Ammonia (band)
| Ammonia | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Fuzzswirl |
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Indie guitar rock |
| Years active | 1992–1999 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The Peaks |
| Past members |
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| Ammonia discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| EPs | 3 |
| Singles | 7 |
| Other releases | 1 |
Ammonia were an Australian indie guitar rock band formed in Perth in 1992 as Fuzzswirl. Founding members are Allan Balmont on drums (ex-Dear Octopus, Cherrytones), Dave Johnstone on guitar and lead vocals (ex-Hideous Goldsteins), and Phil Natt on bass guitar. Natt left and was eventually replaced by Simon Hensworth on bass guitar in 1993 and they changed their name to Ammonia. They released two studio albums, Mint 400 (October 1995) and Eleventh Avenue (May 1998), which both reached the ARIA Albums Chart Top 20. Their debut single, "Drugs" (September 1995), peaked in the ARIA Singles Chart Top 40. The group disbanded in January 1999 following a two-month farewell tour of Australia.
Ammonia were an alternative rock band from Perth, providing a mixture of grunge and guitar pop (a sound they described as 'pop-metal'), which Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described as indie guitar rock. They began in 1992 as Fuzzswirl, initially comprising guitarist Dave Johnstone (ex Hideous Goldsteins), drummer Allan Balmont (ex Dear Octopus, Cherrytones) and bass player Phil Natt. Following the departure of Natt, they continued to perform with a variety of bass players around their hometown. In 1993, after bassist Simon Hensworth joined, the name was changed to Ammonia. The band members considered the name, Glorious Noise Earthquake, but selected Ammonia for its simplicity after Hensworth stumbled across the word in a science textbook.
The band's early success was due mostly to their self-financed recordings and word of mouth. The trio released a self-titled cassette and developed a distinctive live sound, due to by Hensworth's over-driven and high volume bass guitar, complemented by Johnstone's infectious pop hooks. By 1994 the band had completed tours of Melbourne and Sydney, establishing a solid fan base, and had an album worth of material recorded. They supported gigs by You Am I and United States alternative rockers, Redd Kross.
Richard Kingsmill of radio station, Triple J, aired Ammonia's track, "Incinerator", to a national audience, sparking further interest in the band. Importantly, they did not independently release these early recordings, as Ammonia was determined to sign with a major label. This was to ensure optimum exposure of their music, and given the isolation of the city, to avoid the pitfalls other independent bands from Perth had experienced in the past.
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