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TOURIST ARE:

PETER J RUDD

VOCALS, GUITAR

MARK STEBBEN

BASS

MARK BARNETT

GUITARS

SIMON DE VERE

DRUMS

Tourist arise from Auckland, New Zealand. Playing distinctively original songs, the band has defined a brave new sound unique for this part of the world. Their rare ability to intertwine infectious melodic subtleties and stadium-ready anthems demonstrate a group well beyond their years. The quartet featuring Peter J Rudd (vocals, guitar) Mark Stebben (bass, vocals) Matt Barnett (guitar, vocals) and Simon de Vere (drums), have achieved a number of milestones in recent years including releasing two highly rated EP's and the critically acclaimed album 'Minutes Last For Years', nominated for numerous industry awards, performing shows and festivals in their homeland New Zealand and overseas and currently building towards recording a new album. The first single from the new record is set for release early 2010.

BACKGROUND & HISTORY

Beginning Of The World

Tourist was established in late 2000 by Peter J Rudd (vocals/guitars) and original bass player Rob Ranger after both returned to New Zealand from living overseas in North America and Europe. Tourist solidified their current four piece line up and in June 2002 independently released their limited edition CD EP 'Beginning of the World.' Featuring five tracks, the debut EP received recognition both locally and overseas with radio stations both in New Zealand and the UK playing songs. One of the songs from this EP titled 'Picture Perfect' was licensed for four years as the soundtrack for an extensive Television New Zealand and radio advertising campaign for Mt Gabriel Christmas Trees.

Do You Feel The Cold?

On the back of extensive live performances and touring in October 2004, the band released their 2nd independent EP titled after the hit single 'Do You Feel The Cold?' Again, the mini-album was released by their own record label Tourist Sound Limited. Real Groove Magazine in its review of the new release, described the sophomore EP as "a strong, self-released cluster of tracks displaying the musical abilities of the band and their natural ear for melody and composition." The first single was recorded with assistance from NZ On Air and produced by award winning Welsh producer Greg Haver. Since then a long standing musical relationship has been forged between Tourist and Haver. The band draws on Haver's wealth of skills and experience from working with some of Britian's hottest acts including Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals, Mel C and Catatonia.

The song 'Do You Feel The Cold?' was featured on NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc 66, a rare feat for an unsigned New Zealand artist and received significant airplay on both commercial and student radio networks around the country, including being play-listed on Kiwi FM (formerly Channel Z). The song hit #1 on Auckland student radio station 95bFM for 4 weeks in October 2004 and spent a number of months in the Top Ten. It also featured on commercial radio station The Rock and a NZ On Air supported music video screened extensively on nationwide music TV programmes. The band performed the song live on Top of The Pops in November 2004.

The band was included on an emerging artist compilation CD for the inaugural MUSEXPO conference held in Los Angeles in May 2005. Subsequently, the nominated track 'Do You Feel The Cold?' received airplay on a number of radio stations across North America including KDLD Los Angeles, KEDJ Phoenix, KNRK Portland, WEQX Manchester, VT/Albany, NY and KROG Medford/Ashland.

In 2005, 'Do You Feel The Cold?' went on to make the Finals for the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) from over 15,000 entries from around the world in the Top 40/Pop category.

Minutes Last For Years

Building on the success of the 'Do You Feel The Cold?' single and the Tourist/Haver partnership, it was decided it was time for the band to return to the studio again to record their debut full length album. Titled 'Minutes Last For Years,' this critically acclaimed album was recorded at Stir Studios in the cold wet streets of Greg Haver's hometown Cardiff, Wales and at York Street Studios in the band's hometown Auckland, New Zealand. The resulting sound of this recording is one that is intense and exciting, yet at the same time openly accessible and honest. Peter J Rudd's unmistakable voice, infectious melodies and thoughtful lyrics atop surging guitars and raunchy, pulsating rhythm section that together forge a masterfully structured debut album of colossal rock songs brimming with classic britpop style and distinct indie flare. Peter Holmstedt from the Entertainment Network based in Sweden that represents major record labels throughout Scandinavia described the new record as "Very, strong songwriting, remarkable performance, truly inventive production and a very healthy attitude! Simply put; one of the best discs in the genre I've heard in a long, long time!"

New Zealand Musician magazine reviewing the debut album stated "Tourist formed in late 2000 and while not yet a household name, seem poised on the brink of Indie-rock greatness. The impressive debut album a fresh collection of British tinged rock songs."

Borrowing beautiful guitars and amplifiers from the Manic Street Preachers Cardiff lockup, the band recorded their debut album on Stir studio's classic Trident TSM40 mixing desk that has history coursing through its wood and wires. Together with its sister desk at Rockfield studios in Wales, the Trident has been used to record some ground-breaking records from elite rock and pop artists in the UK including Oasis, Manic Street Preachers and Queen.

The album was praised by media in New Zealand and internationally upon its release in October 2006 and this was also reflected in unprecedented airplay for the group's album singles on commercial radio and television. Major network radio stations including The Rock, ZM and The Edge plus music television stations C4, Juice TV and Alt TV playlisted the lead album single and title track 'Minutes Last For Years' (Hit Disc #91) resulting in the song achieving a peak placing of #18 on the Radioscope charts. The song's music video shot in the bleak desert landscape of Tongariro National Park was nominated for Best Indie Video at the 2007 Juice TV music video awards. Subsequent up-tempo single 'Suburban Skies' also received good airplay on The Rock FM and achieved a peak #33 placing on the charts. Other album singles 'Did You Kill Your Love' (Hit Disc #82) and 'Picture Perfect' have also received good airplay on both radio and television.

Other achievements include 'Suburban Skies' being selected to feature in a local dvd on the New Zealand surfing scene and the 'Minutes Last For Years' single was included on NZTE's 'New Zealand New Music Volume VIII' compilation album for the North American film and television industry.

In terms of community support and altruistic causes, Tourist offered the song 'Stranger' to be used as soundtrack for a fundraising video for cancer research and have played and supported fundraising events for Oxfam New Zealand. Last year, the group performed an adaption of a young finalists song for the Play It Strange Trusts annual secondary school songwriting competition and also offered backing tracks for Rangitoto College's digital yearbook.

New Zealand and Beyond

The band has toured extensively throughout New Zealand to promote their various releases and performed at major national music festivals over the years including University Orientation, Shore Sounds, Pohutukawa Festival, Zoo Music, 4Shore amongst many club shows. Over the years Tourist have shared the stage with some of the top local and international acts including Snow Patrol, Evermore, Goldenhorse, Greg Johnson, Pluto, Opshop, Gramsci, Zillionaire, The Feelers, Goodnight Nurse, Steriogram, The Bleeders, 48 May, The Heavy Jones Trio and The Fanatics.

Tourist have also performed further afield with shows in North America and Europe. This helped Heyday Media Group, an independent music publisher based in Los Angeles to discover the band from New Zealand. Heyday were impressed with the band's sophomore EP and upon hearing the debut album opted to sign them for a worldwide publishing deal (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Heyday are exploring opportunties for the band in the US market and have serviced press kits and albums to key music supervisors in the film and television industry. The band recently licensed 'Do You Feel The Cold?' for the movie 'Butterfly Effect 2' with more opportunities in the pipeline.

With the release of their new album, Tourist plans to extend its profile further both domestically and in overseas territories through airplay, promotion and touring.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Presented below is a snapshot and overview of some key achievements for Tourist since its formation:

 

CHECK OUT
BIO/DISCOGRAPHY ON GREG HAVER