Gregory Stephen Perkins (born 28 December 1964), better known by his stage name Tex Perkins, is an Australian singer-songwriter who fronted the Australian rock band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many solo records. In 1997, a portrait of Tex Perkins by artist Bill Leak won the Packing Room award at the Archibald Prize.
| Tex Perkins | |
|---|---|
 Perkins in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gregory Stephen Perkins |
| Born | 28 December 1964 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Genres | Rock, folk blues, country |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Member of | The Cruel Sea Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band The Beasts |
| Formerly of |
|
| Website | texperkins |
Career
edit1980s: early groups
editPerkins started his musical career in Brisbane cowpunk outfit Tex Deadly and the Dum-Dums,[1] before moving to Sydney in 1982, garnering considerable attention in the Sydney independent music scene and also touring Melbourne, before the departure of guitarist Mark Halstead ended the band.[2]
He later formed Salamander Jim with Kim Salmon from The Scientists and Richard Ploog from The Church. Due to touring commitments for Ploog & Salmon, Perkins formed a different line up with Stu Spasm, Lachlan McLeod and Martin Bland. In 1985 this line-up recorded and released their only record, an EP titled Lorne Greene Shares His Precious Fluids on Red Eye Records.
Perkins and Peter Read formed Thug in Sydney in 1987 when Read's flatmate had a fascination for collecting and amassing electronic equipment. After using some of the gear on initial recordings in Read's home studio, Perkins was eager to take it to the stage. Thug's live sets would last twenty to twenty-five minutes, featuring dancers and theatrics. Thug released two studio albums Mechanical Ape / Proud Idiots Parade in 1987 and Electric Woolly Mammoth in 1988.
1983–present: Beasts of Bourbon
editBeasts of Bourbon formed in Sydney in 1983. The original lineup comprised Perkins, Spencer P. Jones, James Baker, Kim Salmon and Boris Sudjovic. The band's first album, The Axeman's Jazz, was an underground success, but the group continued to be just a side project until 1988 when it reformed to record Sour Mash, followed by 1990's Black Milk and 1991's The Low Road. In 1993, the group toured extensively to support the double album From the Belly of the Beasts, then disbanded temporarily. It reformed to record Gone in 1997, which received lukewarm reviews, but produced a somewhat successful single, "Saturated".
In 2003, the group reformed again to record a live album, Low Life, released on Spooky Records. In December 2006 it was announced that Albert Productions had signed an exclusive worldwide recording deal with the band and on 23 April 2007, released a new album Little Animals. In August 2013 the band celebrated its 30th anniversary.
1987–2003: The Cruel Sea
editAfter toying with different band members, The Cruel Sea came into fruition in 1987 as Ken Gormley on bass, Jim Elliot on drums, Danny Rumour on guitars and James Cruikshank on keyboards and guitars. They took their name from a recording by the 1960s surf instrumental group, The Ventures. In 1989 Perkins (their then-lighting technician) started joining them onstage. This sparked an interest from Red Eye Records, and the band was signed and released a 1989 album Down Below. It received an ARIA Award nomination in 1993 following the release of a second album, This Is Not the Way Home in 1991.[3]
The group's third album, The Honeymoon Is Over, released in 1993, and its title song, won five ARIA Music Awards of 1994.[3][4][5] The Cruel Sea followed with a high-profile world tour. 1995 saw the release of the hugely successful Three Legged Dog album, which won the group another ARIA award.[6] In 1998, The Cruel Sea released Over Easy in 1997 and Where There's Smoke in 2001.
