Deadstar
{{Short description|Australian pop rock band}}
{{About|the Australian band|the Muse single|Dead Star/In Your World|the Smokepurpp mixtape|Deadstar (mixtape)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Deadstar
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = Melbourne, Australia
| years_active = {{start date|1995}}–{{end date|2001}}
| label = White, Mushroom, Festival
| associated_acts = Harem Scarem, Crown of Thorns, The Plums, Crowded House, The Tulips
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = * Peter Jones
- Caroline Kennedy
- Barry Palmer
- Nick Seymour
- Pete McCracken
- Kalju Tonuma
- Michael den Elzen
- Anna Burley
}}
Deadstar (styled as deadstar) were an Australian alternative rock band formed in August 1995 by Peter Jones (Crowded House) on drums and percussion; Caroline Kennedy on lead vocals and guitar; and Barry Palmer (Hunters & Collectors) on guitar and bass guitar. They released three studio albums, deadstar (October 1995), Milk (April 1997) and Somewhere Over the Radio (September 1999). Two singles reached the top 100 on the ARIA Singles Chart, "Run Baby Run" and "Deeper Water", both in 1999. The group were nominated for three ARIA Music Awards. The group disbanded in 2001.
History
Deadstar were formed in August 1995 in Melbourne as a pop music band.{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Deadstar' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040813100815/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=263 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=263 | accessdate = 26 August 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | archive-date = 13 August 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }} Initially they were a side-project for Barry Palmer on guitar and bass guitar who was also in Hunters & Collectors and Peter Jones (of Crowded House) on drums.{{Cite web | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/deadstar.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000517002128/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/deadstar.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 17 May 2000 | publisher = Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) | title = Deadstar | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | last2 = Warnqvist | first2 = Stefan | last3 = Wood | first3 = Kelly | accessdate = 27 August 2012 }} The pair invited Caroline Kennedy (ex-Plums) into the studio to write melodies and lyrics over tracks of guitar music on the score they had recorded for a proposed short film, The Baby Bath Massacre.McFarlane [https://web.archive.org/web/20040828074644/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=638 'The Plums'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=638 the original] on 28 August 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
The group's first album, Deadstar, was issued in October 1995, it was produced by Palmer for the White Records label and distributed by Mushroom Records and Festival Records.{{Cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/palmerbarry.html |publisher=Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) |title=Barry Palmer |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |accessdate=27 August 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217093936/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/palmerbarry.html |archive-date=17 February 2012 }} Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described the album as a "mix of trashy pop and indie guitar rock [which] found a ready-made market. There were plenty of loose arrangements in the songs, with Palmer's guitar and Kennedy's quavering, imperfect vocals laid down rough and raw". They released CD singles from the album, "Going Down" / "Valentine's Day" (June 1995), "She Loves She" (October) and "Sister" (April 1996).{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20041219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/45627/20041220-0000/www.amo.org.au/artistb5df.html?id=1489 | url = http://www.amo.org.au/artistb5df.html?id=1489 | title = Artists :: Deadstar | publisher = Australian Music Online (Government of Australia) | archive-date = 19 December 2004 | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The singles were co-written by Jones, Kennedy and Palmer, except "She Loves She" which was co-written by the three with Charlie Marshall.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Going Down' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Going%20Down |accessdate=27 August 2013 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Note: For further information click on Search again and 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'.
In November 1996 Jones' bandmate from Crowded House, Nick Seymour, joined on bass guitar – allowing Palmer to concentrate on lead guitar for live performances. Stu Thomas had earlier been approached to join on bass but turned it down due to solid commitments in Kim Salmon and the Surrealists. Deadstar toured the United Kingdom where "Valentine's Day" was issued as the A-side of their debut single for Discordant Records.{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p294785 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Deadstar – Music Biography | last = Demalon | first = Tom | publisher = AllMusic | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} Late that year, Palmer started producing the debut solo album, King Without a Clue, for Nick's older brother, Mark, which was released in the following year.{{cite AV media notes | title = King Without a Clue | others = Mark Seymour | year = 1997 |publisher = Mushroom Records |id = MUSH33040.2 }} Mark was Palmer's bandmate in Hunters & Collectors, Palmer co-wrote five tracks with Mark and provided lead guitar. Fellow deadstar members, Nick (on bass guitar, backing vocals and piano) and Jones (on drums and percussion), also worked on the album.
In January 1997, Deadstar appeared on the Big Day Out tour. In August that year they issued their second studio album, Milk, which Palmer co-produced with Kalju Tonuma (Nick Barker, The Mavis's).{{Cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/tonumakalju.html |publisher=Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) |title=Kalju Tonuma |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002233015/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/tonumakalju.html |archive-date=2 October 2012 }} McFarlane felt the album contained "garagey pop gems". In Australia two singles were released from the album, "Don't It Get You Down?" (September 1996) and "I've Got Something to Tell You" (June 1997). Both singles were co-written by Jones, Kennedy and Palmer.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Don't It Get You Down' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Dont%20It%20Get%20You%20Down |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032916/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Dont%20It%20Get%20You%20Down |archive-date=22 February 2014 }} Note: For further information click on Search again and 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'. In the UK they issued "Sex Sell" as their lead single from Milk (titled Deadstar for the European market) on Discordant Records. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 "Don't It Get You Down?" was nominated for Best Independent Release.{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1997 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1997 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} Late that year Nick Seymour left Deadstar and was replaced on bass guitar by Pete McCracken – Kennedy's bandmate from Plum and her future husband.
