Horsehead (band)

Horsehead
Origin	Australia
Genres	Rock
Years active	1991–2000
Labels	Stubble, Mushroom
Past members	Andy McLean Cameron McKenzie Scott Kingman Mick Vallance Max War

Horsehead was an Australian rock band. Horsehead was founded around 1991 by singer Andy McLean and guitarist Cameron Mckenzie, both from 21 Guns; drummer Max War, previously in Uncanny X-Men (band), guitarist Scott Kingman from Cattletruck; bassist Mick Vallance who was a founder of the popular three piece trio Serious Young Insects and was a member of Boom Crash Opera. Often described as the sleeping giant of 1990s Australian rock history, Horsehead remained very popular on the live scene nationally throughout their career, playing to hundreds across the country and scoring big breaks supporting numerous major international rock groups and appearing on popular television programs. Their style can be described as a fusion of early Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Led Zeppelin. The band were reportedly the loudest live band in Australia in decibel measurements.

History

Horsehead performed their first gig at the Station Tavern in Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria in February 1992. In June 1992 they released a six track demo which was sent around the world. The demo caught the attention of Madonna's label Maverick Records, they were subsequently flown to Los Angeles on the strength of their demo. The label executives were impressed with the band but wanted to make some changes, insinuating that the band were not up to scratch in the looks department, apart from Andy McLean. After partying hard, the band traveled to New York to showcase for other labels. Soon word spread of the band's international pursuits and the band returned back to Australia gaining the attention of major record labels. In October 1992 the band went into the studio to service several interested labels with more songs (Including the popular single 'Oil and Water'), negotiations with interested labels continue. In January 1993, the band are invited to play the first ever Big Day Out festival. In February 1993 the band caught a break opening for Skid Row and Guns N' Roses at Calder Park Raceway. Guitarist Slash jams with the band during a song. In June 1993 Horsehead sign with label Mushroom Records. Following the signing, the band are flown to Memphis to meet up with legendary rock producer, engineer and mixer Mike Fraser to mix the debut record. Following more gigs around the country, the band releases the single and music video 'Oil and Water', receiving regular air play on radio station Triple M Network and winning the Australian Kerrang! award for best rock video. The band tours the east coast of Australia with the Hoodoo Gurus in October 1993 and soon return to Melbourne to release their debut album. In February 1994 the band releases second single 'Liar' and commences tour with the Baby Animals. In March 1994 the band appears on MTV's 'Take 40 Australia' for their single 'Liar', the band's biggest success in ARIA charting in their career. The band ends the Baby Animals tour with a huge outdoor show at Sydney's Eastern Creek Motorcycle Grand Prix, also featuring The Screaming Jets. The band commences further touring with The Screaming Jets from April. In August 1994 the band release their third single 'Sun'. In October the band tours the country with Midnight Oil. In April 1995 the band travel as part of the "Alternative Nation Festival" featuring Faith No More, Nine Inch Nails, Live and Tool, Tool's manager put the band in touch with their producer, Sylvia Massy. In September 1995, the band travel to Los Angeles to record their second album "Onism" with Massy (Tool, Skunk Anansie) at Sound City Studios. While in the U.S.A, Horsehead play a few gigs in Hollywood. In March 1996 the band release the song "Strange" as the first single off the "Onism" album. The video features footage shot by the band while hanging in America. In April "Onism" is launched with a live to air rooftop gig at Melbourne 3RRR radio station. Horsehead hit the road again, this time with The Tea Party from Canada. In June second single 'Ever' is released. In July the band tours with 'The Angels'. In August "Ever" is given a work out by Angelique Cooper and re-released as a dance mix on CD and vinyl. In September the band tours with 'The Divinyls'. In November "Shine" is released as their third single. The video features footage of world champion surfer, Kelly Slater in action. Shine also appears on the soundtrack to Kelly's latest surf video at the time. In December Horsehead and Mushroom Records part amicably. In March 1997 the band signs with new label Stubble Records and record a handful of songs with Australian producer Tony Cohen (Nick Cave, The Cruel Sea). In April "Capital H" is released as Horsehead's first single with Stubble records to coincide with their selection to support U.S band Live on tour. In May Horsehead tours Australia and New Zealand with Live on their "Secret Samadhi" world tour. In June the bands earlier work with Tony Cohen is released as "The Golden Cow Collection". The EP contains 6 songs. Soon Horsehead appear on ABC TV's "Recovery" performing two tracks (Crinkles and Golden Cow) off the new EP semi-live. The band then commence their own east coast Australian tour. In August "Second Time Around" is released as the second single from the EP. The band performs the single semi-live on the TV show 'Plukka's Place' a spin-off of the popular program 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' hosted by Livinia Nixon and Daniel Kowalski. In September the band supports Alice Cooper in Melbourne and Sydney on his Australian tour. In November the band joins forces again with The Angels and The Screaming Jets for the "Barbed Wire Ball" tour of Australia. In March 1998 the band begins work on their third album. In April the band is asked by Metallica to tour with them on their 'Poor Re-Touring Me Tour' playing ten dates around the country. Horsehead's single 'Century' from their forthcoming record is rushed out to coincide with the tour. Guitarist Cameron Mckenzie considers the tour the highlight of Horsehead's career. In July the band performs their 400th gig at the Esplanade Hotel (Melbourne) to full capacity. The band played regularly at the Esplanade to large crowds almost every New Year's Eve throughout the 1990s. In February 1999 Album No.3 'Goodbye Mothership' is mixed by Michael Letho. In March the song "She Fell To Earth" is released as the second single from the forthcoming album. The song is performed semi-live on Australian TV's popular "Hey Hey It's Saturday" program. In July "Goodbye Mothership" is released. The band play 8 tracks from the album live to air on Triple J's "Live at the Wireless" national radio program. In August following touring the band release third single and music video 'Ramones'. In June 2000 the band's fourth and last single 'Bounce Back/Procrastinator' is released.

