End of Fashion
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Founder | Justin Burford, Rodney Aravena, Malcolm Clark, Jonathon Dudman |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | www |
End of Fashion is a pop rock group originating from Perth, Western Australia. They attracted widespread recognition with their 2005 track "O Yeah," which secured the eighth position in the Hottest 100 countdown conducted by youth broadcaster Triple J. The ensemble has produced three full-length studio albums to date. After entering a hiatus in January 2014, they reunited for a performance on 22 September 2018 at Scarborough's Indian Ocean Hotel.
2004: Formation and early EP releases
Initially conceived as a side endeavor by guitarists Justin Burford and Rodney Aravena, alongside drummer Malcolm Clark and bassist Jonathon Dudman, Burford and Aravena departed from The Sleepy Jackson after two years to dedicate themselves fully to End of Fashion. The lineup experienced several adjustments, incorporating members such as Vanessa Thornton (formerly of Jebediah), Mike Hobbs, Hugh Jennings (Autopilot), and Nicholas Jonsson, before stabilizing with Hobbs on drums and Tom King on bass. The band's name embodied their intention to defy contemporary trends, as Burford articulated:
My goal is to dismantle barriers – within that framework and image, we have the freedom to explore anything, whether it’s extremely cheesy or punk; I aim to end fashion itself.
In 2003, they recorded their first EP, Rough Diamonds, a four-track record produced by Jim Moginie, former guitarist of Midnight Oil. This release was distributed through a collaboration between the independent label Hello Cleveland! and major label EMI.
Upon release, Triple J placed the singles "Anything Goes" and "Rough Diamonds" into heavy rotation. To promote the EP, the band embarked on a sold-out national tour lasting five weeks, supporting acts such as Little Birdy and Betchadupa. The EP debuted at number 57 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in March 2004 and ranked number 81 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for that year. Early in 2004, End of Fashion secured a deal with EMI/Capitol Australia for international licensing prior to their appearance at SXSW.
2005–2006: End of Fashion album
The band released their self-titled debut album on 25 August 2005. Recorded in Oxford, Mississippi, it was produced by Dennis Herring, recognized for his work with artists like Elvis Costello and Counting Crows. The album reached number 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart and earned gold certification in both Australia and New Zealand. Its U.S. release followed in May 2006.
The album’s lead single, "O Yeah," climbed to number 21 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was placed eighth in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2005. It garnered two ARIA Music Awards and received a nomination for APRA’s Song of the Year. In 2006, the fourth single "The Game" achieved a personal best peak at number 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Several End of Fashion songs were incorporated into video games: "She's Love" and "Lock Up Your Daughters" appeared in Thrillville, "The Game" featured in ATV Offroad Fury 4, and "O Yeah" was included in FIFA Street 2. Additionally, "The Game" was selected as the theme tune for Nine Network’s broadcast of the 2007 National Rugby League season.
2007–2009: Book of Lies
On 15 December 2007, End of Fashion unveiled the track "Biscit" through their official website and social media platforms. Subsequently, in June 2008, they released two additional songs, "Kamikaze" and "Walkaway," via MySpace. Their sophomore album, Book of Lies, debuted in September 2008, with its lead single "Fussy" peaking at number 47 on the charts.
In a February 2009 interview, Burford revealed that Simon Fasolo had taken over bass duties from Tom King, highlighting that Fasolo was a longtime associate brought in as King moved on to other ventures.
The album's follow-up single, "Dying for You," was co-written by Burford alongside Julian Hamilton from The Presets. Rodney Aravena regarded this track as a highlight from their collaborative efforts. The third single, "Down or Down," was released digitally in March 2009 and received radio airplay. While touring Australia in 2009 as support for Evermore, Burford announced that "Force of Habit" would serve as the fourth single off Book of Lies.
2010–2016: Holiday Trip of a Lifetime and hiatus
End of Fashion’s third studio effort, Holiday Trip of a Lifetime, was independently crafted and launched on 4 May 2012 following a year dedicated to songwriting.
