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Gerling were an Australian
electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...
,
alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...
trio formed in 1993. From early 1997 the members were
Darren Cross Darren Agonistes Cross is a supervillain appearing in Marvel Comics properties. He is the archenemy of Scott Lang (the second superhero to be called Ant-Man), the father of Augustine Cross, and the cousin of Crossfire. In the Marvel Cinemat ...
on guitar and lead vocals, Presser (real name Paul Towner) on drums and Burke Reid on guitar and vocals. Their second album, '' When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun'' (September 2001), reached the
ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
top50. It provided a top50 single, "Dust Me Selecta" (August 2001). The group disbanded in 2007.


History

Gerling were formed as a guitar pop trio in 1993 in western Sydney with the line-up of
Darren Cross Darren Agonistes Cross is a supervillain appearing in Marvel Comics properties. He is the archenemy of Scott Lang (the second superhero to be called Ant-Man), the father of Augustine Cross, and the cousin of Crossfire. In the Marvel Cinemat ...
(aka Darren E. Spielberg-Cross) on guitar and lead vocals, Presser (real name Paul Towner) on drums and Brad Herdson on guitar and vocals. With only two guitars and drums, the group initially played cover versions of W.A.S.P. material. Then they focussed on creating experimental guitar pop, with their debut single, "Sedatives for Dead Radars", issued in 1995 on Steven Stavrakis' Fellaheen label. It was followed by a seven-track extended play, ''A Day of Research'', in 1996. It reached No.13 on the ARIA Alternative Albums Chart. Australian musicologist,
Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist ...
, felt it was a "mix of early Pavement-style lo-fi guitar pop and idiosyncratic backing, it garnered widespread interest among the indie cognoscenti." Some of its tracks received high rotation on national youth radio station,
Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
. Early in 1997 Herdson left to form Sonic Emotion Explosion, with Liz Payne from Spdfgh. He was temporarily replaced in Gerling by
Ben Lee Benjamin Michael Lee (born 11 September 1978) is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He app ...
for their gig at
Big Day Out The Big Day Out (BDO) was an annual music festival that was held in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Auckland, New Zealand. The festival was held during summer, typi ...
, Sydney, in late January. Herdson's long-term replacement, on guitar, was Canadian-born, Burke Reid. In February 1998 the group issued a four-track 7-inch EP, ''Bachelor Pad'' on the Trifekta label. The label had been partly established in the previous year by Towner. In October 1998 they issued, "Death to the Apple Gerls", on Festival's in-house indie label Reliant – which was set up by
Bruce Milne Bruce Milne (born 1957) is a prominent figure in the Australian music industry, a long-standing member of the grass-roots Melbourne music community who, after getting his start publishing a punk fanzine in the late 1970s, has done practically eve ...
(former CEO of
Au Go Go Records Au Go Go Records is a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label. It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland from a house in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 1979 and was later operated by Greta Moon. The label started releasing ...
). In the following month they released their debut album, '' Children of Telepathic Experiences'', which peaked at No.21 on the ARIA Alternative Albums Chart. McFarlane noticed "an entertaining mix of Gerling's live punky-pop sound and a background of layered electronica." For the first time the group incorporated electronica in their music, they also built a recording studio, Gerlog, in
Alexandria Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
where band members produced and remixed tracks. Their next single, "Enter, Space Capsule" (April 1999), provided four versions of the song, including one at Gerlog by band members and one mixed by
Josh Abrahams Josh Abrahams (born 1968 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian musician who emerged from the underground dance music scene in the early 1990s. He has performed and recorded under the stage name Puretone, and is also known as The ...
. McFarlane saw this as the group's "move deeper into the realms of abstract electronica." At the
ARIA Music Awards of 1999 The 13th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) was held on 12 October 1999 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Hosted by Paul McDermott and Bob Downe, and prese ...
Gerling were nominated in three categories: Breakthrough Artist – Album and ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release for ''Children of Telepathic Experiences'' and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Enter, Space Capsule".ARIA Music Awards for the Gerling: * Search Results 'Gerling': Note: The 2016 ARIA site does not list one of their nominations in 1999: Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Enter, Space Capsule". * 1999 winners and nominees: Note: The archive copy of the 2010 ARIA site does show all three nominations in 1999. * 2001 winners and nominees: * 2002 winners and nominees: * 2003 winners and nominees: Another single, "Ghost Patrol", followed in September, which featured guest lead vocals by Naoko Matsumoto of Sydney-based group Funky Terrorist. During 2000 they toured the United Kingdom where they recorded, "G-House Project", with lead vocals provided by
Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...
. Gerling issued a single late in the year, "The Deer in You", which peaked at No.12 on the ARIA Alternative Singles Chart. Cameron Webb of Oz Music Project described as "Hovering somewhere between the frantic mesh of screaming and guitars of 'Death to the Apple Gerls' and electro blips and beats of 'Enter, Space Capsule', 'The Deer in You' provides an enticing glimpse at their new recordings. The single doesn't suggest any great departure musically, just a reminder of what Gerling do best – pop music." At the
ARIA Music Awards of 2001 The 15th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards) were held on 30 October 2001 at the Capitol Theatre. Rock band Powderfinger won the most awards with six from eight nominations. Lea ...
they were nominated for Best Video for Paul Butler and Scott Walton's directorial work on "The Deer in You". Gerling's second studio album, '' When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun'', was released on 24 September 2001 after being postponed due to the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...
earlier that month and a title change to the less controversial, ''Headzcleaner'', for international markets. It peaked in the ARIA and
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
Albums Chart Top50s. Oz Music Project's Nick Coppack felt it was a "stunning follow-up", which "blends the band's love for electronic sounds and dance music with fuzzy guitars and aggressive vocals, which stem from the band's early punk roots." Australian music journalist
Ed Nimmervoll Edward Charles Nimmervoll Eduard Nimmervoll (21 September 194710 October 2014) was an Australian music journalist, author and historian. He worked on rock and pop magazines ''Go-Set'' (1966–1974) and ''Juke Magazine'' (1975–92) both as ...
declared it his Album of the Week, "
hey are Hey, HEY, or Hey! may refer to: Music * Hey (band), a Polish rock band Albums * ''Hey'' (Andreas Bourani album) or the title song (see below), 2014 * ''Hey!'' (Julio Iglesias album) or the title song, 1980 * ''Hey!'' (Jullie album) or the ...
forging a new path for contemporary music by embracing technology to go where technology is leading, but at the same time using the freedom technology brings to head off into other areas of interest." The band became increasingly electronic they had success in the dance scene and mainstream charts with the earlier single, "Dust Me Selecta" (August 2001), which reached the ARIA Singles Chart Top50. Lou Lou of Oz Music Project praised it as "Keeping it fresh and funky... just when you’ve got your head around this disco funk, the booming synth voice jumps in, slaps you in the face and reminds you that it is indeed Gerling @ the controls." At the
ARIA Music Awards of 2002 The 16th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) were held on 15 October 2002 at the Sydney SuperDome. Awards ARIA Awards ''Winners highlighted in bold with nomi ...
they received three more nominations: Best Dance Release and Best Video (directed by Jolyon Watkins) for "Dust My Selecta", and Producer of the Year for ''When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun'' (by Gerling and Magoo). On 18 August 2003 they released their third studio album, '' Bad Blood!!!'', which peaked in the Top60. They had recorded it at Gerlog with Magoo producing. Oz Music Project's Semone Maksimovic felt the group were "dipping their hand into the increasingly popular electro clash, disco punk bucket to fill their hands with both dirt and glitter to throw our way... t ismore indicative of their capricious live shows, danceable, loud, catchy, energetic and easy to digest, it's a record that will go down well in clubs or to help liven up a party, even a good driving record, but one rule remains, it has to be up loud!" The album marked a return to form as guitars returned to the mix, whilst still retaining an electronic edge. The lead single, "
Who's Ya Daddy? "Who's Ya Daddy?" is a song by Australian group Gerling. Released in March 2003 as the lead single released from their third studio album, '' Bad Blood!!!'', the song peaked at number 77 on the ARIA charts. The song was ranked at number 78 on ...
" (March 2003), reached the Top100. Maksimovic described it as "a mighty fine slice of sexy, trashy disco punk for us all to enjoy... tbrings to mind The Detroit Grand Poobah's 'Sandwiches' am" Their fourth studio album, '' 4'', was released on 20 March 2006, which reached the Top100. The original recording was carried out in the function room of the Annandale Hotel, Sydney, before being re-recorded and mastered in Los Angeles. It was produced by Ethan Johns, who also worked on ''
Aha Shake Heartbreak ''Aha Shake Heartbreak'' is the second studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon. It was first released in Europe on November 1, 2004, then in the United States on February 22, 2005, with alternate cover artwork. It is the only album by ...
'' with
Kings of Leon Kings of Leon is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, in 1999. The band includes brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill. The band's early music was a blend of Southern roc ...
. "Turning the Screws" was the
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featured download of the week in February 2006. The band have been on an indefinite hiatus since September 2007.


