Quan Yeomans

Last updated

Quan Yeomans
Quan Yeomans.jpg
Yeomans performing with Regurgitator in Sydney on 31 December 2012
Background information
Born (1972-12-12) 12 December 1972 (age 51)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Rock, alternative rock, hip hop, electronica
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, animator, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, keyboard, synthesizer, drums
Years active1993–present
Labels Valve Records, Warner Bros.
Website

Quan Yeomans (born 12 December 1972) is an Australian musician best known as the frontman of the band Regurgitator.

Contents

Early life

Yeomans was born in Sydney to a fifth-generation Australian father, Neville, and his mother Lien, a well-known Vietnamese Australian chef and author. His parents divorced during his childhood, during which he recalls listening to various Fleetwood Mac albums. [1] [2] At an early age Lien arranged for family friend and Channel Seven newsreader Peter Waltham to give music lessons for Quan in exchange for cooking lessons. In 1984, his family relocated to Brisbane and he attended Bardon Primary School before attending Kelvin Grove State High School until graduation in 1989. Yeomans travelled with his father in 1991 to Rio de Janeiro to the World Economic Forum, where he heard Indian scientist and author Vandana Shiva speak about the crippling, cyclic effects of debt on the Third World. He has stated, "To find out about that was a critical moment for me and inspired a lot of work that I did in the band [Regurgitator]". [3]

Career

Regurgitator

In 1993, Yeomans was a drummer for Brisbane punk band Zooerastia. After meeting Pangaea bassist/vocalist Ben Ely on a bus, they would form Regurgitator with Yeomans on guitar/vocals and Martin Lee on drums. He has stated that he felt like a hypocrite signing to major label Warner Music because of his views on the music industry as the mouthpiece of global capitalism. [4]

Yeomans is the dominant composer in the group, owning the writing credits to over half the songs on each album. The majority of songs chosen for single releases are also his. Regurgitator's shift towards synth-driven 80s pop on their second album Unit , which contrasted greatly to their earlier rock/hip hop orientated works, is largely due to Yeomans' frustration with their male-dominant audience who embraced their heavier sound. Manager Paul Curtis recalls that he had once stated "thank god Grinspoon came along because they took all the male angst away from our shows". [5]

Yeomans is also an animator and has animated several of Regurgitator's music videos, including that of the band's most popular song, "Polyester Girl".

Happyland

In 1996, Yeomans became acquainted with Janet English, bassist/vocalist for Melbourne-based band Spiderbait. The two started dating and the relationship lasted several years. The pair formed Happyland, [6] an art pop band and released Welcome to Happyland in 1998, which spawned a few hits that received airplay on Triple J. The project has been inactive since 2000.

2000 onward

Yeomans formed a solo project entitled "BLOX" and Quan the Amateur, releasing a self-titled album in December 2008 under the latter moniker. Quan: The Amateur was recorded in Hong Kong, where he resided at the time of recording, and Yeomans then performed the album on the 2009 Big Day Out tour. [7] [8]

Yeomans' hip-hop project Disaster!, featuring former girlfriend Emilie Goegan, played shows in Japan and Australia. Disaster! has ceased due to the couple ending their relationship. [9]

From late 2013 to well into 2015, Regurgitator was on a period of indefinite hiatus due to personal matters and the geographical locations of Ely and Yeomans (the former resides in Melbourne, Australia, while the latter resides in Hong Kong). [10] They started touring again in 2015 before recording Headroxx in 2018 and a children's album The Really Really Really Really Boring Album in 2019.

2020 onward

In 2023, Yeomans released the solo 'Night Cream' EP. [11] Quan with fellow Regurgitator beings regrouped in 2022 with new recordings in mind, these will come to the world in 2024 as the album Invader. [12]

Musical and lyrical style

Yeomans' lyrical style has been described as a trademark postmodern lyricism and sceptical cynicism. [13] He is known for the explicit lyrical content that appeared on Regurgitator's earlier releases. Songs such as "I Like It Like That", "Pop Porn" and "The World of Sleaze" deals with issues of sexism. Yeomans has acknowledged feminist performance artist and friend Kiley Gaffney as a major influence. He has also credited his father, a psychiatrist, as his "greatest intellectual and emotional influence. It is through his insights that I discovered the true nature of subversion, subtlety and brutality." [14] Their attendance at the 1991 World Economic Forum directly influenced the lyrics for the song "G7 Dick Electro Boogie". Another reoccurring theme in Yeomans' lyrics is about musicians dealing with fame, which is possibly influenced by his own career. Regurgitator bassist/co-vocalist Ben Ely noted that "Quan was really playing around hardcore topics with cute pop songs" [15] when asked about the controversial track "I Sucked A Lot of Cock To Get Where I Am".

