The Poor (Australian band)
{{Short description|Australian hard rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Poor
| image = The Poor @ Enmore Theatre (5661343484).jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| alias = The Poor Boys
| origin = Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| genre = Hard rock
| years_active = {{start date|1986}}–{{end date|2000}}, {{start date|2008}}–present
| label = Sony/Columbia, Riot!
| associated_acts = Lump, Blackseed
| website = {{URL|thepoor.com.au}}
| current_members = Anthony "Skenie" Skene
Matt Whitby
Gavin Hansen
Daniel Cox
| past_members = Julian "RV" Grynglas
Mark Davis
Chris Risdale
James Young
Warren Reid
}}
The Poor are an Australian hard rock band that formed in 1986 as The Poor Boys in Darwin, Northern Territory. Their founding mainstays are Julian "RV" Grynglas on guitar, Anthony "Skenie" Skene on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Matt Whitby on bass guitar. On 13 June 1994 they released a debut album, Who Cares, on the Sony label, which peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The lead single, "More Wine Waiter Please", had appeared in the United States in March and reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was a top ten hit in Australia when released there in May. The Poor disbanded in 2000 but reformed in 2008 and issued two further albums, Round 1 (October 2009) and Round 2 (15 October 2010), on Riot Entertainment.
History
The Poor Boys formed in 1986 in Darwin, Northern Territory.{{cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'The Poor' | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040809222137/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=642 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=642 | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | authorlink = Ian McFarlane | publisher = Allen & Unwin | archivedate = 9 August 2004 | year = 1999 | accessdate = 5 October 2012 | isbn = 1-86448-768-2 }} The original line-up was Mark Davis on drums, Chris Risdale on guitar, Anthony "Skenie" Skene on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Matt Whitby on bass guitar.{{Cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040318163858/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/poor.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/poor.html | publisher = Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) | title = The Poor/The Poor Boys | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | last2 = Eltschinger | first2 = Markus | archivedate = 18 March 2004 | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 10 March 2014 }} Risdale and Skene had met in 1984 when they attended Dripstone High School together.{{cite news | url = http://www.sludgefactory.com.au/eleven-questions-withthe-poor | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130420192241/http://www.sludgefactory.com.au/eleven-questions-withthe-poor | url-status = dead | archive-date = 20 April 2013 | title = Eleven Questions with... The Poor | author = Robyn | work = Sludge Factory | date = 21 November 2010 | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }} They had met Davis and Whitby at parties in Darwin and soon were gigging together as a covers band. Risdale soon left when Reid joined. After Reid left Grynglas joined and they started to write their own material. Davis left a few years later.
In 1991 the group relocated to Sydney and later that year toured the United States supporting fellow Australian hard rockers, The Angels. By June 1992 James Young (ex-BB Steal) replaced Davis on drums and the group released their debut extended play, Rude, Crude & Tattooed, on Sony/Columbia Records. It was produced by The Angels' members Rick Brewster and Bob Spencer. The Poor Boys supported that group's national tour through July to August. About a year later The Poor Boys issued their second EP, Underfed, which was produced by Brent Eccles (also a member of The Angels). They followed in October by backing United States acts, Alice in Chains and Suicidal Tendencies, on the Australian leg of their combined tour.
