trombone) took over keyboards from the departing Crosby. It was also at this time that Hunters and Collectors linked up with long term manager Michael Roberts. Following a band decision to appear to a broad audience, Hunters and Collectors released Human Frailty (#10, Double Platinum) in May 1986. The album, themed on human relationships, presented the bass and drum focus of The Jaws Of Life in a more focused, melodic and ultimately successful context. Human Frailty brought the Hunna's mainstream attention in Australia with the singles Say Goodbye (#24), a cleaner, studio version of Throw Your Arms Around Me (#49), Everything's On Fire (#78) and Is There Anybody In There?. Human Frailty was released outside of Australia under I.R.S. Records. Standout tracks beyond the singles include Dog, Relief and This Morning. The next step for the Hunna's was two tours of the USA and the Living Daylight EP (#41, Living Daylight / January Rain / Inside A Fireball). Most CD versions of Human Frailty contain this EP. Emphasising drumming and production a little more, Hunters and Collectors released the Australian only What's A Few Men? album in April 1987 (#16, Platinum). Mark Seymour took the album's title from Albert Facey's memoir, An Fortunate Life. The title track was about mistreatment Australian soldiers received in World War 1 at the hands of English leaders. The album contained the singles Do You See What I See? (#33, November 1987) and Still Hanging 'Round (February 1988). Standout album tracks include Around The Flame and Under The Sun. Targeting the US market, What's A Few Men? was remixed with some tracks (including Back On The Breadline) added and some tracks (Still Hanging 'Round and Give Me A Reason) removed. This more produced effort, Fate (September 1988), failed to make a significant dint in the market is was intended for but did yield the moderately successful single Back On The Breadline (#37). Fate replaced What's A Few Men? in Australian stores in April 1991 but was in turn replaced by an expanded What's A Few Men? in August 2003. Having provided guitar on Fate, Harem Scarem guitarist Barry Palmer joined the band formerly in 1988. Their next album, released at the end of 1989, was Ghost Nation (#10, Double Platinum). The album contained the singles When The River Runs Dry (#23), Turn A Blind Eye (#42), The Way You Live (#75) and Love All Over Again. Nominated for six ARIA awards in 1989 for Ghost Nation, the only win was for Robert Miles' artwork (which Rob uses as a bookend). Regarded as a massive surprise, the lack of awards was a motivation for changing the ARIA award voting process. Hunters and Collectors were named Australian Band of the Year in Rolling Stone in 1990 after their support gig on Midnight Oil's 1990 tour. Ghost Nation is one of the best Hunters and Collectors albums, also containing Ghost Nation and Lazy Summer Day. Atlantic Records, who had recently signed the band and released the album internationally, dumped the Hunna's following Ghost Nation. 1990 also saw the release of Collected Works (#8, Double Platinum), a 'best of' compilation album covering all Hunters and Collectors works to date. The overseas I.R.S. version was drawn from Human Frailty EP and Fate eras. In Australia the Collected Works album was a more interesting set of songs reflecting band preferences that covered up to and including Ghost Nation. Australia also enjoyed a video version, which contained more songs and expected singles choices. The Australian versions of Collected Works also contained a new polished and radio friendly version of Throw Your Arms Around Me which was released as a single (#34). The early albums (Hunters and Collectors, The Fireman's Curse, The Jaws Of Life, The Way To Go Out) were released on CD in Australia in 1991. Initially this was in the Skin, Bones & Bolts box set (#86) before the albums were individually issued. In these new releases, the World Of Stone EP was attached to the Hunters and Collectors album while the Payload EP was attached to The Jaws Of Life album. The artwork was changed, particularly in the case of The Jaws Of Life, which no longer showed the mass of Australian imagery from the LP version. In September 1991 Hunters and Collectors gave a very early taste of their next album with the single Where Do You Go? (#33). Mark Seymour and Paul Kelly got together for the May 1992 single Hey Boys (#62), lifted from the Garbo soundtrack. Later in 1992 the full assault for what would be Hunters and Collectors most successful singles era in Australia began. The surprising Head Above Water came out in July (#64) before the political We The People (#70). Then in October the Hunna's most commercially aimed studio effort to date, Cut (#6, Double Platinum), was released. Cut was produced by Don Gehman of R.E.M. and John Mellencamp fame. Album sales rose as the string of hit singles continued with True Tears Of Joy (#14, November 1992), Holy Grail (#20, March 1993) and the beautiful Imaginary Girl (#82, August 1993). Cut yielded an impressive six top 100 hits, while also featuring great album tracks including Grindstone, Edge Of Nowhere and Hear No Evil. Partly in response to the lack of international acclaim for Cut, Hunters and Collectors quickly recorded and released Demon Flower in May 1994 (#2). The first single from it was the Easy (#38, May 1994) which featured a humorous video involving