East 17 Australian Tour 2012! The 90s revivals just keep on coming! 20 million albums, eighteen top 20 singles, four top ten albums, no 90’s pop revival could ever be complete without the inclusion of East 17. From the release of their monster 1992 smash debut single House Of Love, East 17 instantly won a million hearts.
What followed was a string of impressive hits including ‘Deep’, ‘It’s Alright’ and ‘Stay Another Day’ which showcased a grittier streetwise edge to the group’s songwriting proving the antithesis to the pop music of the day and cementing the Walthamstow quintet at the forefront of popular music for the decade.
East 17 are Tony Mortimer, John Hendy and Terry Coldwell but it hasn’t always been this way. Back in 1991 Mortimer’s school-friend Hendy had been hired to provide backing vocals whilst Coldwell and Brian Harvey were originally commandeered as dancers.
Tellingly, however, Mortimer heard Harvey singing along in a recording session, noted that his own songwriting skills and rap sensibilities absolutely suited Harvey’s fluid R & B vocal overtones and the latter was elevated to lead singer.
The ploy worked and soon East 17 were ubiquitous not just in the UK but throughout the world; ‘It’s Alright’ made them the biggest band in Mongolia, stayed at No.1 in the Australian charts for seven weeks and when the band visited the country the airport was so mobbed with fans they had to sneak out through the back doors.
Fast forward to June 2011, East 17 sign to FOD Records, songwriter and main-man Tony Mortimer takes over vocal duties and if the new single ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind (Crazy)’ is anything to go by then this move proves to be a revelation.
The single marks a sea change in East 17 repertoire that sees them sound like a cross between Summer Of ‘69/Boys Of Summer Americana. Mortimer explains the change in direction. “I think everyone is subconsciously inspired by American music and rock ‘n’ roll. And this time around I just wanted to do something more live and when you start out with drum machines you always have to compromise with that music when you play live anyway. So, why not try and be as live as you can in the studio? I love dance music and that is the core of what we do but we now just take the energy from that.”
Whatever floats your boat, Tone. Welcome back to Australia!
San Dimas Social Club Present:
EAST 17 Australian Tour 2012
Tix Onsale Friday 27th of April 2012
Thursday 7 June @ Metropolis (Fremantle)
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Friday 8 June @ Trak (Melbourne)
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Sunday 10 June @ HiFi (Sydney)
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Thursday 14th @ HiFi (Brisbane)
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Friday 15 June @ HQ Complex (Adelaide)
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