In one of the numerous interviews on the occasion of the release of the acclaimed debut album "Highly Evolved", the lead singer of The Vines, Craig Nichols, when asked about the secret of such a stunning and unexpected success, pointedly says: "Nothing is impossible to predict." Indeed, many go to their dream for years, which are made up of minutes, hours and days of painstaking work.
The creation and formation of the Sydney group The Vines was helped by His Majesty Chance. The fateful meeting of Craig Nichols, the future lead singer of the band, and bass player Patrick Matthews took place completely unexpectedly. It was in suburban Sydney's McDonald's, where the future stars of the world stage made their living.
Very soon, simple friendships grew into a joint hobby - performing cover versions of songs. Nirvana. In 1999, the name of the group The Vines appeared, which is translated into Russian as "vine". But in reality, it has little in common with grapes and winemaking.
When choosing the name, Craig was guided by the example of his father. He was famous around Sydney as the lead singer of The Vynes. My father mostly played cover versions of Elvis Presley. After choosing a name, the band began work on their own material. But before the release of the first album, which overnight made the group consisting of Craig Nichols, Patrick Matthews, Ryan Griffiths and Hamish Rosser famous all over the world, there were still 3 whole years left.
Debut album by The Vines
No one could have predicted their sudden growth. And the band members themselves did not expect such a rapid development, despite the long journey as a cover band and faith in their lucky star.
The debut album "Highly Evolved" made Nichols and his bandmates - cover stars in the music press. A truly stunning success awaited the Sydney foursome from the British public. The first single "Get Free" is a great example of garage rock. It worked like an aimed shot that blew up the sluggish European and, above all, British music scene.
The next hit "Outtathaway" cemented the group's reputation as "explosive guys" who manage to create drive from the very first bars of their incendiary melodies.
It was the first album that catapulted the plucky four out of an obscure suburb of Sydney onto major network TV shows, reaching number three on the UK charts. It turned out to be an unprecedented success for the Australian group.
The name of the album "Highly Evolved", which means "Highly Developed", turned out to be really prophetic. The rapid development of popularity leads to unthinkable results. The young band begins to actively tour Europe in support of their new album. The crown of glory is an 18-month tour around the world.
Lineup of The Vines
Craig Nichols, lead singer of the group, was born in 1977 in a suburb of Sydney. Already at an early age, Craig's father, who was also a musician, taught him to play the guitar. According to Craig himself, he spent all his free time alone, listening to The Beatles and experimenting on the guitar.
Perhaps even then the example of the "Liverpool Four" formed the basis of his musical preferences, laid the foundation for his dream - to become a professional musician. After the tenth grade, Craig dropped out of comprehensive school without finishing it. He became interested in painting, enrolling in an art school, where, however, he studied for only 6 months.
In the future, he cherished his plans to become a musician. Even invited his classmate Ryan Griffis to join his future band as a guitarist. He met bass guitarist Patrick Mathew while working at McDonald's, and drummer David Olif joined the band a little later. So, the "Sydney Four", created in the image of the legendary Liverpool, is in full force and ready to conquer the world.
The secret of success
Nicholls refuses to believe in good performances or bad ones: "I can't tell good performances from bad ones," he insists. “I just get up – we just play. Nothing special comes to my mind." However, during concerts, this apparent simplicity turns into spectacular or terrifying scenery, depending on Nicholls' mood.
He literally captures with his impetuous performance. His voice is able to instantly move from a hoarse howl to a crystal falsetto. This makes a lasting impression on the listener. I want to listen more and more! Nichols' teasing manner of playing, amazing speed, bordering on virtuosity, surprises and impresses. Unpredictability, irrationality and naturalness - this is the secret of the group's success and the power of charm of its key figure - lead singer Craig Nichols.
The laws of the genre
Without a doubt, a considerable share of success falls on the popularity and relevance of the musical genre in which the group positions itself. The so-called "garage rock", in which the first albums were written:
- Highly Evolved (2002)
- Winning Days (2004)
- Vision Valley (2006)
The genre originates in the 60s, when newly minted youth groups used garages for rehearsals due to the lack of specially adapted premises. The main themes of this direction are youthful maximalism, an attempt to push the usual boundaries.
It was at this age that the founders of The Vines begin their careers. Protest and an attempt to create a new reality, different from the usual, sound especially famous compositions of the first album, for example "Get free". Subsequent albums were written in a more restrained manner of post-delicious rock. These include:
- Melodia (2008)
- Future Primitive (2011)
- Wicked Nature (2014)
- In Miracle Land (2018)
Until recently, the "brave Sydney Four" has not yet gained significant popularity in Russia. The group's recognition is growing because immersing yourself in this honest, genuine and truly trance-like music will be an unforgettable experience for every new listener.