Personal life

Yeomans had lived in Hong Kong with his partner and their first child was born in late 2013. [10] [16] As of 2019, he was residing in Melbourne. He has two children. [17]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
1998 "Black Bugs" Best Video Nominated [18]
Quan Yeomans and Janet English for Happyland – Welcome to Happyland Best Cover Art Nominated

Related Research Articles

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

Regurgitator are an Australian alternative rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in late 1993 by Quan Yeomans on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards; Ben Ely on bass guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Martin Lee on drums. Their debut studio album, Tu-Plang was released in May 1996; it was followed by Unit in November 1997 which was certified triple platinum. Unit won five categories at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998: Album of the Year, Best Alternative Album, Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year (Magoo) and Best Cover Art. Their third album, ...Art was released in August 1999.

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

Spiderbait is an Australian alternative rock band from Finley, New South Wales, formed in 1989 by bass guitarist and singer Janet English, drummer and singer Kram, and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004, the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. They have five top 20 albums: The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake (1995), Ivy and the Big Apples (1996), Grand Slam (1999), Tonight Alright (2004), and Greatest Hits (2005). The group have won two ARIA Music Awards with the first in 1997 as 'Best Alternative Release' for Ivy and the Big Apples and the second in 2000 as 'Best Cover-Art' for their single "Glockenpop". In November 2013, the band released its first studio album in nine years, Spiderbait.

<i>Tu-Plang</i> 1996 studio album by Regurgitator

Tu-Plang is the first album released by Australian rock band Regurgitator. After making two EPs, the band chose to record the album in Bangkok, Thailand, to the quandary of its label, Warner Music, which was uncertain as to what terms A&R executive Michael Parisi had contracted. Ely later said, "We didn't want to do it in just any old place, so we had a tour in Europe and Japan booked and our drummer Martin said, 'let's stop in Thailand on the way and check out some studios,' so we did and we found this place."

<i>Unit</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Regurgitator

Unit is the second studio album by Australian rock band Regurgitator, released in November 1997. Its style is a mixture of 1980s style synthesised pop music and alternative rock, with some hip hop influences. The album debuted and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, the album won five ARIA Music Awards; including Album of the Year.

Happyland were an Australian punk rock duo formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1997 as a side project by Janet English on bass guitar and lead vocals and her then-boyfriend, Quan Yeomans on lead guitar and vocals. They were originally named, The Shampoodles, but decided on Happyland. Their only album, Welcome to Happyland, was released on 25 August 1998, via the Polydor Australia label, which reached No. 18 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It provided the single, "Don't You Know Who I Am?", which peaked at No. 24 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Band in a Bubble is a television series that consists of round-the-clock live broadcasting, during which a band spends an extended period of time inside a "bubble," writing and recording an album. The Band in a Bubble concept was created by Paul Curtis, a band manager, tour promoter, owner of Valve Records, and visual artist based in Australia. The concept was developed in conjunction with Australian rock band Regurgitator and XYZ Networks.

<i>Love and Paranoia</i> 2007 studio album by Regurgitator

Love and Paranoia is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Regurgitator. It was released in Australia on 15 September 2007 and was inspired by 1980s rock. The first single was Blood & Spunk which received high rotation on Triple J. The animated video for this track was produced by Quan Yeomans in Hong Kong. As the album's title track suggests, several songs are unguardedly romantic, while others touch on the paranoia, fear and resulting insularity in these politically conservative days. The majority of the album was recorded mid-2007 in Brazil. The album is also the first to feature new member Seja Vogel who provides keyboards and vocals. The band toured the album extensively throughout Australia and it was also featured on the 2008 Big Day Out tour. In October 2008, the band headed to the UK, where it had not played for five years, in support of the release before heading to Asia, including their first tour of China, to finish the Love and Paranoia tour.

The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winner for the year was You Am I gaining six awards.

The 12th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 20 October 1998 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Presenters, including Democrats deputy leader Natasha Stott Despoja and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, distributed 29 awards with the big winner Natalie Imbruglia receiving six trophies.