Post-hiatus

After disbandment, Cross spent four years (from 2007 to 2010) as the E.L.F., writing and performing dance music. From 2012 he turned to
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...
and
alt-country Alternative country (commonly abbreviated to alt-country; also known as alternative country rock, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative) is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that diffe ...
traditional song writing structures and styling, releasing and touring as a solo artist. He received a positive review from '' No Depression'' for his album, ''No Damage''. He also performed and recorded in a folk Noir duo, Jep and Dep (2012–2019), with Jessica Cassar. Jep and Dep's debut album, ''Word Got Out'' received 4 out of 5 stars from ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
''s Bernard Zuel and ''
Rolling Stone Australia ''Rolling Stone Australia'' is the Australian edition of the United States' ''Rolling Stone'' magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture, published monthly. The Australian version of ''Rolling Stone'' was initially published in 197 ...
'' As of 2024, Cross has released five instrumental guitar albums under the moniker D.C Cross, ''Ecstatic Racquet'' (2019),''Terabithian'' (2020),''Hot-wire the Lay-low'' (2022),''WIZRAD'' (2023) and ''Glookies Guit'' (2024) . ''Tone Deaf''s Tyler Jenke observed "''Terabithian'' is a high watermark of instrumental music". In 2012 Cross also launched music and film production company, Bernstein Studios (Sydney) and has co-written songs with Jagwar Ma. Towner produces visual art under the moniker, Dead Galaxy, and Reid has a career in music production.


Discography


Studio albums


Extended plays


Singles


Awards


ARIA Music Awards

The
ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...
is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of
Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions o ...
. They commenced in 1987. Gerling were nominated for ten awards.ARIA Award previous winners. , - , rowspan="3",
1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, rowspan="2", ''Children of Telepathic Experiences'' , Best Adult Alternative Album , , - , Breakthrough Artist - Album , , - , "Enter, Space Capsule" , Breakthrough Artist - Single , , - ,
2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
, Paul Butler and Scott Walton for Gerling "The Deer in You" , Best Video , , - , rowspan="3",
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
, "Dust Me Selecta" , Best Dance Release , , - , Jolyon Watkins for Gerling "Dust Me Selecta" , Best Video , , - , Gerling and Magoo for Gerling ''When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun'' , Producer of the Year , , - , rowspan="3",
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
, "Who's Ya Daddy?" , Best Dance Release , , - , Paul Butler, Scott Walton & 50 / 50 Films for Gerling – "Who's Ya Daddy?" , Best Video , , - , Gerling and Magoo for Gerling ''Bad Blood!!!'' , Producer of the Year , , -


References

{{Authority control Musical groups from Sydney Flying Nun Records artists Musical groups established in 1993 1993 establishments in Australia Fellaheen Records artists