When it comes to Australian bands from 2000 to 2010 that genuinely rocked the music scene, there are plenty to consider. Indeed, from Silverchair to Wolfmother to Grinspoon, these Oz bands have brought some tremendous Australian rock music to those living “down under” as well as rock fans from over the world. Groups like the Bee Gees, The Easybeats, Men At Work did pave the way, but these bands have held their own.
Pub culture played a crucial role in the rise of Australian rock bands, especially during the 90s when many acts were gaining traction. Pubs and small venues were the heart of the live music scene, offering bands like Silverchair, Grinspoon, and Powderfinger the chance to perform regularly and hone their skills.
Many Australian rock bands rose from the indie scene. Bands like Jet, The Vines, and Wolfmother began with small local gigs, gaining attention through indie festivals and airplay on stations like triple j. Their raw, unpolished sound resonated with the laid-back yet rebellious Australian attitude.
AC/DC
AC/DC is an Aussie rock band that was formed in Sydney in 1973. The band is known for their hard-driving rock sound and energetic live performances, and they have released 17 studio albums and sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
The band’s classic lineup consists of lead vocalist Bon Scott, drummer Phil Rudd, guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, bassist Cliff Williams, and keyboardist Malcolm Young.
After Bon Scott’s death in 1980, he was replaced by Brian Johnson as lead vocalist. AC/DC has had many hits over the years, including “Highway to Hell,” “Thunderstruck,” “Hells Bells,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
Several of their albums, including “Black Ice” and “Rock or Bust,” reached the top of the Australian charts and achieved multi-platinum sales during the 2000’s.
AC/DC has won several ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards over the years. Here are a few of their notable wins:
- 1995: Best Australian Live Act
- 2000: Best Group
- 2010: Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album for “Black Ice”
- 2010: Best Rock Album for “Black Ice”
- 2010: Best Group
AC/DC has also been nominated for numerous other ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Best Cover Art. The ARIA Awards are presented annually to recognise excellence and achievement in the Australian music industry.
Silverchair
Silverchair’s sound was a breath of fresh air when they hit the scene with their first album, Frogstomp (1995). Additionally, this rock trio were still in their teens when their brought great fanfare for lovers of alternative rock.
As for Silverchair’s hit’s, “Straight Lines” was ARIA’s Song of the Year in 2007. And other hits like “Emotion Sickness,” “Ana’s Song (Open Fire),” got plenty of attention from music fans and media alike for their reflections of personal aspects in the songs.
Regarding Silverchair’s other albums, Freak Show (1997), Neon Ballroom (1999), Diorama (2002) and Young Modern (2007) provided new sounds and styles along the way.
For a three-piece group of Oz rockers consisting of Ben Gillies (drums), Chris Joannou (bass) and Daniel Johns (lead vocals/guitar) like Silverchair, being one of Australia’s most popular bands, Silverchair has held records for most wins of the ARIA Music Award.
They have sold more than 6 million records worldwide and won 21 ARIA Awards, making them one of the most successful and influential Australian bands of all time. Their awards speak volumes about Silverchair’s ability to rock!
Powderfinger
Powderfinger is an Australian band from Brisbane. The original lineup first played in 1989. The group consists of Bernard Fanning (vocals), John Collins (bass), Ian Haug (guitar), Darren Middleton (guitar) and Jon Coghill (drums).
Collins and Haug attended the University of Queensland, where Haug met Bernard Fanning in an economics class in 1990. The two discovered they had similar interests in music and were both singers. Fanning took over lead vocals from Haug in the embryonic version of band and also played guitar and harmonica. Jon Coghill – another UQ university student – became the new drummer towards the end of 1990.
Powderfinger has won numerous ARIA Music Awards — ranking only second to Silverchair in the number of these awards. Powderfinger has produced seven studio albums. These include:
- Parables for Wooden Ears (1994)
- Double Allergic (1996)
- Internationalist (1998)
- Odyssey Number Five (2000)
- Vulture Street (2003)
- Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (2007)
- Golden Rule (2009)
Some of the big hits from Powderfinger include “My Happiness” and “These Days.” These rock songs were labeled No. 1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 1999-2000.
Fanning has enjoyed solo success during and post being with the band, with a style drawing from jazz and folk to produce a Christian music sound but generally without the accompanying spiritual lyrics.
