Short Stack
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Shaun Diviney, Andy Clemmensen, Bradie Webb, Shannon Hotchkins (initial member) |
| Headquarters | Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Short Stack is a pop punk group from Australia, consisting of Shaun Diviney (lead vocals, guitar), Andy Clemmensen (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Bradie Webb (drums). Shannon Hotchkins was an initial member prior to any official recordings.[1]
The band achieved two Channel V Oz Artist of the Year honors, produced two albums certified gold, released three singles that reached the top ten, secured an ARIA number one hit, and earned a platinum single.
Following their breakup in 2012, their previous record company issued Art Vandelay in 2013 without any promotional support. The band reunited in April 2014 and debuted the single "Television," followed by "Amy," which served as the lead track from their third album Homecoming in August 2015.[2] Later that year, they disbanded once more.
In 2020, Short Stack declared a return tour and unveiled "Burn You Down" in March 2021, marking their first new release after a six-year hiatus.
2002–2005: Origins of Short Stack
Shaun Diviney, Andy Clemmensen, and Bradie Webb first connected while attending the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Newcastle, New South Wales. Initially, Short Stack was formed with Shannon Hotchkins on drums, Webb playing guitar, Clemmensen handling bass, and Diviney as lead singer. After Hotchkins left the group, Webb transitioned to drums following Diviney's recognition of his drumming abilities. Diviney assumed lead vocals and guitar duties, Clemmensen continued on bass, and Webb took over drums.[1]
2005–2009: Initial phase & Stack Is the New Black
Three years after their formation, the band entered Youthrock, a school-based band competition. Although they were eliminated in the first round in 2005, they independently produced a limited-run debut album titled One Size Fits All, which Webb produced; approximately 40 copies were distributed locally.
Returning to Youthrock in 2006, they secured third place and attracted the attention of Trevor Steel and Chris Johns from the indie label Sunday Morning Records, who signed them in August 2007.
In 2008, Short Stack clinched the Channel V Oz Artist of the Year Award, outpacing artists such as The Getaway Plan and The Veronicas.
Their debut studio album, Stack Is the New Black, was released on 14 August 2009 and included four singles: "Shimmy a Go Go", "Princess", "Sway, Sway Baby!", and "Ladies & Gentlemen". The single "Sway, Sway Baby!" entered the ARIA singles chart at number two—the highest entry that week—although it experienced a significant decline thereafter.
Short Stack finished as runner-up for Oz Artist of the Year in 2009, losing to Kisschasy.
2010–2011: Release of This Is Bat Country
On 29 July 2010, Diviney revealed that the lead single from their second album would be "Planets". The band performed this track live at Federation Square in Melbourne on 24 September during a broadcast on Sunrise.
Produced by Lee Groves and launched on 12 November 2010, This Is Bat Country showcased a move toward orchestral arrangements. Diviney characterized it as reflecting on past musical styles rather than embracing contemporary electro-pop trends; Webb described it as "less thrashy, more sexy."
On 18 October, Short Stack performed "Planets" live on The X Factor. Pre-order packages included a collector's edition featuring an action figure and an autographed poster.
Universal Music Australia announced that Short Stack would be featured on the cover of Australian Rolling Stone issue #709 in November. That same month, they secured their second Channel V Oz Artist of the Year Award by surpassing competitors like Bliss n Eso and John Butler Trio. Additionally, they embarked on a national meet-and-greet tour to promote the album.
On 14 November, Short Stack delivered performances of "Planets" and "We Dance to a Different Disco, Honey" during Telethon. The album's third single, "Heartbreak Made Me a Killer," was released as an EP on 25 March 2011. In April of that year, Short Stack supported Good Charlotte on their Australian Cardiology Tour.
Throughout July 2011, they toured across Australia to promote This Is Bat Country. On 11 May 2011, Diviney appeared as a guest panelist on ABC's quiz show Spicks and Specks.
2011–2012: "Bang Bang Sexy" Release and Band's Dissolution
The group's last single, titled "Bang Bang Sexy," was made available on 19 September 2011.
Short Stack earned a nomination for the Channel V Oz Artist of the Year award, securing a spot among the top four contenders alongside 360, Guy Sebastian, and New Empire.
They unveiled their inaugural documentary, The Story of Short Stack, which was both directed and produced by Clemmensen. This film disclosed details about their forthcoming album, Art Vandelay, including its tracklist.
On 30 March 2012, Short Stack communicated through Facebook that they would cease creating music together, while stressing that their friendship remained intact. Concurrently, they released their final track and accompanying video, "S.O.U.L.", which marked the discontinuation of Art Vandelay and the conclusion of the band's activities.
2012–2013: Activities Following the Breakup
Diviney advanced his solo music career by relocating to Los Angeles in mid-2012 to develop new material. Webb shifted his focus towards music production, whereas Clemmensen pursued a career in film directing.
On 15 October 2012, Clemmensen made a guest appearance on the soap opera Neighbours portraying Harry Vass, participating in an open mic competition.
Diviney's new musical endeavor included an Australian tour with performances in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, followed by plans for a UK tour and the release of a debut single and album in 2013. The Sydney concert sold out on 23 December 2012. His debut EP, Sex Games, launched on 28 June 2013, rapidly climbed to the top position on Australian rock charts.
The album Art Vandelay officially saw its release on 18 October 2013.
2014–2015: Brief Reunion for Homecoming and Subsequent Split
On 13 April 2014, Short Stack announced their comeback with a new track titled "Television" and scheduled two exclusive live performances.
