Mark Seymour

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Mark Seymour
Mark Seymour.jpg
Seymour performing at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, June 2008
Background information
Birth nameMark Jeremy Seymour
Born (1956-07-26) 26 July 1956 (age 67)
Benalla, Victoria, Australia
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Rock, blues rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, author, teacher
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1981–present
Labels Mushroom, Sony
Website markseymour.com.au

Mark Jeremy Seymour (born 26 July 1956) is an Australian musician and vocalist. He was the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters & Collectors from 1981 until 1998. Seymour has carved a solo career, releasing his debut solo album in 1997 and winning an ARIA Award in 2001 for One Eyed Man in the category of Best Adult Contemporary Album.

Contents

Early years

Mark Jeremy Seymour was born on 26 July 1956 in Benalla to Frank and Paula Seymour. [1] He has two older sisters, Hilary and Helen, and a younger brother, Nick (born 1958) – later bass guitarist for Crowded House. [2] His mother encouraged all four children to learn musical instruments and sing. [2] He initially learned piano but switched to guitar as a teenager. Seymour and his family moved to Melbourne in 1972. He graduated from University of Melbourne in 1978 and was qualified to teach. [2] He later lived in the St Kilda area.

Career

1980: The Jetsonnes

By 1980 Seymour, on lead guitar, was a member of The Jetsonnes, a post-punk pop group formed in Melbourne, with John Archer on bass guitar; Doug Falconer on drums; Margot O'Neill on lead vocals; and Ray Tosti-Gueira on guitar. [3] Clinton Walker described the group as "lighter, bouncier (rather than funkier) and more infectious than other like-minded bands such as Models". [3] In June 1980, [4] record label Missing Link [5] issued a double A-sided single "Newspaper" by the Jetsonnes and "Miniskirts in Moscow" by International Exiles. [3] [6] The Jetsonnes, Models, and International Exiles were "the first bands to rise out of Melbourne's hothouse punk, new wave explosion playing an exuberant brand of neo-pop". [6]

1981–1998: Hunters and Collectors

In 1981, Seymour formed Hunters & Collectors from the remnants of The Jetsonnes with Archer, Falconer, and Tosti-Gueira. [3] According to musicologist, Ian McFarlane, this was "a far more radical and unremitting concept" and Seymour, with his "blue labourer's singlet, bulging biceps, introspective angst and impassioned vocals" became the "thinking woman's sex symbol". [3]

Between 1981 and 1998, The Hunters and Collectors released nine studio albums, and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 1992, Seymour released his debut single, "Hey Boys" with Paul Kelly from the Garbo (soundtrack) . The song peaked at number 71 on the ARIA Charts.

Seymour wrote the Hunters and Collector's song "Holy Grail", which although not intended to be about sport, has been widely used in television broadcasts of Australian Football League matches, especially the AFL Grand Final. It was also used by the Queensland cricket team in the years leading up to its first Sheffield Shield win in 1995.[ citation needed ] Seymour has performed at several AFL Grand Finals.

1997–2010: Solo career

In May 1997, whilst still officially part of Hunters and Collectors, Seymour released his first solo single, "Last Ditch Cabaret". The song peaked at number 85 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997, the song earned him two nominations; Best Male Artist and Breakthrough Single. "The Ghost Of Vainglory" and "Home Again" followed and Seymour released his debut studio album King Without a Clue in September 1997. The album peaked at number 53 on the ARIA charts and earned Seymour another nomination for Best Male Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998. [7]

In March 2001, Seymour released his second studio album, One Eyed Man , which peaked at number 61 on the ARIA Charts and won Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2001.

In April 2004, Seymour released Embedded . The album did not chart. In September 2005, Seymour released Daytime & the Dark , an album, featuring acoustic versions of mostly Hunters and Collectors songs. The album peaked at number 99 on the ARIA Charts. In September 2007, Seymour released Titanic , a second album of acoustic versions of mostly Hunters and Collectors songs.

2011–present: Mark Seymour & The Undertow

In 2011, Seymour formed and began recording and with a band again. The band, titled Mark Seymour & The Undertow released Undertow in May 2011.

In 2013, Mark Seymour & The Undertow released Seventh Heaven Club, an album which paid homage to love songs, featuring tracks by Bob Dylan, Dave Dobbyn, Otis Redding, Neil Young, Tom Petty and Lucinda Williams.

