The Years
theyears.com.au
www.myspace.com/theyearspsych
“One of those… (indi sic) artists who … can make the music you used to have to make in one of those dollars per hour studios. … A history in the indie ghetto means he does knows how to write with an observational eye. If anything, he’s taken a step back from the technology- the low tech Eno noodlings of his last record even giving way to some admitted choppy Keef guitars here and there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Ross Clelland, Drum Media, 7 December 2004.
Steve played in various bands around the inner city Sydney during the eighties and early nineties. These bands included the Singles, Levitations & Cry Wolf. These bands were some of the hardest working bands of the inner city scene, filling the support slot on tours with InXS, the Models, Hunters & Collectors, the Ups & Downs, the Divinyls, the Church, Laughing Clowns, Simple Minds and Ultravox.
Steve put together the Doppelgangers in 1989 with Christa Hughes (Machine Gun Fellatio), Ray Brown and Mat Bartley (Love Handles). Doppelgangers were hard workers both live and in the studio. Doppelgangers were regulars at the Sando, Hopetoun and the Annandale and filled the support slot on tours with Blue Ruin, the Falling Joys and Tall Tales & True. Doppelgangers released their first single ‘Speak to me’ (ind) in 1990, followed by the EP ‘Sweet Smell of Success’ (Phantom Records) in 1991 and their only album ‘Face the Truth’ (Phantom Records) in 1993.
Steve moved on from the music scene in 1994 to commit to further study and work in the arts and gallery world. Steve started the Years of Spring as a studio project in 1998, producing soundscapes and soundtracks for films and exhibitions. Steve got back in to song writing and producing in 2001 and released the ep ‘Wicked Beauty’ in 2003 and a second ep ‘This Town’ in 2004. A new album ‘Vermilion’ was released on the 3rd of October 2005, on Foghorn Records.
Steve put together the band Years of Spring to launch ‘Vermilion’ at the Hopetoun Hotel on Wed 5th October and play live shows other to the end of the year. The years of spring are:
Steve Thompson - Vocals Guitar
Ray Brown- Guitar
Ray played in Adelaide teenage punk outfit “new rose” in the late seventies playing supports with the Angels and the Sports with 2JJ airplay. Played in The Hairdresers in the early eighties before moving to Sydney and forming The Love handles and The Doppelgangers.Ian Empson - Bass, vocals
Ian played live and recorded for a number of original outfits including; Rhizanthella, The Surrenders, The Vomit Rods, Doppelgangers, Jettison Vox, Rubber Band, Jughead, Andor, Morph and Clear.Mike Stephenson - drums
Mike played live and recorded for a number of original outfits in Sydney and Brisvegas iincluding; The Magick Circle, The Hornytoads, Slunter, Brother Brick, Motherlode, Fig Tree Renaissance, Knucklehead, Blue Mojo Band and Throbbes.Joe Agius - Keyboard, Guitar
Joe played live and recorded for a number of original outfits including; Tree museum, Year Zero and Sarah Mcgregor band.To join our mailing list click here info@yearsofspring.org