Are we on the cusp of seeing a string of big-time Aussie band reunions? With beloved mid-2000s rockers Jet recently reforming to join Bruce Springsteen on his upcoming Australian tour, Queensland legends Powderfinger have sent the rumour mill into overdrive with the launch of a flash new website.
Following the completion of what would become their last album, 2009’s Golden Rule, the Brisbane five-piece called it a day in 2010. According to a statement from frontman Bernard Fanning at the time, the band, who got about as big as a band can get in Australia, “said all that we want to say as a musical group”.
Powderfinger performed their final show at the River Stage in Brisbane on 13th November 2010 in front of 10,000 screaming fans, and since then the members have all been pretty nonchalant about reforming. Fanning has a very successful solo career, whilst guitarist Darren Middleton is working on his own solo stuff, and drummer Jon Coghill is a reporter for the ABC.
The band came the closest they ever have to reuniting during one of Middleton’s solo gigs in November last year. Four fifths of the band — Fanning, Middleton, gutiarist Ian Haug, and bassist John Collins, who now manages popular Brisbane live music venue The Triffid — shared the stage together for the first time since 2010.
And now the new website has some fans wondering if there might be a proper reunion on the horizon. “Well look what we have here—a brand new Powderfinger website!” a statement on Facebook reads. “Now that we’re no longer an active band, we thought it was time to make a website that focussed on all the music we made together over the years.”
“We like to think of it as a living, breathing museum to all things Powderfinger. Have a look around. There are heaps of music videos and photos, as well as a full gig history and an abridged history of Powderfinger. And of course you can listen to, stream, download, and purchase our music on CD.”
Judging by the language used, it doesn’t seem as though we should expect a reunion anytime soon. Not to mention the fact that all the members of the band are all pretty busy with their own projects and Fanning just announced an extensive co-headline tour with Kasey Chambers that will be taking up quite a bit of his time.