1992–2017: Tex, Don and Charlie
editTex, Don and Charlie is an Australian supergroup formed by Tex Perkins, Don Walker from Cold Chisel and guitarist Charlie Owen. Their first album Sad But True was released in 1993. They released a live album in 1995, Monday Morning Coming Down.... In March 2005, Tex, Don and Charlie released their second studio album All is Forgiven and a third, You Don't Know Lonely in 2017.[citation needed]
2000–2015: Dark Horses
editThe Dark Horses band arose from the writing, recording and touring for the Dark Horses album (Slick/Grudge, 1592612). Members were initially Charlie Owen, Joel Silbersher, Murray Paterson and Jim Elliott. Later members include Richard Needham, Gus Agars, James Cruikshank and Steve Hadley.[citation needed]
Sweet Nothing (Slick/Grudge, 0384961) credited to Tex Perkins' Dark Horses, was released in 2003 followed by Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR001) in 2011. Everyone's Alone (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR002) was released in 2012 and Tunnel at the End of the Light (Dark Horse Records/Inertia DHR003) in 2015.[citation needed]
On 10 June 2011, Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses released a new, self-titled album which peaked at number 73.[7] Everyone's Alone was released in 2012 followed by Tunnel at the End of the Light in July 2015 and peaked at number 52.[8]
2021–present: Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band
editOn 5 November 2021, Tex Perkins and his new band released the album Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band.[9] A track from this album, "Out There", was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021/2 vampire TV series, Firebite.[10]
The band comprises:[11]
- Tex Perkins – Vocals / Guitars / Keyboard / Bouzouki
- Matt Walker – Guitars / Vocals / Piano / Harmonica Stephen Hadley – Bass / Vocals
- Roger Bergodaz – Drums / Vocals
- Evan Richards – Percussion / Vocals
In March 2023, Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band followed up with a second album, Other World.[12]
Solo career and collaborations
editIn 1996, Perkins released his first solo studio album, Far Be It from Me, which peaked at number 43 on the ARIA Charts.[13] In 2000, Perkins released his second solo studio album, Dark Horses which peaked at number 24 on the ARIA Charts.[13] In 2003, Sweet Nothing was released which was credited to Tex Perkins' Dark Horses and peaked at number 34 on the ARIA Charts.[13]
In 2006, Perkins worked with Tim Rogers and released the album My Better Half and credited it TnT. The album peaked at number 31 on the ARIA Charts.[citation needed]
In 2008, Perkins released the album No. 1's & No. 2's, credited to Tex Perkins And His Ladyboyz. In 2009, with Dr Murray Paterson, he wrote the soundtrack to the Australian drama film Beautiful Kate. The album received an ARIA nomination for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album for the soundtrack at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009.[14]
In 2010 and 2011, Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four (Shannon Bourne, guitar; Shane Reilly, guitar; Steve Hadley, bass; Dave Folley, drums) performed a series of shows in Australia and New Zealand, titled The Man in Black – The Johnny Cash Story, the show featured two hours of Johnny Cash's music interwoven with the story of his rise to stardom, his fight for survival and his eventual redemption. Tex Perkins (a baritone, as was Cash) and Rachael Tidd (as Cash's wife June Carter Cash), performed faithful renditions of Cash's songs while telling Cash's story in the third person between songs. During the show, Tex humorously emphasises the name of Cash's guitarist Luther Perkins. Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four performed a further series of shows in 2013 and 2014.
