Chris Cester
{{short description|Australian musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chris Cester
| image = Chris Cester.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Chris Cester performs with rock band Jet at Australia's Sound Relief
| birth_name = Christopher James Cester
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|9|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Rock
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = {{flatlist|
- Drums
- percussion
- guitar
- vocals
}}
| years_active = 1996–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Jet
| website =
}}
Christopher James Cester (born 16 September 1981) is an Australian musician, songwriter, producer and founding mainstay drummer and backing vocalist of rock band Jet. As a member of Jet, Cester has won awards as a songwriter from the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), including in 2005 as Songwriter of the Year, and 2011 for "Seventeen", which won "Most Played Australian Work" and "Rock Work of the Year".
Early life
Christopher James Cester was born in Melbourne, Australia, 16 September 1981.WilsonSpencer et al, (2007) 'Sester, Chris' {{sic}} entry. He has one older brother, Nicholas John "Nic" Cester (born 6 July 1979), and two younger brothers. Their parents were both children of immigrants to Australia. Their mother, Helen Isobel née McIvor (born 1957), has Scottish descent; and their father, Giovanni "John" Cester (1957–August 2004), had Italian descent.{{cite web | title = Jet Interview, Will and Lehmo | publisher = Triple M, Melbourne, 105.1 | url = http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/music/videos | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111001125039/http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/music/videos | archive-date = 1 October 2011 | df = dmy-all }}
During their childhood, Chris and Nic listened to music their parents liked, including The Beatles' Abbey Road, Stevie Wonder's Hotter Than July, Led Zeppelin, and The Kinks.{{Cite web|date=2005-05-19|title=Chris Cester of Jet|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2005/05/chris-cester/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Modern Drummer Magazine|language=en-US}} As kids, the Cester brothers would play pretend gigs in their living room; Chris was the singer, but he eventually took up drums, pretending to play while Nic sang. The boys attended St Bede's College Mentone, where Chris took one year of drum lessons before teaching himself on a drum kit at home independently. An uncle, Eugene Cester (born 1961), known as Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun, was a member of the Australian alternative/satire rock band TISM, which initially inspired Chris and Nic to pursue careers in music.{{Cite web|last=Mathieson|first=Craig|date=2020-12-12|title=After 20 years rock pranksters TISM are back, reissuing cult hits|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/after-20-years-rock-pranksters-tism-are-back-reissuing-cult-hits-20201207-p56ld2.html|access-date=2022-02-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}
Music career
= 1996–2012 : Jet =
{{Main|Jet (band)}}
In 1996, Chris and Nic Cester formed Jet with Nic's schoolmate Cameron Muncey on guitar and vocals; Mark Wilson joined at a later time on bass guitar.{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050128130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20050129-0000/www.howlspace.com.au/en5/jet/jet.htm | title = Jet | url = http://www.whiteroom.com.au/en5/jet/jet.htm | publisher = Howlspace. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll | archive-date = 28 January 2005 | access-date = 15 August 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The band used a variety of names before settling on Jet in 2002, named after the 1973 song "Jet" by former Beatle Paul McCartney and his band Wings. Chris primarily played the drums, sang, and wrote songs.
After finishing secondary school, the band began playing pub gigs around Melbourne; Chris and the band worked out songs they were writing, and they played rock covers.{{Cite web|title=JET announce intimate show at Gasometer Hotel|url=https://www.ausmusicscene.com.au/news/jet-announce-intimate-show-at-gasometer-hotel|access-date=9 February 2022|website=Australian Music Scene|date=27 January 2017 }} These songs would go on to be the tracks that turned into Jet's 2002 extended play, Dirty Sweet.{{Cite web|last=Yates|first=Rod|date=25 May 2018|title=Jet return: older, wiser and born to rock'n'roll|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/jet-return-older-wiser-and-born-to-rocknroll-20180508-h0zsw3.html|access-date=9 February 2022|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Jet released the studio albums between 2003 and 2009 before disbanding in March 2012.{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120919225107/http://jettheband.com/news/67961 | url = http://jettheband.com/news/67961 | title = A Message to Our Fans | publisher = Jet Official Website | date = 26 March 2012 | archive-date = 19 September 2012 | access-date = 15 August 2014 }}
= 2011: DamnDogs =
By mid-2011, Cester had formed his own electro-rock band, DamnDogs, in Los Angeles with a cousin: Mitch McIvor on guitar; Jet's Mark Wilson on bass guitar; and that group's touring keyboardist, Louis Macklin.{{cite news|last=Welsh|first=Caitlin|date=12 April 2012|title=Chris Cester: 'You Become Somewhat of a Cliché'|work=Mess+Noise|publisher=Sound Alliance|url=http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/4454635|access-date=15 August 2014}}{{cite news|last=Mathieson|first=Craig|author-link=Craig Mathieson|date=9 July 2011|title=Damn Dogs|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/eclectic-canines-learn-new-tricks-20110708-1h674.html|access-date=15 August 2014}} DamnDogs released a debut five-track EP, Strange Behaviour, on 9 August 2011. DamnDogs played several shows around Los Angeles and in Australia before changing the lineup and turning into a new band iteration.{{Citation|title=Homebake: DAMNDOGS (Melbourne via LA) - In Conversation with the AU review.|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLD3RDWetWo|access-date=9 February 2022}}
= 2016: Mystic Knights of Amnesia =
In 2016, Cester formed Mystic Knights of Amnesia with Jet bandmate Louis Macklin to write more experimental rock music. The band was named by friend and former Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/noel-gallagher-responsible-jet-members-new-band-1882570|title = Noel Gallagher is responsible for Jet member's new band| website=NME |date = 30 November 2016}} The band is based out of Los Angeles, and the lineup consists of guitarist and singer Emmanuel Castro, guitarist Aaron Eisenberg, bassist John Pancost, and Louis Macklin on keys.
