Big Heavy Stuff
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Darren Atkinson, Greg Atkinson, Darren Jones, Carolyn Polley |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Big Heavy Stuff emerged as an Australian indie rock group established in 1990 in Sydney by siblings Darren Atkinson (drums, backing vocals) and Greg Atkinson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), joined by Darren Jones (bass) and Carolyn Polley (lead guitar, backing vocals). Prior to this formation, the Atkinson brothers were members of the neo-psychedelic outfit Ups and Downs, while Jones and Polley brought experience from various local bands.
Under the banner of Volition Records, Big Heavy Stuff introduced their first EP, Pops Like Crazy, in December 1991. This release included a rendition of Delaney and Bonnie's "Superstar," which helped them gain early recognition through its accompanying music video. Their debut album, Truck, arrived in November 1993 to positive reviews, including an 8 out of 10 score from The Canberra Times. Soon after, drummer Darren Atkinson left the band and was succeeded by Nick Kennedy, formerly of Templebears.
Trouble & Desire, label transitions, and Maximum Sincere (1994–1999)
The group's second EP, Trouble & Desire, was launched in November 1994. Subsequently, bassist Jones was replaced by Eliot Fish, another ex-member of Templebears. This revamped lineup released their third EP, Covered in Bruises, in August 1995, marking their last project with Volition Records. In the United States, the single "Birthday" was issued through DeSoto Records, a label run by members of the post-hardcore band Jawbox. Following this period, Big Heavy Stuff signed with Hypnotized—a subsidiary of Shock Records—and put out singles "Big Mouth" (October 1996) and "May" (March 1997). Both songs appeared on their sophomore album, Maximum Sincere, which was released via Hypnotized in May 1997. During a nationwide tour, Polley departed and Adam Young (formerly of Daisygrinders) took her place. Two additional singles were released in November that year. The quartet consisting of Atkinson, Fish, Kennedy, and Young recorded the live EP Live at the Thebarton Theatre towards the end of 1997 under Hypnotized. They also served as Radiohead’s principal support band for the Australian leg of the Against Demons Tour between February and March 1998. By 1999, Polley had rejoined the group replacing Young once again, and the band exited Hypnotized.
Size of the Ocean, broader recognition, Dear Friends and Enemies, and breakup (2000–2006)
In 2000, Big Heavy Stuff signed with Redline Records—co-founded by well-known Australian alternative rock act Jebediah alongside Naked Ape Management—which facilitated the release of their third studio album, Size of the Ocean, in March 2001. Although it did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart top rankings, it achieved No. 17 on the ARIA Alternative Albums chart and No. 10 on ARIA Hitseekers Albums chart. The track "Hibernate" secured the No. 77 spot on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2001. Additionally, this album garnered an ARIA Award nomination for Best Adult Alternative Album.
Their fourth and final studio effort, Dear Friends and Enemies (2004), produced by Wayne Connolly (known for Silverchair) and David Trump (associated with Bluebottle Kiss), reached No. 94 on the ARIA Albums Chart. After performing at Sydney’s Come Together Music Festival in 2006, Big Heavy Stuff entered an indefinite hiatus before officially announcing their disbandment through FBi Radio.
Later activities (2007–present)
In April 2009, the band reunited for a performance at Sydney's Factory Theatre in Marrickville to coincide with the documentary That Then This Now. They came together once more in September 2010 to open for Powderfinger at the Sydney Entertainment Centre as part of Powderfinger's farewell tour.
By the 2020s, archival material saw renewed releases. The album Size of the Ocean was reissued on vinyl and cassette formats in 2023, followed by the re-release of Dear Friends and Enemies in 2024. Additionally, an acoustic live recording titled Live at Triple J 2004 was made available in 2024. In 2025, the band issued Bruises, which included the full Covered in Bruises album plus twelve extra tracks recorded between 1995 and 1997. This release attained a peak position of No. 18 on the ARIA Australian Albums chart.
Side ventures
Eliot Fish embarked on a solo path, debuting a six-track EP named Trick of Light through the Nonlinear label in 2012. Prior to their involvement with Big Heavy Stuff, Fish and Nick Kennedy played together in the Templebears alongside Josh Morris. The trio reunited under the name Electorate, issuing their first album, You Don't Have Time to Stay Lost, in October 2020, followed by a second album, By Design, released in 2025.
Darren Atkinson took on production and recording roles for various artists, including Big Heavy Stuff after his departure. During the 1990s, he performed with Morris in Atticus. Together with his brother Greg, he formed Worker Bees, which released its self-titled debut album in 2011. The Atkinson brothers also revived their earlier group Ups and Downs, releasing The Sky's in Love with You in 2017 and later Stained Glass Memories in 2025.
Band members
- Greg Atkinson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Carolyn Polley – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Darren Atkinson – drums, backing vocals
- Darren Jones – bass guitar
- Nick Kennedy – drums
- Eliot Fish – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Adam Young – lead guitar
Timeline
Colors indicate primary live performance roles.
Studio albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Truck |
|
– |
| Maximum Sincere |
|
– |
| Size of the Ocean |
|
– |
| Dear Friends and Enemies |
|
94 |
Extended plays
| Title | Release details |
|---|---|
| Pops Like Crazy |
|
| Trouble & Desire |
|
| Covered in Bruises |
|
Live albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Live at the Thebarton Theatre |
|
| Live at Triple J 2004 |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Bruises |
|
Singles
| Title | Year released | Album name |
|---|---|---|
| "Superstar" | 1991 | Pops Like Crazy |
| "Chaos" | 1992 | Truck |
| "Skin a Cat" | 1993 | |
| "Birthday" | 1995 | Covered in Bruises |
| "Big Mouth" | 1996 | Maximum Sincere |
| "May" | 1997 | |
| "Maximum Sincere" | 1997 | |
| "Cheating on a Dead Wife" | 1997 | |
| "Devil's Tongue" | 1999 | Size of the Ocean |
| "Two Sisters" | 2001 | |
| "Laughing Boy" | 2001 | |
| "Mutiny" | 2003 | Dear Friends and Enemies |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have been held annually to honor outstanding achievement and creativity in all styles of Australian music.
! |- |2001 | Size of the Ocean | Best Adult Alternative Album | |-