George (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Rock music, albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | www |
George (presented as george) was a rock ensemble originating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Their inaugural album, Polyserena, achieved the No. 1 position on the Australian music charts on 17 March 2002.
Background
Throughout most of their existence, george consisted of Katie Noonan (vocals, keyboards), her brother Tyrone Noonan (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Geoff Green (drums, percussion), Paulie Bromley (bass guitar), and Nick Stewart (guitar). Early bassist Geoff Hooton departed in 2000 and was succeeded by Bromley. The group was originally formed by the Noonans, Stewart, and his twin brother James Stewart, who left shortly after to focus on an acting career.
The Noonans were primarily responsible for songwriting and vocal duties, influenced by their classical music upbringing; their mother Maggie Noonan is a distinguished opera vocalist. Katie pursued studies in opera and jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium. Stewart’s musical style was shaped by rock traditions. Bromley brought experience from Brisbane’s underground band Pangaea, while Green completed music studies at Queensland University of Technology.
History
Established in 1996 for a university music contest, george independently released several EPs: George (1998), You Can Take What's Mine (1999), and Bastard Son/Holiday (2000), the latter reaching number 74 on the ARIA chart. These records received extensive airplay on Triple J and community radio stations, helping them cultivate a robust live audience nationwide.
In mid-2001, george signed with Festival Mushroom Records. Their initial single with Festival was "Special Ones", followed by "Run" and "Breathe in Now". The band embarked on numerous tours throughout this timeframe.
Their first full-length album, Polyserena, entered the Australian album charts at number one—making george just the tenth Australian act to debut at the top spot. The album earned double platinum certification and remained in the top 50 for 36 weeks.
In January 2003, george collaborated with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to perform Jon Lord’s Concerto for Group and Orchestra, becoming only the second rock band after Deep Purple to present this work. This partnership showcased their diverse fusion of classical, rock, funk, jazz, and electronic styles.
The band’s sophomore album, Unity, was released in February 2004 and entered the Australian charts at number five. Katie Noonan explained that the album’s title symbolized the group’s shared development and unity amid a transitional phase.
Following a live show in Brisbane in December 2004, george went on hiatus as members explored individual projects. They reunited briefly for a performance at the Sydney Opera House in January 2005.
In 2016, george returned to the stage at Victoria’s Queenscliff Music Festival, marking their first appearance in over a decade. They commemorated their 20th anniversary with a concert at QPAC during the Brisbane Festival. After performing again in 2017 at Taronga Zoo, the band paused activities once more.
In 2021, george announced a reunion residency at Brisbane Powerhouse to perform Polyserena in its entirety to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Polyserena |
|
1 |
|
| Unity |
|
5 |
|
Compilation Albums
| Album Title | Album Information |
|---|---|
| The Essential Hits |
|
| The Early Years |
|
Extended Plays
| EP Title | EP Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| George |
|
— |
| You Can Take What's Mine |
|
82 |
| Bastard Son/Holiday |
|
74 |
Singles
| Single Title | Year Released | Chart Rankings | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Special Ones" | 2001 | 29 | Polyserena |
| "Run" | 27 | ||
| "Breathe in Now" | 2002 | 29 | |
| "Breaking It Slowly" | 43 | ||
| "Still Real" | 2004 | 37 | Unity |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and creativity within Australian music. george received eight nominations and secured the award for Breakthrough Artist – Album in 2002 for their album Polyserena.
|- | 2001 || "Special Ones" || Breakthrough Artist – Single || nominated |- | rowspan=6 | 2002 || rowspan=4 | Polyserena || Album of the Year || nominated |- || Best Group || nominated |- || Best Pop Release || nominated |- || Breakthrough Artist – Album || won |- || David Nicholas and george for Polyserena || Producer of the Year || nominated |- || Chris Von Sanden for Polyserena || Best Cover Art || nominated |- || 2004 || Unity || Best Adult Contemporary Album || nominated |-