This Australian rock quartet rose to prominence in 2002 with their fiery brand of melodic rock. Craig Nicholls (b. 31 August 1977, Sydney, Australia; vocals/guitar), Patrick Matthews (bass/vocals) and David Olliffe (drums) first began playing together in the mid-90s in their native Sydney. They named their band after an obscure 60s Australian band called the Vynes, which used to feature Nicholls' father on guitar and vocals. The trio set about rehearsing demo material on Nicholls' four-track and by the end of the decade were confident enough to embark on their studio recording career. "Factory' was released as a limited 7-inch single by UK independent Rex Records in 2001, and received strong coverage in the country's weekly music press. A worldwide contract with Capitol Records followed, but at the start of the following year, during sessions for the band's debut album at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound Studio complex, Olliffe went on temporary hiatus and was replaced by Hamish Rosser. Ryan Griffiths was also brought in on second guitar, and this line-up played the band's first headlining show in Sydney. Highly Evolved was released in July. An intoxicating blend of Blue Cheer-styled psychedelia, Badfinger pop, the Velvet Underground riffs and occasional Nirvana-influenced hard rock, Nicholls" songwriting transcended its influences on sublime tracks such as "Get Free" and "1969".
The Vines were rarely out of the headlines following the album's release, with the erratic behaviour of Nicholls earning plenty of column inches (it was later revealed that the singer suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism). Despite extensive touring commitments, the band found the time to enter the studio to record their second album, the lacklustre Winning Days. Any disappointment that fans or critics might have had with Winning Days were put to shame by a sparkling return to form on 2006's Vision Valley. Rejuvenated and healthy, the Vines marked their comeback with some style.
