Tex Perkins
{{Short description|Australian musician (born 1964)}}
{{About|the singer-singwriter|the Australian rules footballer nicknamed "Tex"|Sarah Perkins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name =
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Tex Perkins.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Perkins in 2012
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Gregory Stephen Perkins
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1964|12|28}}
| birth_place = Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Rock, folk blues, country
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, harmonica
| years_active = 1982–present
| label =
| current_member_of = The Cruel Sea
Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band
The Beasts
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
- Beasts of Bourbon
- Tex, Don and Charlie
- Tex Deadly and the Dum-Dums
- Salamander Jim
- Thug
- TnT
- Tex Perkins & His Ladyboyz
- The Ape
- The Band of Gold
}}
| website = {{URL|texperkins.com.au}}
}}
Gregory Stephen Perkins (born 28 December 1964), better known by his stage name Tex Perkins, is an Australian singer-songwriter who fronted the Australian rock band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many solo records. In 1997, a portrait of Tex Perkins by artist Bill Leak won the Packing Room award at the Archibald Prize.
Career
= 1980s: early groups=
Perkins started his musical career in Brisbane cowpunk outfit Tex Deadly and the Dum-Dums,[http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/09/rewriting-tex-perkinss-wikipedia-entry-during-an-interview.html?program=612_breakfast Audio interview with Tex Perkins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310064352/http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/09/rewriting-tex-perkinss-wikipedia-entry-during-an-interview.html?program=612_breakfast |date=10 March 2012 }} on 612 ABC Brisbane before moving to Sydney in 1982, garnering considerable attention in the Sydney independent music scene and also touring Melbourne, before the departure of guitarist Mark Halstead ended the band.{{cite book |title=Stranded: The Secret History of Australian Independent Music 1977–1991 |last=Walker |first=Clinton |author-link=Clinton Walker |year=1996 |publisher=Pan MacMillan|pages=137–139}}
He later formed Salamander Jim with Kim Salmon from The Scientists and Richard Ploog from The Church. Due to touring commitments for Ploog & Salmon, Perkins formed a different line up with Stu Spasm, Lachlan McLeod and Martin Bland. In 1985 this line-up recorded and released their only record, an EP titled Lorne Greene Shares His Precious Fluids on Red Eye Records.
Perkins and Peter Read formed Thug in Sydney in 1987 when Read's flatmate had a fascination for collecting and amassing electronic equipment. After using some of the gear on initial recordings in Read's home studio, Perkins was eager to take it to the stage. Thug's live sets would last twenty to twenty-five minutes, featuring dancers and theatrics. Thug released two studio albums Mechanical Ape / Proud Idiots Parade in 1987 and Electric Woolly Mammoth in 1988.
= 1983–present: Beasts of Bourbon =
{{Main|Beasts of Bourbon}}
Beasts of Bourbon formed in Sydney in 1983. The original lineup comprised Perkins, Spencer P. Jones, James Baker, Kim Salmon and Boris Sudjovic. The band's first album, The Axeman's Jazz, was an underground success, but the group continued to be just a side project until 1988 when it reformed to record Sour Mash, followed by 1990's Black Milk and 1991's The Low Road. In 1993, the group toured extensively to support the double album From the Belly of the Beasts, then disbanded temporarily. It reformed to record Gone in 1997, which received lukewarm reviews, but produced a somewhat successful single, "Saturated".
In 2003, the group reformed again to record a live album, Low Life, released on Spooky Records. In December 2006 it was announced that Albert Productions had signed an exclusive worldwide recording deal with the band and on 23 April 2007, released a new album Little Animals. In August 2013 the band celebrated its 30th anniversary.
= 1987–2003: The Cruel Sea =
{{Main|The Cruel Sea (band)}}
After toying with different band members, The Cruel Sea came into fruition in 1987 as Ken Gormley on bass, Jim Elliot on drums, Danny Rumour on guitars and James Cruikshank on keyboards and guitars. They took their name from a recording by the 1960s surf instrumental group, The Ventures. In 1989 Perkins (their then-lighting technician) started joining them onstage. This sparked an interest from Red Eye Records, and the band was signed and released a 1989 album Down Below. It received an ARIA Award nomination in 1993 following the release of a second album, This Is Not the Way Home in 1991.{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=C&artist=Cruel%20Sea%20%20The | title = ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Artist: Cruel Sea The | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 8 November 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
The group's third album, The Honeymoon Is Over, released in 1993, and its title song, won five ARIA Music Awards of 1994.{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1994 | title = ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Year: 1994 8th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 8 November 2010 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite magazine | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QggEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22aria+awards%22&pg=PA51 | title = New Artists, Indie Labels Dominate Australian Music Awards | last = Baker | first = Glenn A. | author-link = Glenn A. Baker | magazine = Billboard | publisher = Prometheus Global Media | page = 51 | date = 16 April 1994 | access-date = 22 May 2012 }} The Cruel Sea followed with a high-profile world tour. 1995 saw the release of the hugely successful Three Legged Dog album, which won the group another ARIA award.{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1995 | title = ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Year: 1995 9th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 9 November 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235646/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1995 | archive-date = 26 September 2007 | df = dmy-all }} In 1998, The Cruel Sea released Over Easy in 1997 and Where There's Smoke in 2001.
