Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:About Template:Infobox musical artist

Baby Animals is an Australian hard rock band active from October 1989 to 1996 and reformed in 2007. The original line-up was Frank Celenza on drums; Suze DeMarchi on lead vocals and guitar; Dave Leslie on guitar and backing vocals; and Eddie Parise on bass guitar and backing vocals. They recorded two studio albums, Baby Animals (September 1991) – which peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and Shaved and Dangerous (August 1993) – which reached No. 2. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1992 the group won three trophies: Album of the Year and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Baby Animals and Breakthrough - Single for "Early Warning". Baby Animals was listed in 100 Best Australian Albums (October 2010). The reunited line-up are DeMarchi, Leslie, Dario Bortolin on bass guitar and Mick Skelton on drums and percussion. Their fourth studio album, This Is Not the End, was issued in May 2013, which reached the top 20.

BiographyEdit

Early history: 1989–1990Edit

The Baby Animals were formed in Sydney in October 1989 by Frank Celenza on drums (ex-Boys, Bamboo Curtain, DD and the Rockmen); Suze DeMarchi on lead vocals and guitar (ex-Photoplay, the Kind, DD and the Rockmen), Dave Leslie on guitar and backing vocals (ex-Swingshift); and Eddie Parise on bass guitar and backing vocals (ex-Boys, Bel Aires, Bamboo Curtain).<ref name="McFarlane">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Holmgren">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> De Marchi, from Perth, had previously recorded three solo singles with EMI in the United Kingdom.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

Upon her return to Perth in July DeMarchi contacted former bandmate Celenza to form a new band in Sydney.<ref name="McFarlane"/> He was initially reluctant to go but recommended another former bandmate, Parise.<ref name="Tom"/> In Sydney, DeMarchi approached her then-manager, John Woodruff (The Angels, Diesel [ex-the Kind, with DeMarchi]), who signed the new group and referred Leslie to her.<ref name="Tom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Celenza then officially joined.<ref name="Ankeny">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Woodruff later recalled "I'd seen [DeMarchi] in London performing some bad Stock Aitken and Waterman tunes on television late one night. I found her and she turned out to be Australian. She also turned out to have a lot of attitude. I brought her back to Australia and put a band together around her."<ref name="Woodruff">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

The band's first performance was in November 1989 at the Kardomah Café in Sydney, where they were billed as Woody's Heroes, then they worked the city's pub and club circuit. According to Kerrang! magazine's writer, Celenza provided the new name, Baby Animals, after seeing an ad for a local TV show, Wheel of Fortune, hosted by "Baby" John Burgess.<ref name="Kerrang version">Template:Cite journal</ref> Another version suggests the name came from a calendar in a mall. In a New Zealand magazine, RTR Sounz, DeMarchi indicated that they changed the story of the name's origins in different interviews as they were bored with that question.<ref name="Tom"/>

Baby Animals were assisted by the Angels including one of their demos, "Break My Heart", on the B-side of the established band's single, "Dogs Are Talking" (April 1990).<ref name="McFarlane"/> "Break My Heart" was co-written by DeMarchi and Parise.<ref name="APRA Break My">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. Break My Heart; or at "Performer:" Baby Animals</ref> The single also included a track each, from two other new rock and roll bands – the Desert Cats and the Hurricanes – a national tour by the Angels followed with all three new bands supporting.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

In August 1990 Baby Animals signed a publishing deal with SBK Songs (later EMI Music Publishing). After attending a gig, Terry Ellis, president of newly formed Imago Recording Company, signed them to his label, funded by BMG.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Ellis described the performance, "the band was great, the songs were terrific and to me Suze clearly had that indefineable magic that separates one artist from the crowd and makes them a star."<ref name="Ellis quote">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Debut album: 1991–1992Edit

The band flew to New York to record their debut eponymous album, Baby Animals, at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock and Second City Studio, Long Island with ex-pat Australian Mike Chapman producing.<ref name="top100oz">Template:Cite book</ref> DeMarchi said of the production process: "He very rigidly made us pull things back and just concentrate on the essence of the song rather than being fancy. Mike was the taskmaster – 'Let me hear the hooks'. Like Early Warning - that tag at the beginning 'too young to know too old to listen' - Mike said 'I'm going to take that part of the chorus, let's put that at the front; that's the hook'."<ref name="Chapman quote">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Woodruff had organised for his band to work with Chapman and Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (audio engineer): "I had never met [Chapman], I knew his work. I'd listened to everything he'd ever done... I thought 'if we can drag him out of retirement to get the song structure right'... Susie was writing great songs and great sentiments, but the structure wasn't quite there. I thought if I can then convince him to work with a young rude engineer, which turned out to be [Shirley], and you couldn't get much younger or ruder than that, then I'm going to end up with a record that has an edge to it, that has some tone to it, that has some rock and roll and that has some feel to it that's as edgy as she is but with great songs."<ref name="Woodruff"/>

Their debut single, Early Warning (April 1991), reached the Top 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart.<ref name="AusCharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The track was written by DeMarchi, Parise and Leslie.<ref name="APRA Break My"/> After the release of the single, the band flew to the United States for a series of showcases for the Imago/BMG people, to coincide with the earlier release of the album there. Their second single, "Rush You", was issued in August, which also reached the Top 30.<ref name="AusCharts"/>

Baby Animals was released in September 1991, which debuted at No 6 on the ARIA Albums Charts.<ref name="AusCharts"/> In the following February–March it spent six weeks at No 1.<ref name="AusCharts"/> It spent a total of 46 weeks in the top 50 and was certified four times platinum by ARIA for shipment of over 280,000 units.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="top100oz"/><ref name="ARIA Report 1370"/> It remained the highest-selling debut Australian rock album until the release of Jet's effort, Get Born (September 2003) – twelve years later.<ref name="top100oz"/> Baby Animals also appeared in the top 30 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart and top 50 on the Swedish Albums Chart.<ref name="NZ Charts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Swe Charts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane felt it "showcased the band's confident and melodic brand of hard rock and, in particular, highlighted DeMarchi's provocative vocal growl."<ref name="McFarlane"/>

After listening to the album, Bryan Adams asked them to join his European tour.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Whilst overseas, in November 1991, they won the Best New Act category at the inaugural Australian Music Awards.<ref name="Can Times Nov 91">Template:Cite news</ref> By Christmas that year the band were back in Australia for more national touring, and the release of two more singles, "Painless" (November) and "One Word" (February 1992); the latter peaked at No. 15 on the ARIA Singles Chart – their highest position.<ref name="AusCharts"/> Baby Animals' Let Go of My Ears Tour had them playing to sell out crowds.

In 1992 the band joined Black Crowes on tours of Australia and New Zealand. In the US they appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and performed "Painless". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1992 they won trophies for Album of the Year and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Baby Animals and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Early Warning".<ref name="ARIA Awards list">ARIA Music Awards for the Baby Animals:

  • Search Results 'Baby Animals': {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }} Note: The 2016 ARIA site does not list their win for 1992: Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Early Warning".

  • 1992 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }} Note: The archive copy of the 2007 ARIA site does show their third win for 1992.

  • 1993 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • 1994 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }} </ref> The band then toured as a support act for Van Halen's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour across the US from 28 January to 31 May, playing to arena-size audiences.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Eddie Van Halen requested their presence after his wife Valerie had heard their album, and suggested them. Australian Rolling Stone placed DeMarchi on the cover.<ref name="Wall Admin"/> It was the first time they had put an Australian artist or group on the cover on the merits of a debut album.<ref name="Wall Admin"/> The band had played over 500 shows when they ended that tour in August 1992.<ref name="Yates">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In November 1992, Baby Animals released a new single, titled "Impossible to Fly". It peaked at No. 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Shaved and Dangerous and disbandment: 1993–1996Edit

In 1993 Baby Animals returned to Bearsville Studios,<ref name="Holley">Template:Cite magazine</ref> to start work on their second album, Shaved and Dangerous (August 1993), with two weeks of pre-production. They went to the Bahamas and spent two months recording at Compass Point Studios with Ed Stasium producing (Ramones, Living Colour, Hoodoo Gurus).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Next, they travelled to Los Angeles, where they worked with Nuno Bettencourt (of Extreme); he provided song writing and guitar on "Because I Can" and produced "Life From a Distance" and "Be My Friend".<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

McFarlane described the album as "a more adventurous progressive rock album. It had less of a commercial feel, and Leslie layered the songs with snaking guitar solos." Daniel Gioffre of AllMusic felt that "For the most part, the songwriting here is topnotch, with most of the songs showcasing fairly sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic ideas. Despite the proggy nature of some of the compositions, the mix is total pop, with DeMarchi way up front. However, this is a good thing, as she has a very strong, if sometimes overemotive, singing voice."<ref name="Gioffre">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album peaked at No. 2 in Australia.<ref name="AusCharts"/> Bettencourt also contributed to "She Does Whatever" on the Shaved and Dangerous Tour CD. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1993 the group received two nominations for "One Word": Single of the Year and Best Group.<ref name="ARIA Awards list"/>

