Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Straitjacket Fits
Origin Dunedin, New Zealand
Genre(s) Rock, Alternative rock, Indie rock
Years active 1986–1994
Label(s) Flying Nun Records
Rough Trade Records
Arista Records
Former members
Shayne Carter
John Collie
David Wood
Andrew Brough
Mark Petersen

Straitjacket Fits formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1986 and were a prominent band in the Flying Nun label's second wave of the Dunedin Sound. Dunedin (dəˈneɪdɪn) Ōtepoti in Maori is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the region of New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. Rough Trade Records began as an Independent record label, based in London, England. Arista Records (ˈɛərɪstə is an American Record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the Shayne Carter (born in July 1964 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is best-known for being the Straitjacket Fits ' principle singer/songwriting/guitarist in Andrew Brough is a singer songwriter and Guitarist from Dunedin, New Zealand. Dunedin (dəˈneɪdɪn) Ōtepoti in Maori is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the region of New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. The southern New Zealand university city of Dunedin spawned a style of indie pop music in the early 1980s known as "The Dunedin Sound "

Contents

Biography

Like many of their stable-mates, the band hailed from the southern city of Dunedin. They formed from the ashes of The DoubleHappys, a band comprising Shayne Carter, Wayne Elsey and John Collie. The DoubleHappys (sometimes spelt Double Happys) were a short-lived but influential rock band based in Dunedin, New Zealand, and part of the Dunedin Shayne Carter (born in July 1964 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is best-known for being the Straitjacket Fits ' principle singer/songwriting/guitarist in The tragic accidental death of Elsey saw Carter and Collie join forces with David Wood in 1986 to form Straitjacket Fits. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Andrew Brough (from The Orange) signed on the following year, adding a foil in the form of pop sensibility to Carter's more raucous songwriting. Andrew Brough is a singer songwriter and Guitarist from Dunedin, New Zealand. From their inception, the sound of the band was marked by the seemingly incongruous but highly effective pairing of Carter's rough abrasive voice and strident guitar and Andrew Brough's saccharine-sweet vocals and pop hooks.

1987 marked the release of their first EP. Life in One Chord defined their sound, spending 10 weeks in the Top 50. All four of the songs are justifiable New Zealand rock classics, none more so than the astonishing "She Speeds", which was to become the band's hallmark song. Its edgy lead vocal (from Carter) was underpinned with a dynamic jagged guitar and stabs of strings which tumbled into a churning melodic chorus on which Brough's voice soared. The exact opposite approach was taken on "Sparkle That Shines", its gentle downbeat melody sung by Brough giving way to a chorus laced with Carter's knife-edge harmonies.

The band left Dunedin, briefly moving to Christchurch, before making the shift to the country's main marketplace, Auckland in 1988. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Their first album Hail was produced by Terry Moore (a former member of The Chills) and was released later that year (it would later be re-released on CD accompanied by the four songs from Life in One Chord). The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. The band's first overseas venture, to Australia, came in 1989, followed soon by a tour of Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar)

In 1990 the band started work on their follow-up album Melt (produced by Gavin Mackillop), probably their finest album, and one which was to produce moderate hits with the Brough composition "Down In Splendour" and Carter's "Bad Note For A Heart". Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The following year the band was back on the road with an American tour, but the strain was beginning to show, with reputed "musical differences" between Carter and Brough. Brough left the band at the end of the tour and was replaced by guitarist Mark Petersen.

1992 saw the band release the EP Done. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Produced by Tony Cohen and without Brough, Done was an altogether louder and guitar driven record. The band then moved to California to record their third album Blow, with producer Paul Fox. The album was released in 1993, and starts where Done left off, but lacked the carefully balanced dynamic that had always been evident in the interplay between Carter and Brough. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) It produced the singles, "Cat Inna Can" and "If I Were You", but the writing was largely on the wall for the band and they decided to go into a semi-permanent hiatus, following their appearance at 1994's Big Day Out. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The Big Day Out ( BDO) is an annual Music festival that tours Australia and New Zealand which originated in Sydney in 1992

Shayne Carter has since found more success with his band Dimmer, whose music bears surprisingly little similarity to that of Straitjacket Fits. Dimmer is a musical group from New Zealand. The driving force behind the band is Shayne Carter, a prominent New Zealand musician and member of such bands as Allowed more complete control of the music's sound, his new band's music is sparser. Gone are the strident guitars, and what remains has a decidedly funky, jazzy edge.

Andrew Brough released one album with the band Bike before moving back to Dunedin and retreating from the music scene.

In 2005, Straitjacket Fits reformed without Brough for a brief series of concerts around New Zealand. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Band members

1986

Shayne Carter (guitar/vocal), John Collie (drums), David Wood (bass)

1987 to 1991

Shayne Carter (guitar/vocal), John Collie (drums), David Wood (bass), Andrew Brough (guitar/vocal)

1991 to 1994

Shayne Carter (guitar/vocal), John Collie (drums), David Wood (bass), Mark Petersen (guitar)

Discography

Date of Release Title Label Charted Certification Catalog Number
Albums
1988 Hail (NZ) Flying Nun Records - - FN105
1988 Hail (UK/US) Rough Trade - - UKR147
1989 Hail (Compilation) Flying Nun Records
Rough Trade		 - - FN144
ROUGHCD147
1990 Melt (NZ) Flying Nun Records - - FN174
ARCD-8645
1993 Blow (NZ) Flying Nun Records - - FN251
1993 Blow (US) Arista - - 18697-2
1998 Straitjacket Fits Flying Nun Records - - FN406
EPs
1987 Life In One Chord Flying Nun Records - - FN080
1991 Missing From Melt - - ASCD-2244
1992 Done Flying Nun Records - - FN242

Featured appearances

The group has appeared on many compilations and soundtracks since their inception in both New Zealand. This is a list of notable events in Music that took place in the year 1988. Hail is the debut album released in 1988 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. This is a list of notable events in Music that took place in the year 1988. Hail is the debut album released in 1988 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Rough Trade Records began as an Independent record label, based in London, England. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 Hail is the debut album released in 1988 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. Rough Trade Records began as an Independent record label, based in London, England. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990 " Melt " is the second album released in 1990 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Events January "Blow" is the third album released in 1993 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Events January "Blow" is the third album released in 1993 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Arista Records (ˈɛərɪstə is an American Record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998 "Straitjacket Fits" is the self-titled two-disc greatest hits album released in 1998 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. See also Musical groups established in 1987 Record labels established in 1987 Events Life in One Chord is an EP released in 1987 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. See also 1991 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels "Missing From Melt" is an EP released in 1991 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992 "Done" is an EP released in 1992 by New Zealand band Straitjacket Fits. Flying Nun Records is a formerly independent record label in New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by the Straitjacket Fits.

Featured DVD appearances

Singles

Year Single Album Charted Certification
1988 "Hail" Hail - -
1990 "Sparkle That Shines" Hail (UK/US) - -
1990 "Bad Note For a Heart" Melt - -
1990 "Down In Splendour"
(double 7")		 Melt - -
1991 "Down In Splendour"
(Video/CD)		 Melt - -
1991 "Roller Ride" Melt - -
1993 "Cat Inna Can" Blow - -
1993 "If I Were You" Blow - -

External links

References and further reading

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic