The Falling Joys formed as a three-piece outfit in Canberra (Australia) in 1985 and went through a number of personnel changes before moving to Sydney in 1986.
By the end of 1988, their line-up had stabilised and included Pat Hayes on bass and Pete Velzen (alias Pete Plunder) on drums.
The singles Nearly a Sin, You’re In A Mess (one of the finest independent Australian singles ever) and Tunnel Vision – plus the 12″ EP Omega – gained the band many new fans and a strong following.
Their lush debut album Wish List proved to be their breakthrough release, featuring the summery single Lock It which not only topped the alternative charts but also made the lower reaches of the mainstream charts (#55 in February 1991). A live EP (Jennifer) followed in September.
Following a European tour in 1991, the band recorded their second album in the UK. The harder-edged Psychohum (June 1992) produced three singles – the noisy, guitar-driven pop of Black Bandages and Incinerator, and the ballad A Winter’s Tale.
It was another two years until the band’s third album, Aerial (September 1993), but it was their most accomplished, varied and cohesive release to date and took the Falling Joys into the lower reaches of the mainstream Top 40 album chart for the first time.
In July 1994 Velzen was replaced by Jason Morrisby on drums. The band then recorded the EP, Universal Mind (March 1995) and played their last gig at Canberra’s ANU Bar on 5 October 1995.
Susie Higgie
Vocals, guitar Stuart Robertson
Guitar, bass, vocals Pat Hayes
Bass, vocals Pete Velzen
Drums Jason Morrisby
Drums
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