The 13th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 12 October 1999 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Hosted by Paul McDermott and Bob Downe, and presenters, including Melanie C of the Spice Girls, Tina Cousins, Fiona Horne and Molly Meldrum, distributed 33 awards. The big winner for the year was Powderfinger with four awards.

<i>Dirty Pop Fantasy</i> 2013 studio album by Regurgitator

Dirty Pop Fantasy is the eighth studio album by Australian alternative rock band Regurgitator. The album was first streamed on 23 August 2013 on the music streaming website Deezer and officially released on 6 September 2013 on the record label Valve Records. Regurgitator toured from September to December 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyester Girl</span> 1998 single by Regurgitator

"Polyester Girl" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in May 1998 as the third single from the band's second studio album Unit. "Polyester Girl" peaked at No. 14 in Australia and No. 16 in New Zealand and it also ranked at No. 26 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Formula</span> 1997 single by Regurgitator

"Everyday Formula" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in October 1997 as the lead single from the band's second studio album Unit. The single peaked at number 41 in Australia and it also ranked at number 19 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Bugs</span> 1998 single by Regurgitator

"Black Bugs" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. It was released in January 1998 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Unit (1997). The single peaked at number 32 in Australia and was ranked at the same position on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1998. The single also peaked at number 88 in the United Kingdom, becoming Regurgitator's first and only song to enter the top 100 in that country.

<i>The Really Really Really Really Boring Album</i> 2019 studio album by Regurgitators Pogogo Show

The Really Really Really Really Boring Album is the tenth studio and first children's album by Australian rock band, Regurgitator, and was released in Australia on 1 March 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blubber Boy</span> 1995 single by Regurgitator

"Blubber Boy" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released as a radio single in Australia in 1995 promoting the band's second EP New (1995). The song was released in the UK as a CD and 7" Single. The song ranked at number 17 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1995. A remixed version of the song was released on the band's debut studio album, Tu-Plang in 1996.

<i>Distractions</i> (Regurgitator EP) 2010 EP by Regurgitator

Distractions is an extended play by Australian rock band Regurgitator and released in September 2010. The album was supported by a September Distractions tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kong Foo Sing</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"Kong Foo Sing" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in April 1996 as the second single and first single from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The single peaked at number 33 in Australia. The song ranked at number 15 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miffy's Simplicity</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"Miffy's Simplicity" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in September 1996 as the third and final single from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The single peaked at number 54 in Australia.

<i>Invader</i> (Regurgitator album) 2024 studio album by Regurgitator

Invader is the tenth studio album by Australian rock band Regurgitator and was released on 26 April 2024. Invader is a self-produced work predominantly recorded and mixed by Quan and Geoff Wilson. The album also includes collaborations with Indigenous Australian rapper JK-47 on the track "Dirty Old Men" and Indigenous author and academic Tyson Yunkaporta on "The Bastard Poem No-One Wanted".

References

  1. ↑ Kotori Magazine – Explosions by Regurgitator – An Interview
  2. ↑ Listen | triple j
  3. ↑ live dreamer – quan yeomans | map magazine's street editors Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden" By Andrew Stafford, Published by University of Queensland Press, 2004, p.275
  5. ↑ The Album Series – Regurgitator: Unit | media | triple j
  6. ↑ Happyland Discography on spakatak.com
  7. ↑ "2013 Speakers: QUAN YEOMANS". Big Sound. Qld Music Network Inc. 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Alistair Erskine (12 May 2009). "Quan-tum Leap". BMA Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "DAS RACIST / LAKUTIS / DISASTER! / TIGERMOTH – THE ZOO – 24/01/2012". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  10. 1 2 Jody Macgregor (20 September 2013). "Regurgitator going on indefinite hiatus". Faster Louder. Faster Louder Pty Ltd. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "QUAN… launches the night cream range into synthesized space and time. Night Cream EP out now. | CONSUME". consume.com.au. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  12. ↑ "REGURGITATOR – INVADER new album on VINYL – Valve Records" . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  13. ↑ Musicfeeds.com.au drops in on Quan in Hong Kong
  14. ↑ "Australian Story: Australian Lives" By Gabrielle Carey, Published by ABC Books, October 1997, p.185
  15. ↑ FBi Radio (13 November 2012). Ben Ely (Regurgitator) interview on FBi Radio . Retrieved 7 June 2024– via YouTube.
  16. ↑ "So we have some good news... and some not so good news". Regurgitator on Facebook. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2013– via Facebook.
  17. ↑ Stafford, Andrew (1 August 2018). "Regurgitator still getting their roxx off". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  18. ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.