toy cars. Commercial singles were released for Back In The Hole and Drop In The Ocean, along with a promotional single for The One and Only You. Demon Flower placed an emphasis on electric guitars that had never been seen before in the Hunters and Collectors back catalogue. The result is controversial, with many enjoying Barry's crushing guitarwork while others preferring the more traditional Hunna's sound. Beyond the singles, tracks such as Desert Where Her Heart Is became new classics. A cover of the Saint's song Know Your Product was put on the Earth Music compilation album in June 1994. During the time of Demon Flower, a bonus EP CD Live Demons In Amsterdam was given away with new Hunters and Collectors albums. The only song performed on this EP that there is no other commercial live recording of is Dog. The band toured Europe in support of Demon Flower and then took a break. During this break the double live set Living In Large Rooms and Lounges was issued in December 1995 (#45, Gold). One of the CD's was recorded live at the Continental (acoustic) and the other disc contains tracks recorded live in pubs. The material covered is weighted towards Human Frailty and Demon Flower but contained some tracks found on Jaws Of Life, What's A Few Men?/Fate, Ghost Nation and Cut. During the break Barry Palmer formed the band Deadstar. Mark Seymour also recorded and released his first solo album King Without A Clue. These moves were controversial at the time. By the time 1997 came around, a split was inevitable. There were there were external family commitments, long running internal disputes and it was simply time to 'call it a day'. Instead of issuing a 'best of' compilation when breaking up, Hunters and Collectors recorded their last studio album Juggernaut (#36) and released it in February 1998. It contained the Mark Seymour and Paul Kelly penned single Suit Your Style. The sound on Juggernaut was softer, with hints of Crowded House. Standout tracks include the promotional single Higher Plane, the ode to fans True Believers, Wasted In The Sun and the closer Long Way To The Water. Hunters and Collectors launched one final gruelling tour aptly titled Say Goodbye. Their final public show was on the 22nd of March 1998 and their final, invitation only, gig on the 24th of March 1998, both in Melbourne. The mighty Hunna's were finished. For good. During 1998 Mushroom re-released a Talking To A Stranger single as part of their '25th Anniversary' celebrations. The single contained a new live version along with the original, five remixes, and video's of the live and studio versions. In November 1998 the third and final live Hunters and Collectors album was released. Under One Roof, initially released as a CD and VHS video was recorded at Selina's in Sydney and was a form of 'best of' to mark the end of the band at the time. In November 2003, Under One Roof was released on DVD with a surround sound audio mix. The Hunters and Collectors contract expired with Festival Mushroom Records in April 2003, resulting in a new contract with Liberation Records. This was great for fans as a swag of new releases appeared from mid 2003. First off were remastered versions of all the studio albums by August 2003. "What's A Few Men?" was re-released on CD, with additional songs from the no longer available "Fate" included on the end. A new studio best-of compilation, Natural Selection, (October 2003), brought Hunters and Collectors back into the Australian albums chart (#40, Gold). The first Hunters and Collectors DVD's soon appeared in the form of the comprehensive studio video compilation Natural Selection (November 2003) and Under One Roof (November 2003). Liberation Records continue to work the Hunters and Collectors back catalogue. The Way To Go Out was released on DVD in June 2004 and a noticeably remastered CD in August 2004. A rarities album called Mutations was released in September 2005, containing almost all studio b-sides from the Hunters and Collectors back catalogue. In September 2006, a 20th anniversary edition of the Human Frailty album was released, including a bonus DVD of video clips and RockArena live footage. Living In Large Rooms and Lounges reappeared in stores in June 2007. Great Australian Albums featured Human Frailty in 2008, resulting in a documentary DVD being released in October 2008. The 'Holy Grail' for Hunters and Collectors was released in November 2008 in the form of a 16 disc box set. A wood grain appearance solid cardboard box package, Horn of Plenty contained the nine standard studio albums on CD, the Mutations CD, the three EP's on a CD called Cargo Cult, a rarities CD titled Spare Parts, the two CD Living In Large Rooms and Lounges, Under One Roof and The Way To Go Out on one DVD and a remastered Natural Selection DVD. This remains the ultimate Hunna's release. Hunters and Collectors have briefly reformed twice since 1998. The first was to perform two songs upon their induction into the ARIA Icons Hall of Fame on the 17th of July 2005. The second was for the Melbourne Sound Relief concert on the 14th of March 2009 in support of Victorian bush fire victims. Eight songs were played at Sound Relief, including The Slab in the encore, to the delight of fans. Courtesy Of www.humanfrailty.com.au (c) [2009] Getty Images. Photo by [Lucas Dawson/Stringer]/Getty Images.
 

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