Lee Harding (singer)
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| Lee Harding | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 June 1983 |
| Genres | Pop punk |
| Years active | 2005–2006 |
| Labels | Sony BMG (2005-2006) Sound Vault Records (2006) |
Lee Harding (born 8 June 1983) is an Australian pop singer. He is from Frankston, Victoria, where he worked at the local AMC cinema multiplex. He became known from performing in the third season of Australian Idol and being a member of the band "Patience Project".
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[edit] Musical career
Lee Harding's Musical career left off straight away just after he was eliminated from Australian Idol as third runner up. His debut single "Wasabi" debuted No.1 on the music charts all around Australia, although the following single, Anything For You, did not reach the Top 20.
His released album What's Wrong with This Picture was a success, although later on during the year began to fade out as he forced his way into the mainstream category strongly. Although he was quite successful in Australian Idol, critics soon realised as a solo artist Lee would not last long. His third and final single from the album to be released was "Call The Nurse" which debuted lower than the other singles on the mainstream charts.
[edit] Bedrock
Before competing in Australian Idol, Lee was attending bars to see his favourite band, a covers band named Bedrock. Bedrock play what they describe as a "party band" repertoire of top 100 hits from the 60s to present day (ranging from Centrefold to Jessie's Girl to Top 40 hits by Lee's heroes Good Charlotte and Green Day). His dreams came true when Bedrock shuffled their lineup. Even though they did not know who he was or if he could even sing, Lee was dragged up on stage and sang half of Blink 182's "Dammit". Bedrock then took Lee on as their lead singer. He is quoted on his website as saying, "I'd been going to see them since I was 16. I saw them every single week so I knew every song when I joined Bedrock". Lee and Bedrock still continue to play and perform gigs at The Stammford Hotel in Victoria.
Current members of Bedrock include:
- Lee Harding - Vocals
- Thomas Petrasek - Lead guitar
- Mick Spencer - Drums
- Aaron Bateman - Bass guitar
[edit] Australian Idol
Lee Harding's on Australian Idol include:
- Sydney Auditions: "Better" by The Screaming Jets, "Let Me Entertain You" by Robbie Williams, "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding & "Run to Paradise" by The Choirboys
- Theatre Round Day One: "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes
- Theatre Round Day Two: "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel (with Ben Worthington & ????)
- Theatre Round Day Three: "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
- Top 30 (Group 3): "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte
- Top 13 (Australian Made): "Holy Grail" by Hunters & Collectors
- Top 11 60s Hits: "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees
- Top 10 Supergroups: "Roxanne" by The Police
- Top 9 Idols' Choice: "Holiday" by Green Day
- Top 8 Big Band Hits: "Straighten Up and Fly Right" by Robbie Williams
- Top 7 80s Hits: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
- Top 6 Up Close & Personal: "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots
- Top 6 Motown Hits: "Ben" by Michael Jackson
- Top 5 1970s Hits: "My Sharona" by The Knack Bottom 2
- Top 4 Elvis Hits: "Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley
- Top 4 Elvis Hits: "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley Bottom 2
- Top 3 #1 Hits: "Faith" by George Michael (Limp Bizkit version)
- Top 3 #1 Hits: "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (The Living End version) Eliminated
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Album information |
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What's Wrong with This Picture?
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[edit] Compilations and other appearances
- Australian Idol 3: The Final 13 - Australian Made: The Hits -
Singing "Holy Grail" & in the group song "Ready".
[edit] With Rock City
| Album information |
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Welcome to Rock City[1]
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[edit] Videography
Three videos were then made from his debut album. "Wasabi" became the first breakthrough single reaching number one in Australia for five weeks.[2] The video clip for his second single, "Anything for You", was produced by James Hackett, and used hi-tech motion control. The video took about 100 shots to produce, each with Lee Harding and his band in different outfits and props.[3] The third and last video of the album was "Call the Nurse" which featured Lee and the Bedrock boys in a hospital in Sydney, rocking out in the back of an ambulance. Band member and drummer, Mick Spencer, was ill whilst filming the clip. He shot the video with an intravenous drip secured in the back of his hand, drumming away on a hospital bed.
[edit] Awards
Lee's first single, "Wasabi", lasted 5 consecutive weeks in the #1 position on radio charts nationwide. "Wasabi" held this title with TV Rocks "Flaunt It" for the highest number of consecutive weeks in 2006 for an Australian single to be in the #1 position on the charts. The single debuted at #1 in the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in December 2005, and remained at the top spot for five consecutive weeks. It was certified gold in the first week, and certified platinum in the second week. The song was popular on Lowie's Hot 30 Countdown, reaching number one on several occasions.
The music video was voted number 63 in the Video Hits Australia Top 100 Video Clips. The song placed eighth in the End of Year ARIA Singles Top 100 of 2006.
Lee won an ARIA #1 award in 2006 for the efforts and success of his first single and release from "What's wrong with this picture?", "Wasabi".[1]
In 2006, Harding won an award at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice awards, held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 11 October
- Fave Hottie (Male) - Lee Harding
Harding won the award alongside Neighbours star,Stephanie McIntosh, who scored Fave Female Hottie.
[edit] Concerts/tours
[edit] Shannon Noll support act
Lee was support for fellow Idol contestant, Shannon Noll, on his nationwide tour with mate and fellow idol contestant Dan England. Harding played venues such as Sydney Luna Parks's Big Top.
[edit] INXS support act
August 2006, Harding was opening act for rock group INXS with bandmates Bedrock for one night of their tour in Brisbane
[edit] Anything for You Tour
In April 2006, Harding headlined his own tour titled the Anything for You Tour. Before acts included the Sydney based power-pop group, Kid Courageous, hip-hop icons Figg Kidd, and an emerging indie-rock group, Town Hall Steps. Harding performed at such venues including Penrith Panthers and Castle Hill RSL Club. The tour covered venues along the east coast of Australia.
[edit] All Age Rampage/Pop Punk Tour 2006
September 2006, Harding kicked off his co-headlining tour with mates Kid Courageous amongst small venues across the nation. The tour commenced in Brisbane, then continued to the Gold Coast(meet bree), Melbourne, Albury and Adelaide. Artists on the tour included; Lee Haring and Bedrock, Kid Courageous, 919(now known as Amber Calling) and Enolas Secret (Formerly known as Wishlist)' Melbourne band Don't Ask Us supported the tour on the Victorian dates'. Due to the arisal of a family issue, the tour was postponed for the NSW shows which consisted of venues such as, Penrith Leagues, the Manning Bar and Dapto Leagues. News was received after the conclusion of the Adelaide show and was confirmed in an official press release by Harding's manager at the time.
