It was late and summer was rolling in

Emily and Grant meet through mutual friend Dennis.  Truth be known, Emily thought Grant was very rude – coming over to her house; eating her food, drinking her beer and barely paying her any attention.  So Em decided to go over to Grants house and get her own back. But Grant was poor and desolate and had no goods to consume, nothing but a song … a beautiful song called "IDOL 55". Em was smitten – due to leave for over east on the next plane to continue her classical music studies in Melbourne, she deferred her plans and decided to join Grant and Dennis to conquer the world as a three piece acoustic band. Songs were written and the good times were had by all. Alas, Dennis decided that the life of the minstrel was not for him and left the ensuing duo for the mines to pursue his dream of flying.

Em and Grant move in together and continued to write. Their newly acquired spectacular house included (amongst other things) a laundry that defied the laws of physics. Suitably crammed if entered with a basket of dirty clothes, it demonstrated a strange ability to absorb entire bands, with equipment and a legion of fans, and so became appropriately known as "The Tardis".

Em is approached at the local pool hall by Philomena.  Legend had it that Phil's skills on the bass were even more impressive than her ability with a cue and she already had a few solo bass lines up her sleeve.  She popped around for a cuppa and stunned Emily and Grant with a ready made bass line (which was amazing considering that Phil's bass was in a hock shop).  So the laundry now had a bassless bass player. This left only one piece of the puzzle missing

Enter Jamie the rock star

Idle stuck without a drummer did the honorable thing and went out and stole someone else's.Jamie too liked the laundry and the early incarnation was complete.

Gigging and realeasing

The live shows began and Idle started to hone their trade . After sufficient time playing around the traps

Idle entered the studio with good friend and night owl Kieran Kenderessy (aka Monster Lord of Sound). The result of 24 hours hard work (and many drama queen tears by Emily ) is a six track demo tape respectively called "Tunes from the laundry".

1998 the year that punk broke

It's a long story, but soon after, Jamie and Idle parted ways – but seriously … if you ever get the chance, check this guy out – he is amazing!. Anyway – due to the impending selection in that year’s “Next Big Thing” competition, a new drummer had to be found -and fast.

Enter Mister Foss

Once again mutual friends prevailed and Tom was called in to provide the beats. Idle stormed the Next Big Thing, taking out their heat and semi-final, losing the Grand Final to non other than Mr John Butler – Idle didn't mind a bit!.  Back to the dark, timeless studio and armed with their winnings from the Next Big Thing, Idle record enough tracks for a debut release self titled “Idle 55”. This recording also included a song done with the mighty Syd of VLSA Productions. (Lack of sleep was had there as well).

Phil leaves

Inspired by local promoting guru Scott Adams, Idle 55 decide to travel abroad to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Phil is torn between travelling the world and staying in Perth.  In the end Perth wins and Emily, sensing that there is not much time,  picks up the bass.

Launch into Europe 1999

A week before jetting off to Europe Idle held a C.D. launch….the night was a raving success … dancers, capoiera performances and hundreds of punters through the door. The spoils went into a fund to buy a reliable van in the U.K.

The other side of the of the world

Idle arrived in the U.K. and spent a few days in London looking for transport .  In the end they bought what probably will go down in history as the most reliable van ever sold by the world’s most unreliable and dodgy car sales man.  And off they drove to the Cornwall Lizard Eclipse Festival.  (Completely broke and disturbingly happy).

Music for the masses -  just no $$$

The festival was incredible, an experience that the band thoroughly enjoyed; the crowds, the other performers and the chance to be part of a massive 5-day festival to celebrate the biggest and last solar eclipse of the century. As well as playing along side such acts as “James”,  “Kula Shaker” and “The Levellers”.  Unfortunately for Idle the promoter had no such warm fuzzies due to going bankrupt and subsequently departed for a self imposed exile to some tropical island with no extradition laws.