=1992–2017: Tex, Don and Charlie=
{{main|Tex, Don and Charlie}}
Tex, Don and Charlie is an Australian supergroup formed by Tex Perkins, Don Walker from Cold Chisel and guitarist Charlie Owen. Their first album Sad But True was released in 1993. They released a live album in 1995, Monday Morning Coming Down.... In March 2005, Tex, Don and Charlie released their second studio album All is Forgiven and a third, You Don't Know Lonely in 2017.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
=2000–2015: Dark Horses =
The Dark Horses band arose from the writing, recording and touring for the Dark Horses album (Slick/Grudge, 1592612). Members were initially Charlie Owen, Joel Silbersher, Murray Paterson and Jim Elliott. Later members include Richard Needham, Gus Agars, James Cruikshank and Steve Hadley.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Sweet Nothing (Slick/Grudge, 0384961) credited to Tex Perkins' Dark Horses, was released in 2003 followed by Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR001) in 2011. Everyone's Alone (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR002) was released in 2012 and Tunnel at the End of the Light (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR003) in 2015.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
On 10 June 2011, Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses released a new, self-titled album which peaked at number 73.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm|title=Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 20th June 2011|date=20 June 2011|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706100919/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm|archive-date=6 July 2011|access-date=27 June 2011|url-status=dead}} Everyone's Alone was released in 2012 followed by Tunnel at the End of the Light in July 2015 and peaked at number 52.{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/aria-albums-tame-impala-currents-debuts-at-no-1-20150725|title=ARIA Albums: Tame Impala Currents Debuts At No. 1|publisher=Noise11|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|date=25 July 2015|access-date=25 July 2015}}
=2021–present: Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band=
On 5 November 2021, Tex Perkins and his new band released the album Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band.{{cite web | title=CD – Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band | website=Tex Perkins | date=17 September 2021 | url=https://texperkins.com/product/tex-perkins-the-fat-rubber-band-cd-pre-order/ | access-date=6 September 2024}} A track from this album, "Out There", was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021/2 vampire TV series, Firebite.{{cite web | title=New TV Series To Showcase Aussie Artists To Millions Worldwide | website=The Music | date=16 December 2021 | url=https://themusic.com.au/news/firebite-australian-vampire-tv-series-soundtrack/3HvEzvHw8_I/16-12-21 | access-date=6 September 2024}}
- Tex Perkins – Vocals / Guitars / Keyboard / Bouzouki
- Matt Walker – Guitars / Vocals / Piano / Harmonica Stephen Hadley – Bass / Vocals
- Roger Bergodaz – Drums / Vocals
- Evan Richards – Percussion / Vocals
In March 2023, Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band followed up with a second album, Other World.{{cite web | title=Tex Perkins bounces back with The Fat Rubber Band – X-Press Magazine – Entertainment in Perth | website=X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth | date=1 March 2023 | url=https://xpressmag.com.au/tex-perkins-bounces-back-with-the-fat-rubber-band/ | access-date=6 September 2024}}
= Solo career and collaborations =
In 1996, Perkins released his first solo studio album, Far Be It from Me, which peaked at number 43 on the ARIA Charts.{{Cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Tex+Perkins|title=australian-charts.com – Discography Tex Perkins|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=27 June 2011}} In 2000, Perkins released his second solo studio album, Dark Horses which peaked at number 24 on the ARIA Charts. In 2003, Sweet Nothing was released which was credited to Tex Perkins' Dark Horses and peaked at number 34 on the ARIA Charts.
In 2006, Perkins worked with Tim Rogers and released the album My Better Half and credited it TnT. The album peaked at number 31 on the ARIA Charts.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
In 2008, Perkins released the album No. 1's & No. 2's, credited to Tex Perkins And His Ladyboyz. In 2009, with Murray Paterson, he wrote the soundtrack to the Australian drama film Beautiful Kate. The album received an ARIA nomination for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album for the soundtrack at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009.Australian Associated Press General News, 8 October 2009, "Fed: This year's ARIA nominees"
In 2010 and 2011, Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four (Shannon Bourne, guitar; Shane Reilly, guitar; Steve Hadley, bass; Dave Folley, drums) performed a series of shows in Australia and New Zealand, titled The Man in Black – The Johnny Cash Story, the show featured two hours of Johnny Cash's music interwoven with the story of his rise to stardom, his fight for survival and his eventual redemption. Tex Perkins (a baritone, as was Cash) and Rachael Tidd (as Cash's wife June Carter Cash), performed faithful renditions of Cash's songs while telling Cash's story in the third person between songs. During the show, Tex humorously emphasises the name of Cash's guitarist Luther Perkins. Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four performed a further series of shows in 2013 and 2014.
