Underground Lovers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Glenn Bennie, Vincent Giarrusso |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Underground Lovers (occasionally presented as undergroundLOVERS) represent an Australian pop-rock ensemble that fuses elements of indie rock, electronic music, and shoegaze. The group was initially established in 1988 by Glenn Bennie (guitar, vocals) and Vincent Giarrusso (vocals, guitar, keyboards) under the name GBVG. By May 1990, the band evolved into Underground Lovers with the addition of Richard Andrew (drums), Maurice Argiro (bass), and Philippa Nihill (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Their inaugural self-titled album, released in March 1991, earned them the 1992 ARIA Award for Best New Talent. Their most commercially successful record, Dream It Down (June 1994), achieved a position within the ARIA top 60. After producing seven studio albums, the band disbanded in 2002 but reunited in 2009 to release three subsequent albums. Richard Andrew passed away in October 2024 due to lung cancer.
1988–1999
Glenn Bennie and Vincent Giarrusso first crossed paths during their high school years in suburban Melbourne during the 1970s. Inspired by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's Architecture & Morality (1981), along with bands like Joy Division, New Order, The Cure, and Melbourne’s underground electronic and experimental music scenes, they formed GBVG while studying drama at university and released the single "Blast" in 1988. Music critic Ed Nimmervoll commended Bennie's entrancing guitar work complemented by Giarrusso's melodic pop approach.
In 1989, new members Richard Andrew, Stephen Downes, and Philippa Nihill joined the lineup; by the end of that year, the band had adopted the name Underground Lovers. Their debut live performance took place in May 1990 at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel as a supporting act for the Macguffins. After this initial show, Maurice Argiro replaced Downes on bass.
The band independently financed their first album with producer Simon Grounds at the helm; Shock Records distributed it nationally in March 1991. This debut showcased a variety of styles including melancholic guitar-driven pop ("Girl Afraid"), upbeat dance-pop ("Yes I Do"), and acoustic folk ("My American Accent"). Following the album's release, two singles were issued: "Round and Round" and "Looking for Rain." In November that year, "Lick the Boot" became their first single released in the UK market. Shock Records later issued a UK/US version entitled Get to Notice, which substituted one track with "Lick the Boot."
Towards the end of 1991, they released a four-track EP called Nice, which Beat magazine lauded as "pop rich in all the right ingredients." The song "Nice G.I." tackled themes related to the Gulf War and attracted critical attention.
Recording for their second album began in January 1992 with co-producer Wayne Connolly joining the project. That year at the ARIA Awards, Underground Lovers received Best New Artist honors for their debut effort. Their sophomore album Leaves Me Blind, noted for its more complex and experimental soundscapes, was launched in August 1992 in the UK through Guernica (a short-lived sublabel of 4AD) and later in December domestically via Polydor Records. The band supported both The Cure and My Bloody Valentine during Australian tours that same year.
In early 1993, Underground Lovers toured North America and the UK, performing at 4AD’s prestigious "13 Year Itch" festival. Upon returning home, they began work on their third album with co-production from Essendon Airport members David Chesworth and Robert Goodge alongside Connolly and Grounds; Derek Yuen replaced Andrew on drums during these sessions. Released in June 1994, Dream It Down was praised for its lush and atmospheric qualities and reached within the ARIA top 60 rankings. Singles such as "Las Vegas" and "Losin' It" received national radio airplay; notably, "Losin' It" ranked #19 on Triple J’s Hottest 100.
Seeking increased creative autonomy, Underground Lovers parted ways with Polydor in 1995 to establish an independent label called Mainstream Recordings in partnership with Rubber Records. Their fourth album Rushall Station, released in April 1996, embraced a stripped-back minimalist style. During its production, Philippa Nihill exited but still provided vocals on two tracks and subsequently issued a solo EP through Mainstream. This album garnered an ARIA nomination for Best Independent Release.
