The Whitlams

The Whitlams carried on into the Nineties the storytelling character in the music of earlier bands like the Triffids, Blackeyed Susans and Jackson Code.

The Whitlams was originally a sideline band formed by two Sydney songwriters in search of a bit of extra action. Steve Plunder (real name Anthony Hayes) had spent eight years in power-pop group The Plunderers with Nic Dalton (later of Godstar fame). Tim Freedman had experimented with ska (Itchy Feet) and indie pop (Penguins On Safari) and for two years shared a band called Olive Branch with his brother Nick. Nick ended up an actor on 'Home And Away', while Tim and Olive Branch bassist Andy Lewis formed The Whitlams with Steve Plunder. The group name came from their political hero, former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Like the name, the band was serious fun.

The Whitlams put together two self-financed albums and two CD EPs of piano-driven pop, the sound of two very different singers and songwriters at play with their friends, records designed to do no more than support the band's growing reputation as live carousers.

Everything came to a sudden standstill on January 24, 1996 when Steve Plunder was found dead at the base of a cliff at Wentworth Falls in NSW's Blue Mountains, either the victim of suicide, or of an accidental fall after a night out. Tim Freedman was about to leave home to pick Plunder up prior to a gig when he heard the news. After the wake, Tim retreated to Thirroul on the NSW coast, unsure about the Whitlams' future. What made up his mind was hearing the group's latest release 'I Make Hamburgers' on the public pool PA via Triple J.

Putting the Whitlams back on the road, Tim Freedman decided to write a sad record to get out of his system all his feelings about Stevie, before and after his death. While he was writing, and touring Triple J kept playing 'I Make Hamburgers', building up the Whitlams' profile. On tour Freedman met a woman who inspired a new group of songs - 'No Aphrodisiac' and 'Melbourne' - to balance against those inspired by Steve. Over the course of a year, with a lot of help from a lot of friends, a new Whitlams was assembled, and a new album recorded at various studios. Original bassist Andy Lewis played on half the 'Eternal Nightcap' album, which was dedicated to Steve's memory. The result put the spotlight firmly on Tim Freedman, vocally, musically and emotionally. The public liked what it heard and saw. 'No Aphrodisiac' became a big radio hit. People went straight to the album and 'Eternal Nightcap' went on to sell in platinum numbers. 'No Aphrodisiac' became a big radio hit.

The album's success put The Whitlams in an envious position. They had a huge success on their hands, which the band (i.e. Tim Freeman) owned lock stock and barrel. The big record companies now came calling, offering unimaginably advantageous deals for the follow-up. Having backed themselves in the beginning, The Whitlams were now reaping the rewards.

'Love This City' did its best to repeat the 'Eternal Nightcap' experience, and move on at the same time. The album was again recorded in a number of studios, with a changed line-up, leaning on the same and new songwriting collaborations. It couldn't match the emotional charge that came with 'Eternal Nightcap' but did enough to ensure The Whitlams' survival. 2002's 'Torch The Moon' was an attempt at more of a group album. In early 2004 Tim Whitlam rented a loft in New York and waited for new songs to come. Eventually they did, and over the course of three months he wrote three quarters of the songs he recorded with producer J.Walker of Machine Translations back in Sydney. The rest of the songs on the double album 'Little Cloud/The Apple's Eye' were inspired by his homecoming to an Australia about to re-elect John Howard as Prime Minister.

On stage they never let a gig go by without playing a Steve Plunder song.