Grimick Biography
According to founding members Mick and Griff, Grimick is a band project that has been developing since their junior high school days, where the pair first met, and began writing and performing their original music. From an early age, the pair poured hours into organising and promoting their own gigs, as well as performing at various school related events - making it into the finals of the 1995 NSW Schools Battle of the Bands Competition and performing at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion, was a sign of things to come.
After high school, Mick and Griff continued to broaden their performing experiences. Griff secured the lead role of Jesus, in Jesus Christ Superstar (T.H.E theatre company) in 1998. Around that time he also wrote and performed several songs for the Gospel Album "Great Is Your Love", which sold thousands of copies in Australia, as well as America, the U.K and Africa. From 2003 - 2005 Griff performed to packed houses in the world famous Jenolan Caves "Grand Arch” Carols Show, and in 2004 the pair performed in the musical “Back to the 80s” (Neil Gooding Productions) at the Evans Theatre, Penrith, and the Parramatta River Side Theatre.
Griff was also emerging as a talented producer and recording engineer. Working out of “The Lab Studio” - Belmore, and his own home studio, Griff began recording and producing music for dozens of local bands, in addition to his role as production coordinator and 2IC of “Youthrock” – a state wide battle of the bands competition. In 2004 Griff became “the Voice of Physie”. The Bjelke Petersen School of Physical Culture (Physie) is a nation wide dance organisation with finals held at the Sydney Opera House. Each year Griff sings and produces the music used as the backing tracks for choreography developed by the organisation.
In 1999 Mick & Griff were joined by Matt Bulkley (Drums / Percussion) and Dr Warwick Fear (Guitars), as they embarked on a three-and-a-half year cover band project “Party Down Under” (with the Sphere Agency), performing 2-3 nights a week in the highly competitive Sydney club, pub and corporate scene. The experience left them with confidence in their ability to entertain large crowds, as they quickly gained a reputation for antics, energy on stage, and an ability to impress audiences with their vocal quality, range, and harmonies. Venues such as The Mean Fiddler, 3 Wise Monkeys, St Patrick’s (Sydney), Paddy Maguire’s (Star City Casino), Sydney’s Hard Rock Café, and Kitty O’Shea’s were among their regular haunts.
By 2002, Griff, Mick, Warwick & Matt were at the top of the “cover scene” game. With a growing following they were following in the footsteps of renowned acts like Jelly Bean Jam and the One Hit Wonders. But a yearning to play original music led to a premature exit from the covers scene much to the dismay of their management and agency. In April of 2003, Grimick was launched, and the self titled debute album released. The album, which was completely recorded, produced and even mastered by Mick & Griff, was beginning to attract attention both in Australia and in the US – the boys were even offered a record deal with a L.A. based company (Kling Corp.). “Grimick” received highly positive critical feedback when tracks from this album were entered in the 2004 Musicoz Awards – among thousands of entries, the song “Groov’n Now” reached 23rd spot in the pop category charts.
Proud of their first album, but not satisfied, Grimick have spent the last twelve months exploring a more honest, folk/roots based path. All four members have played a crucial role in writing and forming the sound for their second album - Dazzle. It’s a less produced, more organic album, grown the old fashioned way.
Performing tracks from their latest album, Grimick captivated their audience on New Year’s Eve at the 2006 Peats Ridge Festival. The band are looking forward to officially launching “Dazzle” on Friday the 23rd of March 07 at Bar Broadway, and performing more shows in and around Sydney.
Check out www.myspace.com/grimickmusic for gig dates, blogs and other announcements.
