Fourth Floor Collapse is a Melbourne-based rock band.

Fourth Floor Collapse
Fourth Floor Collapse
Fourth Floor Collapse
Background information
OriginPerth, Australia
GenresRock
Indie rock
Years active1998–present
LabelsCreative Vibes
MembersJesse Delaney
Dan Forrestal
Rhys Kealley
Michael Miller
Michael Parker
Past memberssee members list below
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

Fourth Floor Collapse originated in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, playing their first show at the Rosemount Hotel in 1998.[1]

Michael and Rhys actually met at play group way back when and I met Michael at high school. I was in half a band and we were looking for a singer and Michael and Rhys were kind of half a band and needed a bass player. We got together and went from there. We lived a suburb apart – it just seemed logical that we get together

— Dan Forrestal[2]

They became the most awarded unsigned band in Australia,[3] taking out the Next Big Thing Competition in 1999 and winning ten Western Australian Music Industry Awards,[4] including Most Popular Local Original Rock Act (2002).[5] The band released its debut recording Plans for Dream Homes in 2000 on the QStik Records label and its debut album, Half Deserted Streets in 2001 on Congregation Records.

In 2003 Fourth Floor Collapse released its second album, From the Cold, for which it received extensive airplay on Triple J and public radio around the country,[6] with tracks such as "Made Believe", "Sun", and "Stories Unglued".

Frustrated by the isolation of Perth the three main songwriters, Dan Forrestal, Rhys Kealley and Michael Miller relocated to Melbourne in 2005[6] adding bass player, Jesse Delaney and drummer Michael Parker.[7]

We'd seen a lot of bands who'd left Perth, and disappeared. It scared the hell out of us, but we got to the point where we had to do something to move forward. If we could stay in WA then we would but we can't afford it - especially touring. We would get over to the east two or three times every year, and whatever buzz we could generate would dissipate before we could capitalise on it.

— Dan Forrestal[7]

The group signed to Creative Vibes[6] with whom they recorded and released their third album Books with Broken Spines in 2006. Singles released from this album were, "Drink 'til You Drown", "Occupation" and "Ashes".[8] The release was followed by heavy touring by the band and by the beginning of 2008 they had clocked up over 250 shows.[7] They commenced recording their fourth album in early 2008.

We began work on this album at the beginning of the year. It has been two years since our last release, and two years seems like a long time to me. If I could, I would get stuff out every year.

— Dan Forrestal[7]

The album, Victoria, was recorded in Melbourne; mixed in Perth by Andy Lawson (Little Birdy, Eskimo Joe & End of Fashion) and Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe); and mastered in Sydney, it was released on 13 October 2008.

We feel like an exile band, a Western Australian band in Victoria

— Dan Forrestal[7]

Members edit

  • Nigel Bird — drums (??)
  • Jesse Delaney — bass (2005–present)
  • Dan Forrestal — guitar, mandolin, piano, vocals (1998–present)
  • Nathan Gaunt — bass (2003)
  • Rhys Kealley — guitar, piano, melodica, vocals (1998–present)
  • Russell Loasby — drums (2004)[9]
  • Trent McKenzie — bass (2006)
  • Leigh Miller — bass (2003–2004)
  • Michael Miller — lead vocal, acoustic guitar, piano (1998–present)
  • Scott Mesiti — bass (2005)
  • Scott O'Donoghue — bass, keyboards (1998–2003)
  • Michael Parker — drums (2005–present)
  • Sean Pollard — bass (2004)
  • Mike Rouse — drums (1998–2004)
  • Anto Smyth — drums (2004)

Discography edit

Albums edit

Title Details
Half Deserted Streets
  • Released: May 2001
  • Label: Congregation (conffc0001)
  • Format: CD digital download
From the Cold
  • Released: October 2003
  • Label: Congregation (conffc0005)
  • Format: CD digital download
Books with Broken Spines
  • Released: January 2006
  • Label: Congregation (conffc0011)
  • Format: CD digital download
Victoria
  • Released: October 2008
  • Label: Congregation (conffc0013)
  • Format: CD digital download
New Ruins
  • Released: April 2023

EPs edit

Title Details
Half Deserted Streets
  • Released: March 2000
  • Label: QStik Records (QSFFC0006)
  • Format: CD digital download

Singles edit

Title Year Album
"Made Believe" 2001 Half Deserted Streets
"One Last Arrow"
"Sun" 2003 From the Cold
"Night Under Lights"
"Stories Unglued" 2004
"Godspeed"
"Drink 'til you Drown" 2006 Books With Broken Spines
"Occupation"
"Ashes"

Awards and nominations edit

WAM Song of the Year edit

The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.[10][11]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 Pop Song of the Year Won

Western Australian Music Industry Awards edit

The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). Fourth Floor Collapse won five awards.[4][12][5][13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2001 Half Deserted Streets Most Popular Local Original Recorded Release Won
Fourth Floor Collapse Most Popular Local Original Band Website Won
Most Popular Original Rock Act Won
Michael Miller (Fourth Floor Collapse) Most Popular Male Original Vocalist Won
2002 Fourth Floor Collapse Most Popular Original Rock Act Won

References edit

  1. ^ "Featured Artist : Fourth Floor Collapse". b music.com.au. 26 October 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  2. ^ "Raising the roof with Fourth Floor Collapse". FasterLouder.com.au. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  3. ^ Young, Kane (4 November 2004). "Collapsing upwards among the fans". Hobart Mercury. p. 33.
  4. ^ a b "WAM Band Profiles: Fourth Floor Collapse". Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Kiss my WAMi 2002". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  6. ^ a b c "Evocative sounds of Collapse". Hobart Mercury. 19 April 2007. p. 30.
  7. ^ a b c d e Baker, Geoff (30 October 2008). "Four to the floor". Drum Media. p. 24. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  8. ^ "New Australian releases - September 2006". ARIA. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Gigs That Russell Loasby Has Played". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012.
  10. ^ "On the Record Profile: WAM" (PDF). Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA). September 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2021.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Previous Winner Profiles". Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  12. ^ "Next Big Thing finals hits fever pitch!". Health Department of WA. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  13. ^ "APRAP December 2001 page 22". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.

External links edit