During mid-1993 Baby Animals supported Robert Plant's US tour, before returning to Australia late in the year to prepare for a 27-date Australian tour. The tour was cut short when DeMarchi experienced throat problems, vocal fold nodules, which required her to undertake surgery on her vocal cords.<ref name="Shedden">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they received another nomination for Best Group – this time for Shaved and Dangerous.<ref name="ARIA Awards list"/>

In August 1994 Baby Animals shared the stage with Extreme in a concert on the Azores island of São Miguel. In that month DeMarchi and Bettencourt married and the couple moved to Boston.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Song writing and recording for a proposed third album was anticipated for November. In 1995 on the verge of their first major US tour, US-based Imago Records folded after losing support from BMG.<ref name = LAT>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In early 1996 Baby Animals officially disbanded as the band members undertook separate projects.<ref name="Mathieson 1">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

Reformed and new albums: 2007–2017Edit

Baby Animals reformed in 2007 in the US with all four original members: Celenza, DeMarchi, Leslie and Parise.<ref name="AMG Grande">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They released an acoustic CD of their previous hits, Il Grande Silenzio, on 19 January 2008, as part of the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series.<ref name="Il Grande">Template:Citation</ref> The band appeared live on Australian breakfast TV program, Sunrise, three days later, and confirmed local tour dates for that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:Dead link</ref> In the following January they announced another national tour throughout that year, which was subsequently sold out.<ref name="Sell Out 9 Apr">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early in 2009 internal conflicts become apparent, Celenza and Parise eventually left.<ref name="Wall Admin">Template:Cite news</ref> In April that year Demarchi and Leslie continued the group with Matt Cornell on bass guitar and vocals, and Mick Skelton in drums.<ref name="Faster 04 09">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cornell was later replaced by Dario Bortolin.<ref name="Wall Admin"/><ref name="Morrow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In April 2013 the Baby Animals line-up of Bortolin, Demarchi, Leslie and Skelton released their first new single in 20 years, "Email". It was followed by the release of a new album, This Is Not the End, in late May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was the first album released by new label Social Family Records, which peaked at No. 19.<ref name="AusCharts"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In May 2016 the Baby Animals re-released Baby Animals as Baby Animals 25th Anniversary (or BA25), to celebrate 25 years since the original release of their debut.<ref name="ARIA Report 1370">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref name="SFR"/> This expanded version includes live songs, unreleased tracks, B-sides and pre-studio demos.<ref name="SFR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also in that month they provided two gigs with the original line-up performing the debut album in full and the new line-up playing tracks from This Is Not the End.<ref name="Wall Admin"/> Baby Animals performed a national headline tour with The Screaming Jets in June and July 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A live album was released in November 2017.

Greatest Hits: 2018–presentEdit

In February 2018, Baby Animals released "Tonight"<ref name="Tonight - single">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which lead singer Suze DeMarchi wrote after her father died suddenly.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In January 2019, the band announced their first greatest hits would be released in February 2019. The album will include three new recordings including a cover of Linda Ronstadt's "How Do I Make You".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From November 2019, The Baby Animals co-headlined the "They Who Rock 2019" tour with The Angels. To promote the tour, The Angels released a cover of The Baby Animals' "One Word" and the Baby Animals covered The Angels' "Marseilles", both released on 1 October 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2020 the Baby Animals were part of the Red Hot Summer Tour series of outdoor shows around Australia, alongside Boom Crash Opera, Killing Heidi, The Angels, The Living End, James Reyne and headliner, Hunters and Collectors.

MembersEdit

Current members

  • Suze DeMarchi – lead vocals, guitar (1989–1996, 2007–present)
  • Dave Leslie – guitars (1989–1996, 2007–present)
  • Mick Skelton – drums, percussion (2009–present)
  • Dario Bortolin – bass guitar, backing vocals (2011–present)

Former members

  • Frank Celenza – drums, percussion (1989–1996, 2007–2009, 2016)
  • Eddie Parise – bass guitar (1989–1996, 2007–2009, 2016)
  • Matt Cornell – bass guitar, backing vocals (2009–2010)

Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:0 right:30 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/2022 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_Album

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1989 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1989

