The Hot Lies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
| Products | Music recordings, Albums, EPs, Singles |
The Hot Lies emerged as an alternative rock group from Adelaide, Australia, in early 2004. The ensemble consisted of lead singer Pete Wood, rhythm guitarist Benjamin Pix, drummer Jared Brown, lead guitarist Luke Szabo (previously of Brock Downey), and bassist Leaton Rose, formerly with I Killed the Prom Queen. Their discography features two EPs and a full-length album, Ringing in the Sane (released in September 2007), which achieved a position within the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
History
The band was established at the start of 2004 by three ex-members of The Killchoir Project: Jared Brown (on drums), Benjamin Pix (rhythm guitar), and Pete Wood (vocals). They were joined by bassist Leaton Rose (formerly of I Killed the Prom Queen) and lead guitarist Josh Delsar (ex-Day of Contempt). Their self-produced demo "Bullets and Blacklines" gained significant airplay on national broadcaster Triple J in March 2004.
In August 2004, they launched their EP Streets Become Hallways, which remained on the AIR Indie Charts for more than 30 weeks and later reappeared at number 17. The Hot Lies toured alongside notable acts including Alexisonfire, After the Fall, 28 Days, Sum 41, Yellowcard, Good Charlotte, and Kisschasy. Both Blunt magazine and Rolling Stone highlighted them as an emerging band to watch in 2005.
Their subsequent five-track EP, Heart Attacks and Callous Acts (EP) (released September 2005), broke into the ARIA top 40 singles chart. This release featured two music videos for "Promise Me" and "Tell Me Goodnight" and maintained a presence on the AIR Indie Charts for over 40 weeks. Kalju Tonuma handled production duties for this EP.
Prior to their debut album, in August 2007 they issued the single "Emergency! Emergency!", which included not only the title track but also a rendition of "Time After Time" and an acoustic version of "Ghosts and Mirrors".
Their album Ringing in the Sane garnered national radio exposure through 5ADL and Triple J, securing a spot within the ARIA top 40 albums chart. This record marked a transition from their post-hardcore origins towards a more melodic emo-pop style, placing greater emphasis on refined songwriting. The album was supported by two videos, "Tokyo" and "Emergency! Emergency!", both frequently broadcast on the music television program Video Hits.
In December 2009, The Hot Lies announced their disbandment via their official website and concluded with two farewell performances held in Adelaide during January 2010.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ringing in the Sane
|
35 |
Singles
| Year | Title | AUS | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Emergency! Emergency!" | 34 | Ringing in the Sane |
| "Tokyo" | — |
Extended plays
| Year | EP details | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Streets Become Hallways
|
— |
| 2005 | Heart Attacks and Callous Acts
|
36 |