So it came to pass that Idle were broke and might have to come home with their tails between their legs. Not ones to give up, Idle managed to negotiate another show on the final day . While backstage, Grant was approached by a young 7 year old named Nicholas. Nicholas asked if Grant was a rock star. Grant being prone to fits of irrational exaggeration informed Nicholas that he was indeed, one of the worlds biggest Rock stars. Nicholas said he too was going to grow up too be a star and asked if he could do one of his own originals with such a famous band.

Nicholas the amazing

Then the forces of nature took over and the moon slowly blocked the sun and Idle took to the stage again. Half way through the set Grant told the crowd that there was a superstar joining the band .The crowd absolutely loved Nicholas and his Elvis -like blues song titled “Worms”. When Nicholas left, Emily explained that Idle had not been paid and would soon be prematurely departing for down-under. At this point the stage was showered in coins and there was enough to eat and drive up to Scotland allowing Idle to  play at the Edinburgh fringe. So after a quick encore of “worms” with Nicholas, it was on to Scotland.

The ‘fringe’ was another incredible experience with many shows with lots of talented performers from the far reaches of the world . Highlights include having a beer with Jimeoin, playing on television to official ratings of 5.3 something million people in Britain, a live broadcast to Covent Gardens and  playing the Hebrides (possible the worlds smallest venue).

Across the channel to the continent

When the two weeks of the festival began to wind down, Idle (despite an invitation to Play the New York Fringe) decided to head to Spain. After enjoying a few days in France the ford transit came to rest in the magical Bay of Sans Sebastian.

No hablo espanole

Idle spent the next few months playing down the Spanish coast. From Sans Sebastion they thrilled the Mad Spaniards in Tarragona, Barcelona, Castellon, Alicante, all the way down to Granada.  Many highlights were had (one day a book may come ). The short list includes, playing a 2000 year old Roman Ruin (the entrance to a Roman Circus) and playing the many underground secret Spanish music bars. This was all very cool and  everything was going so well

No drummer again

Idles trouble with drummers continued when Tom fell in love and departed.

Good friends and bad accidents

So long time friend of the band Ryan (aka Tomuli, aka Jaylen aka Alexander) flew over from London to drive the transit back to it’s native London. But good luck was not finished yet and Ryan was hit by a car just two days in to the journey. He couldn’t drive for a week so Grant and Emily were forced to use their limited Spanish to acquire additional shows in order to survive.

Eventually it was back to the U.K

After making many new friends and having many new adventures Idle made it back to Scotland for an orphan's Christmas with more amazing friends.

A year off

It was there that Em decided she needed time out, having been performing since the age of 3 she was gonna take the remaining year off and have a holiday. Grant of course, kept on playing and writing.

Although on hiatus they still kept up the music in Edinburgh with Scottish drummer Neil.

2001 and time to go home and start working

Early 2001 saw Emily and grant return to Perth with the view of re-establishing the band in the local scene with new committed members.

Jac

Emily recruited classical buff Jacqueline to play bass and add sass to the stage. She began learning bass in the first rehearsal and pretty much had it mastered by the following week. (scary).

Chomping at the bit

So with Jac coming along so fast it was off to the studio to see Kieran again . And this time Hayden Meggitt (long time jazz cat and possibly coolest drummer in Perth if not the Southern Hemisphere) was sitting on the vacant drum stool.

The Polish connection

Now the search was on now in earnest for a permanent drummer to make the line up whole again. This is where we will introduce Adam (ahhhhhh) as you might already know Adam is not our drummer , but he is the patron saint of Idle 55 and he has two talented brothers Dave and Dan.  So Idle's drummer was right under their noses all along.

Long live the Grochowskies and long live grok’n roll.

Then, Idle's long running simalarity with spinal tap continued and Dan left for the snowy hills of falls creek. With massive shoes to fill, idle approched the mighty sid of vsla productions. He brings to idle amazing skills as a musician/producer/enginer. Now the band is complete and the only way to go is onwards and up-wards

Disclaimer

All stories in this bio are true, (just exaggerated at times).  Some off the long winded or juicy details have been removed to make reading it a more wholesome experience. However if you would like to know more, just leave a question on our Message board and someone from the band will bore you with all the details