Grinspoon

Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore ^{Lismore, New South Wales} , New South Wales ^{New South Wales, Australia} formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums ^{drum kit} . Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore, with their post-grunge song "Sickfest ^{Grinspoon (EP)} ". who supports marijuana for medical use. similarly 2007's Alibis & Other Lies also reached #2.

The band was signed to Universal Records in United States by late 1998, they were promoted by the songs "Champion", which featured in Gran Turismo 3 ^{Music of the Gran Turismo Series#Gran Turismo 3} ; "Post Enebriated Anxiety", which was on the international version of Guide to Better Living; "Chemical Heart", via the internet; and a cover ^{cover version} of the Prong ^{Prong (band)} song "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck", from Grinspoon's Pushing Buttons EP ^{Extended Play} , which was included on ECW: Extreme Music ^{Extreme Championship Wrestling} .

 
Early years

In July 1995, Pat Davern (guitar), Joe Hansen (bass guitar), Kristian Hopes(drums ^{drum kit} ) and Phil Jamieson (vocals, guitar) met at a Lismore ^{Lismore, New South Wales} hotel, The Gollan, for a jam ^{jam session} night—they decided to form a band and enter the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition. It represents the sound and variety of their early career with heavier songs like "Pressure Tested 1984" open the album, whilst in the middle are more classic rock songs like "Repeat" and "Don't Go Away" and then towards the end the ballad "Bad Funk Stripe." The Australian version of the album features five live songs—illustrating the band's sense of humour and ability to play live—and a hidden track, the acoustic ^{acoustic music} "Protest". US branch of Universal Records signed the band by late 1998 and released an altered version of Guide to Better Living in March 1999.

Whilst in US touring for ten months as support act for Creed ^{Creed (band)} , Lit ^{Lit (band)} , Godsmack and Anthrax ^{Anthrax (band)} , It contained the singles "Ready 1" and "Rock Show ^{Rock Show (Grinspoon song)} ".


Changing direction

After a break to reconsider their direction and sound Grinspoon started recording their next album, New Detention, in Sydney's Festival Studios ^{Festival Records (Australia)} in September 2001 but prior to finishing the studios were shut down and so vocals and guitars were recorded in smaller studios. The first single from the album, "Chemical Heart", released in February had created a stir with long term fans and the media because it was different from their previous grunge sound. The band insisted the change was a natural one and was an improvement. Nevertheless, the band still performs older tracks in their live shows. They released a four track EP in March 2003, Panic Attack ^{Panic Attack (EP)} —containing a cover of INXS's "Don't Change"—which reached #13 on the ARIA Singles Chart. A second single, "Better Off Alone ^{Better Off Alone (Grinspoon song)} ", issued in November, also reached the Top 30. On Andrew Denton's Enough Rope in July, Jamieson discussed his drug addictions, an extramarital affair ^{Affair#Extramarital affair} , stealing money from bandmates, detox ^{Detoxification} and rehab experiences.

The band completed, Alibis & Other Lies in July 2007, as their final album for Universal. It was co-produced by the band and Ramesh Sathiah, who had worked with them on their earliest recordings. Earlier albums before this were pop-oriented rock, while Easy and Alibis & Other Lies were more heavy rock. The first single from the album, "Black Tattoo", was released as a digital download ^{music download} on 23 June and physically a week later. The album peaked at #2, The band contributed the track "Blind Lead Blind", their B side ^{A-side and B-side} of 2007's "Minute By Minute ^{Minute By Minute (Grinspoon song)} ", to a compilation CD for titled Caution: Life Ahead, which included contributions from other Australian acts such as Powderfinger, Midnight Oil and The Living End, and was released in November.

Grinspoon performed on 26 July 2009 at the annual Splendour in the Grass Festival ^{Splendour in the Grass} in Byron Bay. Jamieson then toured with a super group composed of The Living End’s Chris Cheney, You Am I’s Tim Rogers and Josh Pyke with a 17-piece band in August 2009. The group performed a tribute to The Beatles' White ^{The Beatles (album)} album for its 40th anniversary.


Six to Midnight

Grinspoon's next album, titled Six to Midnight, was released on 11 September 2009 on the band's imprint Chk Chk Boom Records, distributed by Universal Records, which peaked at #6. Two tracks, "Dogs ^{Dogs (Grinspoon song)} " and the first single, "Comeback ^{Comeback (Grinspoon)} ", were released to radio earlier. For promotion of the album, the band toured in a more intimate setting than most of their previous concerts. On 6 November, Grinspoon played live on Triple J radio and confirmed that "Summer" was the second single from the album.
ARIA Awards

Grinspoon has won an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Award ^{ARIA Music Awards} from 13 nominations.*Guide to Better Living (1997)
*Easy ^{Easy (Grinspoon album)} (1999)
*New Detention (2002)
*Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills (2004)
*Alibis & Other Lies (2007)
*Six to Midnight (2009)