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Recent News April 01, 2008
SMASHING PUMPKINS PAY HOMAGE TO THE CHURCH
Playing their first shows in Australia since 1996, the Smashing Pumpkins included a cover of The Church's "Reptile" in the encore of their headlining set at V Festival Sydney. The Church, a band revered to be one of the best bands ever to come out of Australia, were one of the early pioneers of the "New Wave" and "Neo-Psychedelic" sounds of the 1980s. Countless bands cite the group as a major influence and imitate the sound they spawned over 25 years ago. To this day, The Church continues to write, record and tour both collectively and individually. Guitarist Marty Willson-Piper will embark on a solo tour of the US in May to support his new album, entitled "Nightjar" (to be released on Heyday Records in North America), and The Church will return for an extensive North American electric tour in the fall.
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 "Throughout the grim, beautiful, disorienting journey, the four cornerstones of the Church continue to greet and defy expectations, Kilbey the receiver of an endless stream of outlandish images, the guitars of Koppes and Willson-Piper spiralling, aquaplaning, morphing and diverging. Powles shares production duties this time to concentrate on drums and percussion" - Michael Dwyer
1980 The Church play their first gigs in Sydney, Australia. 1981 Of Skins and Heart LP makes a Top 30 debut. The Unguarded Moment hits ..22. 1982 US debut combines Skins and Too Fast For You EP. Classic second album The Blurred Crusade hits Australian Top 10. Almost With You is another hit. 1983 Sing Songs EP in Australia; first UK EP. 1984 Seance album serves notice of more experimental, atmospheric intent. Persia and Remote Luxury EPs. 1985 Steve Kilbey releases first solo disc, a precedent Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes soon embrace with gusto. 1986 Heyday album breaks Australian Top 15, becomes global cult classic. 1987 Top 10 Starfish LP marks new worldwide commercial peak. Under the Milky Way, ..5 in Australia, ..24 in US, Best Single ARIA 1990 Metropolis reaches ARIA Top 10. Compromised Gold Fix Afternoon LP, another Top 10 hit, seals bands resolve to put art before commerce. 1991 A Quick Smoke At Spots rarities compilation. 1992 Self-produced Priest = Aura, a new career high, is the end of an era. 1994 Kilbey and Willson-Piper reconvene for epic Sometime Anywhere set; tour as acoustic duo. 1996 2nd duo LP, Magician Among the Spirits Koppes makes guest appearance that leads to reunion tour, with drummer Tim Powles completing most cohesive Church line-up. 1998 Hologram of Baal,l cements new line-up Companion album, Bastard Universe first 70-minute improvisation album. 1999 A Box of Birds covers album. 2001 After Everything Now This biggest international hit in almost 10 years.. 2002 Parallel Universe remix album 2003 Forget Yourself sparks another sweeping world tour headed by a stunning launch at the Sydney Opera House. 2004 Three albums find the Church at a new peak of creative health: Jammed second 70-minute improvisation album. Beside Yourself a second B-sides compilation. El Momento Descuidado Liberation Blue acoustic album. 2005 Back With Two Beasts, outtakes album 2006 Uninvited, Like The Clouds, worldwide release April - 26 years after first Church shows. The album El Momento Descuidado is nominated for an ARIA award. 2006 The Church perform Under the Milky Way with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the opening of the Commonwealth Games followed by an acoustic Europe and extensive USA tour. The Magnetic Strip full electric tour follows in Australia. 2007 - The Church embarked on a major tour as very special guests of the Pretenders on their Australian Tour during Jan 2007. Feb sees the release of the new album El Momento Siguiente, preceding album launches in Melbourne and Sydney. In April the band embarked on a full electric tour of eastern europe finishing up at the Carlisle in London to a totally sold out gig. In July, the release of Deep In The Shallows - The Classic Singles Collection |
