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Noiseworks
Noiseworks, 1990.
Noiseworks, 1990.
Background information
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresHard rock, pub rock, pop rock
Years active1986–1992, 1999, 2004, 2007–2008, 2011, 2015-present
LabelsCBS, Epic, Sony, Columbia, Sony BMG
Past membersSteve Balbi
Stuart Fraser
Kevin Nicol
Justin Stanley
Jon Stevens
Chris Becker
Barbara Griffin
Scott Aplin
Websitehttp://www.noiseworks.com.au/

Noiseworks are an Australian hard rock band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley and lead vocalist Jon Stevens. They had four Australian Top 10 albums, Noiseworks (No. 6, 1987), Touch (No. 5, 1988), Love Versus Money (No. 1, 1991) and Greatest Hits (No. 4, 1992). They produced three Top 10 singles, "Take Me Back", "Touch" and "Hot Chilli Woman" before disbanding in 1992. Reunion tours occurred in 1999, 2004, 2007–2008 and 2011.

Formation

New Zealand-born pop singer Jon Stevens had released a solo album and several hit singles (including a duet with Sharon O'Neill) before relocating to Sydney in 1981.[1] Stevens recorded a self-titled album for the Big Time label, two singles were issued but neither were successful. In 1983, Stevens formed The Change with guitarist Stuart Fraser, who had played in 1970s hard rock act Blackfeather (later called Feather) and then with fellow member Swanee. Bass player Steve Balbi, who was a member of Kevin Borich Express and played with The Change on their 1984 single "Forever Young". The following year, Stevens and Fraser hired Balbi and drummer Kevin Nicol (ex-Dial X). United States-born Justin Stanley was Balbi's song writing partner and joined the group in 1986, the band was renamed as Noiseworks.[2]

History

Noiseworks was formed in Sydney with the line up of Steve Balbi on bass guitar and backing vocals; Stuart Fraser on guitar and backing vocals; Kevin Nicol on drums; Justin Stanley on keyboards, harmonica and backing vocals; and Jon Stevens on lead vocals.[3] After quickly establishing a solid following on Sydney's pub rock circuit, Noiseworks was signed by CBS.[1] Their first single, "No Lies", reached the Top 40 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[4] "Take Me Back" was more successful, making No. 7, and became one of the band's best known songs.[4]

On 20 July 1987 they released their debut self-titled album, Noiseworks, which was produced by Mark Opitz (The Angels, Cold Chisel)and engineered by Alan Wright (INXS, Icehouse, Ratt).[3][4] It peaked at No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart.[4] "Love Somebody" and "Welcome to the World" were also lifted from the album, but neither made the Top 40.[4] Noiseworks sold more than 210,000 copies (3× platinum) in Australia.[1] "Burning Feeling" was released as the album's fifth single in early 1988, which failed to chart.[4]

On 11 November 1988, their second album Touch was released and debuted at No. 5 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Albums Chart.[5] The album was produced by Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones, Killing Joke, Marillion) and Noiseworks, and engineered by Al Wright (Hoodoo Gurus, Jimmy Barnes, Divinyls). [3] The title track preceded it as the first single, peaking at No. 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[5] Subsequent singles "Voice of Reason", "Simple Man" and "In My Youth" failed to make the Top 40. Nevertheless, Noiseworks was now one of Australia's most popular live rock acts.[1]

The third album, Love Versus Money, had production started by Noiseworks but was initially rejected by their new label, Sony. Sony brought in Randy Jackson to assist in the album's production.[1] Love Versus Money featured guest appearances by Michael Hutchence of INXS, Vika and Linda Bull and Penny Ford of the techno group Snap!. The first two singles, "Freedom" and "Miles & Miles" were moderate hits, but the third, the hard-rocking "Hot Chilli Woman", reached No. 7 and propelled the album to the top of the chart when it was released on 5 July 1991.[5] Late in the year, a fourth single "R.I.P. (Millie)", a tribute to Stevens' mother who had recently died from cancer, was also released.

