The Cruel Sea (band)

The Cruel Sea

The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental only band, it became best known when it was fronted by the prolific vocalist Tex Perkins (also a member of The Beasts of Bourbon and a solo artist) in addition to Jim Elliott (drums), Dan Rumour (guitar) and Ken Gormley (bass). Other musicians who have been in the band include guitarists Gerard Corben and James Cruikshank; plus Dee Corben and Barry Turnbull on bass. Popular albums include This Is Not The Way Home (1991), The Honeymoon Is Over (1993), and the successful Three Legged Dog (1995).

History

The Cruel Sea came into fruition in late 1987 with original members Danny Rumour (guitar), Ged Corben (guitar), Dee Corben (bass) and James Elliot (drums). The group took its name from the 1960s surf instrumental group The Ventures, although it was also a book and film. This original lineup played about 20 shows and parties, then Dee Corben left, being replaced by Ken Gormley. Barry Bull joined on bass for about 3 gigs, then Gormley returned. In 1989, Perkins (their then-lighting technician) started joining them onstage. This sparked an interest from Red Eye Records, and the band, which now also included James Cruickshank (ex Widdershins) on keyboards and guitars, was signed and released a 1989 album Down Below featuring Perkins on vocals.

The group went on to win ARIA Awards for Best Australian Single ("The Honeymoon is Over"), Best Australian Album (The Honeymoon is Over), Best Australian Group and Australian Song of the Year ("The Honeymoon is Over"). For the following album Three Legged Dog, The Cruel Sea toured Canada, United States and Europe, followed by a support slot for the Australian leg of The Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge Tour. They also claimed another ARIA award in 1994 for Best Australian Group. Their next release, a compilation of b-sides and studio outtakes called Rock 'n Roll Duds, preceded a three-year hiatus for the band. During this time Perkins released his first solo album, Far Be it From Me. The Cruel Sea returned to their instrumental roots and embarked on a series of gigs without Perkins.

In 1998, The Cruel Sea released Over Easy and again another rigorous touring schedule supporting their Takin All Day national tour. After the success of his first album, Tex released his second solo album Dark Horses. In early 2005 guitarist and main composer Dan Rumour began touring and recording with his own roots style instrumental band the Dan Rumour Band. Cruel Sea stickman Jim Elliot joined on drums in the middle of 2006. They appeared on the Australian surf music project Delightful Rain released October 2006, and a documentary film of the same name shown on Australian television in December '06. Dan's first album was released in October 2007 under the new name Dan Rumour and The Drift.

In August 2006, Tex Perkins confirmed on ABC2's Dig program that the Cruel Sea were no more.

In spite of this statement, the Cruel Sea (including Tex Perkins) will be touring Melbourne and Sydney in 2008 before their Blues & Roots Festival performances.

Discography

Studio albums

• Down Below (1989)
• This Is Not The Way Home (1991)
• The Honeymoon is Over (1993)
• Three Legged Dog (1995)
• Over Easy (1998)
• Where There's Smoke (2001)

Compilations

• Rock 'n Roll Duds (1994) - B-sides compilation
• The Most (1999) - Best of compilation
• We Don't Work, We Play Music (2002) - B-sides, rarities and covers; plus a live CD

Awards and nominations

• 1993 ARIA Awards for Best Australian Single ("The Honeymoon is Over"), Best Australian Album (The Honeymoon is Over), Best Australian Group and Australian song of the year ("The Honeymoon is Over")
• 1994 ARIA Award Best Australian Group

Trivia

• In 1997, a portrait of Tex Perkins by artist Bill Leak won the Packing Room award at the Archibald Prize.
• In 2006, the song "Black Stick" was voted the 853rd song and "Better Get a Lawyer Son" was voted 796th song out of 2006 songs featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown.
• The band's single "The Honeymoon Is Over" soundtracks the opening scene to the 1995 film Empire Records.
• During the last bar of scat before the final chorus in "The Honeymoon Is Over" Tex Perkins says "Triple M", referring to one of the Sydney radio stations that helped make them popular.

External links

• Info on Dan Rumour and The Drift, from member Nick Larkins.
• Info on Dan Rumour and The Drift, from Bombora record company.