Adrian Griffin (drummer)

Last updated

Adrian Griffin
OriginSydney, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • bass guitar
  • backing vocals
Years active1998–current
LabelsFestival Mushroom
Rebel Scum/Modern Music/SonyBMG
Rebel Scum/Stomp
Website adriangriffin.com.au

Adrian Griffin is an Australian drummer and bass guitarist who played for the punk rock band 28 Days and for Tom Ugly.

Contents

Biography

Adrian Griffin formed AGaugeFor, a metal band, in 1998 in Sydney. He originally played bass guitar and provided backing vocals. [1] [2] The other founding members were Tim Manton on drums and Nathan Williams on vocals and guitar. [1] In March 2000, their track "Trawl It", was added to the national youth radio, Triple J's playlist. In the following month, the station's music director, Richard Kingsmill, invited the band to perform a live set for his Australian Music Show. [1] The band supported Incubus, Sprung Monkey (USA), Down By Law (USA), Suicidal Tendencies (USA), 28 Days, Pacifier, Frenzal Rhomb, Bodyjar, Superheist and Sunk Loto.

AGaugeFor released two extended plays, Reproach (1999) and AGaugeFor (December 2001). [1] The former was produced by D. W. Norton and the latter by Paul McKercher. [1] The group's debut album, Ultranationalism, appeared in 2003. [1] Greg Lawrence of WHAMMO website described the album, "You'll hear obvious influences, especially from the exciting era of the early to mid 90s when heavy music finally shed the tag 'metal' and became 'grown up' ... In terms of riffing, there is some real talent in the right hand of Nathan Williams and the timing of Tim Manton (drums) and Adrian Griffin (bass) provide real punch. It is probably the flashes of individuality on Ultranationalism that most impress me ... [it has] tasteful moments of acoustics, an increased tempo more akin to punk and social commentary." [3]

Griffin, now on drums, joined Melbourne-based punk rock band 28 Days in September 2004, replacing Matt Bray. [4] [5] The group had been founded in 1997 by Jay Dunne as lead vocalist, guitarist Simon Hepburn, and bassist Damian Gardiner. [6] [7] Griffin was recorded on their six-track extended play, Bring 'Em Back (March 2006). [4] He remained with the band until they broke up in 2007. [4] Griffin has also played drums for Gvrlls, Truth Corroded, Daemon Pyre, Tom Ugly, [8] Hell City Glamours, [9] Bonic, Killerhertz, Salacious Crumb, Quadbox, and Tubbh. 28 Days reformed in November 2009 to support Bodyjar on that band's farewell tour. 28 Days issued a six-track EP, Lost Songs, in 2013 and had disbanded again by 2015. [10]

Lo! were formed in Sydney in 2006 and by 2011 they comprised Griffin on drums with Adrian Shapiro on bass guitar, Jamie-Leigh Smith on lead vocals and Carl Whitbread on guitar (ex-Omerata). [11] They released their debut album, Look and Behold in 2011 via Pelagic Records. Griffin played drums for their third album, Vestigal (October 2017). [12] It was reviewed by New Noise Magazine's writer, "this ferocious and dense listening experience needs all the (limited) room for air that Lo! gives the listener. Riffs and fantastic kit work from drummer Adrian Griffin help the record fly out of the gate." [13] For seven years Griffin had lived in Asia and returned to Australia prior to recording Vestigal. [12] Whitbread explained, "we had much more time to all be together as a band and really work on the songs properly instead of the last minute rush that usually happens. I think we all felt more connected now having [Griffin] back in the country." [12]

Discography

AGaugeFor

28 Days

Handasyd Williams

Lo!

Free or Dead

Related Research Articles

28 Days are an Australian punk rock band, which formed in 1997, by mainstay members Jay Dunne as lead vocalist, guitarist Simon Hepburn, and bassist Damian Gardiner. Their second studio album Upstyledown, peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. Their singles, "Rip It Up", "Say What?" and "What's the Deal?", all reached the associated ARIA Singles Chart top 40. After declining popularity following their 2004 album, Extremist Makeover, the band released a greatest hits album 10 Years of Cheap Fame before separating later that year. They reformed in 2009 to support long time friends Bodyjar on their End is Now Tour. 28 Days have released no new material since "Unmarked Graves". Their drummer, Scott Murray, died after being struck by a car in November 2001, aged 22.

