Vines climb back up

By Andrew Murfett
March 14, 2008

On the final week of the Vines' last US tour back in 2004, erratic frontman Craig Nicholls was kicked off a US domestic flight, had a punch-up with drummer Hamish Rosser on stage during a gig, and smashed up the set of Jay Leno's Tonight Show. "And it was in soundcheck too," says the band's co-manager Andy Kelly. "He didn't even save it for the show."

Four years of exile later, and fresh from last weekend's Golden Plains Festival, Australia's notorious garage rockers returned to the US this week.

They have just finished a new album here in Los Angeles with producer Rob Schnapf (due for local release in June) and are seeking an international record deal. To test the waters, the band booked two club shows for next week in New York and LA. Both sold out immediately yet they remain under no illusion of the task ahead.

For a time, the Vines were one of the most talked about bands in the world. Riding the coat-tails of the Strokes, Jet and the Hives, they made the cover of the US edition of Rolling Stone. Then came a spectacular meltdown. Nicholls was later diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

"Craig was not choosing to be like he was," Kelly says. "He had a problem. We understand why people thought that Craig was not a good person. It was hard to explain to people he's not a bad person. It had not been diagnosed at that point, but obviously we lived with it every day. He was in a lot of turmoil all the time. It was hard to watch." For a time Kelly and his team were convinced the band would not make another record. He says the most difficult period was after Nicholls was diagnosed, when he faced court for assault charges following an incident at the Annandale Hotel. The charges were eventually dropped.

"The third record ended up something for him to look forward to after being diagnosed and attempting to change his lifestyle."

The Vines are playing three shows this week: a Texas South by Southwest showcase, the festival's Australian barbecue and a gig for Facebook with the Brazilian Girls.

Kelly says Nicholls' condition has improved dramatically. The band, who could go from being the best band in the world to the worst in the course of a song, are humble about being accepted by fans overseas. "There is a perception they have broken up or that Craig is a mental case," Kelly says. "The hardest thing will be making anybody care. They didn't endear themselves to anyone over there. Craig accepts that and understands it."

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Read the full article that includes segments dedicated to other various bands here.

sweet. nice work. gig for facebook ay? that sounds like a good idea.... nice one. I'll be watching that.

The Facebook party happened yesterday at Red Moon Tower.

Today they're doing the Aussie BBQ at Brush Square Park this afternoon and then Pangaea tonight.

Do you happen to know if there is going to be any kind of footage on Facebook?

I don't know. Sorry.

This was the alert:

Music Fans - If you're in Austin for SXSW TONIGHT....
From Facebook Music
8:00pm Thursday, Mar 13
Just a reminder for music aficionados at SXSW -

Facebook Party TONIGHT at the Red Bull Moontower. Artists begin performing at 10PM and there is a great line up:

Phantom Planet
The Vines
Brazillian Girls
BT

4704 E. Cesar Chavez. You must be 21+

If you're not on the guest list, find a friend who is and come on down to the Moontower OR use this password at the door and they'll know you're a fan of music on Facebook - Password: "It's Complicated."

You'll get a removable tattoo that will be good for access to all 4 nights of the Moontower music events.

See you there!

Was very good read this. Made my day .

YAY!