The Fauves (band)

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The Fauves are an Australian rock band from Melbourne that started in 1988. The original members were Andrew Cox (guitar/vocals), Andrew “Jack” Dyer (bass), Philip Leonard (guitar/vocals/brass), and Adam Newey (drums). They chose the name after the French art movement Fauvism, and they’re known for witty lyrics, catchy pop-rock, and often playful or Australian-themed songs. The current lineup includes Cox, Leonard, Newey, and Tim “Ted” Cleaver (bass/keyboards), who joined in 2000 after Dyer left.

Their first releases helped them gain attention: the 1990 EP This Mood Has Passed, the single Fireman 451, and a string of singles and EPs through 1992. They appeared at the Big Day Out festival in 1993, signed with Polydor, and released their debut album Drive Through Charisma in 1993. The Young Need Discipline followed in 1994, and Future Spa in 1996 became their most successful album, producing popular songs like Dogs Are the Best People and Self Abuser. Future Spa reached the Triple J Hottest 100, where the tracks ranked 20 and 30 in 1996.

In 1999 the band was dropped by Polydor after a label merger. They released music with Festival and later put out four albums with Shock Records: Thousand Yard Stare (2000), Footage Missing (2002), The Fauves (2004), and Nervous Flashlights (2006). Original bassist Jack Dyer left at the end of 1999, and Ted Cleaver joined the band in 2000.

Their ninth album, When Good Times Go Good, arrived in 2008, produced with longtime collaborator Wayne Connolly and Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil. In 2011 they issued Japanese Engines, followed by the eight-track German Engines. In 2019 they released Driveway Heart Attack, a double album. They kept performing live, including a July 2022 Melbourne show that was billed as their “last show till the next one.” In 2023 they reissued their first two EPs as Faematronic, and their 13th album, Tropical Strength, came out on November 1, 2024, recorded in Indonesia with inspiration from Bali.

The Fauves are known for their energetic shows, strong Australian flavor, and a long, eventful career that includes important milestones like their 1,000th show in 2007 and a 20th anniversary gig in 2008. Their music also earned an ARIA nomination in 1997 for Best Alternative Album with Future Spa.