Mark Seymour & The Undertow released the album Roll Back The Stone on March 24, 2015. It was recorded live at Melbourne's Bakehouse Studios and featured 24 tracks from Seymour's back catalogue, stretching back to 1985, reinterpreted by The Undertow. [8]

In 2020, Seymour released his tenth studio album (and fourth as Mark Seymour & The Undertow), titled Slow Dawn. [9]

In 2023, he collaborated with synthwave group September '87, providing lyrics and lead vocals to their track Room Service. [10]

Personal life

Seymour married his wife Jo in 1994; they have two daughters Eva and Hannah. [11]

Both of Seymour's parents and his two sisters were teachers, so following on from their careers Seymour became a teacher for about ten weeks but decided to focus on becoming a musician. [12]

In 2008, Seymour released the memoir, Thirteen Tonne Theory, which was published by Penguin Books, detailing his experiences with Hunters and Collectors. [12]

Seymour suffered an Achilles injury when he was 23 and has accumulated scar tissue on both knees. [12]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[13]
King Without a Clue
  • Released: September 1997
  • Label: Mushroom (MUSH33040)
  • Format: CD
53
One Eyed Man
  • Released: March 2001
  • Label: Mushroom (333432)
  • Format: CD
67
Embedded
  • Released: April 2004
  • Label: Liberation (LIBCD6092.2)
  • Format: CD
Daytime and the Dark
  • Released: March 2005
  • Label: Liberation Blue (BLUE075)
  • Format: CD, Digital download
  • Re-released in June 2012 under the title Greatest Hits Acoustic
99
Westgate
  • Released: June 2007
  • Label: Liberation Blue (LIBCD9241)
  • Format: CD, DD
Titanic
  • Released: September 2007
  • Label: Liberation Blue (BLUE156)
  • Format: CD, DD
  • Re-released in June 2012 under the title Greatest Hits Acoustic 2
Undertow
(credited to Mark Seymour & The Undertow)
  • Released: 27 May 2011
  • Label: Liberation Blue (LMCD0142)
  • Format: CD, DD
Seventh Heaven Club
(credited to Mark Seymour & The Undertow)
  • Released: 1 March 2013
  • Label: Liberation Blue (LMCD0215)
  • Format: CD, DD
Mayday
(credited to Mark Seymour & The Undertow)
  • Released: 29 May 2015
  • Label: Liberation Blue (LMCD0268)
  • Format: CD, DD
43
Slow Dawn
(credited to Mark Seymour & The Undertow)
  • Released: 29 May 2020 [11]
  • Label: Bloodlines
  • Format: CD, DD, streaming
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

TitleAlbum details
Ballad of the One Eyed Man – Live at the Basement
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (BASE002)
  • Format: CD+DVD
From Bondi to Bedlam
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Liberation (LIBDVD1083)
  • Format: DVD+CD, DD
Roll Back the Stone: 1985–2016
(credited to Mark Seymour & The Undertow)
  • Released: 24 March 2017
  • Label: Liberation Music (LMCD0310)
  • Format: 2×CD, DD, streaming

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
The Closest Living Thing
  • Released: 2008 (Sweden)
  • Label: Promising (LPCD-44)
  • Format: CD
  • Compilation of tracks from Daytime and the Dark and Titanic

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
AUS
[13]
"Hey Boys"
(with Paul Kelly)
199271 Garbo (soundtrack)
"Last Ditch Cabaret"199785 King Without a Clue
"The Ghost of Vainglory"
"Home Again"1998
"Do You Know Me?"2001 One Eyed Man
"The Ballad of the One Eyed Man"
"A Shoulder to Cry On"2004 Embedded
"Westgate"2007 Westgate
"The Whole World Is Dreaming" [9] 2020Slow Dawn
"The Whole World Is Dreaming" (live)
(featuring Missy Higgins) [14]
2021
"Even When I'm Sleeping" [15] 2023
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Seymour has won one award from five nominations.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1997 "Last Ditch Cabaret" Best Male Artist Nominated
ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – singleNominated
1998 King Without a Clue Best Male Artist Nominated
2001 One Eyed Man Best Adult Contemporary Album Won
2011 Undertow Best Adult Contemporary AlbumNominated

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<i>Human Frailty</i> 1986 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Human Frailty is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 7 April 1986. It was a commercial and critical success. The album peaked at No. 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 5 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. Four singles were issued from the album, "Say Goodbye", which reached No. 24 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart; "Throw Your Arms Around Me", No. 49; "Everything's on Fire", No. 78; and "Is There Anybody in There", which did not chart in Australia but did reach No. 41 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

<i>Ghost Nation</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Ghost Nation is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors. It was co-produced by the band with Clive Martin and issued on White/Mushroom Records on 27 November 1989. It reached No. 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, No. 29 in New Zealand and No. 31 in Sweden.

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<i>Cut</i> (Hunters and Collectors album) 1992 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Cut is the seventh studio album by the Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors. It was mostly produced by American Don Gehman with the group and issued by White Label/Mushroom on 5 October 1992. It reached No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 17 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The band were nominated for Best Group at the 1992 ARIA Music Awards and Album of the Year for Cut in the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Ditch Cabaret</span> 1997 single by Mark Seymour

"Last Ditch Cabaret" is a song written and performed by Australian singer-songwriter, Mark Seymour. The song was released in May 1997 as the lead single from his debut studio album, King Without a Clue. The song peaked at number 85 on the ARIA singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throw Your Arms Around Me</span> 1984 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Throw Your Arms Around Me" is a song by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors first released as a single in November 1984 by White Label for Mushroom Records. A re-recorded version of the song later appeared on the band's 1986 album Human Frailty. Written by bass guitarist John Archer, keyboardist Geoffrey Crosby, drummer Douglas Falconer, trumpet player Jack Howard, recorder/mixing engineer Robert Miles, vocalist/lead guitarist Mark Seymour and trombone player Michael Waters. The song captures the intensity of sensual love at the same time portraying its fleeting nature with lyrics including "And we may never meet again, So shed your skin and let's get started".