In March 1994 The Poor Boys changed their name to The Poor to avoid confusion with a US group of the former name. That month they issued a single, "More Wine Waiter Please", in the US where it peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.{{cite web | url={{Allmusic|pure_url=yes|class=album|tab=awards|id=r199679}} | title = Who Cares – Poor Awards | publisher = Rovi Corporation | work = Allmusic | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }}{{cite magazine | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=poor|chart=Mainstream Rock Tracks}} | title = Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks – 'More Wine Waiter Please' – The Poor | magazine = Billboard | publisher = Prometheus Global Media }} In May they released it in Australia and it peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart.{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Poor | title = Discography The Poor | publisher = Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) | last = Hung | first = Steffen | accessdate = 5 October 2012 }} The Australian single's cover art featured a variant of the group's former logo, with the word "Boys" crossed out, to notify fans that it was the same band. On 13 June 1994 they followed with their debut studio album, Who Cares, which reached No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It was produced by United Kingdom's Paul Northfield (Suicidal Tendencies) and had been previously released in Japan on 8 April that year. Recorded in Sydney and Montreal it was also issued in the US.{{cite magazine | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=the+poor+More+Wine+Waiter+Please&pg=PA77 | title = The Poor Poured Energy into Paying Their Dues | magazine = Billboard | publisher = Prometheus Global Media | last = Eliezer | first = Christie | date = 12 November 1994 | pages = 75–76 | accessdate = 5 October 2012 }} The Poor promoted their US releases with a tour there supporting German rockers, Scorpions. The Poor also toured Europe and Japan. In September 1994 their next single, "Poison", reached No. 48 in Australia.
Early in 1996 they opened for AC/DC's international tour. They also supported Kiss,{{cite news | work = The Newcastle Herald | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 23 July 1998 | title = Spirited Poor | first = Chad | last = Watson }} and, in April 1998, Van Halen.{{cite news | work = Gold Coast Bulletin | publisher = News Limited (News Corporation) | date = 3 February 2005 | title = Like It or Lump It, It's a Long Road | first = Sam | last = Cleveland }} In 1997 Young was replaced on drums by Gavin Hansen (ex-Rattlebone) – a friend of Whitby's. The group issued another single the following year, "Simple Livin'", intended to be the first single from the follow-up to Who Cares, however in 2000 The Poor disbanded.{{cite web | url = http://www.thepoor.com.au/# | title = The Poor – The History from 1992–2000 | publisher = The Poor Official Website | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }} Note: If required, user to click on 'History' tab at left.{{cite news | url = http://issuu.com/australismusic/docs/issue2 | title = Gavin Hansen – Drummer for The Poor | work = Australian Drummer | publisher = Issuu (Michael Hansen, Ruben Bjerg Hansen, Mikkel Jensen, Martin Ferro-Thomsen) | issue = 2 | pages = 24–26 | date = 24 June 2012 | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }} Various members of The Poor separated into two heavy rock groups, Lump and Blackseed. Skene related what happened after the split: "I did a small solo acoustic thing for a while. Matt was at Uni studying history. Julian was just working. Gav went back to Melbourne before moving to the Gold Coast where he grew up and started Lump with Melbourne mates Scotty and Stewie. Then I moved up and joined Lump as well!" "Simple Livin'" would later be released in 2012 on an expanded French CD version of Who Cares, collecting the B-sides from that album's singles.
The Poor reunited in April 2008 to play on an Australia tour with W.A.S.P. and soon after began recording a new album, Round 1, released in October 2009 by Riot!, comprised several older songs not previously released together with newly written tracks.{{cite news | work = The Canberra Times | date = 28 January 2010 | title = The Poor | first = Pauly | last = Carberry }}{{cite news | url = http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/10/22/150515_more-gold-coast-gig-guide.html | title = The Poor to make decibel-loaded return | last = Cronin | first = Seanna | work = Gold Coast Bulletin | publisher = News Limited (News Corporation) | date = 22 October 2009 | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }} Since October 2009 the group are based on the Gold Coast. In January 2010 they played at the Big Day Out on the Gold Coast.{{cite news | work = Gold Coast Bulletin | publisher = News Limited (News Corporation) | date = 18 January 2010 | title = It's Festive Anarchy for Duane | first = Thomas | last = Chamberlin }} On 15 October 2010, the band released Round 2, Brian Fischer-Giffin of Loud Mag found that for this album "[The Poor] come out swinging much more convincingly, punching out a short, sharp album of no-nonsense hard rock that doesn't over stay its welcome or try to be anything more than it is. The Poor has got their mojo back".{{cite news | url = http://www.loudmag.com.au/content/the-poor-round-2 | title = The Poor – Round 2 | last = Fischer-Griffin | first = Brian | work = Loud Mag | publisher = Loud Magazine Australia | date = 4 November 2010 | accessdate = 6 October 2012 }}
In late 2022, the Poor announced the release of their fourth album (first in thirteen years), High Price Deed, on 2 February 2023. The album was preceded by singles "Payback's a Bitch", "Cry Out" and "Let Me Go". On 12 December, the fourth single "Take the World" was released.