The Living End
The Living End is an Aussie rock band that was formed in Melbourne in 1994. The band’s classic lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Chris Cheney, bassist Scott Owen, and drummer Andy Strachan. They’ve released nine studio albums and numerous EPs over the course of their career.
The Living End’s self-titled debut album, released in 1998, was a breakthrough success in Australia and established the band as one of the leading acts in the Oz rock scene. The album reached number 2 on the Australian charts and was certified 2x platinum.
The band’s follow-up albums, including “Roll On” (2000) and “State of Emergency” (2006), also achieved commercial and critical success. The Living End continue to tour and perform live to this day.
The Vines
The Vines are a rock band that was formed in Sydney in 1994. The band’s classic lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Craig Nicholls, bassist Patrick Matthews, and drummer Ryan Griffiths.
The Vines are known for their energetic and often chaotic live performances, and they gained a reputation as a “next big thing” when they emerged on the international music scene in the early 2000s.
The Vines’ debut album, “Highly Evolved,” was released in 2002 and was a critical and commercial success, reaching the top 20 on the Australian album charts and going double platinum. The band’s follow-up album, “Winning Days,” was also successful, reaching the top 3 on the Australian charts and going 2x platinum.
The band has faced a number of challenges and lineup changes over the years, and they have not released an album since 2014. Despite this, The Vines continue to tour and perform live, and they have a devoted fan base around the world.
Jet
For an Oz rocker band like Jet, selling over million albums says a lot about their ability to bring a flavour of rock music that is great for fans who enjoy garage rock, hard rock, alternative rock and indie rock. Hit songs by Jet like, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” “Rollover DJ,” “Cold Hard Bitch,” “She’s A Genius” and “Seventeen” are tunes that charted in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
And while Jet took a slight hiatus from 2013 to 2016, their rock music was quite impactful from 2001 to 2013. Jet’s studio albums, Get Born (2003), Shine On (2006) and Shaka Rock (2009) are biggies from the band. And brothers Nic Cester (vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, tambourine) and Chris Cester (drums, percussion, vocals, guitar) have kept the rocking tunes going from those early years. And Cameron Muncey (lead guitar, vocals) and Mark Wilson (bass guitar, keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals) have been there from the beginning.
Wolfmother
When it comes to Australian rock bands that are solely from the 2000s to the present Wolfmother is one of them. While the band put out their first studio album titled, Wolfmother in 2005, Andrew Stockdale, Chris Ross, and Myles Heskett were the original trio that played together before officially playing as Wolfmother in 2004.
Their current lineup, however, includes Andrew Stockdale (vocals, guitar), Brad Heald (bass), Hamish Rosser (drums) and Leo Munoz (keyboards, touring only). Wolfmother blends high-pitched vocals of Stockdale with a fast, grinding sound and Jimi Hendrix styled riffs on songs like “California Queen,” which is on their album Cosmic Egg (2009).
Considered a band that embraces elements of Hard rock, blues, rock stoner, rock neo-psychedelia and also heavy metal, this Australian band provides a refreshing wave to the era when MC5, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Queensryche and Rush reigned supreme with songs like “Joker and the Thief,” “Dimension” and “In the Morning,”
While their other albums, New Crown (2014) and Victorious (2016) brought consistency to their body of musical work, Wolfmother brings a distinct sound from where their origins lie (Sydney).
Grinspoon
For these blokes from Lismore, New South Wales, rocking out to bands like Nirvana was not uncommon considering that they got their start in the age of alternative rock, post-grunge, and indie rock. And Grinspoon’s own unique sound of Australian rock music tended to contain elements of that distinct, ’90s genre. Indeed, in 1994, Pat Davern (guitar), Joe Hansen (bass guitar), Phil Jamieson (vocals, guitar) and Kristian Hopes (drums) put together a band that would go on to put out seven studio albums. These include:
- Guide to Better Living (1997)
- Easy (1999)
- New Detention (2002)
- Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills (2004)
- Alibis & Other Lies (2007)
- Six to Midnight (2009)
- Black Rabbits (2012)
When it comes to awards and recognition, Grinspoon won two ARIA Music Awards. And Grinspoon was also recognized as the Breakthrough Artist for their Album, Guide to Better Living and also “Chemical Heart,” which scored the “Single of the Year” in 2002. To be succinct: Grinspoon rocked Australia.
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