<i>Demon Flower</i> 1994 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

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<i>Whats a Few Men?</i> 1987 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

What's a Few Men? is the fifth studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 16 November 1987. The album's title was drawn from Albert Facey's memoir A Fortunate Life. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 9 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. It provided the singles, "Do You See What I See", issued in October 1987 and "Still Hangin' Round", in February the following year. "Do You See What I See" reached No. 33 in Australia while in New Zealand it became their highest charting single at No. 13.

<i>Hunters & Collectors</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Hunters & Collectors is the self-titled debut studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 26 July 1982. It was produced by the band with Tony Cohen as audio engineer. The album peaked at No. 21 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 14 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album's first single, "Talking to a Stranger", was released ahead of the album on 12 July, and was accompanied by a music video directed by film maker Richard Lowenstein, but it did not reach the Top 50 on the related singles chart.

<i>World of Stone</i> (EP) 1982 EP by Hunters & Collectors

World of Stone is the debut extended play by Australian rock music group, Hunters & Collectors, which was issued in January 1982. Mushroom Records had specifically started the White Label imprint for alternative artists when signing the group. World of Stone was co-produced by the group and Tony Cohen; and reached No. 50 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

<i>The Firemans Curse</i> 1983 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

The Fireman's Curse is the second studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 5 September 1983. It was co-produced by Konrad Plank and the band in Neunkirchen, Germany. The album peaked at No. 77 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 46 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The lead single, "Judas Sheep", was released in August that year but failed to reach the Top 50 on the Australian singles chart, however it appeared in the top 40 in New Zealand.

<i>The Jaws of Life</i> 1984 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

The Jaws of Life is the third studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors; it was released on 6 August 1984. It was co-produced by Konrad Plank and the band in Weilerswist, Germany. The album peaked at No. 89 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 37 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The only Australian single from the album, "The Slab" /"Carry Me", was released as a Double A sided single, in August but failed to chart on the Australian or New Zealand singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Goodbye (Hunters & Collectors song)</span> 1986 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Say Goodbye" was the lead single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' fourth studio album, Human Frailty. It was released ahead of the album on 17 February 1986 in both 7" and 12" formats. It peaked at No. 24 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart and No. 20 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "Say Goodbye" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

<i>Collected Works</i> (Hunters & Collectors album) 1990 compilation album by Hunters & Collectors

Collected Works is the first compilation album by Australian rock group, Hunters & Collectors. It was issued on 19 November 1990 by Mushroom Records' White Label and includes material from their previous six studio albums as well as a re-recording of "Throw Your Arms Around Me", which was released as a single. The album peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 26 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything's on Fire</span> 1986 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Everything's on Fire" was the third single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' fourth studio album, Human Frailty. It was released after the album on 18 August 1986 in both 7" and 12" formats. It peaked in the top 100 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart and No. 44 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "Everything's on Fire" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

"True Tears of Joy" was the fourth single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' seventh studio album, Cut. It was released after the album on 23 November 1992. It peaked at No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart – the highest-charting single of their career – and No. 47 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "True Tears of Joy" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Barry Palmer, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

References

General
Specific
  1. "Family Notices". The Argus . National Library of Australia. 1 August 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Artists :: Mark Seymour". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McFarlane, 'Hunters & Collectors' entry at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 August 2004). Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  4. Walker, Clinton (1982). Inner City Sound. Australia: Wild & Woolley Pty. Ltd. p. 149. ISBN   0909331480 . Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 McFarlane, 'International Exiles' entry at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 August 2004). Archived from the original on 31 August 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  6. "Winners by Year: Search Results 'Seymour'". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  7. "MARK SEYMOUR: THE 'ROLL BACK THE STONE' INTERVIEW". Australian Musician Magazine. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Mark Seymour & The Undertow Announce new album Slow Dawn". Bloodlines Music. 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. "Room Service single on Bandcamp" . Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 Rocca, Jane (23 May 2020). "Mark Seymour: 'In retrospect I would never conduct my artistic life in that way again...'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "Mark Seymour on Therapy, Fitness and Backstage Riders". Rolling Stone Australia. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  12. 1 2 Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 248.
    • Mayday: "Discography Mark Seymour". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  13. "The Whole World Is Dreaming [Live] - single". Apple Music Australia. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  14. "Mark Seymour Covers Leonardo Bride's 'Even When I'm Sleeping'". The Music . 4 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.