The Screaming Jets are an Australian hard rock band formed in Newcastle, Australia, in 1989 by frontman Dave Gleeson (vocals), Paul Woseen, Grant Walmsley (guitar), Richard Lara (guitar), and Brad Heaney (drums). The band has three albums that peaked in the top five on the Australian ARIA Charts: All for One (1991), Tear of Thought (1992), and The Screaming Jets (1995). Their 1991 single "Better" reached No. 4 on the related singles chart. Walmsley left in 2007 and formed his own band. In 2013, bassist Paul Woseen released an acoustic solo album, Bombido.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superheist</span> Australian metal band

Superheist is an Australian metal band, which formed in 1993. They have released two EPs, thirteen singles, one compilation/live album and four studio albums, two of which, 2001's The Prize Recruit and 2002's Identical Remote Controlled Reactions, reached the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. After a twelve-year hiatus, their 2016 comeback album "Ghosts of the Social Dead" reached No. 3 on the AIR Charts and remained in the Top 10 for four weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Died Pretty</span> Australian alternative rock band

Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, were an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays Ron Peno and Brett Myers in Sydney in 1983. Their music started from a base of early electric Bob Dylan with psychedelic influences, including The Velvet Underground and Television. They were managed by John Needham, who is the owner of Citadel Records, their main label.

Bodyjar are an Australian pop punk band which formed in 1990. They began performing under the name Bodyjar in 1994; their previous names included Damnation (1990–91) and Helium (1992–93). The latter group released an album, You Can't Hold Me Down, in October 1992. As Bodyjar their original line-up were Cameron Baines on vocals and guitar; Ben Petterson on vocals and guitar; Grant Relf on vocals and bass guitar; and Charles Zerafa on drums. In 1995 Ross Hetherington replaced Zerafa on drums. In 1999 Tom Read replaced Petterson on guitar and in 2004 Hetherington made way for Shane Wakker on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Living End</span> Australian band

The Living End is an Australian punk rockabilly band from Melbourne, formed in 1994. Since 2002, the line-up consists of Chris Cheney, Scott Owen, and Andy Strachan (drums). The band rose to fame in 1997 after the release of their EP Second Solution / Prisoner of Society, which peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. They have released eight studio albums, two of which reached the No. 1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart: The Living End and State of Emergency. They have also achieved chart success in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Dirt</span> Australian rock band

Magic Dirt is an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially forming an alternative underground band called Deer Bubbles which split and formed into the much heavier, rock based group called The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt. Their top 40 releases on the ARIA Albums Chart are Friends in Danger (1996), What Are Rock Stars Doing Today (2000), Tough Love (2003) and Snow White (2005). They have received nine ARIA Music Award nominations including four at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995 for Life Was Better – their second extended play. Turner died in August 2009 of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. From 2010 to November 2018, the band were on hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Screaming Tribesmen</span> Australian rock band

The Screaming Tribesmen were an Australian rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1981 by mainstay Mick Medew on lead vocals and lead guitar. With various line-ups they released three studio albums, Bones and Flowers, Blood Lust (1990) and Formaldehyde (1993), before disbanding in 1998. They reformed in 2011 for performances until June 2012. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described how they, "fashioned a memorable brand of 1960s-inspired pop rock that combined equal parts existential lyric angst, melodic inventiveness and strident guitar riffs."

Peter Robert Jones was an English-born Australian musician. He replaced Paul Hester on drums for Crowded House in mid-1994. After the band split up in June 1996, he played in Deadstar with Caroline Kennedy and Nick Seymour, but did not return to Crowded House when they re-formed in 2006 about a year after Hester's death. Jones worked as a secondary teacher in Melbourne and on 18 May 2012, he died from brain cancer, aged 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Sheridan (musician)</span> Australian musician

Michael Sheridan is an Australian guitarist. Having played and recorded with an array of artists his versatility in original music spans the styles of rock, jazz/punk, industrial, metal, and sonic art including glitch & noise. He has released solo works such as Scaleshack,Digital Jamming and collaborations with Nicholas Littlemore and associates. He has been a member of several bands since 1975 including No (1987–1989) with Ollie Olsen and Marie Hoy, which were described as "One of Australias most compelling stage acts incorporating speed metal, hip hop and electro funk". In 1989 he followed Olsen to join Max Q with Michael Hutchence of INXS on vocals. He runs the label Zenith Wa Recordshttps://zenithwarecords.bandcamp.com/

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.K. Subs</span> English punk rock band

U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first hardcore punk bands.

The Bhagavad Guitars were an indie-rock band which formed in 1985 as Inner Circle in Canberra by Jeremy Butterworth on guitar and vocals, Kynan Hughes on bass guitar and Matt Kerr on drums and John Kilbey on guitar and vocals. Hughes was replaced successively by Adrian Workman and then by Tony Locke. They recorded three 12 inch extended plays for Red Eye before recording a studio album, Introversion, in 1991 which was shelved due to record company disputes until July 1996. Meanwhile, they issued their first album, Hypnotised, in May 1992 via Karmic Hit/Shock, and disbanded in 1998. The group reformed in 2008 to record a new album, Unfamiliar Places, released in May 2011.

