Weddings Parties Anything. was an Australian folk rock band formed in 1984 in Melbourne and continuing until 1999. Their name came from The Clash song "Revolution Rock". Musicologist Billy Pinnell described their first album as the best Australian rock debut since Skyhooks' Living in the 70's.
The band was led by Mick Thomas, the only continual member throughout the group's history. The single "Father's Day" was nominated for Single of the Year as well as winning Song of the Year at the 1993 ARIA awards. The band reunited in March 2021 for two shows in Victoria.
Biography
1984–1986: Formation years
Mick Thomas grew up in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, where he played in bush bands in his youth. In 1981 (at age 21) he moved to Melbourne and after a couple of years in Melbourne's pub rock scene with bands like Where's Wolfgang and Trial, Thomas formed the first version of Weddings, Parties, Anything. in late 1984.
Weddings, Parties, Anything. initially gained a reputation as a hot new band through their constant touring in their early days, but they never really became a commercial success. They did, however, form a fanatical supporter base, known as the "Wedheads", that continued to sustain the band for years.
Upon the conclusion of the band several members continued on to other projects, with Thomas embarking on a solo career and eventually settling with a new band, The Sure Thing, which went through many different lineups. He also established Croxton Records with friend Nick Corr. Thomas has also written or co-written plays, including Over in the West and The Tank, and is an accomplished music producer and engineer.
Jen Anderson composed live music for the black and white silent movie Pandora's Box and to accompany The Sentimental Bloke for the Melbourne International Film Festival. She has toured with Tiddas, Paul Kelly and Archie Roach, and she composed the soundtracks for Clara Law's film The Goddess of 1967 and the TV mini-series Simone de Beauvoir's Babies. She has performed on albums for Dave Graney, Hunters and Collectors, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and has produced recordings by Ruby Hunter and the Waifs.
Further reformations
Weddings, Parties, Anything. reformed for the Community Cup Football match in July 2005 and also performed at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne as a warm-up show two nights prior. The band reformed again later the next year for a one-off performance at the Queenscliff Music Festival in November 2006.
In January 2008, Weddings, Parties, Anything. announced March/April dates for the band's Ten Year Reunion Tour 2008, including an international performance at the Astoria (formerly The Mean Fiddler) in London on 25 April (ANZAC Day). They sold out four consecutive shows at Melbourne venue The Corner Hotel, adding a fifth to surpass the record previously held by the Hilltop Hoods from 2004.
In 2010, 2011 and 2012 the band played Grand Final Eve shows in Melbourne.
On 20 November 2012, the band were inducted into the EG Hall of Fame (Entertainment Guide – The Age). The band played at the event, which was held at Billboard The Venue in Melbourne. Joined by original guitarist Dave Steel, they performed their first album, Scorn of the Women, in its entirety. In the lead-up to the show, The Age newspaper reported that Mick Thomas had posted on his Facebook page that it would be the last time the band performed, using the show to say a heartfelt farewell to long-standing fans.
The band reunited for two shows on 27 and 28 March 2021 at the Archies Creek Hotel in Victoria. The shows were intended as a warm-up for the band's scheduled performance at the Byron Bay Bluesfest, which was subsequently cancelled due to COVID-19.
Live performances and Christmas shows
Renowned for their energetic live shows, Weddings, Parties, Anything. had a handful of live songs that were nearly always guaranteed to push the mosh pit into a frenzy, particularly "A Tale They Won't Believe", the story of Alexander Pearce, a cannibal in the convict days of Tasmania. Fans would traditionally have coins ready to throw at the band as they sang the chorus of "Ticket in Tatts", while shielding their eyes. This was in reference to the lyrics concerning being "ten cents short of a dollar". They led what later became known as the alt-country scene in Melbourne. The band were often compared to The Pogues, though the two bands were actually contemporaries rather than one following the other; the two bands toured Australia together in the early '90s.