Break Up

Shortly after releasing the single 'Bounce Back/Procrastinator' in 2000, bassist Michael Vallance quits the band, expressing disillusionment and fustration with their label's politics and the record industry in general. The band broke up shortly after Vallance's exit.

Discography

Albums

Horsehead (1993)

• First studio album
• Label: Mushroom Records
• Singles: Oil and Water, Liar, Sun

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slave"
2.	"Liar"
3.	"Oil and Water"
4.	"Power 2"
5.	"Miss Your Mind"
6.	"Hazy Way"
7.	"Other Side"
8.	"Blood Memory"
9.	"Sun"
10.	"Fill Me"
11.	"Sleeping Dog"
12.	"Burn"

Onism (1996)

• Label: Mushroom Records
• Singles: Strange; Ever; Shine

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fear"
2.	"Shine"
3.	"Wake Up Dead"
4.	"Strange"
5.	"Paint Me Grey"
6.	"Kingdom of Karma"
7.	"Into the River"
8.	"Sin"
9.	"Ever"
10.	"Home"
11.	"Sunflower"
12.	"Ladder and Snake"

Golden Cow Collection (1997)

• EP
• Label: Stubble
• Single: Capital H

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Crinkles"	4:11
2.	"Golden Cow"	2:52
3.	"Capital H"	4:48
4.	"What Level?"	4:20
5.	"Second Time Around"	3:44
6.	"All My Waves"	5:28

Goodbye Mothership (1999)

• Label: Stubble
• Singles: Century, She Fell to Earth, Ramones, Bounce Back

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tsunami"	3:21
2.	"Ramones"	3:48
3.	"Coming to Get You"	3:21
4.	"She Fell to Earth"	3:55
5.	"The Passenger"	3:25
6.	"Mothership"	4:47
7.	"Century"	4:04
8.	"Procrastinator"	3:47
9.	"Cuts to White"	3:54
10.	"Bounce Back"	3:09
11.	"Down to This"	5:19
12.	"Re-entry"	1:01
13.	"Neon Cough"	3:16
14.	"Black Plague"	3:23
15.	"13 Ways"	3:43
16.	"Lucy"	4:21
17.	"Inner"	1:11
18.	"Sleeve"	3:13

Singles

She fell to earth (1998)

The single has two covers. The first a blurry grey cover which actually was a misprint, the second featuring an angel.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"She fell to earth"	3:49
2.	"Cheesegrater"	4:37
3.	"B03"	2:29

Century (1998)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Century"	3:53
2.	"One"	5:03

Capital H

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Capital H"	4:51
2.	"Bermuda V Me"	3:55
3.	"Oil and Water (live)"	5:04

Bounce Back/Procrastinator

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bounce Back"	3:01
2.	"Procrastinator"	3:48
3.	"Century (live)"	4:06
4.	"Bounce Back (live)"	3:10

ARIA Charts: 'Liar' Take 40 Australia singles.