Stevens joined the cast of the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar in early 1992 in the role of Judas. Noiseworks disbanded following a final show in Sydney in March 1992. Later that year, the Greatest Hits compilation appeared, featuring a cover of The Beatles hit "Let It Be" which was released as a single. It had been recorded live at their last performance. The compilation climbed to No. 4 nationally.[5]

Aftermath

Balbi and Stanley formed the psychedelic pop group Electric Hippies in 1993 and had top 30 success with the single, "Greedy People", and debut album, Electric Hippies both released in 1994.[6][7] Electric Hippies were producers for different artists including, Vincent Stone, Jenny Morris and Nikka Costa (Stanley's wife).[7][8] By 1997, Balbi had formed another band, Universe.[7] Stanley and Costa returned to the US.[8]

Stuart Fraser was also guitarist on Jesus Christ Superstar 1992 Australian Cast Recording The Album and the concerts events. After in 1993 Fraser joined The John Farnham band and has remained as a touring and recording member Fraser has recorded on these Farnham albums Romeo's Heart in 1996, 33.1/3 in 2000, The Last Time in 2002, I Remember When I Was Young in 2005, Jack in 2010 and The Acoustic Chapel Sessions 2011 all albums and most tours was alongside John Farnham's longtime guitarist Brett Garsed who shared lead guitar duties with Fraser .

Stevens returned to his solo career and released further albums; he appeared as the host of the reality TV show The Resort. In 1999, Fraser, Nicol and Stevens reformed Noiseworks (as Noiseworks II) with Chris Becker on bass guitar and Barbara Griffin on keyboards and toured Australia.[1] In 2000 Stevens joined INXS, initially as a touring vocalist, but after being officially installed as a band member in October 2002 he left the band a year later. A single released by this version of the group, "I Get Up", was unsuccessful.

Noiseworks reformed in September 2007, with Scott Aplin on keyboards in place of Stanley, for a national tour with The Choirboys and Balbi's project Move Trees. In December, Stevens announced that Noiseworks planned to return to the studio in 2008 to record their first studio album together in sixteen years.[9] Jon Stevens and the original Noiseworks band members featured on the Red Hot Summer Tour of NSW (in early May 2011) alongside Jimmy Barnes and Thirsty Merc.

It was confirmed on the Noiseworks Facebook page in June 2015 that a new album of material has been recorded and will be released in 2016, followed by a tour.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
KMR[4] 		AUS
ARIA[5] 		NZL
RIANZ[10] 		SWE
[11] 		SWI
[12]
1987 Noiseworks
  • Released: 20 July 1987
  • Label: CBS (451033.1)
  • Producer: Mark Opitz
 6 37 6 43 —
1988 Touch
  • Released: 11 November 1988
  • Label: CBS (463115.1)
  • Producer: Chris Kimsey
 - 5 31 24 20
1991 Love Versus Money - 1 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Compilation albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[5]
1992 Greatest Hits
  • Released: 2 October 1992
  • Label: Columbia (472119.2)
  • Producer:
 4
2007 The Essential Noiseworks
  • Released: 9 April 2007
  • Label: Sony BMG (88697069612)
  • Producer:
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Live albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[5]
2008 Live + Loud
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Noiseworks Pty Ltd (NW08-LIVE)
  • Producer: Steve Balbi
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS
KMR[4] 		AUS
ARIA[5] 		NZL
RIANZ[10]
1986 "No Lies" 31 — 15 Noiseworks
1987 "Take Me Back" 7 — —
"Love Somebody" 50 — —
"Welcome to the World" 41 — —
1988 "Burning Feeling" 60 — —
"Touch" 9 12 44 Touch
1989 "Voice of Reason" 37 43 —
"Simple Man" 56 47 —
"In My Youth" 35 44 —
1990 "Freedom" — 30 — Love Versus Money
"Miles & Miles" — 26 —
1991 "Hot Chilli Woman" — 7 32
"R.I.P. (Millie)" — 26 23
1992 "Take You Higher" (with Vika & Linda Bull) — 84 —
"Let It Be" (live) — 99 — Greatest Hits
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

General
  • McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2010. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  • Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (2002) [1987]. The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.[16] Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f McFarlane, 'Noiseworks' entry. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  2. ^ Sergent, Bruce. "Jon Stevens". New Zealand Music of the 60s, 70s and a bit of the 80s. Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Holmgren, Magnus. "Noiseworks". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
    • Top 50 peaks (from commencement of the ARIA-produced chart, week ending 26 June 1988): "Discography Noiseworks". Australian charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    • Top 100 peaks between January 1990 and December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. ^ "Discography Electric Hippies". Australian charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  7. ^ a b c McFarlane, 'Electric Hippies' entry. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b Matteo, Steve (15 October 2008). "Nikka Costa". Crawdaddy!. Paul Williams. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Noiseworks to make music". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers (News Limited). 16 December 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Discography Noiseworks". New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Discography Noiseworks". Swedish charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Discography Noiseworks". Swiss charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  13. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – 1989 (61–100)". imgur.com. Retrieved 28 April 2016. N.B. The triangle symbol indicates platinum certification.
  14. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – Week Ending 07 Mar 1993 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 161)". imgur.com. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry". catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
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