After releasing the album, the members went their separate ways as Burford shifted his attention toward acting and solo musical pursuits. In January 2014, Burford attributed the band’s downturn largely to a lack of support from Triple J, stating: "'When your entire fan base is tied to a radio station that ceases to play your music or recognize your presence, what options remain?'" This viewpoint echoed broader concerns expressed by other artists and media commentators regarding Triple J’s influence on the diversity of Australian music. In a 2013 discussion, Burford clarified that the band was merely on hiatus rather than officially disbanded: "We never declared an end. Everyone simply moved into different life rhythms."
2016–present: Reunions
The group briefly reassembled in 2016 before entering another period of inactivity. Burford put together a fresh lineup including bassist Adam Jackson, drummer Nathan Sproule, and lead guitarist Julian Dudman—who had previously collaborated with Burford in The Sleepy Jackson. This ensemble performed hometown shows in July 2019 and issued their self-titled LP on vinyl for the first time that same year.
Burford confirmed that new material was in development, culminating in the release of the single "BreakThru" in August 2020 followed by "Ruby Lips" in August 2021.
Side projects
In 2010, Burford took on the role of Drew Boley in the rock musical Rock of Ages, which ran in Melbourne and Brisbane until December 2011. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Male Actor in a Musical at the 2012 Helpmann Awards.
Burford also appeared as a guest on ABC’s music quiz program Spicks and Specks.
In early 2012, Burford teamed up with former bandmate Mike Hobbs to create a one-man cabaret show centered on Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. Reuniting with Hugh Jennings and Rodney Aravena, they presented "KURT" at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2012.
Burford collaborated with the Perth Symphony Orchestra for performances titled Vivaldi by Candlelight in September 2013 at Wesley Church, Perth, and later at Symphony by the Lake in March 2014.
In 2014, Rodney Aravena formed the blues duo She Leaves the Mountain alongside vocalist Dimity Magnus.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | Certification Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| End of Fashion |
|
3 |
|
| Book of Lies |
|
26 | |
| Holiday Trip of a Lifetime |
|
— |
Extended plays
| EP Title | Release Details | Peak Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Rough Diamonds |
|
57 |
| Too Careful |
|
60 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Rankings | Associated Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | NZ | |||
| "Anything Goes" | 2003 | — | — | Rough Diamonds |
| "Rough Diamonds" | 2004 | — | ||
| "Too Careful" | — | Too Careful | ||
| "O Yeah" | 2005 | 21 | 14 | End of Fashion |
| "Lock Up Your Daughters" | 45 | — | ||
| "She's Love" | 2006 | 38 | — | |
| "The Game" | 13 | — | ||
| "Fussy" | 2008 | 47 | — | Book of Lies |
| "Dying for You" | — | — | ||
| "Down or Down" | 2009 | — | — | |
| "Sleep Away" | 2012 | — | — | Holiday Trip of a Lifetime |
| "Break Thru" | 2020 | — | — | Singles not from albums |
| "Wake Up" | 2022 | — | — | |
Notes
APRA Awards
Since their inception in 1982, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) annually presents the APRA Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements by composers and songwriters.
|-
| 2006 || "Oh Yeah" (Justin Burford) || Song of the Year||
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards annually honor outstanding achievement and creativity across all styles within the Australian music scene.
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| "O Yeah"
| Breakthrough Artist – Single
|
|-
| "Oh Yeah" (directed by Ben Quinn)
| Best Video
|
|-
MTV Australia Awards
From 2005 through 2009, the MTV Australia Awards acknowledged both domestic and international performers in the Australian market.
|-
| 2006
| End of Fashion
| Spankin' New Aussie Artist
|
|-
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs), hosted each year by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM), celebrate achievements in the local contemporary music sector.
(only wins listed)
|- | 2005 | End of Fashion | Best Rock Act | |- | 2006 | "Oh Yeah" | Most Popular Music Video | |- | 2017 | Nathan Sproule (End of Fashion) | Best Drummer/Percussionist | |- |}
External links
- Articles with short description
- Musical groups from Western Australia
- ARIA Award winners
- Capitol Records artists
- Musical groups established in 2004
- Australian power pop groups
- 2004 establishments in Australia
- Musical groups disestablished in 2013
- 2013 disestablishments in Australia
- Musical groups reestablished in 2016
- 2016 establishments in Australia
- Musical groups from Perth, Western Australia