Gyroscope (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gyroscope

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Img_capt = Gyroscope at the Surfers Paradise Hard Rock Cafe
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre = Post-grunge
Alternative rock
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Warner Music Australia (2008-present)
Festival Mushroom (2003-2007)
Redline (2002)
URL = [http://www.gyroscope.com.au/ Official website]
Current_members = Daniel Sanders
Zoran Trivic
Brad Campbell
Rob Nassif
Past_members = Kim Pengilly (bass)

Gyroscope is a post-grunge rock band based in Australia. The band formed in Perth, Australia, in 1997, their current line-up consists of guitarist and vocalist Daniel Sanders, guitarist and back up vocalist Zoran Trivic, bassist and back up vocalist Brad Campbell and drummer Rob Nassif. [cite web |url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/12696/Gyroscope-Breed-Obsession.htm |title=Gyroscope - Breed Obsession |publisher=Fasterlouder.com.au |accessdate=2008-05-23] They have released six EP's and three studio albums in their eleven year career, striking significant commercial success with their 2008 album "Breed Obsession", which peaked at #1 on the ARIA album chart.cite web |url=http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Gyroscope&cat=a |title=ARIA Albums Chart search for: Gyroscope |publisher=Australian-charts.com |accessdate=2008-05-23]

History

Early years

Gyroscope started as Gyroscope Sunday in Perth, Western Australia in 1997 with Daniel Sanders on guitar/vocals, Zoran Trivic on guitar/vocals, Rob Nassif on drums and Kim Pengilly on bass, who later left and was replaced by current member Brad Campbell (bass/vocal). They recorded their first demo in 1998, the eight tracks were on a limited release cassette, [cite web |url=http://www.amo.org.au/release.asp?id=570 |title=Gyroscope Demo |publisher=Australia Music Online|accessdate=2008-07-29] [cite web |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/news/gig-previews--reviews/gyroscope/2008/05/15/1210765036727.html |title=Gyroscope |publisher=WAtoday.com.au |date=2008-05-15 |accessdate=2008-08-02] with only 500 copies made. [cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488079209.html?from=storyrhs |title=Gyrating emotions |publisher=The Age|last=Murfett |first=Andrew |date=2004-07-02|accessdate=2008-08-03] Following the release of the demo, Gyroscope took up playing regularly on the Perth live circuit whilst also finding time for work and school commitments.

The band soon earned support slots for Unwritten Law, Millencolin, Toe to Toe, Reel Big Fish, 28 Days, The Living End, Jebediah and Penelope. Two more independent EPs, "Scalextrix" and "Means To An End" were recorded in 2000, of which only the former saw a CD release. Both EPs were eventually released together on cassette in April 2001 (in four different covers) under the title "Injuring Yourself Whilst Making Music". The cassette has long since been out of print.

Later that year, the band went on hiatus after Rob Nassif went to spend six months studying in Canada. On his return, Gyroscope signed a deal with Redline Records owned by fellow Perth rockers Jebediah and supported that band on an Australian tour. The band's first release for Redline was the "Take Time" EP in May 2002. In October of the same year, the now-defunct "Juice Magazine" named Gyroscope as one of the next big things along with the Vines, Jet and the Datsuns. At the end of 2002, Gyroscope won a WAMi Award for "Most Popular Local Original Punk Act".

Gyroscope signed with Festival Mushroom Records at the beginning of 2003. The band released two EPs in 2003, "Midnight Express" (containing the live favorite "Fire Away") and "Driving for the Storm / Doctor Doctor", and won wide airplay on Triple J radio across Australia, culminating in "Doctor Doctor" reaching #92 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for that year.

"Sound Shattering Sound"

2004, however, was to become Gyroscope's breakthrough year. On the touring front, they supported international visitors to Australia such as Blink-182, Thursday, Dashboard Confessional (lead singer Chris Carrabba insisted the band open for his upon hearing the band's album), Brand New, Sparta, Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids, whilst a new single, "Safe Forever", came out in April 2004 and earned Gyroscope more mainstream exposure.

Finally, their debut album "Sound Shattering Sound", which combined newer material with tracks from their last two EPs and the "Safe Forever" single, was released on 14 June 2004. It debuted at its #37 peak on the ARIA album charts the following week [http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Gyroscope&titel=Snakeskin&cat=s Australian Albums/Singles Charts] ] - a culmination of seven years' work and a consolidating live following. The band commenced their first headlining tour of Australia after the album's release.

"Are You Involved?"

In May 2005, Gyroscope headed to Los Angeles to record their second album with in-demand producer and engineer Mark Trombino, best known for his work with Jimmy Eat World, Drive Like Jehu, Finch, The Living End and Blink-182. During the sessions, the band also took time out to film a video for the album-in-progress' first single "Fast Girl" in Death Valley. The resulting second album, titled "Are You Involved?", was a giant step forward for the band, in that it saw them striding away from traditional rock templates and occasionally experimenting with drum machines, synth washes, lush harmonies and acoustic guitars. "Are You Involved?" was released on 25 September, and initial copies came with a bonus DVD featuring 'making of' documentaries for both the album and "Fast Girl" video.