Candy Harlots were an Australian band from Sydney, active between 1987 and 1995. They also released material as Helter Skelter and The Harlots. According to rock music historian Ian McFarlane they were, "an unashamedly macho, decadent lot, with a black leathers 'n' chains and gutter-rock image played out over an entertaining brand of hard-edged rock 'n' roll." They enjoyed Top 20 chart success with their March 1992 EP Foreplay on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart and obtained a Top 40 chart position with their sole full-length album Five Wicked Ways in May 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Ugly</span> Musical artist

Tommaso Parisi, is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and producer. He formed the band [is], which was later renamed, Tom Ugly. By 2009 he adopted the performance name, Tom Ugly, for himself. He issued a self-titled debut extended play in August 2009, which reached No. 23 on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart.

Nursery Crimes were a hardcore band from Melbourne. They formed in early 1989 by Phil Rose on lead vocals. They played both locally and around Australia before disbanding in 1994. They released two full length albums, some singles and extended plays. Their debut releases were "All Torn up Inside", No Time for That Crime and Fun Hurts!. They were early pioneers and supporters of "all-ages", no-alcohol gigs, to allow a wider and younger audience to experience live music. Nursery Crimes were a support act on Australian tours by L7, Henry Rollins, Faith No More, Fugazi and All. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described how Nursery Crimes' "sound was built around melodic yet crunching guitar riffs, frenetic arrangements, rapid fire lead vocals and sweet harmonies". The group reunited for a series of gigs in 2006.

The Earthmen were an Australian indie pop-rock band formed in Melbourne, Victoria. They released two albums, Teen Sensations and Love Walked In during their career (1991–1999). Love Walked In was nominated for ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Album' at the ARIA Music Awards of 1997.

Bored were an Australian punk band formed in Geelong in 1987. The original line-up was Grant Gardner on bass guitar, Adrian Hann on keyboards, Justin Munday on drums, John Nolan on guitar and Dave Thomas on guitar and vocals. In 1989 Gardner was replaced by Tim Hemensley. Both Hemensley and Nolan left in 1991 to form Powder Monkeys. Bored! released five studio albums by 1993 and disbanded later that year. Thomas briefly joined Magic Dirt and subsequently enlisted various line-ups for reformed versions of Bored! in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

<i>Role Model</i> (Bodyjar album) 2013 studio album by Bodyjar

Role Model is the seventh studio album from Australian punk rockers Bodyjar. It was released by UNFD on 18 October 2013. The music produced from this album includes a more power punk outcome which is similar to their other album Plastic Skies. It is the final Bodyjar album to feature original bassist Grant Relf, Who would leave the band in 2019.

Harem Scarem were an Australian blues rock group which formed in 1982. They issued two studio albums, Pilgrim's Progress on Au Go Go Records (1986) and Lo & Behold on Citadel Records (1988) before disbanding in 1989. The early line-up was fronted by Christopher Marshall on lead vocals and included his brother, Charlie Marshall first on bass guitar, then rhythm guitar and, when fronting the group from 1987, was also on lead vocals. By September 1985 they had been joined by Peter Jones on drums and percussion; Barry Palmer on lead guitar; Glen Sheldon first on rhythm guitar and then on bass guitar; and Chris Wilson on harmonica and saxophone. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt that "Few alternative bands of the day could ever hope to match that line-up for muscular bravado and sheer instrumental firepower". On 18 May 2012 Peter Jones died of brain cancer, aged 45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caligula's Horse</span> Australian progressive metal band

Caligula's Horse is an Australian progressive metal band from Brisbane, Queensland. The band was formed by Sam Vallen and Jim Grey in early 2011. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Jim Grey, lead guitarist Sam Vallen, bassist Dale Prinsse and drummer Josh Griffin. Caligula's Horse achieved their first chart success with their 2015 album release Bloom, with it reaching number 16 on the Australian Albums ARIA Chart and number 75 on the overall album chart. The album also reached number 73 on the Australian iTunes chart on 21 October 2015.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "AGaugeFor". Oz Music Project. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2020 via Trove (National Library of Australia).
  2. "Adrian Griffin – 28 Days". DrumThumper. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  3. Lawrence, Greg. "AGaugeFor – Ultranationalism". Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO). Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Macgregor, Jody. "28 Days | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. Cooke, Matt (2 September 2005). "28 Days - beating their own drum". TheDwarf.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  6. McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for '28 Days'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press. p. 492. ISBN   978-0-9953856-0-3.
  7. Nimmervoll, Ed. "28 Days". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  8. Beichert, Kahlia (15 September 2009). "BMA :: Features: Tom Ugly – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". BMA Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2020 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Australian Drum Festival 2006". Billy Hyde Drum Craft. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  10. "News". 28 Days Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. RingMaster, Pete (24 September 2011). "Lo! – Look and Behold". ThisIsNotAScene. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Valcanis, Tom (5 September 2017). "Hard Noise: Lo! // Stream 'Glutton' Ahead of Album Release". Hysteria Magazine. Trove (National Library of Australia). Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  13. "Album Review: Lo! – Vestigial". New Noise Magazine. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2020.