Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, were an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays Ron Peno (lead singer) and Brett Myers (lead guitarist and backing vocalist) 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.

Died Pretty's 1990s albums, Doughboy Hollow, Trace and Sold, appeared on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Albums Charts but they had more success on the alternative scene. According to rock music historian Ian McFarlane they "unashamedly plundered rock's past to arrive at an original sound that was always passionate, atmospheric and uplifting ... produced some of the most inspirational rock music heard in Australia". The group formally disbanded in 2002 but the members reunited on a number of occasions for short tours in Australia. They undertook a joint national tour with Radio Birdman in June and July 2017.

History

1983–1989: Formation and early years

Died Pretty was formed in 1983 in Sydney. Lock departed after recording Lost but before its release – he had grown weary of touring – and was replaced on bass guitar by Steve Clark (The Glass, 30/40 Purple). Peno & Myers performed an acoustic set at the Orient Hotel, Brisbane, on 7 November 2009 for a private party. Peno had returned to his solo career by May 2010.

In April 2012, Died Pretty performed as part of the Dig It Up! series of concerts around Australia, organised to celebrate 30 years of recorded music by fellow Australian band Hoodoo Gurus.

In March 2016, the band played across Australia as part of the 'A Day on the Green' concert series, with Hoodoo Gurus, Sunnyboys, Violent Femmes and Ratcat. They also played some headline shows in clubs.

The band undertook a joint national tour with Radio Birdman in June and July 2017.

On 14 February 2019, it was announced that Ron Peno had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and that all upcoming Died Pretty shows would be cancelled while he underwent immediate treatment. A further message on the band's Instagram page stated that he "stands strong to beat it."

In August 2019, Peno successfully completed chemotherapy, and the tumour in his oesophagus was surgically removed. Medical staff are confident that all the cancer has been removed from his body. In December, Died Pretty announced Australian concerts for April and May 2020.

The band officially returned to the stage with a performance at the Factory Theatre in Sydney on 17 April 2021.

The band released a double live album, simply titled Live, on 24 March 2023. The album was recorded during a show at Melbourne's Forum Theatre in 2008, when the band reformed to play a series of gigs across Australia to celebrate Doughboy Hollow as part of the Don't Look Back concert series.

The band had intended to return to the stage for a live tour in October 2023; this was cancelled in July, however, due to both Peno and Welsh battling different forms of cancer. Peno died on 10 August 2023, at the age of 68.

Personnel

Final line-up

  • Brett Myers – guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals (1983–2002, 2008–2009, 2012, 2016–2023)
  • Ronald S. Peno – lead vocals (1983–2002, 2008–2009, 2012, 2016–2023; died 2023)
  • Chris Welsh – drums, percussion (1985–1992, 1993–1995, 2008–2009, 2012, 2016–2023)
  • Dr Steve Clark – bass guitar (1988–1991, 2008–2009, 2012, 2016–2023)
  • John Hoey – keyboards (1988–2002, 2008–2009, 2012, 2016–2023)

Former members

  • Frank Brunetti – keyboards (1983–1988)
  • Rob Younger – drums (1983)
  • Colin Barwick – drums (1983–1985)
  • Jonathan Lickliter – bass guitar (1983–1984)
  • Mark Lock – bass guitar (1984–1988)
  • Robert Warren – bass guitar, backing vocals (1991–2002)
  • Murray Shepherd – drums (1992)
  • Warwick Fraser – drums (1992)
  • Stuart Eadie – drums (1992–1993)
  • Nick Kennedy – drums (1995)
  • Shane Melder – drums (1995)
  • Simon Cox – drums (1996–2002)

Timeline

Additional musicians

  • Louis Tillett – piano
  • Graham Lee – pedal steel guitar
  • John Papanis – mandolin
  • Julian Watchhorn – violin
  • Tim Fagan – saxophone
  • Astrid Munday – backing vocals
  • Don Walker – piano
  • J'Anna Jacobi – violin
  • Shandra Beri – backing vocals
  • Gary McLaughlin – percussion
  • Gonzalo Quintana III – drums
  • Amanda Brown – violin
  • Sarah Peet – cello
  • Sunil de Silva – percussion
  • Eleanor Rodgers – harmonies
  • Caroline Lavelle – cello
  • Jack Howard – trumpet

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

|+ List of albums, with Australian chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions

|-

! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS</small><br />

|-

|rowspan="2"|1984

| "Out of the Unknown"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|rowspan="2"

|-

| "Mirror Blues"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|1985

| "Final Twist"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|Next to Nothing

|-

|rowspan="2"|1986

| "Stoneage Cinderella"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|rowspan="2"|Free Dirt

|-

| "Blue Sky Day"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|1987

| "Winterland"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|rowspan="3"|Lost

|-

|rowspan="2"|1988

| "Towers of Strength"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

| "Out of My Hands"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|1989

| "Everybody Moves"

| style="text-align:center;"| 154

|

|-

|rowspan="2"|1990

| "Whitlam Square"

| style="text-align:center;"| 155

|rowspan="2"|Every Brilliant Eye

|-

| "True Fools Fall"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|rowspan="2"|1991

| "Stop Myself"

| style="text-align:center;"| 163

|rowspan="3"|Doughboy Hollow

|-

| "D.C."

| style="text-align:center;"| 124

|-

|1992

| "Sweetheart"

| style="text-align:center;"| 129

|-

|rowspan="4"|1993

| "Caressing Swine"

| style="text-align:center;"|74

|rowspan="4"|Trace

|-

| "Harness Up"

| style="text-align:center;"|35

|-

| "Headaround"

| style="text-align:center;"| 96

|-

| "A State of Graceful Mourning"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|rowspan="2"|1995

| "Cuttin' Up Her Legs"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|rowspan="2"|Sold

|-

| "Good at Love"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|1997

| "Radio"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|rowspan="2"|Using My Gills As a Roadmap

|-

|1998

| "Slide Song"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-

|2000

| "That Look Before"/"Misunderstood"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|Everydaydream

|-

|2002

| "My Generation Landslide"

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|

|-

|}

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.

|

|-

|rowspan="2"| 1989

| Lost

| Best New Talent

|

|rowspan="2"|

|-

| Robyn Stacey & Richard Allan – Lost

| Best Cover Art

|

|-

|rowspan="2"| 1992

| Doughboy Hollow

| Album of the Year

|

|rowspan="2"|

|-

| Marcel Lunam for Died Pretty – "D.C."

| Best Video

|

The Age EG Awards

The Age EG Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

|-

| 2008

| Died Pretty

| Hall of Fame

|

|-

References

;General

  • Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  • <!--| access-date = 8 February 2010 -->
  • Died Pretty Official Site