Powderfinger

Powderfinger was formed in 1989 by vocalist and guitarist Ian Haug, bassist John Collins and drummer Steven Bishop, who took their band’s name from the Neil Young song “Powderfinger”. Before the band’s formation, the members had all played in other Brisbane-based outfits. The band later sought an extra guitarist, Bernard Fanning, who Haug had met in a university class. Fanning took over the role of lead vocals from Haug, and at the same time Jon Coghill joined the band, replacing Bishop after a “mutual leaving. Powderfinger’s final lineup change came with the addition of guitarist Darren Middleton into the band. The group consisting of Fanning, Collins, Haug, Middleton and Coghill remained as such since 1992.

Powderfinger initially performed cover versions of other artists’ songs, but gradually developed into writing and performing their own material. Playing a heavy metal show in Newcastle in 1990, Powderfinger was booed off the stage. In 1992, the group self-funded a recording of their early works and released them as a self-titled extended play, more commonly known as the Blue EP. The EP became successful and the group was signed by Polydor Records. Upon its release in 1993, Transfusion reached the #1 spot on the Alternative ARIA Charts, replacing Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box”. The group recorded their first music video for the EP’s lead track “Reap What You Sow”. It was directed by David Barker, who went on to direct the next seven videos for the group.