Peachfuzz

Peachfuzz was a three-piece independent rock band based in Melbourne, Australia. The group formed in late 1991 and disbanded in 1996.

The band played an intelligent and often adventurous brand of melodic power pop inspired by the likes of the Pixies, Pavement and the post-punk era. Its debut mini-album "V8" was released in 1992 and distributed by MDS, resulting in high-rotation airplay of the single "Hurt You" on national radio station Triple J.

This was followed up by the 1994 mini-album "Watermelon Man", produced by Craig McArthur and released on Mushroom Records' Temptation development label. This release was again favourably received with the tracks"Beautiful Fire" gaining national airplay and "Who Loves You" being featured on the Australian TV drama Police Rescue, plus air time on the John Peel Show in the UK.

Peachfuzz was known for its live high-jinks which included costume dress-ups, the hurling of instruments and the entertainingly intense performances of drummer Cameron Potts, who also designed the band's album covers. The band toured nationally throughout its five years and was an important part of the "Fitzroy scene" that also included Hurdy Gurdy/Slurper, Breatherhole (now Disaster Plan), the Lucksmiths and Paintstripper.

Peachfuzz's final recording, the album "E Coli", was released independently in 1995 and distributed by Shock Records. "E Coli", produced like "V8" by Melbourne independent music legend Simon Grounds, was darker and more complex than its predecessors, reflecting the mood in the band at the time. The album was again glowingly received by the critics but failed to sell as well as the previous two releases. Not long after the release of "E Coli", and following a long tour of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, the band decided to call it a day.

Following the breakup of Peachfuzz, singer/guitarist Stefan Schutt began the lo-fi, home-recording project Schmozzle, bass player/singer Steve Hyde played upright bass with Royal Chord and The Original Snakeskins, and drummer Cameron Potts joined Sandro. Cameron is now an integral part of the band Ninetynine and releases music through his own hip hop and Arabic music-inspired outfit Baseball (band).

External links

Some Peachfuzz songs can be downloaded from:
*http://www.indevelopment.org/2002/ozrock_peachfuzz.htm
*http://www.schmozzle.com/peachfuzz.html