Tumbleweed

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Tumbleweed
OriginWollongong, NSW
GenresHard rock, stoner metal, grunge
Years active1990 - 2003, 2009 - present
LabelsWaterfront, Polydor, Universal
Associated actsProton Energy Pills, Fridge, Cape Tribulation, Hot Rollers, Immolate, Richie and the Creeps, Leadfinger, The Pink Fits, The Unheard
Websitehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Tumbleweed/66646031819
MembersJay Curley, Lenny Curley, Paul Hausmeister, Richie Lewis, Steve O'Brien
Past membersNik Reith, Phil Lally, Dave Achille, Dave Curley

Band Members

  • Line-Up
    • Jay Curley (bass)
    • Lenny Curley (guitar)
    • Paul Hausmeister (guitar)
    • Richie Lewis (vocals)
    • Steve O'Brien (drums)
  • Former Members
    • Nik Reith (drums) (1996 - 2003)
    • Phil Lally (bass) (2000 - 2003)
    • Dave Achille (guitar) (2000 - 2003)
    • Dave Curley (vocals) 1990


Website

www.theplanetofsound.com/tumbleweed

Formed

Wollongong, NSW, 1990

Band Information

Formed out of the remnants of Proton Energy Pills and The Unheard in Wollongong in 1990, Tumbleweed was one of the first modern stoner rock/metal bands to emerge. Their first couple of singles predate early formal releases by bands like Sleep and Kyuss and their sound, a mixture of psychedelic melody, monotonal vocals and heavy, fuzzy riffing, is definitive of the genre. The band's first line-up featured Jay and Lenny Curley, Richie Lewis on drums and Dave Curley on vocals. After the "Captain's Log" release, the 'classic' line-up came together when Lewis moved to vocals and Hausmeister and O'Brien joined.

Following the independent success of their early singles led to a signing to Festival. The resultant debut album charted and the "Sundial" single won considerable radio support. In the meantime, the band toured nationally with Nirvana and appeared at the first Big Day Out festival. During the year they went on to tour the US and the UK with Mudhoney and Lemonheads and featured at Metalfest '92 in Sydney. Tumbleweed continued to tour extensively over the next two years, appearing regularly on the festival circuit including consecutive Sydney Big Day Out shows in 1993 and 1994 and in 1995 the second album Galactophonic entered the national chart at #5.

Nik Reith and Dave Achille joined in 1996 as Tumbleweed prepared for the release of Return to Earth. The "Lava Bread" and "Silver Lizard" singles were moderate hits. Late that year the group opened for the Hoodoo Gurus farewell tour and in early 1998 played at the Homebake festival. During much of the year Tumbleweed was off the road while Lewis played in The Hot Rollers with Kram from Spiderbait, but the band reconvened for a late tour with You Am I, after which Jay Curley departed.

Tumbleweed was again quiet for most of 1999 as they worked on a new album and sought a replacement for Curley. Ex-Fridge drummer Phil Lally joined as bass player and in mid-2000 the album Mumbo Jumbo appeared, peaking on the ARIA alternative chart at #18 and gaining an ARIA Award nomination for Best Alternative Album. Support for the band was flagging however as the musical climate that had spawned them shifted and internal issues eventually ended the band in 2003. Former guitarist Dave Achille joined Immolate in 2010.

In mid-2009 the classic line-up of Tumbleweed reformed and was immediately added to the bill for the Homebake festival. The band also appeared at the Sydney Big Day Out on January 23, 2010. Since then the band has toured sporadically, most recently in January 2011. They will open for Kyuss in Sydney in May 2011.

Discography

Albums:

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1992 Tumbleweed Polydor
Galactaphonic.gif
1995 Galactaphonic Polydor
Returntoearth.gif
1996 Return to Earth Polydor
Mumbojumbo.jpg
2000 Mumbo Jumbo Universal
2010 The Waterfront Years: 1990 - 1993 Aztec

EPs:

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1990 Theatre of Gnomes Waterfront
Weedseed.jpg
1991 Weedseed Waterfront
Sundial.jpg
1992 Sundial Polydor

Singles:

1990 Captain's Log Waterfront
1991 Stoned Waterfront
1991 Carousel Waterfront
1992 Acid Rain Polydor
1993 Daddy Long Legs Polydor
1994 Gyroscope Polydor
1994 Hang Around Polydor
1995 Armchair Ride Polydor
1996 Lavabread Polydor
1996 I Remember Polydor
1996 Silver Lizard Polydor
1998 Fang It! Universal
1999 Glow in the Dark Universal