Tumbleweed

Band Members

• Final Line-Up
  • Dave Achille (guitar)
  • Lenny Curley (guitar)
  • Phil Lally (bass)
  • Richie Lewis (vocals)
  • Nik Reith (drums)

• Former Members
  • Jay Curley (bass) (1990 - 2000)
  • Paul Hausmeister (guitar) (1990 - 1996)
  • Steve O'Brien (drums) (1990 - 1996)

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.

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 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. 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.

Discography

Albums:

	Tumbleweed	Polydor	1992
	Galactaphonic	Polydor	1995
	Return to Earth	Polydor	1996
	Mumbo Jumbo	Universal	2000

EPs:

File:Theatreofgnomes.jpg 150px	Theatre of Gnomes	Waterfront	1990
	Weedseed	Waterfront	1991
	Sundial	Polydor	1992