Testeagles, Big Day Out 2003
Testeagles was a three-piece rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1994. The band's original line up was made up of brothers, Matty (guitar/vocals) & Ady Matt (drums) alongside friend Dean (Deano) Lawn (bass) who left in 1998 and was replaced by D (bass/vocals).
History[]
Testeagles was born in the Mid Coast of Adelaide as a side project of Matt's band at the time Amatol after Matt and Any had wrote and recorded and early version of 'Get a Life'. Through an introduction by a friend, Deano was introduced to Matt, who through a mutual love of music, surfing and skateboarding starting hanging out and became friends. Despite having only been playing bass for a short time joined Matt and Ady in the band when all the members were 16 years old. Despite beginning as a part time project, the band played its first show at a party with fellow Adelaide band Orgy of Pigs and soon turned into a more serious band, practicing five days a week.
After playing live around Adelaide, including the vibrant Mid Coast music scene, the seven track self titled demo was recorded in 1994 at Peel Street Studios with Grant Sullivan and Dave Matt, three songs from the demo appeared on the bands first EP Chum, released on independent record label DEF Records. Three subsequent EPs were recorded over the following years, released on Adelaide based label, Krell Records. Throughout the 90s the band released music toured relentlessly in Victoria and New South Wales, as well as many country locations including Mt Gambier, Ballarat, Frankston and Albury/Wodonga to name a few.
The band performed live on the late night television program Ground Zero on Network 10 during a tour in Sydney, performing the track "B-Sting". The band secured many national and international supporting slots for bands including, Helmet (US), Rollins Band (US), Suicidal Tendencies (US), Fugazi (US) Dub War (Wales), The Mark of Cain (UAS), Silverchair (AUS), Everclear (US), TISM (AUS) among others as well as the 1996 Adelaide Big Day Out and Festivals in Adelaide and Melbourne. The band performed three songs for a JJJ live at the Wireless session (year unknown).
In 1998 Deano left the band and was replaced by D who remains their current bassist/vocals. Deano's last show was a two set show for the EP launch of Friends in a hotel in North Adelaide. The band was discovered by Sony records and launched to fame with the song "Turn That Shit Up", the first single from their debut top 40 album Non Comprehendus that was featured in the 66th Spot on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1999. The album also featured the tracks "Underdog" and "Ocean" that the band had been playing live. Due to label difficulties, Testeagles parted ways with Sony and the independent record label Krell.
Testeagles were regulars at the Big Day Out festival, and last appeared in Adelaide in 2005 and the last Testeagles performance being at the Hi-Fi Bar in Melbourne supporting Mammal on June 21, 2008.
Discography[]
Albums
- Non Comprehendus (2000)
Singles
- "Turn That Shit Up" (1999)
- "Underdog" (1999)
- "Like No Other" (2000)
EPs
- Testeagles Demo Tape (1994)
- Chum (1996)
- B-Sting (1998)
- Friends (1998)
- Chum (reissue) (2000)
- Rarities Bonus EP (2000)