Pete Murray

Biography (continued)

See the Sun

Pete began recording his follow-up album See the Sun on 11 April 2005. It was recorded in Melbourne, with Pete and Eric Sarafin producing, then mixed and mastered in Los Angeles. Pete's official website featured an online diary throughout the recording, with a regularly-updated band blog, video footage, audio clips, photos, and so on.

The touring band had now gelled into The Stonemasons, who recorded See the Sun with Pete. The Stonemasons are: Ben McCarthy on keyboards; Andy Sylvio on drums; Pete Williamson on guitar; and Jonathon Zion on bass.

Pete said the songs for this album featured 'a bit more light in there and less heavy shade'. Elsewhere he said, 'I wanted this album to have more contrast, for the rock stuff to capture the groove that's our signature on stage, for the lyrics not to be as dark, the tone to be more up. I'm really proud of what we've done with See the Sun. It's been made with the right people, who love the kind of sounds that I do, who love my music and understand it. We can't wait to take the wraps off these songs and get out to play them.'

The album was released on 23 September 2005, and promoted by, among other things, the chance to win a Quicksilver See the Sun surfboard - which certainly emphasised the 'sun, surf, sand, summer' feel of the album.

The singles were: Better Days; Class A (radio release only); Opportunity (EP); and George's Helper (radio release only). Better Days was initially released online on 4 August, and then on the radio the following day. George's Helper featured the well-respected horn section from the Aussie band Hunters and Collectors.

Again, the critics were positive. Rolling Stone said, 'Murray interacts so seamlessly with his band that at times this feels like a wonderful private recording among friends. And Murray's voice has never sounded better; smoky, smooth and always soulful. Feeler's success gave Murray the chance to show everyone what he's capable of, and he delivers in spades.'

Pete started touring Australia and New Zealand, with his first show in Brisbane on 24 September 2005. Further dates kept him on the road until the end of the year. He featured in the usual festivals, and then headlined the new annual Feelgood Festival, held in Sydney's Luna Park on New Year's Day, 2006.

Unlike the slow build of Feeler, See the Sun went straight to #1 on the charts, and went platinum in October; it went double platinum within six weeks of release, and triple platinum by February 2006. Each of the singles in turn become the '#1 most-added song on Australian radio'.

The Opportunity EP was released on 11 March 2006, with 50 cents from every copy sold being donated to the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal. Pete volunteered to perform the song at Red Shield Appeal launches, donated use of the song as backing music for a Salvos promotional film, and welcomed Appeal collectors at all concerts on the forthcoming Opportunity Tour. Major Neil Dickson, Territorial Appeals Director of the Salvation Army, said, 'The life affirming sentiment of Opportunity sits perfectly with the message we want to give people, which is one of hope.' Pete added, 'The help the Salvation Army provides to those less fortunate in our community is extremely important. I was involved in youth work before I became a musician, so I know from personal experience the huge difference that organisations such as the Salvos can make to street kids, the homeless and the disadvantaged. They really can help people to turn their lives around. It therefore just seemed perfect to associate Opportunity - a song about making positive choices in your life - with an organisation such as the Salvos.'

The Opportunity Tour began on 7 April 2006 in Adelaide, with various Australian and New Zealand dates running through to 2 May. Pete and the Stonemasons took a full horn section with them on the tour for the first time. The Sydney dates, as usual, sold out, with new shows added.

Tour dates followed in June for London, Manchester, Amsterdam (Pink Pop Festival), Moscow (Maximum Radio Festival), Dublin, and New York (Mercury Lounge). Moscow was a bit of a surprise, but apparently the single Better Days had done well there. The Russians included flame throwers as special effects in Pete's set, when possibly the last thing you'd expect at at Pete Murray gig is pyrotechnics!

Pete headed back to the southern hemisphere for a tour of New Zealand in August.

On 19 August 2006, a double-CD version of See the Sun was released, with the second disc featuring six live tracks; Pete's first official live release.

Pete received two nominations in the 2006 ARIA Awards: Pete for Best Male Artist; and See the Sun for Highest Selling Album.

At the ARIA nominations event in September, Pete was asked by journalists if he'd perform for the Australian soldiers currently serving in Iraq, in the official concert being organised for Christmas. Pete responded that he supported the soldiers but not the war, and that he would not accept an invitation to perform in Iraq if one was forthcoming. Tim Freedman of The Whitlams and Glenn Richards of Augie March responded similarly. This caused some controversy, and heated discussion of the various issues involved - but in the end I feel that such a decision can only be Pete's to make.

A new DVD titled A Year in the Sun was released on 23 September 2006, on the anniversary of the original See the Sun release. It includes live footage, a video tour diary, a mini documentary on the making of See the Sun, and behind-the-scenes videos from the making of the Better Days, Class A, Opportunity, and George's Helper clips. It also features the very moving short film based on Pete's song Ten Ft Tall, from the Feeler album. Pete also tells the sad story that inspired that song; a story that was then adapted for the film.

The short film, titled 10 Feet Tall, was written and produced by Anthony Woodcock, directed by Aaron Wilson, and starred Samuel Johnson and Michael Veitch. It was featured in the 2006 St Kilda Film Festival. Pete described the film as 'a really moving piece, shot by Yen Ooi (who has done all of my videos) and written by Anthony Woodcock, who I met after one of my shows in London two years ago. I really enjoyed writing the score for the movie - it's totally different from what I've written before and really seems to fit the mood of the film perfectly. And if you don't cry at the end of this movie, then you're too tough for me!'

Pete and his long-time love Amanda were married on 7 October 2006 in a village called Eureka, near Byron Bay, leaving the church together in Pete's beloved old Kombi van.

Pete headed for the northern hemisphere again during November and December, playing solo gigs in the Netherlands, London and Dublin. He also featured as support act for Richard Ashcroft's gigs in Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and London.

The year's success was confirmed by the fact that Opportunity was the most played song on Australian radio in 2006. The other three singles from the See the Sun album were all in the Top 100: Better Days at 19; Class A at 70; and George's Helper at 90. See the Sun is now close to five-times platinum.

Consolidating

Pete recorded a cover of the song Forever Now by Aussie band Cold Chisel as part of the tribute album titled Standing on the Outside (released 31 March 2007). The song was recorded with Ben McCarthy and Dave Sanders, and produced by Pete. In my view, Pete's smoky take on this song gets right to the heart of it in ways that the original recording didn't.

Promotional work (showcases rather than gigs) took Pete to Japan and Los Angeles in April and May, then on to the Netherlands.

An 'International Version' of the Feeler album was released on 16 June 2007. The album was completely re-mastered, and featured a new mix of the song Feeler (Michael Brauer), and the single mix of Please.

Pete and Amanda were delighted to welcome their second son Pedro, born in July 2007.

Pete, Jonathon and Andy formed a three-piece band for the See the Sun Tour of Europe, with dates in the Netherlands, Dublin and London in October. Pete also performed three solo shows in France, in September and October. It was no coincidence that the Australian rugby union team were also in France at that time for the Rugby World Cup! (But I suppose the less said about that result, the better...)

According to the Sunshine Coast Daily in September, Pete came eighth in 'Music's 10 hottest guys'. Obviously I think he should have headlined at #1, but I cannot quibble with their description of him: 'Pete Murray: The perfect crossover for the lady torn between her preferences for a sports jock and a new-age sensitive acoustic-guitar playing guy.' Perfect, indeed.

Currently...

Pete is releasing his third album for Sony in May 2008.

 

Sources (further details available on request):