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Information About

Weddings Parties Anything




  Img
  Img Capt Weddoes, circa 1992
  Background group_or_band
  Origin Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
  Genre Rock <br> Aussie Rock <br> Folk Rock
  Years Active 1984-1998
  Label WEA <br> Virgin <br> RooArt <br> Mushroom Records <br> Independent/WPA
  URL Official website
  Current Members Mick Thomas <br /> Squeezebox Wally (Mark Wallace)<br />Paul Thomas<br> Michael Barclay <br> Stephen "Irish" O'Prey <br> Jen Anderson


Weddings Parties Anything, often known as WPA and Weddoes, were an Australia n Folk Rock band formed in 1984 in Melbourne and continuing until 1998 . Their name came from The Clash song ("Revolution Rock") and Musicologist Billy Pinnell described their first album as the best Australian rock debut since Skyhooks ' '' Living In The '70s ''.


BIOGRAPHY

WPA were formed by Mick Thomas in Melbourne in 1985, initially with drummer, Marcus Schintler, later recruiting accordionist Mark Wallace, guitarist Dave Steel, and bassist Janine Hall (formerly of the band The Saints ).

An independent EP, and constant touring of Australia caught the attention of '', and accompanying tours. In 1989 the band won a third ARIA for 'Best Indigenous Release' ('' The Big Don't Argue '') ARIA Awards - winners & Nominees .

The band spent a great deal of time touring over the next three years, and managed to release only one EP in 1990, titled ''The Weddings Play Sports(and Falcons)'', featuring cover versions of the bands The Sports , and Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons . The band resurfaced, on CD in 1992, with ''King Tide'' and yet another guitarist, Paul Thomas, replacing the departing Richard Burgman. The single "Fathers Day" reaching No. 42 on the ARIA charts, was nominated for 'Single of the Year' and won 'Song of the Year' at the 1993 ARIA Awards ) ARIA Awards - winners & Nominees . This line-up (Michael Thomas, Paul Thomas, Mark Wallace, Marcus Schintler, and Peter Lawler) remained in tack for another two years, producing one more CD, ''King Tide'' in 1993. Following the world tour to promote that release, Marcus Schintler left the band for family reasons, with Peter Lawler leaving a year later to pursue a solo career.

Thomas reformed the band, and by 1996, the new line-up of WPA were ready for their first release, the independently produced ''Donkey Serenade''. The band now included Jen Anderson (violins, mandolin)(formerly of the band, The Black Sorrows ), Michael Barclay (drums), Stephen O'Prey (bass), as well as Michael Thomas, Paul Thomas and Mark Wallace.
The music style shifted somewhat from folk to a more alternative country sound. The band decided at this time to concentrate on the Australian market, and did less touring outside of their native Australia.

WPA finished 1997 with a new release, ''Riveresque'' on a new label ( Mushroom / Sony ), and by 1998, the band decided to take a break and work on several solo projects, including Michael Thomas's musical Wide Open Road.

WPA initially gained a reputation as a hot new band through their constant touring in their early days, however 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 Mick Thomas creating Croxton Records with friend Nick Corr .

Renowned for their energetic live shows, WPA 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 . Also known for the especially legendary Christmas shows which grew from one night on Christmas Eve to a full week of live shows at the Central Club Hotel in Richmond . The 1998 show was recorded and released as a double live album, ''They Were Better Live'', which was nominated for an ARIA Award in 1999 for 'Best Blues & Roots Album') ARIA Awards - winners & Nominees .

Musically, WPA were a combination of Australian indie and garage rock, sixties folk, punk and (later) country. They lead what later became known as the Alt-country scene in Melbourne {fact}. WPA 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.

WPA reformed for the on November 2006 Queenscliffe Music Festival press release 2006 .


MEMBERS

  • Mick Thomas (vocals, guitar, mandolin) 1984-1998

  • Mark Wallace (piano accordion, keyboards, vocals) 1985-1998

  • Paul Thomas (guitar, pedal steel) 1989-1998

  • Michael Barclay (drums, vocals) 1993-1998

  • Stephen O'Prey (bass guitar, guitar, vocals) 1993-1998

  • Jen Anderson (violin, mandolin, guitar, vocals) 1992-1998



FORMER MEMBERS

  • Dave Adams (drums) 1984-1986

  • Richard Burgman (guitar, saxophone) 1988-1989

  • Paul Clarke (guitar) 1984-1985

  • Janine Hall (bass guitar, vocals) 1986-1987

  • Wendy Joseph (piano accordion, keyboards, vocals) 1984-1985

  • Peter Lawler (bass guitar, vocals) 1987-1993

  • Marcus Schintler (drums, stubbie, vocals) 1986-1993

  • Dave Steel (guitar, vocals) 1985-1988



DISCOGRAPHY


Albums


  Image:Wpa-roaringdaysjpg<center>''''' "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Roaring_Days" class="copylinks">Roaring Days '''''<br> WEA <br>(1988)
  Image:Wpa-bigdontjpg<center>''''' "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/The_Big_Don't_Argue" class="copylinks">The Big Don't Argue '''''<br> WEA <br>(1989)
  Image:No Coverpng<center>'''''The Weddings Play Sports (and Falcons)'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Virgin_Records" class="copylinks">Virgin Records <br>(1990)
  Image:Wpa-difficultlovesjpg<center>'''''Difficult Loves'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/rooArt" class="copylinks">RooArt <br>(1992)
  Image:Wpa-kingtidejpg<center>'''''King Tide'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/rooArt" class="copylinks">RooArt <br>(1993)
  Image:Wpa-riveresquejpg<center>'''''River'esque'''''/'''''Garage Sale'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mushroom_Records" class="copylinks">Mushroom Records <br>(1996)
  Image:Wpa - Trophy Nightjpg<center>'''''Trophy Night: The Best Of Weddings Parties Anything / Benched'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mushroom_Records" class="copylinks">Mushroom Records <br>(1998)
  Image:Wpa-livejpg<center>'''''They Were Better Live'''''<br> "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mushroom_Records" class="copylinks">Mushroom Records <br>(1999)