Members
Current
- Mick Thomas (vocals, guitar, mandolin) 1984–1999, reunions from 2005–
- Mark Wallace (piano accordion, keyboards, vocals) 1985–1999, reunions from 2005–
- Paul Thomas (guitar, pedal steel) 1989–1999, reunions from 2005–
- Michael Barclay (drums, vocals) 1993–1999, reunions from 2005–
- Stephen O'Prey (bass guitar, guitar, vocals) 1993–1999, reunions from 2005–
- Jen Anderson (violin, mandolin, guitar, vocals) 1992–1999, reunions from 2005–
Former members
- Dave Adams (drums) 1984–1986
- Richard Burgman (guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, vocals) 1988–1989
- Paul Clarke (guitar) 1984–1985
- Janine Hall (bass guitar, vocals) 1986–1987, died 2008
- Wendy Joseph (violin) 1984
- Peter Lawler (bass guitar, vocals) 1987–1993
- Marcus Schintler (drums, melodica, vocals) 1986–1993
- Dave Steel (guitar, vocals) 1985–1988
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certification
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS</small><br />
|-
! scope="row" | Scorn of the Women
|
- Released: April 1987
- Label: WEA (254705-1)
| 52
|
|-
! scope="row" | Roaring Days
|
- Released: May 1988
- Label: WEA (255430-1)
| 46
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Big Don't Argue
|
- Released: September 1989
- Label: WEA (256796-1)
| 58
|
|-
! scope="row" | Difficult Loves
|
- Released: July 1992
- Label: rooArt (450990092-2)
| 22
|
- ARIA: Gold
|-
! scope="row" | King Tide
|
- Released: October 1993
- Label: rooArt (450993773-2)
| 20
|
|-
! scope="row" | Donkey Serenade
|
- Released: 1995
- Label: Weddings Parties Anything/Oz
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | River'esque
|
- Released: September 1996
- Label: Mushroom (D93467)
| 34
|
|}
Live albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of live albums, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| AUS<br />
|-
| 1986
! scope="row" | "Sergeant Small"/"Go! Move! Shift!"
| —
|
|-
|rowspan="3" | 1987
! scope="row" | "Hungry Years"
| —
|rowspan="3" |Scorn of the Women
|-
! scope="row" | "Away, Away"
| 92
|-
! scope="row" | "Shotgun Wedding"
| —
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1988
! scope="row" | "Say the Word"
| —
|rowspan="2" | Roaring Days
|-
! scope="row" | "Tilting at Windmills"
| —
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1989
! scope="row" | "The Wind and the Rain"/"Marie Provost"
| —
|rowspan="3" | The Big Don't Argue
|-
! scope="row" | "Streets of Forbes"/"Missing in Action"
| 113
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1990
! scope="row" | "Darlin' Please"
| 136
|-
! scope="row" | "Reckless"
| 151
| Weddings Play Sports and Falcons
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1991
! scope="row" | "Father's Day"
| 29
|rowspan="2" | Difficult Loves
|-
! scope="row" | "Step In, Step Out"
| 60
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1993
! scope="row" | "Monday's Experts"
| 45
|rowspan="3" | King Tide
|-
! scope="row" |"The Rain in My Heart"
| 85
|-
| 1994
! scope="row" | "Island of Humour"
| 106
|-
| 1996
! scope="row" | "Luckiest Man"
| 85
|rowspan="2" |Riveresque
|-
| 1997
! scope="row" | "Don't Need Much"
| 102
|-
| 1998
! scope="row" | "Anthem"
| 143
| Trophy Night
|}
DVD/video
- Live in Richmond/Christmas at the Central Club VHS - 18 song live recording at the Central Club in Melbourne, 1993. The video also contains interviews with members of the band between songs.
- Into Time On VHS - 20 song recording of the band playing at the Metropolis Nightclub in Perth on Friday, 16 October 1998.
- Siren VHS - Live recording of the band's last official performance at the Belvoir Amphitheatre in Perth, in January 1999.
- Long Time Between Drinks DVD/CD - Recorded live at the Queenscliff Music Festival, November 2006. Extras include music videos and Roaring Days film. Released in December 2007.
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. They commenced in 1987 Weddings Parties Anything won four awards from seven nominations. WPA boycotted two award ceremonies in protest at being nominated for Best Indigenous Release, arguing that the category should recognise indigenous artist’s work.
|-
| 1988
| Scorn of the Women
| Best New Talent
|
|-
| 1989
| Roaring Days
| Best Indigenous Release
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| rowspan="2"| The Big Don't Argue
| Best Indigenous Release
|
|-
| Best Cover Art
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1993
| rowspan="2"| "Father's Day"
| Song of the Year
|
|-
| Single of the Year
|
|-
| 1999
| They Were Better Live
| Best Blues and Roots Album
|
|-
The Age EG Awards
The Age EG Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.
|-
| 2012 || Weddings, Parties, Anything|| Hall Of Fame ||
|-
References
External links
- Howlspace.com
- Australian Encyclopedia of Rock & Pop article