Deloris
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Albums, EPs, singles |
Deloris was an indie rock group originating from Australia, established in 1994. Throughout their career, they produced four albums: Fraulein (1999), The Pointless Gift (2000), Fake Our Deaths (2004), and Ten Lives (2006), before dissolving in 2008. The lineup prominently featured Daniel Brimelow on drums, Simon Heelis handling bass guitar and guitar duties, Leigh Lambert on guitar, and Marcus Teague as lead vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist. Their touring history includes national headline performances as well as supporting roles for bands like Something for Kate, Augie March, and Delgados. Subsequently, Teague embarked on a solo career under the name Single Twin, releasing his first album in 2011.
History
The band Deloris took shape in Melbourne in 1994 as a four-piece indie rock ensemble with members Stuart Charles on bass, Simon Heelis playing guitar, Marcus Teague providing vocals, guitar, and keyboards, and Luke Turley on drums. Following Heelis's exit, the group continued as a trio. Their initial recordings comprised a four-track demo recorded in 1994 along with sessions at Backbeach Studios in 1996.
Expanding their footprint within Melbourne’s music scene, they recorded their first album Fraulein at Backbeach Studios toward the end of 1998. This debut was released by Halflight Records from Perth in April 1999 and garnered positive critical attention for its fusion of grunge and pop elements.
In 1999, Deloris worked on their sophomore effort, The Pointless Gift, which Sydney-based Quietly Suburban Records issued in December 2000. The album was met with favorable critiques, including a four-star review from Melbourne’s The Age. Around this time, Leigh Lambert joined the band as a second guitarist. The band embarked on nationwide tours supporting Augie March, Something for Kate, Art of Fighting, Purplene, as well as international groups such as the Mountain Goats and Delgados. Additionally, they released a split single in the UK through Scientific Laboratories.
Drummer Luke Turley departed in 2001; after a short stint with Clint Hyndman of Something for Kate filling the role, Daniel Brimelow became the permanent drummer. In 2002, Deloris started recording their third album Fake Our Deaths at Sing Sing studios with engineers Matt Voigt and Hugh Counsell. Due to limited resources, recording extended over a lengthy period. Although completed by late 2003, the album's release was postponed following Quietly Suburban’s shutdown. An EP containing selections from the album received substantial airplay on Triple J.
Mid-2004 saw Deloris signing with Dot Dash, an imprint of Remote Control Records, enabling the release of Fake Our Deaths later that year. The band undertook extensive touring throughout 2004 and 2005. After these tours, Lambert and Heelis left the group; Teague and Brimelow continued as a duo. In 2005 they commenced production of their fourth record Ten Lives at Abercorn studios. Brimelow exited during this process; Teague finalized the album with assistance from Ben Gook on bass and Turley returning on drums. Released by Dot Dash in 2006, Ten Lives was supported by national tours featuring a rotating lineup including Brimelow, Gook, Turley, Hugh Counsell, Joe Hammond, Ben Keenan, Tim O'Connor, and Anthony Petrucci.
By late 2007 Deloris consisted of Teague, Gook, Hammond, and Petrucci. They supported Something for Kate’s national tour and performed their final major show alongside Brooklyn’s the National in early 2008. Following several local gigs that year, Deloris quietly disbanded without an official statement.
In 2009 Teague teamed up with Gook, Hammond, and O'Connor to initiate a new project while simultaneously developing his solo act Single Twin. A formal announcement regarding Deloris’ disbandment was posted on their MySpace page in February 2010. Single Twin’s debut album Marcus Teague was released in June 2011 accompanied by a supporting tour.
Albums
- Fraulein (1999) released through Halflight Records / MGM
- The Pointless Gift (2001) issued by Quietly Suburban Records / MGM
- Fake Our Deaths (2004) distributed via Dot Dash
- Ten Lives (2006) launched under Dot Dash/Remote Control Records
Extended plays
- Playing the Spaces (2003) self-released
- Dead Drunks (2004) put out by Remote Control Records and independently
- Feather Figure/Elastic Bones (2005) released through Dot Dash and independently
Singles
- "Deloris/Braving the Seabed" (Split single, 2002) issued by Steady Cam Records