In 2012, Perkins wrote and performed "Jesaulenko You Beauty" exclusively for The Marngrook Footy Show.[15][16]
In 2015, Perkins collaboration with The Steel Springs on "One Minute's Silence", released on Anzac Day, to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Anzac Cove. The track, written by author Matthew Hardy, features The Welsh Choir and a spoken word performance by Australian rules football legend Ron Barassi.[citation needed]
Film and TV appearances
editPerkins has a cameo role in the 1998 Australian film, Praise.[citation needed] He appeared on Battle of the Choirs on the Seven Network in Australia in 2008.[citation needed] He has hosted RocKwiz numerous times.[citation needed] He voiced a cartoon shark in the 2011 Movie Extra animated series Shaaark.[citation needed]
Personal life
editPerkins is a supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.[17] He invented the sport of zoneball, a cross between Australian rules football and tennis. According to AFL player Bob Murphy, "Tex is to zoneball what Tom Wills is to footy ... The creator, the maestro, the master of ceremonies."[18]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [19] | ||
| Far Be It from Me |
|
43 |
| Dark Horses |
|
24 |
| Sweet Nothing (with Dark Horses) |
|
34 |
| My Better Half (with Tim Rogers) (AKA TnT) |
|
31 |
| No. 1's & No. 2's (with & His Ladyboyz) |
|
– |
| Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses (with Dark Horses) |
|
– |
| Tex Perkins & The Band of Gold (with The Band of Gold) |
|
– |
| Everyone's Alone (with Dark Horses) |
|
– |
| Tunnel at the End of the Light (with Dark Horses) |
|
52[8] |
| Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band (as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band) |
|
– |
| Other World (as Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band) |
|
– |
Live album
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Live At Northcote Social Club (with Charlie Owen) |
|
Soundtrack album
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Beautiful Kate (with Murray Paterson) |
|
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [20] | ||
| The Best of Tex Perkins |
|
95 |
Video albums
edit| Title | Details | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| The Man In Black: The Johnny Cash Story |
|
|
Awards and nominations
editAIR Awards
editThe Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band | Best Independent Country Album or EP | Nominated | [22][23] |
APRA Awards
editThe APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "This Monin'" (Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band) | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [24] |
| "Brand New Man" by Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band | Most Performed Blues & Roots Work | Nominated | [25] |
ARIA Music Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards are annual awards, which recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Sad But True | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| "The Honeymoon Is Over" (written by James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour) | Song of the Year | Won | |
| "Black Stick" (written by James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour) | Nominated | ||
| 1996 | "You're Too Beautiful" | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| 1997 | Far Be It from Me | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| 2001 | Dark Horses | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| 2003 | Sweet Nothing | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| 2009 | Beautiful Kate (with Murray Paterson) | Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | Nominated |
| 2011 | The Man in Black | Best Music DVD | Nominated |
| Tex Perkins & the Dark Horses | Best Independent Release | Nominated |
EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards
editThe EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009[26] | Tex Perkins | Best Male | Unknown |
References
edit- ^ Audio interview with Tex Perkins Archived 10 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine on 612 ABC Brisbane
- ^ Walker, Clinton (1996). Stranded: The Secret History of Australian Independent Music 1977–1991. Pan MacMillan. pp. 137–139.
- ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Artist: Cruel Sea The". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 8 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Year: 1994 8th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 8 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Baker, Glenn A. (16 April 1994). "New Artists, Indie Labels Dominate Australian Music Awards". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 51. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Year: 1995 9th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ "Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 20th June 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. 20 June 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (25 July 2015). "ARIA Albums: Tame Impala Currents Debuts At No. 1". Noise11. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "CD – Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band". Tex Perkins. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "New TV Series To Showcase Aussie Artists To Millions Worldwide". The Music. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tex Perkins And The Fat Rubber Band". Tex Perkins. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tex Perkins bounces back with The Fat Rubber Band – X-Press Magazine – Entertainment in Perth". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "australian-charts.com – Discography Tex Perkins". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ Australian Associated Press General News, 8 October 2009, "Fed: This year's ARIA nominees"
- ^ Dave Larkin Band, Marngrook Footy Show. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ Final Siren: Tex Perkins, retrieved 28 March 2023
- ^ Emery, Patrick (24 June 2011). "Tex Perkins: 'My Sensitive Side Could Crop Up Anywhere'", Mess+Noise. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ Murphy, Bob (2 June 2011). "After the bad and big bads of zoneball, relax with your dream team", The Age. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Discography Tex Perkins". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 216.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ "G Flip, Genesis Owusu, RVG & More Shortlisted For 2024 APRA Song Of The Year". The Music. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "2024 APRA Music Awards nominees announced: Paul Kelly, Troye Sivan, Tex Perkins, and more". Mumbrella. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "EG Awards last days to vote". The Age. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
External links
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