= 2018–2019: The Jaded Hearts Club =
Cester was the lead singer of rock supergroup The Jaded Hearts Club from 2018–2019. The lineup at the time consisted of Matt Bellamy of Muse, Graham Coxon of Blur, Sean Payne of The Zutons, Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails, and Jamie Davis. Cester sang lead vocals alongside Miles Kane for a year of shows, including South By Southwest in Austin, Texas,{{Cite magazine|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=2018-03-18|title=Salt-N-Pepa, All-Star Dr. Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band Bring a Good Time to Rachael Ray's SXSW Show|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/salt-n-pepa-dr-peppers-jaded-hearts-club-band-sxsw-rachael-ray-8249699/|access-date=9 February 2022|magazine=Billboard}} and the Teenage Cancer Trust show in the Royal Albert Hall. Nic Cester sang with the band at a secret show in Los Angeles in 2018, and he took Chris's place in the band after Chris sustained a back injury from an accident in 2019.{{Cite web|title=In The Slipstream - The Australian|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/jets-nic-cester-charts-new-course-in-milan/news-story/1ae1d744ad9d01a0a0feb7fa579a9472}}
= 2024-Present: Mystic Knights =
In 2024 the Mystic Knights of Amnesia was rebranded as Mystic Knights. The band consists of Cester, Aaron Eisenberg, and Emmanuel Castro. Their debut single, "This High Up", came out on November 20th 2024.
Personal life
Chris uses Gretsch drums, including a Brady 14- x 8-inch Jarrah Ply snare, and Zildjian cymbals. His cymbal setup is a pair of 15-inch A Zildjian New Beat Hats, and he has a 22-inch K Zildjian Dark Ride.[http://www.zildjian.com/en-US/products/configurator/default.ad2?artistID=1066 Cymbal setup]
Awards and nominations
=APRA Awards=
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History.aspx |title=APRA History |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920230857/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History.aspx |archive-date=20 September 2010 |df=dmy }}
{{awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2005 || "Cold Hard Bitch" – Nicholas Cester, Christopher Cester, Cameron Muncey || Most Performed Australian Work Overseas{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725230730/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations2005.aspx#AustralianWorkOverseas|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations2005.aspx|title=Nominations - 2005|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)|archive-date=25 July 2013|access-date=15 August 2014 }} || {{nom}}
|-
| Jet – Nicholas Cester, Cameron Muncey, Chris Cester || Songwriter of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2000-2010/2005-awards/music-awards/songwriter-of-the-year/|title=Songwriter of the Year - 2005 Awards|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)|access-date=15 August 2014 }} || {{won}}
|-
| 2006 || "Cold Hard Bitch" – Nicholas Cester, Christopher Cester, Cameron Muncey || Most Performed Australian Work Overseas{{cite web | url = http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2000-2010/2006-awards/music-awards/most-performed-australian-work-overseas/ | title = Nominations - 2006 | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | access-date = 15 August 2014 }} || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2010 || "She's a Genius" – Christopher Cester || Most Played Australian Work{{cite web|url=http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2000-2010/2010-awards/music-awards/most-played-australian-work/|title=Most Played Australian Work - 2010|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)|access-date=15 August 2014}} || {{nom}}
|-
| "She's a Genius" – Christopher Cester || Rock Work of the Year{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324062803/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/RockWorkoftheYear2010.aspx|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/RockWorkoftheYear2010.aspx|title=Rock Work of the Year – 2010|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)|archive-date=24 March 2014|access-date=15 August 2014}} || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2011 || "Seventeen" – Nicholas Cester, Christopher Cester, Cameron Muncey || Most Played Australian Work{{cite web | url = http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2011-awards/apra-music-awards/most-played-australian-work/ | title = Most Played Australian Work - 2011 | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | access-date = 15 August 2014 }} || {{won}}
|-
| "Seventeen" – Nicholas Cester, Christopher Cester, Cameron Muncey || Rock Work of the Year{{cite web | url = http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2011-awards/apra-music-awards/rock-work-of-the-year/ | title = Rock Work of the Year – 2011 | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | access-date = 14 August 2014 }} || {{won}}
|-
| 2021
| "Chase the Feeling" - Andrew Stockdale, Chris Cester, Jason Hill
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
References
{{refbegin}}
;General
- {{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock|last=Spencer|first=Chris|author2=Zbig Nowara |author3=Paul McHenry |orig-year=1987|year=2002|publisher=Five Mile Press|location=Noble Park, Vic.|isbn=1-86503-891-1}}{{cite book|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2090055|title=Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry|year=2002|publisher=National Library of Australia|isbn=9781865038919|access-date=3 February 2010}} Note: [on-line] version established at [https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232852/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd] in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
- {{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jet-mn0000346806/biography|publisher=AllMusic|title=Jet|access-date=15 August 2014|first=MacKenzie|last=Wilson}}
;Specific
{{refend}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Jet}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cester, Chris}}
Category:Australian people of Italian descent
Category:Australian people of Scottish descent
Category:Australian rock drummers
Category:Australian male drummers
Category:Musicians from Melbourne
Category:The Wrights (Australian band) members
Category:21st-century Australian drummers
Category:21st-century Australian male musicians