The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney, New South Wales, formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins (also Beasts of Bourbon). For the majority of the band's tenure, the band has featured Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar and keyboards. Between 1990 and 2001, the band released six studio albums – three of which (1991's This Is Not the Way Home, 1993's The Honeymoon Is Over and 1995's Three Legged Dog) were certified platinum by ARIA. The band are also known for their music having featured on television, such as "Better Get a Lawyer" soundtracking an RTA ad targeting drink driving, and "Reckless Eyeballin – an instrumental track from their debut album Down Below – becoming the theme of Australian TV police drama Blue Heelers. The band has won eight ARIA Music Awards, including five in 1994 for work associated with The Honeymoon Is Over.

History

Formation and early years

Danny Rumour (aka Daniel John Atkins) they released, "Black Stick" as a single, which peaked at No. 25 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart.

In 2023, the band reconvened to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Honeymoon Is Over, with the addition of longtime collaborator Matt Walker on guitar to play Cruickshank's parts. This ultimately led to recording sessions for a new album, Straight Into the Sun, which came out in 2025.

In 2026 the band joined Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock on the Red Hot Summer Tour which toured primarily regional centres in Australia.

Members

Current members

  • Jim Elliott – drums (1987–2003, 2008, 2010, 2023–present)
  • Dan Rumour – guitar, clavinet (1987–2003, 2008, 2010, 2023–present)
  • Ken Gormly – bass guitar (1988–1990, 1990–2003, 2008, 2010, 2023–present)
  • Tex Perkins – lead vocals, harmonica, occasional guitar (1989–2003, 2008, 2010, 2023–present)
  • Matt Walker – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2023–present)

Former members

  • Dee Corben – bass guitar (1987–1988)
  • Gerard Corben – guitar (1987–1990)
  • Barry Turnbull – bass guitar (1990)
  • James Cruickshank – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1988–2003, 2008, 2010; died 2015)

Discography

Studio albums

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

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title

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

! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ<br>

  • Formats: CD, LP
  • Label: Red Eye

| 133 || —

|

|-

! scope="row" | This Is Not the Way Home

|

  • Released: 28 October 1991
  • Formats: CD, LP
  • Label: Red Eye

| 62 || —

|

  • ARIA: Platinum
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
  • Label: Red Eye

| 4 || 33

|

  • ARIA: 3× Platinum || —

|

|}

Compilation albums

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

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title

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

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br>

|-

! scope="row" | We Don't Work, We Play Music

|

  • Released: October 2002
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Universal Music Australia

| 155

|

|}

Extended plays

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

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | EP details

|-

! scope="row" | Down Below

|

  • Released: September 1989
  • Formats: LP
  • Label: Red Eye

|}

Singles

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

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br>

| 2024

| —

| Straight Into the Sun

|}

Notes

Awards and nominations

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Music Awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.

!

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2026

| "Straight Into the Sun" by The Cruel Sea <br> (Tex Perkins / Daniel Atkins / Kristyna Higgins)

| rowspan="1"| Most Performed Blues & Roots Work

|

| rowspan="1"|

|}

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The Cruel Sea has won eight awards from twenty nominations. ||

|-

| rowspan="6" | 1995 || rowspan="3" | Three Legged Dog || Best Group ||

|-

| Tony Cohen – Three Legged Dog || Producer of the Year

(wins only)

|-

| 1994

| The Cruel Sea

| Rock Performer of the Year

|

|-

References

;General

  • Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  • [http://www.nicklarkins.com], Dan Rumour and The Drift member Nick Larkins.
  • Info on Dan Rumour and The Drift, from Bombora record company.
  • The Cruel Sea Biography at Tex Perkins .net