LineData =

layer:back
color:studio
at:09/02/1991 
at:08/30/1993
at:01/21/2008
at:05/31/2013

BarData =

bar:SD text:"Suze DeMarchi"
bar:DL text:"Dave Leslie"
bar:EP text:"Eddie Parise"
bar:MC text:"Matt Cornell"
bar:DB text:"Dario Bortolin"
bar:FC text:"Frank Celenza"
bar:MS text:"Mick Skelton"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:SD from:start till:03/01/1996 color:vocals
bar:SD from:start till:03/01/1996 color:guitar width:3
bar:SD from:03/01/2007 till:end color:vocals
bar:SD from:03/01/2007 till:end color:guitar width:3 
bar:DL from:start till:03/01/1996 color:guitar
bar:DL from:03/01/2007 till:end color:guitar
bar:EP from:start till:03/01/1996 color:bass
bar:EP from:03/01/2007 till:04/01/2009 color:bass
bar:MC from:04/01/2009 till:12/31/2010 color:bass
bar:DB from:01/01/2011 till:end color:bass
bar:FC from:start till:03/01/1996 color:drums
bar:FC from:03/01/2007 till:04/01/2009 color:drums
bar:MS from:04/01/2009 till:end color:drums

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
<ref name="ARIA peak positions">Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  • Top 50 peaks: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}

  • Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Template:Cite book
  • "Lights Out at Eleven": {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.</ref>

NZ
<ref name="RIANZ peak positions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

SWE
<ref name="SWE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

UK
<ref name="UK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Baby Animals
  • Released: 2 September 1991
  • Label: Imago (72787-21002)
  • Formats: CD
1 21 50 70
  • ARIA: 8× Platinum<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Shaved and Dangerous
  • Released: 30 August 1993
  • Label: Imago (74321-16262)
  • Formats: CD
2
Il Grande Silenzio 78
This Is Not the End
  • Released: 31 May 2013
  • Label: Social Family (SFR0002)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
19

Re-issuesEdit

List of re-issues, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

BA25 73

Live albumsEdit

List of live albums
Title Details
Baby Animals Live<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

  • Released: 21 November 2017
  • Label: Bloodlines
  • Format: Digital download

Compilation albumsEdit

List of compilation albums
Title Details
Greatest Hits<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

  • Released: 15 February 2019
  • Label: Bloodlines
  • Format: Digital download

Extended playsEdit

List of extended plays
Title Details
The Essential Five<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

  • Released: 16 February 2018
  • Label: Bloodlines
  • Format: Digital download

SinglesEdit

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
<ref>Peak positions for singles in Australia:
  • All except noted: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}

  • For "Ain't Gonna Get": {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}

  • For "At the End of the Day / Backbone":{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}

  • For "Lights Out at Eleven":{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

NZ
<ref name="RIANZ peak positions"/>
US Mod
<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

"Early Warning" 1991 21 Baby Animals
"Rush You" 30
"Painless" 49 31 29
"One Word" 1992 15 46
"Ain't Gonna Get" 65 50
"Impossible to Fly" 48 non-album single
"Don't Tell Me What to Do" 1993 24 Shaved and Dangerous
"At the End of the Day / Backbone" 60
"Lights Out at Eleven" 1994 54
"Email"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2013 This Is Not the End
"Stitch"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

"Tonight"<ref name="Tonight - single"/> 2018 Greatest Hits
"How Do I Make You"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2019
"Marseilles"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

non-album single
"Ace of Spades" (with Chris Cheney)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2025 non-album single

Awards and nominationsEdit

APRA AwardsEdit

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Awards table ! Template:Abbr |- | 2019 | "Tonight" (Suze DeMarchi / Dave Leslie) | Urban Work of the Year | Template:Shortlisted | <ref name="noise11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |}

ARIA Music AwardsEdit

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Baby Animals have won three awards. Template:Awards table ! Template:Abbr |- | rowspan="6"|1992 | rowspan="3"| Baby Animals | Album of the Year | Template:Won | rowspan="6"|<ref name="ARIA1992A">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Breakthrough Artist - Album | Template:Won |- | rowspan="3"| "Early Warning" | Single of the Year | Template:Nom |- | Song of the Year | Template:Nom |- | Breakthrough Artist - Single | Template:Won |- | rowspan="3"|1993 | rowspan="3"| "One Word" | Best Group | Template:Nom | rowspan="3"|<ref name="ARIA1993A">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- | Single of the Year | Template:Nom |- | Song of the Year | Template:Nom |- |1994 | Shaved and Dangerous | Best Group | Template:Nom |<ref name="ARIA1994A">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |-

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ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

NotesEdit

Taken from the book Baby Animals Guitar Tablature, Published by EMI

External linksEdit

Template:Baby Animals Template:ARIA Award for Album of the Year 1990s Template:ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist Template:Authority control