The Drones formed in Perth in 1999. In early 2001, Rui and Gareth headed east and for some reason settled in Sydney. There they lived in a Mitsubishi van on a dumped mattress with two mutts for three weeks before heading south. To stay in the shittiest caravan park in all of grey Victoria. They survived low-rent Saturday night fevers of violence before finding a bass player and a drummer. The new Drones were formed.
They recorded their manic, poetic debut album, Here Comes The Lies, soon afterwards. It was an exuberant, soulful, harshly beautiful and darkly comical affair. It also received huge praise all over the world and is now heralded as an Australian classic.
In 2005, after innumerable headline shows, a slew of singles, compilation tracks and a successful tour of Europe and the US, the Drones are at the height of their powers.
The new album, Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By, is the proof. It was the inaugural winner of the AMP (Australian Music Prize) 2005.
08 May 2007 - The Drones - Euro tour diary
Dan Luscombe's blog/diary of the Drones' current UK/Euro tour is one of the funniest on-going tales I've ever read about the reality of life on the road. Check it. You'll become addicted. b
http://www.dronesdiary.blogspot.com/
14 March 2006 - The Drones - win the AMP 2005
Congratulations to the Drones for winning the AMP (Australian Music Prize) 2005. It was a great moment and nice surprise where their name was announced. The band were, unfortunately, not able to be at the ceremony as they were about to come onstage in Brisbane for the first gig of the Dinosaur Jr tour but their manager, Tim Hegarty, happily accepted in their honor.
09 February 2006 - The Drones - heading home
The Drones will be back in Australia from early March and playing all over the country before heading back o/s. But first they have a US tour and a UK tour (w/Soledad Bros) to get themselves in shape. We're hoping for some new pics soon. Check out the live section for a full listing of dates.
29 December 2005 - Drones - Album of the Year
Nice surprise to pick up InPress mag this week and find the Drones on the front cover. The writers voted the Drones' "Wait Long..." as album of the year! They also scored best local gig of the year for the album launch at the Corner. Our sympathy goes out to InPress cover designer, Beech Watts, who had to take the InPress cover photo of a fish in with head-phones listening to the Drones album. Given the hot weather recently this must not have been a very pleasent experience! Paddy Donovan also made Drones album of the year in the Age EG. In other end of year wrap-ups... Drones and Even both nominated the Bakelite Age's "Malleable Demons..." as album of the year (InPress), and Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males made the top five singles of the year list with "Drunk On Election Night" (Beat).
16 November 2005 - Drones - update
What does a band do as soon as their latest release has been nominated for Triple J’s ‘Album of the Year’ award - they bugger off to Europe for 6 months of course!
Having escaped to the European continent in mid September, The Drones have been touring constantly since their arrival. To date they've played numerous headline gigs in Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, and toured the UK in support of US band Deerhoof.
The Drones first UK gig (in October) was a memorable one, supporting the Dirty Three at London’s state theatre type complex ‘The Barbican’. Special guest Nick Cave made a surprise visit (much to the amazement of the adulating crowd) and played piano for the entire Dirty Three set.
The Drones latest album "Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By" was released two weeks ago in Europe (and the US) on UK indie label "All Tomorrows Parties Recordings" – yep that’s the same crew who organise those UK & US music festivals.
On Wednesday 23 November The Drones record a live performance and interview at one of London's alternative radio stations X-FM, to be aired at date yet to be confirmed. Keep an eye on www.xfm.co.uk for the broadcast date.
So when are The Drones expected back in Oz? With a new album already recorded (entitled “Gala Mill”), The Drones plan to continue their extensive tour of Europe and then return to our shores in March 2006 for some much needed R&R, followed soon after by a national album launch tour.
Some review quotes from o/s: "The Drones, are seemingly raised from the dead, zombies from Australia, with their rock'n'roll set to stun and then EXPLODE…The Drones rock. You need this." Album of the week, Poptones (UK)
"raised in Australia from the rock 'n' roll zombie-dead with the soulful religion of Neil Young, Roky Erickson and The Birthday Party embossed in a creepy-yet-soothing and, well, different sort of tension." 8/10 NME (UK)
"comes running at the wall with an overwhelming ravaged tenderness in the heart of the shambolic, raging maelstrom (4/5 stars) " All Music Guide (USA)
"pick of the week is this raw, pining monster from Australia, lost in the spine tingling garage haze of Bevis Frond's psychedelia, Iggy Pop's tour de force and Nick Cave's dark and dangerous blues" Positively YYY (USA)
"There's so much menace, desperation and rage in these 9 tracks to cover the whole of the Australian outback with a thick blanket of dirty guitar riffs. The first track is so good I must have listened to it like 15 times." 9.5/10 Vice Magazine (UK)
