Artists Who Have Defined the Aussie Music Scene: 80s, 90s & 00s
Previously we brought you the biggest names in the biz from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Whilst their accomplishments may be making you think twice about dragging a carefully crafted playlist of international acts onto your iPod, we understand that jivin’ it up to 50s rock ‘n’ roll might not be your style. So, at AAA we’ve been making our way through the guilty pleasures of the 80s, 90s and 00s, to find the game changing Aussie artists that might be more your speed.
The 80s
Kid Rock describes the 80s as a time of long hair, short thoughts and explicit experimentation. This may be true for some, but if you’re the daughter of a Nobel Prize winner, you’d be expected to show a little more modesty right? Wrong.
Known throughout the 70s as Grease’s “Miss Sandra Dee,” Australia’s sweetheart, Olivia Newton John traded her squeaky clean image for the subliminally seductive with the international success of Physical. The raunchy twist to her ever so perfect image, lead to four Grammy Awards, five No. 1’s and ten Top Ten Billboard 100 singles, making her success both within Australia and overseas undeniable. Although the video clip suggests that such evocative lyrics were purely motivational, other artists of the era were not so inclined to be subtle in their music or personal lives.
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Not in the 80s surely! Whilst the pop music was flooded with teased hair and a plethora of Madonna wannabees, rock ‘n’ roll exploded in the states with the introduction of skin tight denim and a countless number of victims suffering from “heavy metal cock.” Australians however, took a different approach. Rather than leading musicians to early sterilisation, we dressed them up in school uniforms just to keep them feeling young.
AC/DC, or Acca Dacca, as they lovingly known, overcame continual line up changes, an untimely death and a string of conspiracy theories surrounding it, in order to emerge as one of the highest grossing bands of all time. Many claim that their national and international influence lead to the rise of today’s heavy metal sound. Not bad for a band that got their profound name from the side of a sewing machine.
The 90s
Fast forward a decade and it is clear that worldwide fame can be triggered by a number of factors: talent (or lack thereof,) originality and some degree of perseverance. Although some people like Pippa Middletown, have found that figure flattering clothing can only assist one’s image.
For Kylie Minogue an iconic pair of gold booty shorts announced her transition from a neighbour on Ramsey Street to pop sensation. Throughout the 90s Kylie experimented both with her image and sound. Her duet with Nick Cave ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’ saw her shift from manufactured pop star to a true artist. Her adaptability has been recognised in Australia and globally as she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 "for services to music and also appointed as a Chevalier (knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by the French Government. Both of which are a far cry from the garage in which she worked as Charlene Mitchell.
The 00s
Although Ramsey Street and Summer Bay seemed to be breeding new Aussie performers on a weekly basis, not everyone’s success gets fast-tracked. Powderfinger’s first gig took a turn for the worst when the band was humiliatingly booed off stage. Yet, after the release of their third studio album Internationalist, the band reached national stardom. Having received a total of eighteen ARIA awards, beaten only by Silverchair, Powderfinger had become one of the most recognisable bands of Australian history. Could you expect any less from a band whose name originates from a Neil Young song? Their hiatus and impending breakup fuelled the rumour mill surrounding them; however, their active involvement in philanthropic causes, such as WaveAid and Across the Great Divide Tour, overshadowed the devastating reality that Powderfinger had come to an end in 2010.
Rachel Barrett- AAA Backstage