"Are You Involved?" was to become an even greater success for Gyroscope, earning the strongest reviews of their career and just making the Top 20 in its first week on the ARIA chart.The album was also nominated for the inaugural J Award - Triple J's Australian album of the year accolade, with two singles "Fast Girl" and "Beware Wolf" making #29 and #62 on Triple J's Hottest 100.

The song "Beware Wolf" has been used several times in television shows such as the Australian soap "Home and Away". "Fast Girl" was nominated for the 2006 ARIA Awards for Breakthrough Artist - Single and the band also received two WAMi Awards in 2006 for "Best Rock Act" and "Best Punk Act".

"Breed Obsession"

Following a successful tour of South Africa, Gyroscope began recording their third studio album in Liverpool with mixing occurring in London (UK). Gyroscope toured Australia with Fall Out Boy, on the "Friends or Enemies" tour in September 2007. Later that month, the band announced that the album's title would be "Breed Obsession", and that it was planned to be released in early 2008. The first single from the album, "Snakeskin", was released on 27 October 2007, debuting at #30 on the ARIA singles chart, was #1 most voted on JTV, #1 most requested song on Triple J's Super Request and was ranked #16 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2007. The "Snakeskin" video was shot in Wiltshire, near Stonehenge, south of London. The video sees the band playing in the middle of a 200 metre crop circle that was made specifically for the video, in the same farm where the Led Zeppelin crop circle was made that featured on the cover of the Remasters compilation album. [ [http://www.heraldsunhit.com.au/product/snakeskin_1598820_157875.html Herald Sun - music review] ]

Gyroscope performed at the Big Day Out festival, which toured Australia and New Zealand in early 2008. On February 12, 2008 the band released the second single from the album, "1981". "Breed Obsession" was released in Australia on March 8, 2008 and debuted at #1 on the Australian ARIA Album Chart, the highest debut in the band's history and the first Australian #1 in fifteen weeks.

On May 19, 2008 Gyroscope released a music video for their song "Australia". The song was also announced as the next single from "Breed Obsession", scheduled to be released on June 13, 2008.cite web |url=http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/music/id/1149834|title=Australia - Gyroscope|publisher=JB Hi-FI online] The video was filmed during May 2008 in Sydney, and was directed by Tom Sparks.cite web |url=http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34456058|title=Gyrocope - Australia|published=MyspaceTV.com|accessdate=2008-05-25]

Members

* Daniel Sanders – guitar, vocals
* Zoran Trivic – guitar, vocals
* Brad Campbell – bass, vocals
* Rob Nassif – drums

Discography

Albums

EPs

*"Scalectrix" (2000) - Independent
*"Means To An End" (2000) - unreleased
*"Take Time" (2002) - Redline Records
*"Midnight Express" (2003) - Festival Mushroom Records
*"Driving for the Storm / Doctor Doctor" (2003) - Festival Mushroom Records

ingles

* "Doctor, Doctor" also charted at #92 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003.

Miscellaneous

* "Gyroscope Sunday" (cassette only release) (1997)
* "Gyroscope (Demo)" (cassette only release) - Feeble Records (1998)
* "Injuring Yourself Whilst Making Music" (cassette-only release featuring "Scalectrix" and "Means to an End" EPs) (2001)
* "Around the World in 16 Songs" (split album with NSF, Wackykids and Turtlehead) (2004)

Other Appearances

*"Sexxxy (Acoustic)" - Triple J Live
*"Monument" - "Triple J Like A Version Vol. 2" - Jebediah Cover
*"Cannonball" - "No Man's Woman" - The Breeders Cover
*"Heaven & Hell" - "Easyfever" Easybeats Tribute Album

Awards and nominations

Nominations

*2003 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Local Original Act'
*2003 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Local Original Indie Rock Act'
*2003 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Original Guitarist' (Zoran Trivic)
*2005 Triple J J Award - "Are You Involved"
*2006 ARIA Awards - Best Breakthrough Single - "Fast Girl"
*2008 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Live Act'

Awards

*2002 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Local Original Punk Act'
*2005 WAMi Award - 'Best Punk Act'
*2006 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Album' ('Are You Involved?)
*2006 WAMi Award - 'Most Popular Live Act'
*2006 WAMi Award - 'Best Rock Act'
*2006 WAMi Award - 'Best Punk Act'
*2007 WAMi Award - 'Best Drummer' (Rob Nassif)
*2007 Triple J's Hottest 100, Position 16 ("Snakeskin")
*2008 WAMi Award - 'Best Popular Single/EP' ("Snakeskin")
*2008 WAMi Award - 'Best Popular Music Video' ("Snakeskin")

External links

* [http://www.gyroscope.com.au/ Official Gyroscope website]
*MySpace|gyroscope|Gyroscope
* [http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=1534 Australian Music Online profile]
*musicbrainz artist|id=dc53beb2-51bd-4939-9e4e-8582b6e3e21a|name=Gyroscope
* [http://perthmusic.norg.com.au/2007/12/28/gyroscope-interview-2/ Perth Music Interview]

References