Heavy Weight Champ
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
Heavy Weight Champ (HWC) was a heavy rock ensemble originating from Perth, Australia, established in 1999 by drummer Dean Miller, vocalist and lead guitarist Brad Alexander, along with vocalist and guitarist Grant McCulloch. Bassist Luke Copeland joined the group shortly thereafter. Their discography includes two extended plays: Two Triple Zero released in August 2000, and Grey Filters issued in August 2002, as well as a full-length album titled Lo-Fi Funeral, which debuted on 8 May 2006. The band's musical style drew inspiration from groups such as Tool, Deftones, and Pearl Jam.
History
Brad Alexander, Dean Miller, and Grant McCulloch initially performed within Victoria's rock circuit during the early 1990s. After moving from Melbourne to Perth with their alternative rock outfit Meld, they brought Luke Copeland on board as bassist. Following Alexander’s departure in mid-1999, McCulloch took over lead guitar responsibilities, maintaining the band as a trio.
Starting in late 1999, Heavy Weight Champ actively participated in local competitions including the Grosvenor Hotel’s "Twenty Minutes of Fame." They subsequently represented Western Australia at the National Campus Band Competition finals held in Sydney, where they secured third place and were awarded studio recording time. Their first EP, Two Triple Zero, was produced by Forrester Savell at Pinnacle Studios and remained within the Australian Independent Record Companies Association Top 20 charts for nearly twelve months.
In 2001, HWC embarked on a national tour supporting Karnivool before focusing again on songwriting efforts. Working alongside producer Jarrad Hearman at Watt Studios, they honed their heavy rock sound and released the six-track EP Grey Filters in August 2002. This release garnered a nomination at the 2003 WAMi Awards.
Lo-Fi Funeral and disbandment
The band commenced production on their debut full-length album, Lo-Fi Funeral, towards the end of 2005 at Perth Loop Studio with producer Jarrad Hearman. Recording sessions spanned November and December, followed by mixing completed in March 2006 at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne. The album’s lead single, "This Revolution," was sent to radio outlets in April, preceding the album’s official release on 8 May 2006. Lo-Fi Funeral achieved both critical praise and commercial success.
Heavy Weight Champ performed their final concert on 14 December 2007 in Perth before officially disbanding early the following year. Afterward, vocalist and guitarist Grant McCulloch went on to establish The Siren Tower.
Additional recordings
- Live set 06 – Broadcasted on Triple J in September 2006; includes previously unreleased tracks such as Worth Your Weight in Gold, Part Two: The Effect, and Olympiad
- Bipolar – A demo from the Lo-Fi Funeral sessions that remains unreleased
- The Sic Sessions: Volume 1 – A two-disc split album featuring audio and video content from HWC, Subtruck, and Headshot, released in 2003
- Live set 04 – Recorded for Sic Sessions Volume One; a collaborative project involving Heavy Weight Champ, Subtruck, and Antistatic, containing live versions of Filters, Breach, and Two Triple Zero
- Jeri Ryan – Demo recorded during Two Triple Zero sessions; featured on the 2000 Next Big Thing compilation
Videography
- Down – A film by Chris Frey, premiered in 2000
- Filters live – Directed by Andrew Ewing, debuted in 2004
- Worth Your Weight in Gold – Created under the direction of Grant McCulloch, released in 2006
- This Revolution – Another project helmed by Grant McCulloch, also launched in 2006
External links
- Australian heavy metal musical groups
- Australian rock music groups
- Musical groups established in 1999
- Musical groups disbanded in 2008
- Musical groups from Western Australia
- Australian musical trios
- Musical groups from Perth, Western Australia
- 1999 establishments in Australia
- Musical groups disestablished in 2008