Rhubarb (band)
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Founder | Steve Drinkall, David Drinkall, Paul Harvey, Ian Buchanan |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Rhubarb was a rock group originating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, established in 1996 and widely recognized for their 1999 single "Exerciser".
Biography
The band was created by siblings Steve and David Drinkall, along with their cousin Paul Harvey and Ian Buchanan. Rhubarb first gained prominence after winning the Triple J Unearthed competition in Brisbane in 1999 with the track "Zero". Their major success arrived with "Exerciser," which secured the No. 20 spot on the 1999 Triple J Hottest 100. Their initial album, Kamikaze, launched through their independent label Toupee Records, achieved sales exceeding 15,000 units and earned 'Album of the Year' at Queensland's Sunnie Awards in 1999, where they also received the accolade for 'Best New Band'. Songs including "Zero", "Pennywise", and "Kamikaze" were frequently played on Triple J. The group appeared at significant festivals such as The Big Day Out, Offshore, Homebake, and the Falls Festival.
Their sophomore release, Slow Motion (2002), was met with positive reviews and featured radio singles like "Light on Your Shoulder" and "New York". Following this, they toured nationally alongside notable Australian artists including The Whitlams, You Am I, Spiderbait, and Killing Heidi. Both The Australian and The Courier-Mail included Slow Motion in their Top 10 Albums lists for 2002, while Rolling Stone Australia described it as “totally irresistible”.
After completing the tour for Slow Motion in 2003, Rhubarb dedicated time to composing and recording their third album. Once again collaborating with producer Caleb James, they released Start Again in 2005.
In September 2006, the band declared their disbandment, attributing it to diminished motivation to continue investing effort and resources in what they referred to as a “pretty self-serving venture.” The members intended to explore separate musical endeavors.
Rhubarb’s concluding concert took place at Brisbane’s venue The Zoo, where they performed to a sold-out audience supported by longtime touring acts Grand Atlantic and Hunz.
In December 2023, Rhubarb’s complete works were made available on streaming services for the first time, accompanied by the compilation album Exerciser: The Singles.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Kamikaze
|
| 2002 | Slow Motion
|
| 2005 | Start Again
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Exerciser: The Singles
|