POWDERFINGER burned their name across the Australian music landscape, clocking up 5 number 1 albums, 18 ARIA awards, 3 APRA awards and sales of more than 2.5 million albums.
Their 18 ARIA awards put them behind only SILVERCHAIR, who they toured with for nine weeks on 2007’s Across The Great Divide Tour. The two bands only united onstage at three of the tour’s 34 shows.
Once their line-up had solidified in 1992, they self-released The Blue EP, but someone stole the majority of the small run—today, they bring top dollar on eBay. The band signed to Polydor in 1993 and played the prestigious BIG DAY OUT for the first time in 1994. They finally hit the charts with Pick You Up in 1996 a song that lead singer Bernard Fanning said had a big influence on their direction (which is included on this compilation). Their album stayed in the top ten for ten weeks and they toured with their idols YOU AM I (who Jonder may have turned me onto).
From there, their career was highlight after highlight. They helped CROWDED HOUSE say farewell to the world at The Sydney Opera House playing to more than 100,000 people.
They were asked by filmmaker Gregor Jordan to write a track for his upcoming film, Two Hands, starring Bryan Brown and a young upstart named Heath Ledger. These Days was born (also included here). At this point, Heath Ledger and Powderfinger became household names in Australia.
POWDERFINGER also had a song on the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 Soundtrack, but they never achieved the widespread success in The States that they enjoyed in Australia.
They toured the U.S. with COLDPLAY which exposed more rock fans to their brand of rock & roll—but after an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, 9-11 happened, and cost them their momentum.
The group disbanded in 2010 after 21 years together, chosing their hometown of Brisbane to play their last show. Lead singer BERNARD FANNING records as a solo artist, and guitarist IAN HAUG replaced Marty Willson-Piper in THE CHURCH.