The New Wave Failures

Australia band, based in Canberra, ACT, during the 1990s. The following band history is from: https://web.archive.org/web/20010725145232/http://www.nwf.8m.com/ HISTORY 1997 DECEMBER - First meeting and jam session between Starfy, Sammy J and Choof. 1998 JANUARY - Formation of the band. FEBRUARY - Debut performance at ANU beer garden. Band offered free demo recording by local sound engineer Tony Barrington. - Vicki Anderson becomes manager for the band. MARCH - First demo recording. The New Transistor Disco and Circles recorded APRIL - Appearance on local radio 2XX's Local Anaesthetic program. - Demo tape passed to local promoter Don Elford which leads to support slot for Arkarna (UK) on the Canberra leg of their Australian tour. The show is all ages and the first to feature the band in their now trademark jumpsuits. - Performance at Questfest benefit. Promoter Peter Spicer offers the band Snout support. - First local press coverage in The Chronicle. MAY - Support the Whitlams on their ABC tour. The band performs at the Australian National Univerity refectory to a capacity crowd of around 1500. - Snout support at University of Canberra. - Record live session at ABC studios for broadcast on Triple J's Oz Music Show. Jim Trail engineers the session and passes copy of tape to Triple J presenter Richard Kingsmill. JUNE - Live session aired on Triple J. - Drummer Choof announces decision to leave the band due to impending parenthood. - Support Mr. Blonde and 78 Saab at The Gypsy. JULY - Commence recording of first EP at Infidel Studios with producer Paco Villegas. Band misses World Cup final as a result. AUGUST - Mixdowns for first EP completed. The EP is titled 'What's New!'. - Formation of The Metronomes, an acoustic side project for Sammy J and Starfy SEPTEMBER - Mastering at EMI Studios 301. OCTOBER - During a band competition at Intencity, The New Wave Failures meet drummer Ant Layton performing with local band called Red Letter. - This website launched. NOVEMBER - Ant Layton joins The New Wave Failures. First rehearsals commence shortly afterward. - The New Wave Failures launch 'What's New!' to a 400 strong crowd at The Gypsy Bar. The show entitled 'Flight 711' is a complete success and also the last performance with current drummer Choof. - The launch gains press coverage in BMA, The Canberra Times, The Chronicle and also university papers. DECEMBER - The track 'New Shampoo' from 'What's New!' is receiving regular airplay on Triple J. - Ant performs first show with band at Finnigans Bar. - Promoter Don Elford offers the band a slot on two shows of the Vans Warped tour but it is declined due to genre difference. 1999 JANUARY - The band features in Richard Kingsmill's column 'The Buzz' in January's Rolling Stone. Meanwhile 'What's New!' is still receiving regular airplay. - Favourable review of 'What's New!' in Sydney music press Drum Media. FEBRUARY - Band booked to headline local event Indyfest with Liquid and The Way Hip Antelopes in March. - Second performance on 2XX's Local Anaesthetic show. MARCH - The band performs at Indyfest APRIL - Headlining slot for The Worst Show On Earth - Manager Vicki Anderson relocates to Sydney MAY - NWF headline at The POP 5 - Band commences recording of second EP JUNE - Second EP in progress at Infidel Studios (see Starfy's Studio Diary) JULY - Second EP completed. Entitled 'Transit' AUGUST - 'Transit' mastered at 301 by Don Bartley - The track 'The New Transistor Disco' is selected for international release as part of The Big Backyard compilation CD OCTOBER - 'Transit' EP released at a launch in Canberra on the 16th of October. New Wave darling and webpage designer, Bec Tompsett, made it back from her trip around Australia just to see her boys. DECEMBER