In 1997, Bennie and Giarrusso revived GBVG with the release of Whitey Trickstar, while Underground Lovers unveiled their fifth studio album Ways t'Burn, which shifted toward electronic influences. Drummer Derek Yuen departed during recording sessions and was succeeded by Andrew Nunns.
The band maintained a subdued presence throughout 1998, issuing only a GBVG cover version of Can’s "I Want More," featuring vocals by Triple J DJ Jane Gazzo under an alias. Late that year saw Maurice Argiro leave; Bennie and Giarrusso then focused on their sixth album. Cold Feeling reflected a deepening embrace of electronica elements and included guest appearances by Mérida Sussex (The Paradise Motel) and Graham Lee (formerly of The Triffids). The title track received substantial airplay on Triple J; new bassist Emma Bortignon joined to perform on b-sides accompanying the single "Infinite Finite."
2000–present
Rubber Records issued the live compilation Evil. Underground Lovers 94.97, featuring performances recorded between 1994 and 1997. During this period, Giarrusso concentrated on his debut feature film, Mallboy, which he both wrote and directed. Drawing from his early experiences in social work, the film depicted a troubled adolescent living in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. It premiered in the Director's Fortnight section at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, marking only the fifth Australian film to be selected for this honor. Subsequently, it served as the closing feature of the 2001 Melbourne International Film Festival and received a limited cinematic release through Buena Vista International. Kane McNay earned an AFI Award for Best Actor for his role in the film. Bennie and Giarrusso collaborated on the soundtrack, which was released as Underground Lovers’ seventh studio album in 2001. Although the band previewed new songs that year, no new album followed as they took a lengthy hiatus after supporting New Order in January 2002.
The original early-1990s lineup reunited for a performance at Sydney’s Homebake Festival on 5 December 2009, expanding into a six-member ensemble including Andrew, Argiro, Bennie, Bortignon, Giarrusso, and Nihill. That November, Rubber Records digitally re-released their debut and all albums produced after 1996 on iTunes. After warm-up gigs in Melbourne and Sydney, Leaves Me Blind was ranked number 54 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums (2010). The group supported Primal Scream during their Melbourne show in 2011 and joined Mark Gardener on his Australian tour in 2012.
In April 2013, Underground Lovers unveiled their subsequent album, Weekend, which fused vibrant rock elements with electronica. The production involved longtime collaborators Connolly and Tim Whitten alongside new engineer Tim Prince. Maintaining their connection with Rubber Records, this six-piece lineup continued touring throughout Australia. They later released two additional albums—Staring at You Staring at Me (2017) and A Left Turn (2019)—as well as two compilation collections: one featuring remixes titled Shadows and another comprising b-sides called Others.
At the start of 2023, Bennie and Giarrusso established a side project named Underground Lovers Moda Discoteca (ULMD), incorporating Argiro, Matthew Sigley, and Mat Watson. ULMD presented electronic reinterpretations of Underground Lovers’ songs during performances in Melbourne and Sydney, returning for another show in December. In August 2024, ULMD announced they would support UK band OMD on their Australian tour scheduled for February 2025. Drummer Richard John Andrew (1966–2024) died at age 58 from lung cancer; he is survived by his spouse.
Related projects
Following Underground Lovers’ dissolution in 2002, Glenn Bennie initiated his solo endeavor GB3 in 2003, collaborating with Tim Prince and various vocalists including Philippa Nihill. Rubber Records released GB3’s albums Circlework (2003) and Emptiness Is Our Business (2006), the latter featuring contributions from artists such as Sarah Blasko, Steve Kilbey, Stephen Cummings, Grant McLennan, Angie Hart, Sianna Lee, and Adalita. Their third album, Damaged/Controlled (2010), was co-written with Kilbey; Nihill lent vocals to the track "Nectarine," which was promoted through an animated video created by Maurice Argiro.
