The Sharp

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Sharp
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Img_size = 25 x 20
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Australia
Genre = Rock
Years_active = 1988 – 1996
Label = Warner Music
Associated_acts = BoomCrashOpera CrowdedHouse INXS RedHotChilliPeppers JimmyBarnes TheLivingEnd NatalieImbruglia
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/thesharpwarnermusic WWW ]
Current_members = Allan Catlin
Piet Collins
Charlie Rooke
Past_members = Danny Simcic
Notable_instruments =

"The Sharp" was a 3-piece pop/rock band from Melbourne, Australia.The band formed in 1988 with Allan Catlin as Singer/Songwriter and DoubleBass, Charlie Rooke on guitar and backing vocals, and Danny Simcic/ Piet Collins on drums. The Sharp produced a string of MTV top 40 hit singles, including "Train of Thought", "Scratch My Back", "Talking Sly" and "Alone Like Me" (all penned by Catlin). They became known for their black skivvies and energetic live show, including Catlin balancing on his double bass while playing, and Rooke leaping off the drumkit mid-solo. Catlin and Rooke are trained in classical music.Fact|date=March 2008

After releasing two EPs, independently, they were signed to Warner Music in 1992, and had their first hit single Talking Sly written and sung by Allan Catlin, featuring wild psychobilly guitar over Manchester funk grooves. The Sharp released their debut album "This Is the Sharp" in 1993 achieving 7 ARIA nominations and an MTV top 40 gold record. A world tour followed in 1994, where the band toured U.S.A UK, Sweden, Germany and were signed and released in 14 international territories, receiving 5 star media reviews and full houses for every show. "Sonic Tripod", the band's second album, was released on 22 August, 1994. Singles included "Honest & Sober", "Alone Like Me" (their highest charting top 40 single) and "Spider".

In 1995 Warner Music International offered The Sharp European Residency and international promotion, at which point both Charlie Rooke and Piet Collins suddenly resigned due to "burn out". Currently Allan Catlin is an independent music producer and studio session player and now plays double bass flute guitar cello drumkit keyboards in TV and radio advertising.

Trivia

*Charlie Rooke formed his own "The Sharp"-style 3 piece 1997 called "Earlobe" after Vincent van Gogh.
*Allan Catlin went on to create 7 piece Dance act "The Rush Effect" who made quite an impact in the Earthcore Rave Scene. members(Nic Hemstrom/Tim Van Niekirk/Jak Lawson/Ivo Reisch/Derek Shiel/Joel Mamone)Final Nominee ASA song comp for the original Catlin song "Island" 2005 producers Danny Simcic (Real Life) Scott Carne.
* Piet Collins has written scripts for Australian soap opera, "Neighbours".
* In 1993, "The Late Show" on ABC television performed a sketch named "Skivvies are Back" that was a spoof of the "Scratch My Back" video.
*The Sharp have helped and influenced many successful acts since their time at the top including Savage Garden PowderFinger The Living End and blues outfit The Badloves
*Double Bassist, Allan Catlin has 2 children, a girl Clarity Grace and a boy Mattias Alexander who lives in Sweden.
*The song Alone Like Me, the highest top forty hit in The Sharp's music career was not penned by the "SELF", but actually cowritten by Antonella Maric..

Discography

Albums
* This Is the Sharp (1993)
* Sonic Tripod (1994)
* Single File (The Best of The Sharp) (1995)
* Skeletons in the Closet (1996)

Singles and EPs
* Love Your Head (1992)
* Spinosity (1992)
* Train of Thought (1993)
* Scratch My Back (1993)
* Yeah I Want You (1993)
* Alone Like Me (Part 1) (1994)
* Alone Like Me (Part 2) (1994)
* Honest and Sober (1994)
* Spider (1994)
* Release the Rats (1994)
* Thank You Good Night (1995)

"Release the Rats" was a 5 track split promo EP to support a tour with Francis Dunnery.

Videos
* This Is the Sharp (1993)

Filmclips
* Talking Sly
* Scratch My Back
* Yeah I Want You
* Train of Thought
* Where am I Now?
* Alone Like Me
* Honest and Sober
* Spider

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/thesharpwarnermusic OFFICIAL SITE ]
* [http://www.myspace.com/allancatlin_thesharp Allan Catlin B.A. K.H. composer]
* [http://www.youtube.com/allancatlin The Sharp Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/allancatlin_thesharp The Sharp]
*
* [http://www.realkosh.com/thesharp/ Alone Like Us: Fan page with comprehensive discography]
* [http://www.users.fl.net.au/~lyndenal/sharppage/sharpindex.htm Dreams and Mashed Potatoes: Fan page with comprehensive history]
* [http://web.mac.com/allancatlin Allan Catlin Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/catlinclassicalcello classical cello by Allan Catlin B.A.mus ]
* [http://www.myspace.com/therusheffect7 The Rush Effect feat: allan catlin - flute/composer ]