The single "Dance with Me" was issued on 6 March 2015, followed by an EP of the same name released on 27 March 2015, which reached number 12 on the Australian album chart.
Their third studio album, Homecoming, was released on 21 August 2015. Preceded by two singles, it attained a peak position of number five on the ARIA Charts.
Following this period, the band parted ways again as members chose to explore individual ventures. Diviney explained that Andy intended to travel, Bradie established a drum studio, and he concentrated on solo projects, prompting their decision to pause group activities.
2020–present: Second Reunion and Release of Maybe There's No Heaven
On 3 February 2020, Short Stack revealed their second reunion through a Facebook announcement, followed by plans for their first tour in four years, scheduled for July 2020 alongside Australian group Between You & Me.
On 2 March 2021, the band introduced "Burn You Down," marking their first new track in six years, released via their new label UNFD.
In December 2021, Short Stack unveiled details of their fourth studio album, Maybe There's No Heaven, slated for release in February 2022, along with the launch of the third single, "Love You Like I Used To". However, on 9 February 2022, the album's release date was postponed to 8 April 2022 to coincide with their forthcoming national tour. Shortly after, on 11 February, they issued the fourth single, "Armageddon".
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Stack Is the New Black |
|
1 |
|
| This Is Bat Country |
|
6 |
|
| Homecoming |
|
5 | |
| Maybe There's No Heaven |
|
8 |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Art Vandelay |
|
Demo albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| One Size Fits All |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Dance with Me |
|
12 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart peak positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| 2008 | "Shimmy a Go Go" | 31 | Stack Is the New Black | |
| 2009 | "Princess" | 11 | ||
| "Sway, Sway Baby!" | 2 | |||
| "Ladies & Gentlemen" | — | |||
| "Sweet December" | 8 | This Is Bat Country | ||
| 2010 | "Planets" | 4 |
| |
| "We Dance to a Different Disco, Honey" | 43 | |||
| 2011 | "Heartbreak Made Me a Killer" | 93 | ||
| "Bang Bang Sexy" | 98 | Art Vandelay | ||
| 2012 | "S.O.U.L." | "—" | ||
| "Television" | "47" | |||
| "non album single" |
Music Videos
| Year | Song Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Sway, Sway Baby!" | Shaun Diviney |
| "Drop Dead Gorgeous" | Dan Reisinger | |
| "Shimmy a Go Go" | ||
| 2009 | "Princess" | |
| "Sway, Sway Baby!" (remake) | ||
| "Ladies & Gentlemen" | ||
| "Sweet December" | ||
| 2010 | "Planets" | |
| "We Dance to a Different Disco, Honey" | ||
| 2011 | "Heartbreak Made Me a Killer" | Benn Jae & Tony Prescott |
| "Bang Bang Sexy" | Dan Reisinger | |
| 2012 | "S.O.U.L." | Andy Clemmensen |
| 2014 | "Television" | Short Stack |
| 2015 | "Dance With Me" | |
| "Amy" | ||
| "Gravity" | ||
| 2021 | "Burn You Down" | Elder |
| "Live4" | ||
| "Love You Like I Used To" |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Diviney's Role | Clemmensen's Role | Webb's Role | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Blokeman skit | — | Kevin | — | Produced for Comedy Channel. |
| 2007 – present | Short Stack TV | Himself | Himself | Himself | Web-based television series on YouTube |
| 2010 | Spicks and Specks | Himself | — | — | Broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2011 | Stay Tuned | Himself | Himself | Himself | Aired by Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2011 | The Story of Short Stack | Himself | Himself | Himself | Documentary about the band, directed and produced by Clemmensen. |
| 2012 | Neighbours | — | Harry Vass | — | Australian soap opera series |
Touring
Short Stack has engaged in numerous tours to support their album releases, frequently incorporating fan meet-and-greet sessions.
In 2015, they served as the opening act for The Vamps during their Australian tour; however, The Vamps' management later removed them from the lineup.
Between the release of their Dance with Me EP and prior to Homecoming, they embarked on a covert tour throughout Australia. In 2016, summer performances were arranged in January and December to promote the Homecoming album.
Tours
| Start Date | End Date | Tour Name | Supporting Acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 December 2009 | 19 December 2009 | Stack Is the New Black Tour | The Sundance Kids & Die For You |
| 26 March 2010 | 24 April 2010 | Stack Is the New Black – Part 2 Tour | For Our Hero |
| 1 July 2011 | 30 July 2011 | This Is Bat Country Tour | Heroes For Hire & Because They Can |
| 2 April 2015 | 19 April 2015 | Secret Shows Tour | With Confidence & Move on Be Strong |
| 11 December 2015 | 6 February 2016 | 'Homecoming Tour' | 'Storm the Sky, Masketta Fall, Young Lions, Move on Be Strong, and Red Beard' |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards, established in 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), annually recognize outstanding achievements of composers and songwriters.
| Year | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Heartbreak Made Me a Killer" (Shaun Diviney) | Rock Work of the Year |
Additional Honors
|- | 2008 || rowspan="2"| Short Stack || rowspan="2"| Channel V Oz Artist of the Year || |- |rowspan="4"| 2009 || |- | Shaun Diviney || Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Most Popular Aussie Male || |- | "Sway, Sway Baby!" || Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Song || |- |rowspan="3"| Short Stack || Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Australian Band || |- | 2010 || rowspan="2"| Channel V Oz Artist of the Year || |- | 2011 ||