In 2012, Perkins wrote and performed "Jesaulenko You Beauty" exclusively for The Marngrook Footy Show.[http://marngrookfootyshow.com.au/node/1802 Dave Larkin Band], Marngrook Footy Show. Retrieved 17 July 2012.{{Citation |title=Final Siren: Tex Perkins |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXRtN4P675E |access-date=2023-03-28 |language=en}}
In 2015, Perkins collaboration with The Steel Springs on "One Minute's Silence", released on Anzac Day, to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Anzac Cove. The track, written by author Matthew Hardy, features The Welsh Choir and a spoken word performance by Australian rules football legend Ron Barassi.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Film and TV appearances
Perkins has a cameo role in the 1998 Australian film, Praise.{{cn|date=September 2024}} He appeared on Battle of the Choirs on the Seven Network in Australia in 2008.{{cn|date=September 2024}} He has hosted RocKwiz numerous times.{{cn|date=September 2024}} He voiced a cartoon shark in the 2011 Movie Extra animated series Shaaark.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Personal life
Perkins is a supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Emery, Patrick (24 June 2011). [http://messandnoise.com/articles/4284138 "Tex Perkins: 'My Sensitive Side Could Crop Up Anywhere'"], Mess+Noise. Retrieved 24 June 2013. He invented the sport of zoneball, a cross between Australian rules football and tennis. According to AFL player Bob Murphy, "Tex is to zoneball what Tom Wills is to footy ... The creator, the maestro, the master of ceremonies."Murphy, Bob (2 June 2011). [http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/after-the-bad-and-big-bads-of-zoneball-relax-with-your-dream-team-20110601-1fgny.html "After the bad and big bads of zoneball, relax with your dream team"], The Age. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS {{cite web |url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Tex+Perkins&cat=a |title=Discography Tex Perkins|publisher=australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=27 March 2019}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Far Be It from Me
|
| 43 |
| scope="row"| Dark Horses
|
| 24 |
| scope="row"| Sweet Nothing (with Dark Horses) |
| 34 |
| scope="row"| My Better Half (with Tim Rogers) (AKA TnT) |
| 31 |
| scope="row"| No. 1's & No. 2's (with & His Ladyboyz) |
| – |
| scope="row"| Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses (with Dark Horses) |
| – |
| scope="row"| Tex Perkins & The Band of Gold (with The Band of Gold) |
| – |
| scope="row"| Everyone's Alone (with Dark Horses) |
| – |
| scope="row"| Tunnel at the End of the Light (with Dark Horses) |
|
| scope="row"| Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band (as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band) |
| – |
| scope="row"| Other World (as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band) |
| – |
=Live album=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of live albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Live At Northcote Social Club (with Charlie Owen) |
|
|---|
=Soundtrack album=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of Soundtracks ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Beautiful Kate (with Murray Paterson) |
|
|---|
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of compilations, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS {{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|edition=pdf|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|page=216}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| The Best of Tex Perkins
|
| 95 |
=Video albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of video albums, with certifications ! Title ! Details ! Certification |
| scope="row"| The Man In Black: The Johnny Cash Story
|
| |
|---|
Awards and nominations
=AIR Awards=
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2022
| Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band
| Best Independent Country Album or EP
| {{nom}}
| {{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-air-independent-music-awards-2022/|title=Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022|website=musicfeeds|date=1 June 2022|access-date=1 June 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/genesis-owusu-wins-big-at-the-2022-air-awards/|title=Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards|website=MusicFeeds|date=5 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|author=Tyler Jenke}}
{{end}}
=APRA Awards=
The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.
{{Awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2024
| rowspan="1"| "This Monin'" (Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band)
| Song of the Year
| {{Shortlisted}}
| {{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/g-flip-genesis-owusu-rvg-more-shortlisted-for-2024-apra-song-of-the-year/Awi5FxYZGBs/22-02-24|title= G Flip, Genesis Owusu, RVG & More Shortlisted For 2024 APRA Song Of The Year|website=The Music|date=22 February 2024|access-date=23 February 2024}}
|-
| rowspan="1"| "Brand New Man" by Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band
|Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
| {{nom}}
|-
|}
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards, which recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1994 || Sad But True || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| "The Honeymoon Is Over" (written by James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour) || rowspan="2" | Song of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| "Black Stick" (written by James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour)|| {{nom}}
|-
| 1996 || "You're Too Beautiful" || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| 1997 ||Far Be It from Me || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| 2001 ||Dark Horses || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| 2003 ||Sweet Nothing || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}
|-
| 2009 || Beautiful Kate (with Murray Paterson)|| Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2011 || The Man in Black || Best Music DVD || {{nom}}
|-
| Tex Perkins & the Dark Horses || Best Independent Release || {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
=EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards=
The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2009{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/eg-awards-last-days-to-vote-20091113-ge86pq.html|title=EG Awards last days to vote|website=The Age|date=13 November 2009|access-date=19 August 2020}}
| Tex Perkins
| Best Male
| {{unknown}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Tex Perkins}}
{{Beasts of Bourbon}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkins, Tex}}
Category:Australian male singers
Category:Australian rock singers
Category:Australian multi-instrumentalists
Category:People from Darwin, Northern Territory