By mid-1998 Michael den Elzen (ex-Schnell Fenster, Rebecca's Empire) joined on lead guitar and Deadstar started recording their third album, Somewhere Over the Radio. Its lead single, "Run Baby Run", appeared in January 1999, which reached the top 100 on the ARIA Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&search=deadstar&id=33323&pages=#1095603 |title=Top Singles of 1999 |last1=Savage |first1=Grant |publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) |date=20 December 2012 |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311132850/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&search=deadstar&id=33323&pages= |archive-date=11 March 2016 }} "Run Baby Run" was co-written by Kennedy and Palmer.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Run Baby Run' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Run%20Baby%20Run |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222033027/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Run%20Baby%20Run |archive-date=22 February 2014 }} Note: For further information click on Search again and 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'. Deadstar employed The Killjoys' band member, Anna Burley, as auxiliary keyboardist when performing live. A second single, "Deeper Water", appeared in June, which peaked at No. 28.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Deadstar |title=Discography Deadstar |publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) |last=Hung |first=Steffen |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215553/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Deadstar |archive-date=4 November 2012 }} "Deeper Water" was also co-written by Kennedy and Palmer.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Deeper Water' at APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Deeper%20Water |accessdate=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032914/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Deeper%20Water |archive-date=22 February 2014 }} Note: For further information click on Search again and 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'. The album followed in September and was co-produced by Palmer, Tonuma and Mark Opitz (AC/DC, The Angels, INXS).{{Cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/o/opitzmark.html |publisher=Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) |title=Mark Opitz |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |last2=Shaw |first2=Julian |accessdate=27 August 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127164026/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/o/opitzmark.html |archive-date=27 November 2013 }}
During 1999 Mushroom Records owner Michael Gudinski sold his record label to Festival Records.{{cite book | title = Molly Meldrum Presents 50 years of Rock in Australia | last1 = Jenkins | first1 = Jeff | last2 = Meldrum | first2 = Ian | author-link2 = Molly Meldrum | year = 2007 | publisher = Wilkinson Publishing | chapter = Mushroom Records – Magic Mushroom | pages = 87–94 | isbn = 978-1-921332-11-1 }} As a result of the negotiations and subsequent sale of Mushroom Records, the promotion of deadstar's album was compromised. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999 "Run Baby Run" was nominated for Best Pop Release.{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1999 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1999 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} A third single, "Somewhere Over the Radio", appeared in May 2000 but did not chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2000 Somewhere Over the Radio was nominated for Best Rock Album.{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2000 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2000 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} The group disbanded in 2001.
The band enjoyed mixed commercial success during their existence. They had some success in the UK and toured there after extensive radio play of "Sex Sell". They were played on national Australian radio station Triple J with two of their tracks listed on its annual Hottest 100: "Don't It Get You Down" at No. 70 in 1996 and "Deeper Water" at No. 74 in 1999.National radio station Triple J's listeners have voted for Deadstar's tracks on annual Hottest 100 lists:
- 1996: "Don't It Get You Down" No. 70. {{cite web
|archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/6ELYWZg5I?url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1996.htm
|url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1996.htm
|title = Hottest 100 History 1996
|publisher = Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
|archive-date = 11 February 2013
|accessdate = 27 August 2013
|url-status = dead
}}
- 1999: "Deeper Water" No. 74. {{cite web
|archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/6ELevkUZN?url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1999.htm
|url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1999.htm
|title = Hottest 100 History 1999
|publisher = Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
|archive-date = 11 February 2013
|accessdate = 27 August 2013
|url-status = dead
}}
They were picked up by commercial radio stations and their music was used in TV ("Run Baby Run" on Home and Away,{{Citation | title=Home and Away: Songs from and Inspired by the Television Series | publication-date=2000 | publisher=Mushroom Records. National Library of Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/35488386 | accessdate=27 August 2013 }} Queen Kat Carmel and St. Jude,{{Citation | author1=McCarthy, Maureen | title = Queen Kat Carmel and St. Jude | publication-date = 1999 | publisher = Mushroom. National Library of Australia | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38625850 | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} and Good News Week;{{Citation | author1 = McDermott, Paul | author-link1 = Paul McDermott | title = Live Songs | publication-date=2000 | publisher = Good News Week Productions for GNWF Records. National Library of Australia | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7121463 | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }} "Deeper Water" on The Panel){{Citation | title=More Music Live from The Panel | publication-date=2000 | publisher = Liberation Music / Working Dog. National Library of Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33149339 | accessdate=27 August 2013 }} and film productions.
