The Church

Bio

The Church is an alternative rock band which formed in Sydney, Australia in 1980. Initially linked in with neo-psychedelia acts of the period, their music later became largely defined by the interplay of guitarists Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes coupled with the abstract lyrics of bassist/singer Steve Kilbey. Their debut album, Of Skins and Heart (1981), earned them their first radio hit "The Unguarded Moment". They were originally signed to EMI's Parlophone label, but record company dissatisfaction led to them being dropped overseas, which limited their exposure early on. After signing to Arista in 1988, they saw their largest international success with the album Starfish and the American Top 40 hit "Under The Milky Way" which resurfaced on the soundtrack of the cult movie "Donnie Darko". Whilst the band remain feted by their peers, subsequent commercial success proved elusive: 1990s follow-up album "Gold Afternoon Fix" failed to capitalise on their success, and the band weathered several line-up changes after its release, first losing long-term drummer Richard Ploog, then Peter Koppes following 1992s "Priest = Aura". That album baffled and confused many fans upon its release as to what band The Church was considered to be, but is now considered a seminal album and one of the most revered by Church connoisseurs. The vacant drum-stool on Priest=Aura being occupied by Jay Dee Daugherty of Arista labelmate Patti Smiths group, and it was produced by Gavin MacKillop of Moose. Reduced to a two-piece, Kilbey & Willson-Piper re-grouped with the assistance of drummer/producer Tim Powles to record 1994's "Sometime Anywhere", concluding their obligations to the Arista and Mushroom labels. The commercial decline, combined with the Church being ignored again by a music press more focused on the Nineties' music trends, could have brought about the demise of the band, had it not coincided with the breakthrough of the internet, thus enabling direct communication from the band to its passionate cult fanbase. This brought about a new beginning for The Church, with Peter Koppes rejoining the band for recording 1996s "Magician Among The Spirits". The band (with Koppes back into the fold, and Powles now as the permanent drummer ), hit a re-newed creative surge and with regained selfconfidence, released "Hologram Of Baal" 2 years later, and toured Australia, the USA and Europe. The first decade of the 21st century found the band releasing severeal highly critically acclaimed albums, like 2002's aptly named "After Everything Now this" and 2003's "Forget Yourself", the latter breaking new ground with bandmembers swapping instruments in the recording process. Live performances stray from high profile events like the 03 concerts at Sydney Opera House and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, to low-profile gigs for smaller audiences, often confusing old 80s fans, surprised to find the band still playing, wrongly assuming the band just being one in the never-ending string of reunion acts. 2009's album "Untitled#23" marked yet another highlight.. its essence represented in just 10 songs, and with a strong less-is-more approach, the albums core identity being on par with Starfish, it also finds Steve Kilbey breaking new ground as a vocalist. 2010 saw their 30th anniversary, with extensive touring in the US and Australia. Their unique position and importance in the australian music scene was recognized with an ARIA award. Their album, "Further Deeper", was released in 2014, and "man woman life death infinity" in 2017. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

The Psychedelic Furs, The Chameleons, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Triffids, Love And Rockets

Genres

new wave,post-punk,80s,alternative,rock,neo-psychedelia,jangle pop,dream pop,art rock,alternative rock,australian rock,dream pop,jangle pop,new romantic,new wave,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: AU

city: Canberra

Begin Date: 1980

Last Update:

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Videography

The Church - Under The Milky Way

The Church - Under The Milky Way

Aug/2025

The Church - The Hypnogogue (Official)

The Church - The Hypnogogue (Official)

Aug/2025

Artist discography

by

Last FM

New York Stories (Live 1988)

New York Stories (Live 1988)

Aug/2019

Beside Yourself

Beside Yourself

Dec/2018

Shriek

Feb/2018

I Don't Know How I Don't Know

I Don't Know How I Don't Know

Nov/2017

Man Woman Life Death Infinity

Man Woman Life Death Infinity

Oct/2017

Undersea - Single

Undersea - Single

Sep/2017

Undersea

Sep/2017

Another Century - Single

Another Century - Single

Jun/2017

Starfish (Deluxe Edition)

Starfish (Deluxe Edition)

Jul/2016

Somewhere Else

Jul/2016

Further Deeper (Bonus Tracks)

Further Deeper (Bonus Tracks)

Jun/2015

Laurel Canyon

Jan/2015

Further/Deeper

Oct/2014

Pride Before A Fall

Pride Before A Fall

Oct/2014

Further Deeper

Oct/2014

A Psychedelic Symphony

A Psychedelic Symphony

May/2014

Sing-Songs // Remote Luxury // Persia

Sing-Songs // Remote Luxury // Persia

Jul/2013

Future Past Perfect

Future Past Perfect

Jan/2013

Priest = Aura (Remastered)

Priest = Aura (Remastered)

Jan/2011

Gold Afternoon Fix (Remastered)

Gold Afternoon Fix (Remastered)

Jan/2011

I Don't Know How I Don't Know

I Don't Know How I Don't Know

Nov/2017

The Best Of The Radio Songs

The Best Of The Radio Songs

Oct/2010

Magician Among The Spirits And Some

Magician Among The Spirits And Some

Oct/2019

Another Century

Another Century

Jun/2017

Deadman's Hand

Apr/2010

The Church - The Best of the Radio Songs

The Church - The Best of the Radio Songs

Jan/2010

formal moccasin

formal moccasin

Oct/2022

The Hypnogogue - Single

The Hypnogogue - Single

Aug/2022

The Hypnogogue

Aug/2022

Untitled #23

Sep/2017

Realm of Minor Angels - Single

Realm of Minor Angels - Single

Aug/2023

Realm of Minor Angels

Realm of Minor Angels

Aug/2023

A Strange Past

Feb/2024

Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars

Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars

Sep/2023

The Hypnogogue (Deluxe) [Explicit]

The Hypnogogue (Deluxe) [Explicit]

Sep/2023

Praise the New Life - Single

Praise the New Life - Single

May/2024

Praise the New Life

Praise the New Life

May/2024

The Hypnogogue (Deluxe)

The Hypnogogue (Deluxe)

Sep/2023

I Don't Know How I Don't Know - Single

I Don't Know How I Don't Know - Single

Nov/2017

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