The Killjoys (Australian band)

The Killjoys were formed in 1987 in Melbourne by Anna Burley on lead vocals and guitar (ex-Wild Science), Jeremy Craigie-Smith on bass guitar; Will Larsen on drums (ex-Michael Angelo and the Ceiling); Craig Pilkington on lead guitar, trumpet and vocals (ex-Wild Science) and Caroline Schwerkolt on vibraphone and keyboards.[1][2] They were one of the promising bands, which emerged in the late 1980s including Sea Stories, the Fauves, the Hollowmen, the Glory Box, Ripe, Autohaze and Pray TV.

Burley and Pilkington's previous group, Wild Science, had split into two different outfits,[1] the Killjoys and Violet Town. Violet Town's other members were Wayne (Buz) Hissock on guitar and vocals, Warren Pitts on keyboards and vocals, Peter Van on drums, and Luke Blackburn on bass guitar and vocals. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the Killjoys' "sound mixed appealing pop melodies and bittersweet folk harmonies with a jazzy edge."[1]

In mid-February 1989 the group issued a five-track extended play, Audrey, as a mini-album and as a music cassette on their own label, Audrey – it was co-produced by the band with Peter Jackson.[1][2] They launched it in the nation's capital and The Canberra Times' correspondent observed that "the music of the Killjoys has been described as a light blend of jazz, folk and pop."[3] The EP had been recorded in the previous Easter but its release was delayed as the group gathered funding for its pressing and distribution.[3] The tracks were co-written by Burley and Pilkington.[3] Their debut single, "Fall Around Me", followed in November.[1]

During 1990 they provided a cover version of the Seekers' 1964 single, "I'll Never Find Another You", for the tribute album, Used and Recovered, by various artists.[4] In October of that year they issued their debut studio album, Ruby, which was co-produced by Mark Woods and the group.[1][4] AllMusic's Stewart Mason opined that "Burley has a cool, detached voice that sounds just right over [Pilkington]'s strummy acoustics and muted trumpet. [Schwerkolt]'s dreamy vibes are the group's other main sonic signature, adding a lovely texture to nearly every song."[5]

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1991 Ruby won the Best Independent Release category.[6][7] As the group celebrated on a Sydney ferry, Schwerkolt accidentally dropped the trophy into Darling Harbour.[1][8] Burley explained "She was really upset. She'd actually taken it off Craig because she thought he was too drunk. They hired a diver the next day... he couldn't find anything."[8]

The album provided a single, "Michael Told Me", and the Killjoys signed to Mushroom Records' sub-label, MXL.[1] In November 1991 they released a four-track EP, Spin, which included "Calling Me On".[1][2] It was produced by Tony Espie.[2] By that time Craigie-Smith had been replaced on bass guitar by Daniel Palamara (ex-Michael Angelo and the Ceiling) who, in turn, was replaced by Michael Hohnen.[1][2]

The group travelled to the United Kingdom, late in 1992, to record their second album, A Million Suns (March 1993), with Craig Leon producing (Ramones, Pogues, Bangles).[1][2] Burley detailed their choice of Leon, "He had such a diverse range. He'd done so many interesting things. We wanted someone who was into what we were doing..."[8] Nic Haygarth of The Canberra Times felt that the album "will go some way to shifting that 'indie pop' label the band has been carrying. With Anna's emotionally taut vocal, agreeable harmonies, and their classy songwriting, it's hard to imagine too much going wrong."[8] It provided two singles, "Beauty + Danger" (February 1993) and "I Lied" (June).[1]

The band underwent line-up changes with Larsen replaced on drums in 1993 by Dave Folley (ex-the Somerfields); Hohnen was replaced by David Nelson on bass guitar and Schwerkolt left in 1995.[1][2] Early in that year Gary Aspinall joined on guitar, mandolin and organ (ex-Odolites, the Somerfields).[1][2]

In November 1997 the Killjoys issued a single, "Save Me", ahead of their third album, Sun Bright Deep (March 1998), which was co-produced by the group and Victor Van Vugt.[1][2] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998 it was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album.[6] Ed Nimmervoll caught their performance in February 1999 and he described how "Standing barefoot in the centre of the Killjoys spotlight is Anna Burley, the embodiment of the Killjoys music, eyes closed, arms outstretched and emphasising the emotion in the music as she sings songs about relationships and human frailty in the purest of voices. Anna's singing better than ever, the Killjoys are as good if not better than ever."[9]

The Killjoys are still a performing entity with the two core members Burley and Pilkington. They issued a compilation album,

In 2006 the Killjoys released an album, Stealing Horses, the group's first in seven years. They released another album, Pearl, in 2011. It is considered somewhat of a sequel to the band's iconic Ruby album, which was remastered and re-released alongside Pearl.and will release a new CD in 2018

• Anna Burley – vocals, guitar (1988–
• Jeremy Craigie-Smith – bass guitar (1988–90)
• Will Larsen – drums (1988–93)
• Craig Pilkington – guitar, trumpet, harmonium (1988– )
• Caroline Schwerkolt – vibraphone, keyboards (1988–95)
• Daniel Palamara – bass guitar (1990–91)
• Michael Hohnen – bass guitar (1991–95)
• David Folley – drums, percussion (1993–)
• Gary Aspinall – guitar, mandolin, organ (1995–2001)
• David Nelson – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–

• Official website