Other projects
Before Caroline Kennedy joined Deadstar she played guitar and sang in The Plums, with Shamus Goble on drums, Pete McCracken on bass guitar and Stephen Moffatt on guitar. McFarlane described their sound as "mixed strident guitar riffs with melodic pop roots" and Kennedy as "the band's focal point with her tough-but-graceful presence, opinionated views and emotion-charged, if imperfect, vocals". While a member of Deadstar she also had her own project, The Caroline Kennedy Conspiracy, with Goble and McCracken, joined by Ted Cleaver on guitar. After Deadstar had disbanded in 2001 Kennedy, McCracken and Goble formed The Kicksilvers with McCracken's sister, Jane on bass guitar. In 2002 Kennedy, McCracken and Goble formed The Tulips and they released a country-tinged album, In the Honeycone (May 2003).{{Cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/pregnant-pause-then-as-good-as-it-gets/2005/10/22/1129775997154.html | title = Pregnant Pause, Then as Good as It Gets | last = Kennedy | first = Caroline | author-link = Caroline Kennedy-McCracken | date = 23 October 2005 | work = The Age | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }}
Barry Palmer continued to write, record and perform with Hunters & Collectors during his time with Deadstar until that group disbanded in March 1998.McFarlane [https://web.archive.org/web/20040829235219/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=93 'Hunters & Collectors'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=93 the original] on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2013. Palmer formed his own label, The Devil's Music, and continued to record, produce and write.
Peter Jones worked as a session musician for various groups including in Ross Hannaford's Reggaebites (2002).{{Cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/j/jonespeter.html |publisher=Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) |title=Peter Jones |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |accessdate=27 August 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002232902/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/j/jonespeter.html |archive-date=2 October 2012 }} As a producer he worked on albums by Stephen Cummings Firecracker (3 February 2003), Close Ups (16 August 2004), Tess McKenna Boom Bam (2003), Rebecca Barnard Fortified (2006) ; and also worked as a teacher in Melbourne. He died on 18 May 2012 of brain cancer, aged 49.{{cite news |last=Koha |first=Nui Te |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/crowded-house-drummer-peter-jones-dies-after-battle-with-brain-cancer/story-e6frfn09-1226361115652 |title=Crowded House Drummer Peter Jones Dies After Battle with Brain Cancer | work = Sunday Herald Sun |date=19 May 2012 |accessdate=27 August 2013}}{{cite news | url = http://www.noise11.com/news/crowded-house-drummer-peter-jones-loses-battle-with-cancer-20120519 | title = Crowded House Drummer Peter Jones Loses Battle with Cancer | last = Cashmere | first = Paul | author-link = Paul Cashmere | work = Noise11 | publisher = Undercover.com (Paul Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman) | date = 29 May 2012 | accessdate = 27 August 2013 }}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:11em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:22em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| The Definitive Collection
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of singles as lead artist, with Australian chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Album |
| scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | AUS |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Going Down"/"Valentine's Day"
| rowspan="2"| 1995 | — | rowspan="3" | Deadstar |
| scope="row"| "She Loves She"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Sister"
| rowspan="3"| 1996 | — |
| scope="row"| "Sex Sells" (UK release)
| — | rowspan="3"| Milk |
| scope="row"| "Don't It Get You Down"
| 124 |
| scope="row"| "I've Got Something To Tell You"
| 1997 | 195 |
| scope="row"| "Run Baby Run"
| rowspan="2"| 1999 | rowspan="3"| Somewhere Over the Radio |
| scope="row"| "Deeper Water"
| 28 |
| scope="row"| "Over the Radio"
| 2000 | 179 |
Awards and nominations
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987. Deadstar were nominated for three ARIA Music Awards{{Cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/search?q=deadstar|title=ARIA Awards Winners}}
{{awards table}}
|-
| 1997 || "Don't it Get You Down" || Best Independent Release || {{nominated}}
|-
| 1999 || "Run Baby Run"' || Best Pop Release || {{nominated}}
|-
| 2000 || Somewhere Over the Radio || Best Rock Album|| {{nominated}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{MusicBrainz artist|id=bc121507-c6c6-48d9-95da-8807e9487abe|name=Deadstar}}
- [http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/102332 "Poster advertising performance by Deadstar at The Continental Café, Prahran, Victoria"], performance date: 14 January 1999, copy held at State Library of Victoria
- Photos:
- "26th September 99 @ The Royal Melbourne Show, Melbourne": [https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36937/20030807-0000/www.ozmusicproject.net/multimedia/photo/mel_mckenna/deadstar/ds26999-1.jpg "Caroline Kennedy"]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, [https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36937/20030807-0000/www.ozmusicproject.net/multimedia/photo/mel_mckenna/deadstar/ds26999-2.jpg "Peter McCracken"]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, [https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36937/20030807-0000/www.ozmusicproject.net/multimedia/photo/mel_mckenna/deadstar/ds26999-4.jpg "Michael den Elzen"] {{cbignore|bot=medic}}taken by Melissa McKenna, stored at the Oz Music Project
- [http://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/mezzanine/8704/ds_ia.html deadstar Interviews and Articles]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Australian rock music groups