Dead Flowers

1992

– Signed to Wildside Records and released the single Lisa in August 1992 reaching #27 on the NZ singles sales chart.
– After a national tour, in October that year the Dead Flowers recorded their debut album Skin of A Stone at Phil Rudd’s (AC/DC) Mountain Studio, north of Tauranga and mixed at Auckland’s Airforce Studio.
– In December the band appeared with HLAH on the Australian TV advertised grunge compilation for Street Legal.

1993

– In February, after opening for Guns n Roses at Mt Smart Stadium, the Dead Flowers released the single Be Someone that went to #13 on the singles sales charts. Damon Newton makes his vocal debut on the B-side of Be Someone CD single.
– In March the album Skin Of A Stone was released in New Zealand to glowing reviews.
– In April the Dead Flowers were finalists in the ‘Most Promising Group’ category of the RIANZ’s NZ Music Awards and win the ‘Viewer’s Choice’ award as voted by RTR Countdown viewers.
– In June the Dead Flowers had all their gear stolen in daylight from their rehearsal room but a week later they went into Hamilton’s Zoo Studio and recorded aggressive demos for their second album.
– For their debut album’s release in Australia a promotional Sydney visit for interviews took place followed by a live tour where the band played Sydney, then travelled North to play to 5000 at the Brisbane’s 4ZZZ outdoor Albert Park gig.
– The single Plastic charted at #42 and the video has proved a popular staple on video channel Max TV.
– In December the Dead Flowers commenced recording their second album Sweetfish at Revolver Studio.

1994

– After mixing is completed at Auckland’s Revolver studio, the album is mastered at Sydney’s 301 Studio by Don Bartley.
– Dead Flowers open for The Exponents on their summer tour and then they play at New Zealand’s first Big Day Out.
– In June Watch Her Play is the first single from Sweetfish reaching #40 on the charts and is followed in July by Home which hits #11 on the charts.
– On the b-side of the Home single drummer Rob Dollars makes his vocal and writing debut on Anyway.
– Sweetfish is released in August with an acoustic launch at Squid.
– The album receives excellent reviews throughout the country and the band tours nationally finishing their tour with 700 punters at Auckland’s Powerstation.
– On Sweetfish guitarist Damon Newton sings his first lead vocal on an album, the song What Do You Take Me For?.
– In September vocalist Bryan Bell travels to Sydney for several days of press interviews to promote the Australian release of Sweetfish.
– In October the closing track on Sweetfish, Spaceboy is one of the five finalists in the APRA Silver Scroll Awards.
– When B-sides are added up, the prolific Dead Flowers have released 40 original songs on Wildside in two years.

1995

– Dead Flowers play BDO January 20 — their final gig with bassist David James who resigned.
– Dead Flowers open for Pearl Jam at their two Auckland concerts.
– Early April Dead Flowers release the single Same Same with three additional tracks from the 1994 bFM live to air from York St Studio – Plastic, Home and What Do You Take Me For?.
– Late May new bassist Aaron Carson joins the Dead Flowers.
– New single Not Ready is prepared for July 1995 release.
– Singer Bryan Bell performs with celloist Fiona at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards.
– Bell and celloist asked to open for the Eagles after APRA performance.
– Four-piece Dead Flowers record new demos, the week after guitarist Riqi Hadfield leaves the band due to mutual musical differences.
– New demos get rave response from some key foreign music industry people.

1996

– Dead Flowers play their first big gig as a four-piece at the BDO.
– January 1996 Dead Flowers do further demos for their third album.
– New bassist Darren Harkness joins the band mid-year.
– Damon Newton side project Lodger releases debut single Forever on Felix.
– In September Dead Flowers record rhythm tracks for their third album at Darling Harbour Studio and mixed a new single at Studio 301, also in Sydney, Australia.
– Single You Drink the Water, I’ll Drink the Wine released November 28.

1997

– In January play main stage of the BDO concert, Auckland before Soundgarden, Prodigy, Supergrass and Offspring.
– In March the Dead Flowers singer/writer/guitarist Bryan Bell commences recording of solo tracks with Evan Roberts at Wellington’s Padded Sell studio.
– In April Dead Flowers mixed two tracks for their third album, a double A-side single Ain’t It The Truth/I Wanna Know with former Split Enz and Crowded House keyboard player Eddie Rayner.
– In July final track laying and first mixes for third album with Eddie Rayner at Revolver Studio, Auckland.
– The single Ain’t It The Truth released July 31.
– Dead Flowers play to 500 at the Big Day In, New Plymouth Sept 13.
– Open for Reef at the Powerstation October 7.

1998

– Early in year mixed album at Revolver Studio with Eddie Rayner.
– In late April Dead Flowers played three gigs in London with The Exponents, Greg Johnson and Mental As Anything.
– May 28, the band’s third album Dead Flowers released via BMG.
– National tour followed the release with The Feelers opening.