Band members
;Current members
- Anthony "Skenie" Skene – vocals, guitars (1986–2000, 2008–present)
- Daniel Cox – guitars (2019–present)
- Matt Whitby – bass (1986–2000, 2008–present)
- Gavin Hansen – drums (1997–2000, 2008–present)
;Former members
- Mark Davis – drums (1986–1992)
- Chris Ridsdale – guitars (1986–1988)
- Warren Reid – guitars (1988–1989)
- Julian 'RV' Grynglas – guitars (1989–2000, 2008–2018)
- James Young – drums (1992–1997)
;Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
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PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:10 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1986 till:07/01/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1986
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_Album
LineData =
layer:back
color:studio
at:06/13/1994
at:10/01/2009
at:10/15/2010
at:02/03/2023
BarData =
bar:Skene text:"Anthony Skene"
bar:Risdale text:"Chris Risdale"
bar:Reid text:"Warren Reid"
bar:Grynglas text:"Julian Grynglas"
bar:Cox text:"Daniel Cox"
bar:Whitby text:"Matt Whitby"
bar:Davis text:"Mark Davis"
bar:Young text:"James Young"
bar:Hansen text:"Gavin Hansen"
PlotData=
width:11
bar:Skene from:start till:11/01/2000 color:vocals
bar:Skene from:03/01/2008 till:end color:vocals
bar:Skene from:start till:11/01/2000 color:guitar width:3
bar:Skene from:03/01/2008 till:end color:guitar width:3
bar:Risdale from:start till:04/01/1988 color:guitar
bar:Reid from:04/01/1988 till:11/01/1989 color:guitar
bar:Grynglas from:11/01/1989 till:11/01/2000 color:guitar
bar:Grynglas from:03/01/2008 till:12/31/2018 color:guitar
bar:Cox from:01/01/2019 till:end color:guitar
bar:Whitby from:start till:11/01/2000 color:bass
bar:Whitby from:03/01/2008 till:end color:bass
bar:Davis from:start till:07/01/1992 color:drums
bar:Young from:07/01/1992 till:07/01/1997 color:drums
bar:Hansen from:07/01/1997 till:11/01/2000 color:drums
bar:Hansen from:03/01/2008 till:end color:drums
}}
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS |
|---|
| scope="row"| Who Cares
|
| 3 |
| scope="row"| Round 1
|
| — |
| scope="row"| Round 2
|
| — |
| scope="row"| High Price Deed
|
| — |
= Compilations =
- Round 1 & 2 (2011) – includes all songs from the albums Round 1 and Round 2
= EPs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS {{cite Ryan|page=221}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Rude, Crude & Tattooed {{small|(as the Poor Boys)}} |
| 66 |
| scope="row"| Underfed {{small|(as the Poor Boys)}} |
| — |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Poor|title=Discography The Poor|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=6 September 2022}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "More Wine Waiter Please"
| rowspan="3"| 1994 | 10 | rowspan="3"| Who Cares |
| scope="row"| "Poison"
| 48 |
| scope="row"| "Man of War"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Simple Livin'"
| 1998 | — |{{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Payback's a Bitch"
| rowspan="4"| 2022 | — | rowspan="5"| High Price Deed |
| scope="row"| "Cry Out"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Let Me Go"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Take the World"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Lover"
| 2023 | — |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.thepoor.com.au/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poor, The}}
Category:Australian hard rock musical groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008