The Wolverines (rock band)
| Company type | Group_or_band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Tamworth , Australia |
| Products | Country rock music |
The Wolverines were a country rock group hailing from Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, established in 1994 by Darcy Leyear (guitar and vocals), John Clinton (drums and vocals), and Chris Doyle (keyboard and vocals). Active until 2021, they earned the nickname "The Bad Boys of Country."
About
Formed in Tamworth, The Wolverines derived their name from an encyclopaedia entry describing a wolverine as a "short-snouted, blunt-headed, long-haired, heavy-set, nocturnal, eat-anything, almost-extinct animal regarded by some as a pest."
Their song catalog balanced cheeky lyrics with sincere tributes. One of their most recognized tracks, "65 Roses," penned by Lee J. Collier, tells the story of a boy mispronouncing "cystic fibrosis," the disease his sister suffers from. The Wolverines transformed the original 3/4 time country waltz into a 4/4 country rock version to support awareness and fundraising efforts for Cystic Fibrosis Australia.
They toured widely across Australia and abroad, performing at prominent festivals such as the Gympie Muster, which attracted 40,000 attendees, and the Tamworth Kids Charity Concert attended by 10,000 children. Additionally, they joined the Australian April Middle East Tour de Force in 2007 and 2008 and entertained American Marines stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Sail for Kids
In July 2003, The Wolverines launched their "Sail for CF Kids" journey from Sydney to the Whitsundays, stopping at 14 ports including Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. Backed by LJ Hooker, this campaign raised over $35,000 to support cystic fibrosis research while also benefiting communities along their route.
They reprised the "Wolverines Sail for Kids" expedition in 2007 aboard a 52-foot Beneteau, sailing from Sydney to Cairns with multiple port stops. At each location, they held performances and auctions featuring signed limited edition canvas prints to generate funds for local children's charities. The band also took part in events such as the Tamworth Kids Charity Concert and the Cystic Fibrosis Ball.
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Party Album |
|
| Gonna Ride All Night Long |
|
| Feel the Need to Ride |
|
| Wolverines & Roses |
|
| Making Tracks |
|
| Good Times |
|
| Occasional Course Language |
|
| Good Ol' Boys |
|
| The Very Best of the Wolverines |
|
Charting singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| "65 Roses" | 2001 | 23 |
|
Wolverines & Roses |
Country Music Awards of Australia
Since 1973, the Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA), commonly referred to as the Golden Guitar Awards, have been presented annually during the Tamworth Country Music Festival to recognize outstanding achievements in Australian country music.
| Year | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Wolverines - "65 Roses" | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | Awarded |
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards, which celebrated live performance accomplishments from 1975 until 2016, honored The Wolverines with four wins in the Country Group of the Year category.
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Wolverines | Country Group of the Year | Awarded |
| 2002 | The Wolverines | Country Group of the Year | Awarded |
| 2003 | The Wolverines | Country Group of the Year | Awarded |
| 2007 | The Wolverines | Country Group of the Year | Awarded |