Weddings, Parties, Anything
| Weddings Parties Anything | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres |
Rock Aussie Rock Folk rock Alt-Country |
| Years active | 1984–1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Labels |
WEA Utility Records Virgin rooArt Mushroom Records Mushroom Records |
| Website | Official website |
| Members |
Mick Thomas Mark Wallace Paul Thomas Michael Barclay Stephen O'Prey Jen Anderson |
| Past members | Wendy Joseph Paul Clarke Dave Adams Dave Steel Janine Hall Richard Burgman Peter Lawler Marcus Schintler |
Weddings Parties Anything were an Australian folk rock band formed in 1984 in Melbourne and continuing until 1999. Their name came from The Clash song ("Revolution Rock") and musicologist Billy Pinnell described their first album as the best Australian rock debut since Skyhooks' Living in the '70s.
The band was led by Mick Thomas, the only continual member throughout the group's history. The single "Father's Day" was nominated for Single of the Year as well as winning Song of the Year at the 1993 ARIA awards. They were renowned for their energetic live performances and in particular their annual Christmas shows at the Central Club Hotel in Swan Street, Richmond held in the lead up to Christmas Eve every year from the late 1980s to 1998.
The band have reunited to play live on a number of occasions since their original break up. In November 2012 the band were inducted into the EG Hall of Fame, with Mick Thomas stating that the show would be the last time the band performs.
Mick Thomas grew up in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, where he played in bush bands in his youth. In 1981 (at age 21) he moved to Melbourne and after a couple of years in Melbourne's pub rock scene with bands like Where's Wolfgang and Trial, Thomas formed the first version of Weddings, Parties, Anything in late 1984.
"I couldn't get any rubber on the road. By about 1983 I stopped - and that was the closest to an epiphany I had, to quit and say 'I have to enjoy this or there's no point'."
Thomas' idea behind Weddings Parties Anything was to combine that punk rock inspiration with his original love for the honest storytelling in folk music. The band was essentially based on a song he'd written, ""Away, Away"". In early 1985 the group's original piano accordion player Wendy Joseph was replaced by Mark Wallace. Michael Thomas had placed an ad looking for an accordion player, but didn't receive any responses. He then looked through the phone book for music schools and lists of their past students. After four or five schools he came up with Mark "Wally" Wallace, who'd been playing in his dad's Scottish Club band. Wallace was also listening to rock bands such as The Violent Femmes and like Thomas he was keen to put the accordion into a modern context.
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Wikipedia