Vincent Giarrusso formed Mist and Sea in 2007 alongside Cailan Burns and Jason Sweeney of Pretty Boy Crossover. Their album Unless was issued by Popfrenzy in July of that year. Giarrusso also performed with Raining Ropes—a group including former members of Bergerac and Paradise Motel—but did not release recordings with them. In 2009, he appeared in two Melbourne shows under the Underground Lovers name while based in Los Angeles; these featured bassist Todd Hutchinson, cellist/keyboardist Zoe Barry, guitarist Jed Palmer, and drummer Steve Griffiths performing material from Underground Lovers’ catalog.
Philippa Nihill debuted with an EP in 1996 followed by her album A Little Easy in 2000. She collaborated with Irish singer-filmmaker Paula Kehoe under the name Saoi, releasing This Drowning Is Dreaming in 2006. Nihill’s second solo album Find Her Way came out in 2023. In January 2025, Bennie released his solo album Juno Low, which Arun Kendall of Backseat Mafia described as "featuring shimmering guitar textures and a motorik rhythm that delivers melodic compositions imbued with luminosity and grandeur, evoking euphoria through its vibrant energy."
Members
Present lineup
- Maurice Argiro – bass guitar (1990–1998, 2009–present)
- Glenn Bennie – guitar, vocals (1988–2002, 2009–present)
- Emma Bortignon – bass (1998–2002, 2009–present)
- Vincent Giarrusso – vocals, guitar, keyboard (1988–2002, 2009–present)
- Philippa Nihill – vocals, guitar, keyboard (1989–1996, 2009–present)
Former members
- Richard Andrew – drums (1990–1994, 2009–2024; deceased 2024)
- Stephen Downes – bass (1990)
- Andrew Nunns – drums (1997–2002)
- Derek J. Yuen – drums (1994–1997)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| Underground Lovers/Get to Notice |
|
— |
| Leaves Me Blind |
|
133 |
| Dream It Down |
|
55 |
| Rushall Station |
|
107 |
| Ways T'Burn |
|
109 |
| Cold Feeling |
|
92 |
| Mallboy |
|
— |
| Weekend |
|
— |
| Staring at You Staring at Me |
|
— |
| A Left Turn |
|
— |
Compilation albums
| Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Evil. Underground Lovers 94.97 |
|
| Wonderful Things: Retrospective |
|
| Shadows |
|
| Others |
|
Charting singles
| Track Name | Release Year | Highest Chart Position (AUS) | Album Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | |||
| "I Was Right" | 1992 | 174 | Leaves Me Blind |
| "Promenade" | 1993 | 140 | |
| "Your Eyes" | 134 | ||
| "Las Vegas" | 1994 | 118 | Dream It Down |
| "Losin' It" | 93 | ||
| "The Splendid" | 1995 | 138 | Rushall Station |
| "In My Head" | 1996 | 157 | |
| "Star Signs" | 1997 | 169 | Ways T'Burn |
| "Cold Feelings" | 1998 | 194 | Cold Feeling |
Additional Contributions
- "Ripe" featured on Young Blood 3 (rooArt, 1991)
- "I'll Be Your Mirror" included in The Velvet Down Underground (Birdland, 1992)
- "Get to Notice" appearing on Screaming at the Mirror Three (Giggle Records, 1992)
APRA Awards
Since 1982, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) has annually celebrated outstanding achievements by composers and songwriters through the APRA Awards.
! |- | 2020 | "Seven Day Weekend" (Richard Andrew / Maurice Argiro / Glenn Bennie / Vincent Giarrusso / Phillipa Nihill) | Song of the Year | | [1]
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards celebrate excellence and innovation within Australia's music industry. Underground Lovers secured one award during their career.
! |- | rowspan="2"| 1992 | rowspan="2"| Underground Lovers | Best New Talent | | rowspan="2"| [2] |- | Best Independent Release | |- | 1996 | Rushall Station | Best Independent Release |
References
- General
- Specific
External links
- World Socialist Web Site: The atmospheric music of Underground Lovers
- Australian Music Online: "Underground Lovers"
- Raining Ropes on MySpace