The stats read well, most of us know them, 12 records, 3 number 1’s, 9 ARIA’s…32 nominations no less, live music awards, soundtracks and nearing 2,000 shows all over the globe. Come and check the kings of swagger…
Tim Rogers formed the first version of the band with his school friend Nick Tischler and his older brother Jaimme in December 1989. The band’s name was derived from late-night sessions under the influence of alcohol. This initial line-up was short-lived and by the end of 1990 both Nick and Jaimme had left the band. They were replaced by the group’s one-time sound mixer Andy Kent (bass) and Mark Tunaley on drums.
The band released several EPs and singles in the early 90s, though the real breakthrough came when Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth caught the band performing at the 1993’s Big Day Out festival. Ranaldo also produced their debut album, 'Sound as Ever'. The album went on to win the 1993 ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release. The band was signed to Ra Records, an alternative rock oriented sub-branch of rooArt Records, with U.S. distribution by Restless Records.
After the release of their first album, Tunaley and the band parted ways. He was replaced by Russell Hopkinson (formerly of the band Nursery Crimes), creating the core line-up of the band to the present day. Since then, the line-up has been augmented by Davey Lane of The Pictures on second guitar.
You Am I had toured the United States beginning in the mid-’90s, including playing with Soundgarden on the Lollapalooza festival, Redd Kross, The Strokes, and Smoking Popes. Despite little success in The States, the band became well known throughout Australia.
Further success came with the albums Hi Fi Way and Hourly, Daily, with both picking up ARIA Awards. Hourly, Daily was the first album released on the Shock label to go to number one in the ARIA charts upon launch. These albums were marked by retro-inspired ’60s bop and folky 12 string melodies, a departure from the band’s earlier hard rock/ grunge sound.
Both of those albums, Hi Fi Way and Hourly, Daily, appeared in the top half of the Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time list.
